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. t
THE GENERAL
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY.
A NEW EDITION.
sat
VOL. XX.
r
\
InnteJ by Nichols, Son, and Bentuey, lied Ldon Passagi*, Fleet Street, Loiuloii.
THE GENERAL
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY:
CONTAINING AN HISTORICAL AND dUnCAL ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIVES AND WRITINGS
OP THS
MOST EMINENT PERSONS
IN EVERY NATION;
PARTICULARLY THE BRITISH AND IRISH} VrOM THE EARLIEST ACCOUNTS TO THE PRESENT TIME.
A NEW EDITION,
REVISED AND ENLARGED BY
ALEXANDER CHALMERS, F. S. A.
VOL, XX,
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. NICHOLS AND SON; F. C. AND J. RITINOTON ; T. PAYNE | OTSIDGB AND SON; G. AND W. NICOL ; G. WILKIS ; J. WALKER; R. LEA; W. LOWNDES ; WHITE, COCHRANE, AND CO. ; T. EGERTON ; LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.; J. CARPENTER; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN; CADBLL AND DA VIES; CLAW; J. BOOKER; J. CUTIIELL ; CLARKE AND SONS; J. AND A. ARCH; J.HARRIS; BLACK, PARRY, AND CO. ; J. BOOTH; J. MAWMAN; GALE, CURTIS, AND FENNBR; R. H. EVANS} J. HATCHARD; J. MURRAY; R. BALDWIN; CRADOCK AND JOY; B. BENTLEY ; J. FAULDER j OGLE AND CO.; W. GINGER^ J. DFJGHTON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE | CONSTABLE AND CO. EIMNBURGH; AND WILSON AND SON, YORK.
IS15.
/
,.'./< ■
A KEW AND GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONART.
XjANGUET (Hubert), a native of France, and minister of state to Augustas elector of Saxony, was born at Vi- teaux io 1518 ; and, having passed through his studies at home, went to Italy in 1347, to complete his knowledge in the civil law, of which he commenced doctor at Padua. Thence going to Bologna, he met with one of Mekncthon's works, which raised in hi [uainted with
that eminent reformer; B' : a tour into
Germany, on purpose to vi 'g in Saxony,
where he arrived in 1 54^, tmbraced the
protestant religion. Fron: ommenced a
strict friendabip between tion, so that
they became inseparable , Melancthon>
finding Languet well acquainted with the political interest of princes, and with the history of illustrious men, was wonderfully delighted with his conversation, and his ex- tensive fund of information, in all which he Was not only minutely correct as to facts, but intelligent and judicious in his remarks and conjectures.
This connexion with Melanctbon did not, however, ex- tinguish the incliuation which Languet bad to travel. la 1551, betook up a resolution to visit some part of Europe every year, for which he set apart the autumn season, re- turning to pass the winter at Wittenberg. In the course of these travels, he. made the tour of Rome in 1555, and thatpf Livonia and Laponia in 1558. During this last tour, he became known to Gustavus king of .Sweden, who con- ceived a great affection for him, and engaged him to go into France, in order to bring him thence some of the best scholars and artists: for which purpose his oaajeaty gava:^
Vol. XX. B
2 L A N G U E T.
him a letter of credit, dated Sept 1, 1557. Two years after, Languet attended Adolphus count of Nassau and prince of Orange, into Italy; and at his return passed through Paris, to visit the celebrated Turnebus ; but it was a great deductt()n from the pheasnre of this interview, thi^t he heard at this time of the death of his friend Melancthon.
In 1565, Augustus elector of Saxony invited him to his^ cou¥\ ^d apppkited him envdy to that of France the same year, after which he sent him as his deputy to the diet of the empire, which was called by the emperor Maxiiiiilian in 1568, at Augsburg. Thence .the same master dispatched him to Heidelberg, to negotiate some business with the elector palatine ; and from Heidelberg he went to Cologfne, where he acquired the esteem and confidence of Charlotte Ae Bourbon, princess of Orange. The elector of Saxony feeiit him also to th6 diet of Spires ; and in 1570 to Stetin, in quality of plenipotentiary, for mediating a peace be- tween the Swedes and the Muscovites, who had chosen this elector for their mediator. This prince the same year sent Languet a second time into France, to Charles. IX. and the queen-mother Catharine of Medicis, in the exe- cution of which commission he made a remarkably bold speech to the French monarch, in the name of the pro* testant princes in Germany. He was at Paris upon the memorable bloody feast of St. Bartholomew, in 1572, when he saved the life of Andrew Wechelius, the famous printer, in whose bouse he lodged ; and he was also very instru^- mental in procuring the escape of Philip de Momay count de Plessis ; but, trusting too much to the respect due to his character of envoy, was obliged for his own safety to the gopd offices of John de Morvillier, who had been keeper of the seals. Upon his recal from Paris, he re- ceived orders to go to Vienna, where he was in 1574 ; and ia 15^75 he was appointed one the principal arbitrators for determinipg of the disputes, which had lasted for tiiirty years, betiveen the houses of Longueville and Badenj^ con«> cpning the succession of Rt)thelin*
At length, in the controversy which arose in Saxony between the Lutherans and Zuinglians, respecting the tacharist, Languet was suspected to favour the latter^^ and in consequence wai$ obliged to beg leave of the elector, being then one of his chief ministers, to retire ; which was granted, with a liberty to go where be pleased. He chose Prague for 4he place „ of hia residence, where he wa» in
L A N G U E T. t
1577 ; and in this situaftion applied himself to John Ca»i«'
mir, cpant Paiatkie, and attended hinfr to- Ghent, in* Flan«
ders) the inhabitants of i^hich city had chosen the count'
jbr their govei^ior. On his quitting' the gorernmenty Lafn«
guet accepted an invitation from WiHtaaa' prince of Omnge»
sad reosained with him until the bad state of hi9 heakh^
obliged him to go in 1 579 to the wells of Baden ; and theirtf
he became acquainted with Thuamas, who was niuth strnek^
with his con«reiMtion) probity, and judginent, net only iii'
the sciences, but in public aliairB. Tbuantts i^ls uir thcrti
Languet was so well acquainted with the afiairs of Oer*
Btany, that he could' instruct the' Germans themselves im
the affairs of their own country. After Thuanus had left
■ that place, they appear to haire corresponded, andTh^anui
sjpeaks of sdme meuibin( then in his possession, which Lau-
.guetgent tb him, coiitaining an account of the presenll
state of GernAany, of the right of the diets> of the niimbe^
of the eircles, i^ud of the order or rtmk of the difielrent
councils of that country.
Languet returned' to Antwerp in 1580'; and in ISB\ the'' prince of Orange sent him to France to negoclate a recon<- 45ilUtioA between Charlotte of Bourbon, his consort; andt htft b«x>tber Louis, duke of Montpensier ; which he ef- ibeted. He died at Antwerp^ Sept. 20^ 1561', and waa interred with great funeral solemnity, theprin<$e of Orange going at the bead of the train. During bii^ illness he wa^ fmtwl by madam Dii Piessis, who, though' sick hefself^ attended him to his last moment. His dying words weie^ that ** the only thing which grieved' him was, that he bad not been able to see mens. Du Plessia ag^in before ba^ died, to whom he would have lefl: bis veryheatt, bad it been in his po^er : that'he badn^ished to live to see the worid reformed^ but^ since it'became daily worse, he haedno longer any business in it : that the princes of 'these timed were? strange men : that virtue had much to suffer^} and little to get : that' he pitied mens. Du Piessis very much, to whose share 8 great part of the misfbrturies of the time wootd'fid}^ and' who would see^ many unhlippy dayd ; but that he must take courage^ for God would assist him. For the rest, he begged one thing of him in his last farewell, • namely, that he would mention something of their friendship in the first book heshohld publish.*' This request was performed by Du Piessis, soon after, in a short preface to his treatise *' Of the Truth of the Christian religion j*' where he nsakea
12
4 LANGUET.
the following eloge of this friend in a few eomprehen^ve words : ^^ Is fuit qualis muUi videri.vQlunt: is vixit qual|ter optioii mori cupiunt.** *
Of this eminent statesman we have some works not wholly unknown in this country. The first mentioned is a history in Latin of the siege of Gotha, which Schardius has inserted in his History of Germany during the reign of Ferdinand L but without mentioiung Languet^s name. 2. <' Epistolfls ad principem suum Augustum Saxoni^ duceit),^* Halle, 1699, 4t6. 3. ^* £pistolae Politicae et hIstoricsB ad Phi- lippum Sydnaeum/' 12mo. Of this collection of letters to Qur sir Philip Sydney, the late lord Hailes published a correct edition in 1775, 8vo. They are 97 in number, dated from 1573 to 1580,. and are remarkable for purity of language and excellenjL^e of sentiment. 4. '^ Epistolse ad Joachim Camerarium, &c.^' and other learned men, 12mo. Carp- zovius published a new edition of these at Leipsic, with additions. 5. ^' Hist, descriptio susceptss a Caesarea ma- jestate executionis Augusto SaxoniaB duce contra S. Ro-. mani imperii rebeUes,"v&c. 1563, 4to. 6. ** Vindiciae contra TyrannoS) sive de principis in popuium, populique in prin- cipem legitima potestate,*' 1579, 12mo. This bears the name of Stephanus Junius Brutus, and the place Edin- burgh, but the place was Basil, and it never was doubted that Languet was the author of this spirited^attack on ty- ranny. It was often reprinted and translated into French. There are are a few other tracts attributed to Languet, but upon more questionable authority.^
LANGUET (John Baptist Joseph), great grand ne- phew of the preceding, doctor of the Sorbonne, the ce- lebrated yicar of St.^ Sulpice, at Paris, and a man of extraordinary benevolence, - was born at Dijon, June 6, 1675. His father was Denis Languet, procurator-general of that city. After having made some progress in his studies at JQijpn, he continued them at Paris, and resided in the seminary of St. Sulpice. He was received in the ISofbonne, Dec. 31,, 1698, and^ took his degree with ap- plause. He was ordained priest at Vienna, in Dauphiny ; aftei" which he returned to Paris, and took the degree of doctor Jan. 15, 1703. He attached himself from that time to the community of St. Sulpice ; and la Chetardie, who was vicar there, chose him for his curate. Langtiet
1 GeD, Pi<^— NiceroDy vol. f It— Moreri.<*Saxii Onomast.
L A N G U E T. ^•
continued in that office neur ten years, and sold bis patri-* ikiony to relieve the poor. Daring this period, St. Valier, bishop of Quebec, being prisoner in England, requested of the king that Languet might be his assistant in North America. Languet was about to accept of the place^ prompted to it by his ;ceal for the conversion^ of infidels ; but his patrons and friends advised him to decline the voyage, as hir constitution was by no means strong. He succeeded la Chetardie, as vicar of St. Sulpice, in June 1714.
His parish-church being out of repair, and scarce fit to hold 1200 or 1500 persons out of a parish which contained 125,000 inhabitants, he conceived a design to build a church iQ some degree proportionable to them ; and un- dertook this great work without any greater fund to begin with than the sum of one hundred crowns, which had been left him for this design by a pious and benevolent lady* He laid out this money in stores, which he caused to be carried through all the streets, to shew his design to the public. He soon obtained considerable donations from all parts ; and die duke of Orleans, regent of the kingdom^ granted him a lottery. That prince likewise laid the first 6t6ne of the porch in 1718 ; and Languet spared neither labour nor expence during his life, to make the church one of the finest in the kingdom, both for architecture and ornaments. It was consecrated in 1745, with so much splendour, that Frederic XL of Prussia wrote the vicar a congratulatory letter, in which he not only praises the building, but even the piety of the founder, a quality which Frederic knew how to notice when it served to point a compliment.
Another work, which does no less honour to Languet,
is the house de Venfans J^sus. The nature of this estah*
lishmenty as originally constituted, will best evince his
piety and talents. It consisted of two parts ; the first com-
• posed of tbtrty'i-five poor ladies, descended from families
illustrious from 1535 to the present time; the second, of
/ more than four hundred poor women and children of town
and. country* Those young ladies whose ancestors had
been in the king's service, were preferred to all others,
and an education given them suited to the dignity of their
birth. They were employed, by turns, in inspecting the
bake-house, the poultry-yard, the dairies, the laundries,
the^ gardensi the lahojeatoryi the linen- warehottses, the
6 LANGUET.
spinning-roomSj Itad oduer places bek>nging <to the bouse* By these means th^y became good housewives^ und able to relieve their poor relations in the country; and it was alsp part of the duty to succour by a thousaitid ViUtle kind offices^ the poor wocaeu and girls who worked there, and tp acquire those habits of condescension aiid bei^voleuee which are of gre&t service to society.
Languet used besides to grant great sums of money to 9.uch ladies as were examples of oeconomy, virtue^ and piety, in those religious houses which he superintendecL The poor women and children who formed the second part, were provided with food every day, and work u the spin* Ifing-wheel. They made a great quantity of linen and cotton. Different rooms were assigned to them, and they fvere arranged under different classes. In each rOom were iwo ladies of the society of St. Thomas, of Vili^e Neqve^ pf .which Languet was superior* general. These ladies pera placed there to oversee the work, and to give such instructions as they thought proper* The women ajnd the girls who found employment in this house, had in a former period of their . lites been licentious and dissolute, but ivere generally reformed by the example of virtue before ihieir eyes, and by the salutary advice given to tbem^ and had the amount of their work paid them i|i money when they left the house. By these means they became indus- frious and exemplary, and were restored to the community. There were in the house de Venfms Jems, iii 1741, more than 1400 women and girls of this sort ; and the vicar of St. Sulpice employed all the means in his power to make their situation agreeable. Although the land to the house measured only 17 arpens (about 100 perches square, each ^perch 18 feet), it had a large dairy^ which gave milk to 2000 children belonging to the parish, a meiiagery, poultry erf all sorts, a bake-house, spiuning-rooms, a ?ery neat axid well cultivated garden, aud a magnificent laboratory, where all sorts of medicines were made. The order and peconomy observed in this house in the education, instruo* tioii, and employment of so many people, were so admi* rable, and ^ve so great an idea of the vicar of 8t. Sul- pice, that cardinal Fleury proposed to ipake him superin- Irendant^generai of all the hospitals iq the kingdom ; but Xai^et used to answer him with f smile, ^* i have always tud, my lord, that it was the bounty of ycmr highness Idd me to the hospital^'' ^he ^i^eoee of tius esldbUahiiieiit
L A N Q U E T. 1
%as immease. ' He spent bis revenue on it ; an iDberitance which came to him by the death of the baron of Montigni, his brother, and the estate of the abb£ de Bamay, granted him by the king.
Languet was not less to be esteemed for bis beneficence and his zeal in aiding the poor of every sort Never piaii took more pains than he did in procuring donations and legacies, which he distributed fvitb admirable prudence and discretion. He inquired with care if the legacies whic^ were left him were to the disadvantage of the poor relat tions of the testator ; if he foand that to be the case, he restored to them not only the legacy, but gave them, wheo wanting, a large sum of his own. Madame de Camois, as illustrious for the benevolence of her disposition as for hef rank in life, having left him by her last will a legacy of more than 600,000 hvres, he only took 30,000 livre9 for the poor, and returned the remaining sum to her relations. Jt is said frotn good authority, that he disbursed near a million of livres in charities ev^y year. He always chose noble families reduced to poverty, before all odiers ; and there were ^me families . of distinction in his pari^» to each of whom be dialaribuled 30,000 livres pet aanum. Alwiiys willing to serve mankuid, Ik^ gave liberally, and often before^: any application was made to him. Whea there was a general dearth in 1 72S, be sold, in order to relieve the poor, his .h^sebald goods^ his pictures, and some scarce and curious pieces q[ furniture, which he had procured with difficulty. From that time he had taljr three pieces of pktie« no tapestiy, and but a mean serge bed, which madaaoe de Camois had lent him, having be^ fore sold all the presents she had made him at different periods. His charity, was 9ot confined to his own paiish. At the time that the plague raged at Marseillels, he aenft large 8iums into Provenoe to assist tlie distressed. He itif- tereited himself with great zeal in the promotion of arts ,and conimerqe, and in whatever concerned the glory of tfa^ natiop, In timesi of public calamity^ lis conflagrations, Sec. his prudence, and assiduity have been much admired. H^. understood well the diifereat dispositions of men. ' He knesir ho^ to employ every one aocording ito his talent or {Capacity. In the most intricate and perplexed aflhini he decided with a sagacity and judgment that surprieed every .one, Languet refused the bishopric of Couserans and that of J^xctiers, and several others which were offered
ii LANG U E T.
t
him by Lotils XIV. and Louis XV. under the ministry of the dule of Orleans and cardinal Fleury. He resigned his vicarage to Mons. TAbb^ du Lau, in 1748, but continued to preach every Sunday, according to his custom, in his own parish church*; and continued also to support the house de Venfans JBsus till his death, which happened Oct. 1 \ , 1750i in his seventy-fifth year, at the abbey de Bernay,! to which place he went to make some charitable establish-^ ments. His piety and continued application to work^ of beneficence did not hinder hito from being lively and chearfui ; i^nd he delighted hi^ friends, by the agreeable repartees and sensible remarks he made in conversation J ' LANGUET (John Joseph), brother of the preceding, ' a doctor of the Sorbpnne, and bishop of Soisson, to which see he was promoted in 1715, and afterwards • archbishop of 8ens, was distinguished for his polemical wriftings, and published numerous pieces in defence of the bull Unige^ nitus, in which he vva^ much assKted by M. Tournely, professor at the $>brbonne; and this celebrated doctor dying 1729, the appellants then said that Pere de Tour- tiemine directed bis pen. M. Langoet was appointed ; ^rchbishop of Sens, 17^1. He was v^ zealous against ^the miracles attributed by the appellants to M. Paris, and against the famous convulsions. He died May 3; 1753, at Sens, in the midst of his curates, whom he thell kept in retirement. M. Lianguet was a member of the French academy, superior of the royal society of Navarre^ apd counsellor of state. His works are, three " Adyerr tisements^' to the appellants ; several '^ Pastoral Letters, Instructipns, Mandates, Letters,'- to different persons, and other writings in favour of the bull Unigenttus, and against •the Aoti^Constitutionarians, the miracles ascribed to M. Paris, and the convulsions, which were impostures then obtruded on the credulity of the French,, but which he •proved to have neither certainty nor evi^nce. All the above have been translated into Latin, and:printed at Sens, 1753, 2 vols. foL; but this edition of M. Languet's <^ Po- lemical Works,^' was suppressed by a decree of. council. He published also a translation of the Psalms, 12oio; a refutation of I>om. Claudius de Vert^s treatise, ff On the Chorch Ceremonies,^' 12mo. Several books of devptioa ; ^Ad *^ The Life of Iflsxy Alacoque, -/ .wMch laade miiid^
1 Mafcri««*Dkt QkUT^Poa^ev't Anniul Register fw 1763*
LANG U E T. *
tioise, add b by no means worthy of this celebrated arch- •bishop, on account of its romantic and fabulous style, the inaccurate eitpressions, indecencies, dangerous princtplesi and scandalous maxiois which it contains. Languet is es* teemed by the catholics as among the divines who wrote best against the Aoti-oonstitutionarians, and is only charge«t able with not having always distinguished between dogmas and opinions, and with not unfrequently adva.ncing as ar* ticles of faith, sentiments which are opposed by orthodox and very learned divines.^
LANIERE (Nicholas], an artist of various talents in tbe seventeenth century, was born in Italy, and appears to have come oyer to England in the time of James i. He had a great share in the purchases of pictures made for the royal collection. He drew for Charles I. a picture of Mary, Christ, and Joseph ; his own portrait done by him* self with a pallet and pencils in his hand, and musical Dotes on a scrip of paper, is in the music*sch<>ol at Oxford, He also employed himself in etching, but his fame waa most considerable as a musician. It is mentioned in the folio edition of Ben Jonsoh's works, printed 1640, that in 1617, his whole masque, which was performed at the house of lord Hay, for the entertainment of the French ambassador, was set to music after the Italian manner^ ^sHlo recUativa^ by Nic. Laniere, who was not only ordered to set the music,, but to paint tbe scenes. This short piece being' wholly in rhyme^ though without variation in the measure, to distinguish airs frpm recitation, as ^ was all in musical declamation, may be safely pronounced the first attempt at an opera in the Italian 'manner, after the invention of recitative. In the same year, the masque called ^< The Vision of Delight,^' was presented at court during Christmas by tbe same author ; and in it, says Or. ' Burney, we have all the characteristics of a genuine opera, or musical drama of modern times complete : splendid scenes and machinery ; poetry ; musical recitation ; air ; chorus ; jlvA dancing. Though the music of this masque it not to be found, yet of Laniere^s *> Musica narmtiva*' we have several examples, printed by Playford in the col* -lections of the time ; particularly the '^ Ayres and Dia- legUjes^" 1653, and the second part of the *^ Musical (Companion/' which appeared in 1667; and in which his.
to L A N tE RrEi
nvusic to tbe dialogues b lafiaitely superiol-.id the t€it; tb^re is melody, ueaaiirey and mewing io it. His reci^ tative'is more like that of hk countrymen at pfescDt, (baa any contemporary £nglishn»afi^8. However, tbese dia*- logiies were oomposed; before tbe laws and phraseology of recitative were sealed, even in Italy. His cantata of *^ Hero and Leander" was uriuch celebrated during these tknes, and the recitative regarded as a model of true Italian ■msical declamation. Laniere died at tbe age of seventy^- eight, and was buried in St. Martinis ia tbe Fields, Nov. 4, 1646.*
JLANINI (Bernahpi^o), an bistarical painter, was a Bfelive of Yerceili, a pupil of Gaudeneio Ferrari, and imit tated the style of that master in bis first works to a degree of iiiosion. As he advanced in practice he cast a holder eye on nature, and by equal vigour of conception and execution, proved to the ficst artists of Milan,- that, like ^ Ferrari, iie was born for grand subjects ; such is tbat of fi« CJatarba, near S. Celso : tbe face and attitude of tbe keroine anticipate tbe graces of Guido ; the colour of tbe v^ole appreachea the tones of Titian, tbe glory of tbe angds rivals Gioidensio ; a Jess neglected style of drapery iroidd have left Uttle to wish for. Ainong his copious wodct ac Milan^ and in its districts, tbe^ dome of Novara daims distinguisfaed notice. There be {minted those Sybils^ and that semUance of an Etenial Faitber, so much adnired by Lomazzo; and near them certain subjects frcMiktbe Ihb of Mary, which even now, in a ruined state ofcoloar, enchant by spirit and evidence of design. His Tiersatiie' talent indniged sometioies in imitafcioiia of Lie*- murdo da Vinci; and at tbe-Basalica of St Arabrogto, the figure of Christ between two Angels, in forn>, expression^ and effect, folly proves with what felicity he penetrated the principles of that genius.
He bad two brothers unknown beyond Vercelti.; Gau<- BEKZio, of whom some sainted subject is said to exist in the sacristy of the Bamabites; and GiROL^UiiO LANiNi, of whom Lanai mentions a Christ taken from the Cross, in aome pnvate oollection. They approach Bersardino^ in tfaehr stjie of faces, and tbe former ^ren in strength of co- lour ; but they renain far behind him in design. This artist died abdut 157 &.* ,J
1 Walpole'8 ADecdotes.— *])r. Siome^ la^Bees's Cyclopaedia. * PilkiDgton, last edit, by Fuselj. • ' * " '
L A N S B E R G. II
LANSBERG (Philip), a mathema^ian, vm born in Zealand, mi 1561, and was a pfeacber at Antwerp, in 1586, and afterwards for sereral years; Vossius mentions that he was minister at Goese in Zealand, twenty-ntHa years ; and betng then discharged of his functions, on ae«» count of his old age, lie retired to Middleburgb, where he died in 1632. His works were principally the following: h ^^Sia Books of sacred Chikxiology,'* printed in 1626. 2. ** Essays on the Restitution of Astronomy,'^ printed ai Middleburgh, 16^9. 3. ^< Four Books of Geometrical Triangles," printed in 1631. 4. " Of Measuring the Heavens/* in three books, in the same year. 5. ^^ Aa Acoount of the diurnal and annual Motion of the Earth and of the true Sitnation of the visible celestial Bodies.'' In this work be declares himself openly for Copernicus*s System, and even pretends to improve it He composed this work in Dutch, and it was translated into Latin by Martinus Horteosius, and printed at Middleburgb, 16$^ Fromond, a doctor of Louvaio, wrote an answer to it, and endeavoured to prove the earth stood still ; and Us soa publisbed an answer not only to Fromond, but to Moriti^ regiiis professor at Paris, and to Peter Bartholin us, wfaiclt is entitled ** A Defence of the Account,*' &c. This ooca^ sioned a contraversy, but of no long duration.*
LANZI (Lewis), an able Italian antiquary, was bon June 13, 1732, at Mohtte-del-Celmo^ near Macerata, and was educated in the schools of the Jesuits, wfaera he was distinguished for the rapid progren he made in theology^ philosophy, rhetoric, and poetry. After being admitted into the order of the Jesuits, he taught rhetoric in various academies in I^ly with great success. When the ^rder of the Jesuits was suppressed, he was appointed sub«director of the gallery of Florence, by Peter Leopold, grand doka of Tuscany; and that noble collection was considerably improved and enriched by his care. His first work was a *^ Guide*' to this gallery, which he printed in 1782, and whieh IjiftAk in mai^r and style is far superior to perform<«> 9iaceB of that kind* In 1789 he publisbed his ** Essay on tiu Tuscan Language,** 3 vols. 8vo, which gave him a re^ putation over all Europe, and was followed by h» dabo-^ rate '^ History of Painting in Italy ^*' the best edition, of irinck is that printed at Bassano^ in 1809, 6 vols. 8vo.
Oi«t,«^iii«ri.«»M«rtm'» Biog. ffiaiow#ks.
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BKs next publication, much admired by foreign antiquarife^ji was his '^ Dissertations on the Vases commonly called Etroscan.^' In 1 808 appeared his translation of ^' Hesiod/* 4to, of which a very high character has been given. He' died March 3*1, 1810^ at Florence, a period so recent as to prevent our discovering any more particular memoirs of him than the above.^
. LANZONI (Joseph), a physician, was born at Ferrara, October 26th, 1663, and after a careful education under the bestmasters, distinguished himself particularly in theschools of philosopbyand of medicine, and graduated in both these sciences in. 1683. In the following. year he was appointed ordinary professor, and displayed talents which did honour to the university of Ferrara, during the long period in which be filled that office. He- died in February, 1730.
Lanzoni acquired a high reputation by the success of bis practice, and obtained the confidence and esteem of many illustrious personages. His attachment to study in* creased with his years ; and every moment in which he was not employed in the duties of his profession, was devoted to- literature, philosophy, or antiquarian researcht His character as a physician and philosopher, indeed, ranked so high, that if any question upon these subjects was agi- tated in Italy, the decision was commonly referred to him. He was distinguished likewise by his genius in Latin and Italian poetry ; and he was the restorer and secretary of tb^ academy of Ferrara, and a member of many of the learned societies of his time- He left a considerable number of works, a collection of. which was printed at Lausanne, in 1738, in 3 vols- ^to, with an account of his life, under the title of <^ Josephi Lanzoni, Philor sopbiaQ et Medicinse Doctoris, in Patria Universitate Lec^* toris primarii, &c. Opera omnia Medico-pbysica et Pbi-> lologica."*
LAPIDE, (Cornelius a). See PIERRE.
LARCHER (P£T£R Henry), an eminent French scholar and translator, was born at Dijon, Oct. 12, 1726, of an- cestors who were mostly lawyers, connected with some of the first names in the parliament of Burgundy, and related to the family of Bossuet. His father was a counsellor ia the office of finance, >vho died while his son was an infant, leaving him to the care of his mother. It was her intention
} Diet. Hiifcf Sopplcpient ^ Moreri.«?-Reet'8 Cyclop«dia| ffop Eloy.
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to brriig him up with a view to the magistracy, but yotin^ Larcher wais too much ^enamoured of poKte literature to accede to tins plaa. Having therefore finished his studies among the Jesuits at Pont-a«M6us8on, he 'went to Paris and entered himselfof the college of Laon, wb<ere he knew ^e:shonId be at liberty to pursue his own method of study. ]^e wastheii about eightelen yeai» of age.' His modier albwed him oiily 500 livres a year, yet with that scanty allowance be contrived to b^uy books, and when it was increased to TOO, he fancied himself independent. He gave an early proof of his love and care for valuable books, when at the ix>yal college. While studying Greek under John Cap'? peronnier, he became, quite indignant at having, every day placed in his hands, at the risk of spoiling it, a fine copy^ of Duker's Thucydides, on large paper. He had, indeed, from his infanqy, the genuine spirit of a coUector^ which became an uuconquerable passion in his more mature years. A few months before his death he ifefused to purchase the new editions of Photius atid Zoiiaras, because he was too old, as be said, to make use of tbegn,. but at the same time he could not resist giving an enormous price for what seemed of less utility, the princepr.ediiio of Pliny the na- turalist, it is probable that during his first years at Paris/ he had made a considerable collection of. bdoks, for, when at that time he intended, unknown. to his family, to visijt England for the purpose of 'forming an acquaintance with the literati there, and of learning Englishi to which he w^s remarkably partial, he sold bis books to defray the^xpence of his journey. In this elopcTnentf -{qv such it was, he was assisted by father Patouiltet, who undertook to receive and forward bis letters to his mother, which he was to date'firom Paris, and make her and his friends believe that he was still at the college of Labn. ,
It does not appear that Larcher published any thing be^ fore his translation of the ^^ Electra'* of Euripides, which appeared in 1750; for the " Calendrier perpetuel" of 1747^: although' attributed to him, was certainly not bis. The '^ Electra,'' as v/ell as many other of his publications, ap* peared without his name, which, indeed, he. appended only to his " Memoire sur Venu$," his " Xenbphon,'V f* Herodotus,*' knd " Diisertations academiques.'^ The: V Electra" had not much success, and was never reprinted,* iipless by a bookseller, who blunderingly inserted it* among a.collectioii . of a«rft>i^ plays. v . *
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In list LtfchtriB supposed to have contributed to « lifeeratyjouraai called ^^Lettrea d'une Society ;" and after-* wards, in the '^ Melange litteraire,*' he published a transia* tioD ot Pope^s essay on Pastoral Poetry. He was also a . eontributor to other literary journals, but his biographer has not been able to specify his articles with certainty^ unless those in the '^ Collection Academique*' for 1755, where his articles are marked widi an A« and in which he trandated the Philosophical Transactions of London. He translated also the *^ Martinus Scriblerus** from Pope^s works, and Swift's ironical piece on the abolition of Chris* tiani^. Having while in England become acqoainted with Mr John Pringle, he. published a translation of his work ^ On the Diseases of the Army,*' of which an enlarged edition appeared in 1771.
In 1757 he revised the text of Hudibras, which accom- panies the French translation, and wrote some notes to it. But these performances did not divert him from his Greek studies, and his translation of <* Chereas and Calliroe,'* which appeared in 1758, was considered in France as Mi production of one who would prove an honour to the class of Greek scholars in France. This was reprinted in the *^ Bibliotheque des Romans Grecs," for which also Larcber wrote '^ Critical Remarks on the £thiopics of Heliodoms,*' but for some reason these never appeared in that work* In 1767 the quarrel took place between him and Voltaire. Larcber, although intimate with some of those writers who called themselves philosophers, and even favourable to some of their theories, was shocked at the impiety of Vol«' taire^s extremes -, and when the ^' Philosophy of History'* appeared, was induced by some ecclesiastics to undertake a refutation, which was published under the title of ** Sup- plement a la Philosophie de PHistoire,'' a work which Vol- taire himself allowed to be full of erudition. He could not, however, conceal his chagrin, and endeavoured to answer' Larcher in his *^ Defense de mon oncle,'' in vriiich he' treats his antagonist ' with unpardonable contempt and abuse. Larcher rejoined in '^ Reponse i la Defense dCT mon oncle." Both these pampbleu added much to hitf reputation ; and although Voltaire, whose resentmenti were implacable, continued to tr^t Larcher ifith abuse in kii^ writings, the latter made, no reply, content with the ap- plause of the really leurned, particularly Brunck and Laf Harpe^ which last^ although at that time the wargiestof
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Voksdre's adtmrers, disapproved of bis ttesCaient of 'siich a man as Lurcher ;*and in tlii* opiutoit he was jomed erca hj D'Aleo^bert. ^
Hift reputation is a translator firom the Giisek being now acknowledged, some bookaellers in Parts* who vmre in po»* session of a manuscript translation of Herodetns left by the abb^ Belianger wi<lK>ttt revision, applied to Laroher na prepare it for the press; and be, dnnkiog be bad oobjr to eorrect it few dips of the pea, or at most «d' add a few notes, readtiy undertook the task, but before he |iad pm<» eeeded fisr, the many imperfections, and the style of Bel* laoger, appeared to be such, that be coneetved it would be easier to make aa entire new translation. He did uot^ however, consider this as a trifling undertaking, bufe pre* pared himself by profound consideration of the text of his author, which he collated with the MS copies in the royal library, 'and read with equal care every contempa^ fary writer from whom he might derive information to il* lustrate Herodotus. While engaged in these studies. Paw poblidied his <^ Recherohes philosophiquessac les Egyptiens et les Cbinois^'^ and Larcher borrowed a iitde time to pub* Itsh an acute review of that author^s p^radoKes in the ^' Journal des Savana^'for 1774. The ye»r following, while inteirupted by sickness from his inquiries into Herodotus, he published his very learned << Memoire sur Venus,'* to which the academy of insortptions awarded their prize. During another interruption of the Herodotus, incident to itself, be wrote and published his translation of Xenophon^ which added much to the reputation he had already ac* quired, and-«|though his style is not very happily adapted to transfuse the spirit of Xenophon, yet it produced the fallowing high compliment fpom Wyttenbach (Bibl. Critica) '^ Larcberus is est quern non dubitemus omnium, qui nos* tra sBtat^ veteres soriptores in linguas vertunt recentiores, antiquitfttis linguseque GrteciB scientissimum vocare." Lar* cber'& critical remarks in this translation are very \taluable, particulady bis observations on the pronunciation of the Qreek« The rqiutation of his ^ Memoire sur Venus," and his '*:XenophOn,'' procured him to be elected into the Academy of inscriptions, on Misy 10^ 1778. To the me^ Inoirs of this tfocfiety he contributed many essays on classic cal antiqiiities, wh^ch are inserted in vols. 43, 45, 46, 47^ and 48 ; and these probably, which he thought a duty to the ae$iMemy> interrupted hi& labours on Herodotus, nor
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did it issue frmn the press until 17j86. The stjlef of tbi^ translation is liable to some objections^ 4)ut in other re-« spects, his profound and learned researches into points of geography tad chcondogj^ and the general merit and im*- portance of his comments^ gratified the expectaticAis of every scholar in Europe. It was Iraoslated into Latin by Borhecky into German by Degan,/ and his notes have ap-« peared in all the principal languages of Europe. We may here conclude this part of our subject by noticing bis new and very much improved edition: of *} Herodotus," pub* lisbed in 1802, 9 vols. Svo. The particulars wjaticb dis« tinguish this edition are, a correctipnof those passages^ in which he was not satisfied with having expressed the exact sense ;. a greater degree of precision and more coni-> pres^ton ctf style; a reformation of such notes as wanted exactness; with the addition of several that were judged necessary to illustrate various points of antiquity, and ren- der: the historian better understood. We have already fainted that Larcher was at one time not unfriendly to the infidel principles of some of the French 'encyclopedists* It is with the greater pleasure that we can now add" what he say:s on this subject in his apology for further alterations. . <' At length/' he says, << being intimately convinced of all the truths taught by the Christian religion, I have re-* treA'cbed. or. reformed aU the notes that could offend it. From some of them conclusions have been drawn which I disapprove, and which were far from my thoughts ; others of them contain things, which I must, to discharge my conscience, confess friedy, that more mature examination and deeper researches have demonstrated to have been built on slight or absolutely false foundations. The truth cannot but be a gainer by this avowal : to it alone have I consecrated all my studies : I have been anxious to return to it from the moment I was persuaded I could seize it with advantage. May this homage, which I render it in all the sincerity of my heart, be the means of procuring me abso- lution for all the errors I have hazarded or sought to pro- pagate."— In. this vast accumulation of ancient learning, the jBnglish reader will find many severe strictures on Bruce, which. he. may not think compatible with the ge- neral opinion now entertained both in France and England on the merits of that traveller.
During the revolutionary storm Larcher lived in privacy, employed on his studies^ and. especially bd the second
edkktt of Us << Herodoto^'* Md was bdt ihllt disturbed. He was indeed carried before the reTolnlionary cdminittee^ and his papers very much perplexed those gentleflaen, who knew little of Gr^ek or Latin. For one nigiit a sentinel waa placed at his door, who was set. asleep by a bottle of viae, and next morning Larch^r gave him a ssaall assign natt and he came back no more. When the republican government became a little more quiet, and affected to encourage men of letters, Larcher received, by a decree^ the sum of ^000 litres. He wasafterwards^ ndtwithstand^ ing his opiniops were not the fashion of the day, elected into the Institute ; and when it was divided into four classes* and by that change he became again, in some degree, a member of the Academy of inscriptions, he published: four dtss^tations of the critical kind ia their, memoirs. TJie last honour paid to him was by appointing him professor of Greek in the imperial university, as it was then called ; but he was now too fsr advanced for active services, and died after a short illness, in his eighty^sixth year, Dec. aS, 1812, regretted as one pf the most eminent acholars and amiable men of his time. His fine library was sold by auction in Nov. 1814.^
LAilDN£R (Natbani£L), a very learned dissentbg cler- gyman, was bom at Hawkburst, in Kent, June 6, 1684. He was educated for some time at a 'dissenter's academy in I^ondon, . by the Rev. Dr. Oldfidd, whence he went to Utrecht, and studied under Gnetius and Burman, and made all the improvement which might be expected under such masters. From Utrecht Mr. Lardner went to Leyden, whence, after a short stay, he came to England, and em« ployed himself in diiigent preparation for the sacred pro* fession. He did tmt, however, preach bis first sermon till be was twenty^five. years of age. In 1713 he was invited to reside in the house ^ lady Treby, widow c^ the lord chief justice of common pleas, as domestic ebaplain to the lady^ and tutor Xo her youngest son. • He accompanied his pupil to France, the N^stheriaods, and United Pro^ocea^ and continued in the family till the death of lady Treby. It ceBecis : no honour upon. the dissenters that sneh mwam shouM be. so long n^lected; but^ in 1728, he was ea« gaged with other mkusters to carry on m^m^oHi qf lectures
at the Old. Jewry* The gentlemen who cpodocted these
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lectures preak^bed a course of sermonst oil the. evidences o^ natural and revealed religion. The proof of the credibiHtjr of the gospel history was assigned to Mr Lardner, attd be- delilrered three sermons on. this subject, which probably, laid the foundation of his great work, as from this period he was diligently engaged in writing the first. part of the Credibility. In 1727 he published, in two volumes octavo^ Che first part of ^' The Credibility of the Gospel History ; or the facts occasionally mentioned in the New Testament, confirmed by passages of ancient authors who were con- temporary, with our Saviour, or his apostles, or lived near their time. It is unnecessary to say how well these vo<« lumes were received by the learned world, without any distinction of sect or party. Notwithstanding, however, his great merit, Mr. lAirdner was forty* five years of age before he obtained a settlement among the dissenters ) biit^ in 1729, be was invited by the congregation of Crutched-' friurs to be assistant to their, minister. At this period thm- enthusiasmof Mr. Woolston introduced an important con«i troversy. In various absurd publications he treated the miracles of our Saviour with extreme licentiousness. The89 Mr. Lardner confuted with the happiest success, in a woite which he at this time published, and which was entitled <^ A Vindication of three of our Saviour-s Miracles*'^ About the same time also he found leisure to write othef occaaional pieces, the principal of whioh was his ^^ Letter on the Logos;'^ In 1 73^5 appeared the first volume of the second :part of tho '^ Credibility of the Gospel-histoiy,"' which, besides being universally well received at bome^ was so much approved abroad, that it was translated by two learned foreigners f by Mn Cornelius Westerbaeu into. Law Dutch, and by Mr^ J. Christopher Wolff into Latin. The second volume of the second part of this work appeared in 17S5 ; and the farther Mn Lardner proceeded in his design, the more he advanced in esteem and reputation among learned men of all denominations* In 17S7 hie published his '* CouusoU of Prudence'' for the use of young people,, on account of which he received a complimentary letter from Dr. Seeker^, liisbop of Oxford. The third and fourth volumes of the second part of the ^< Credibility," no less curious than the preceding^ were publsshed in 173d and 1740. T^e fifth volume in l!7434 To be circumstantial in tbe>accottnto£ all the writings which this eminent man produced would greatly exceed our limits. Tbey were all (considered as '6i
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distinguished usefulness and merit We may in par^cular notice the " Supplement to the Credibility," which has^ a place in the collection of treatises published by Dr. Wnt- son, bishop of Llandaff. Notwithstanding Dr. Lardner's life and pen were so long and so usefully devoted to the public, he never received any adequate recom pence. The college of Aberdeen conferred on him the degree of doc\ tor of divinity, and the diploma had the unanimous signa- ture of the professors* But his salary as a preacher ws^s inconsiderable, and his works often published to his loss^ instead of gain. Dr. LaHner lived to a very advanced age^ and, with the exception of his liearing, retained the use of. bis faculties to the last, in a remarkably perfect degree^ In 1768 he fell into a gradual decline, which carried him. off in a few weeks, at Hawkburst, his native place, at the, a^e of eighty-five. He had, previously to his last illness,. '*parted with the copy-right of his great work for the mi-» terable sum of 160/. but he hoped if the booksellers had the whole interest of his labours, they would then do their, utmost to promote the sale of a work that could not fail to be useful in promoting the interests of his fellow creatures^ by promulgating the great truths of Christianity. After the death of Dr. Lardner^ some of his posthumous pieces made their appearance; of these the first consist of eight, sermons^ add brief memoirs of the author. In 1776 was published a short letter which the doctor had written in 1762, ".Upon the Personality of the Spirit.*' It was |5art of bis design, with regard to " The Credibility of the Gos« pel History," to give an account of the. heretics of the first two centuries In 1780 Mr. Hogg, of E^xeter, published another of Dr. Lardner's pieces, upon which he had be- stowed much labour, though it was not left in a perfect •late; this was *^ The History of the Heretics of the first two centuries after Christ, containing an account of their time, opinions, and testimonies to the books of the New Testament; to which are prefixed general observations concerning Heretics.'* The last of Dr. Lardner's pieces was given to the world by the late Rev. Mr. Wiche, thea of Maidstone, in Kent, and is entitled ^' Two schemes of a Trinity considered, and the Diviue Unity asserted ;" it consists of. four discourses ; the first represents the com*, monly received, opinion of the Trinity; the second de* scribes the Arian scheme ; the third treats of the Nazarene doctriT^ ; and the fourth explaiSs the text according to
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that doctrine. This work may perhaps be regarded as iiupplemei^tary tb a piece which he wrote in early life, and which he published in 1759, without his name, entitled '^A Letter written in the year 1730, concerning the question. Whether the Logos supplied the place of the Human Soul in the person of Jesus Christ f * in this piece his aim was to prove that Jesus Christ was, in the proper and natural meaning of the word, a man, appointed, anointed, beloved^ honoured, and exalted by God, above all other beings. Dr. Lardner, it is generally known, had adopted the So* cinian tenets.
For the many testimonies given of Dr. Lardner^s cha- racter, the reader must be referred to the very elaborate and carious life written by Dr. Kippis, and prefixed to a icomplete edition of his works, published in 1788, in eleven very large volumes, by the late J, Johnson. This edition, on which uncommon carie was bestowed, has of late become very scarce and dear, and another has just been under* taken, to'be printed in a 4to size. ^
LARREY (Isaac de), a French historian, was born Sep- tember 7, 1638, at Montivilliers, of noble parents, who were Protestants. After having practised as an attorney some time in his native country, be went to Holland, was appointed historiographer to the States General, and set- tled afterwards at Berlin, where he had a pension from the elector of Brandenburg. He died March 17,1719, aged eighty. £[is principal works are, the '^ History of Augus- tus," 1690, 12mo; "The History oi Eleanor, queen of France, and afterwards of England,'* 1691, 8vo; *VA His* tory of England," 1697 to 1713, 4 vols. fol. the most va- lued of all Larrey's works on account of the portraits, bul its reputation has sutik in other respects since the publica« tion of the history written by Rapin. He wrote also the history, or rather romance of " the Seven Sages," the mos| complete edition of which is that of the Hague, 1721, 2 vols. 8 vo ; and " The History of Frx^nc^, under Louis XIV." 5 vols. 4to, and 9 vols. l2mo, a work not in much estimar tion, but it was not entirely his. The third volume 4co wa,s the production of la Martiniere. *
LARROQUE (Matthew de), in Latin Larroquanus^ whom Bayle styles one of the most illustrious ministers tb(»
I Life by Kippis, as above.
% Kiceroo, vol. L aud X. — Bibl. 6erniiinique> rpU I.-*Morert«^*Iltfft. Hiil^
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reformed ever had in France, was bom at Letrac, a small city of Guienne, near Agen, in 1619. He. was hardly past his youth when he lost bis father and Diotber, who werc^ persons of rank and character. This misfortune was soon followed by the loss of his whole patrimony, although by What means is not known ; but the effect was to animate him more strongly to his studies, and to add to polite li- terature, which he had already' learned, the knowledge of philosophy, and above all, that of divinity. He made a considerable progress in these sciences, and was admitted a minister with great applause. Two years after he had been admitted in his office he was obliged to go to Paris to answer the cavils of those who intended to ruin his churo)^ in which, although he was not successful, he met with such circumstances as proved favourable to him. lie preached sometimes at Charenton, and was so well liked 1>y the duchess de la Tremouille, that she appointed him minister of the church of Vitre, in Britany, and gave him afterwards a great many proofs of her esteenp; nor was b^ less respected by the prince and princess of Tarente, and the duchess of Weimar. He served that church aboojt twenty*seveh years, and studied the ancient fathers with the utmost application. He gave very soon public proofr of the progress he had made in that study, for tb« answer he published to the motives which an opponent had aliedged for his conversion to popery, abounded with passages quoted from the. fathers, and the works which be published afterwards raised his reputation greatly. There was an intimate friendship between him and Messieurs I>aill£, fu^ ther and son, which was kept up by a constant literary oor* respondence ; and the joujrney be took to Paris procured him the acquaintance of several illustrious men of letters. The church of Charenton wished to have iuvited him in 1669, but his enemies had so pr^ossessed the cotirt .against bim, that his majesty sent. a prohibition to that church not to think of calling bim, notwithstanding the deputy general of the reformed bad offered to answer for Mona. de Lar« roquets good behaviour. He was afterwards chosen to fa|e both miuister and professor of divinity at Saumur. The former be accepted^ but refused the professorship of d^« vinity, as it might interfere with the study of church his- tory, to which he was very partial; The intendant of the province, however, forbad him to go to Saumur; and aU though the. church complained of this unjust prohibition,
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And petitioned vfery zealously for tbe necessary pertnission^ which she obtained, Larroque did not think it proper to enter upon an employment against the will of the intend- ant. He continued therefore still at Vitr^, where he did . not suffer his pen to be idle. Three pf the most consi- derable churches of the kingdom chose him at once, the church of Montauban, that of fiourdeaux, and that of Roan. He accepted the invitation of Roan, and there died, Jan. 31, 1684, having gained the reputation not only of a learned man, biit also pf an honqst man^ and a faithful pastor.
His principal works; are, a " Histpire de PEucharistie," Elzevir, 1669, 4to, and 1671, 8vo; An answer to M. Bos- •uet's treatise "De la Conimunion sous les deux espec^esj" ** An Answer to the motives of the minister Martinis Con- version •/' ^ An Answer to the office of the Holy Sacra- ment of Port Royal ;*' two Latin dissertations, " Ue Pho- tino et Liberio ;'* " Considerations servant de reponse k ce que M. David a ecrit contre la dissertation de Photin," 4to ; ** Observations," in Latin, in support of Daill^^s opinion, that the epistles of St. Ignatius are spurious, against Pear- son and Bev^ridore ; " Conformity des Esflises reforra^es de France avec les anciens;" ** (Donsiderations sur la nature de PEglise, etsur quelques-tines de ses propri^t^,^' 12mo; a treatise in French on the Regal and Sacred Observations, in Latin, witli " A Dissertation on the Thundering Legion." These two last works were published by his son.*
LARROQUE (Daniel de), son of the preceding, was borri at Vitr^. He retired 1681, to London, on the revo- cation of the edict of Nautes, and afterwards to Ct)pen- hagen, where his father's friends promised him a settlfe- ment, but finding them unsuccessful, he went into Holland, where he reniained till 1690, and th^n going into France, ^abjured the protestant religion, and turned Roman catholic. Hie usually resided at Paris, but having written the preface -to a satirical piece, in which great liberties were taken with Louis XIV. on account of the famine in 1693, be was ar- rested and sent to the Ch&telet, and then removed t6 tt^e castle of Saumur, where he reniained five years; At the end of thatjtime, however, be regained his Kberry by the abbess of Fontevraud's solicitations, and got a place in M. de Torcy's office, minister and secretary of state. When
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the regency CDauaeDcedy Larroque was appointed tecre* tary to the interior council, and on the suppression of that council, bad a pension of 4000 livres till bis death, Sep* tember 5, 1731, when b^ was about seventy. He leftie^ veral worlLs^ but inuob inferior to bis fatber^s : tbe princi*
£al are, '^ La Vie de rimppsteur Mahomet,*' 12ino, trans- ited froQ^ tbe English of Dr. Prideaox ; ** Les v6ritables Motifs de la Conversion de M» (le Boutbiiier de ^Ranci) TAbbiS de 1^ Trappe,'*. wi^b some reflections on bis life and writings, 1^85,. l^mo, a satirical work. *^ Nouvelles Ac^ cusatioiis centre Varillas, ou R6marques critiques centre une Partie de son Histoire de TH^resie,** 8vo; <*LaVie de Francois £udes de Mezerai,'' 12fno, a satirical romance s a traoslatiqu of Ecbard's Rqn^an History, revised and pub« lisbed by the abbe Desfc^n^aines. Larroque also assisted, during some n^onths^ in tbe ^^ Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettre^,'' while Bi^yle was ill. The *^ Advice to the " Refugees'' is a^Uo attributed to him, which was believed to , bs^ve been written by Bayle, besause tbe latter would never betray Larroque, who, it is supposed, was the real author . of it, chusing rather to suffer the persecution which this : publication raised against him, than prove false to bis friend,* . who hs^d enjoined him secrecy. ' LASCA. SeeGRAZZINL
I^ASCARIS (CpNSTANTiNE), a learned Greek, descend- . ed from tbe imperial family of that name, was born at Con- stantinople, but became a refugee when it was taken by ; tbe Turks in 14jf4, and went to Italy, where he was most . amics^ly received, by duke Francis Sfora^a of AJilan, jivbo . placed bis own daiighter, a child of ten years of age, under , the care of Laacaris for instrqctiop in Uie Greek language, and it is said to have been for her iise be composed bis Greek grammar* From Mils^n be went to Rome, about 1463, or perhaps later, add fropi thence, 9^t the invitation .of king Ferdinan.d, to Naples, where he openied a public school for Greek find rhetoric. leaving spent some years in. this employment, be was desirous of repose, and em- . barked with tbe intentioi) of settling at a town of Greece ; bi|t having touched at Measina, be was urged by such ad- vantageous offers to make it his residence, that he com- plied, and passed there tbe remainder of bis days* Here )ie received the honour of citizenship, which be merited
1 lloreri.^Dict. Hist. d< L'Advoc^t,
1>y His virttic^ as wdl fis htis teaming, and by llie tnHuie t)f scholars which his reputation drew thither. He lived. tcy a * veiT'advanced age, and fs supposed to have died about the ' efind of the fifteenth century. He bequeathed his library to'the city of Messina. His Greek graminar was printed ^^ Milan in f416\ reprinted in 1480, and was, aecorditig to Zen6^ ^* prima Grs^oo-Latina prseiorum foetura," the first Greek and Latin book that issued from the Italian press. A' better edition of it was given in 1495, by Aldus, from a copy corrected by the author, and with which the printer wa& furnished by Ben^bo and Gabrielli. This was the firttt essay of the Aldine press. Bembo and Gabrielli had been the scholars of Lasoaris, although in his old age, as they did not set out for Messina until 1493. A copy of this Greek . grammar of the first edition is now of immense value* Erasmus considered it as the best Greek grammar then extant, excepting that- of Theodore Gaza. Lascaris was author likewise of two tracts on the Sicilian and Calabrian Greek writers, and some other pieces, which remain in manuscript.^
LASCARIS (JoHK, or John Andrew), called Rhyndti- cenus, as Constantine. was called Byzantinus, was a learnt' Greek of the same family with the preceding,- who came either from Greece or Sicily to Italy, en the ruin of his country. He was indebted to cardinal 6essarion for his ^ucation at Padua, where he obtained a high reputatidn for his knowledge in the learned langnages, and received the patronage of Lorenzo de Medici, who sent him into Greece with recommendatory letters to the sultan BajaMt, in order tp collectandent manuscripts t fomhis purpose he took two journeys, in the latter of which he appears to have been vety successful. After the expulsion of the Medici family from Florence, in 1494, he was carried to 'France by Charles Vltl. after which he was patronized by Louis XI L Wibb sent him, in 1503, as his ambassador to Venice, in which office he remaiined till 150B. He joined the pursuit of literature with hii public employment, and held a Correspondence with many learned men. After the ierminati6n bf bis etilbassy, he remained some years at Venice, as an instructoir in the Greek language. On the election of pope Leo X. to the popedom in 1513, he set
1 Hodius de Oraecis iilastribat.->Saxii ODpoiMticoo.— Bibliotbeea Spea- Sfsrianfty vol. II!.«-BrttDei'ft MAnael du Libraire.
L A 8 C A RI S. S5
Mt J* B«iM^ wher^fat hb ittiligiltoot Loo fbonded m coUegft for noble Gredmn youifaii at Roifte, at tlie bead of irfaicb fa^ placed the ambor. of, ibe pl^af aodlikedrife leade bim so|ieriDteDdaot M the Greek preta; faitdbjlities aa a tenrector and ectttoi!^ kad beeo idr^^dy sofiicientiy fiiin^ed bv bis magnificeiit editiao of ibe Greek *' Abtbo* h^gie," pnoted in capital letters at Florence in 1414^ aiid b^ dmt of ** Calltmacbus/' printed in the same forai. Mail* tasre thinks be was also editor of foiir of the tragedies of ^SEaripides/' of the *^ Gnonw Moilasticboi,*' and the ^^Argonaotios** of Apdlonius Rbodius. He now printed the G#eiek << Scholia'' on Homer, in 1517; and. in 1518 tto.^'.Soholia" ot> Sophocles. Having in this last-raen- tioned year -qaitted Home for Fiance, whither hb was in- v^bsd i^ Francis I. be was employed by that monarch ia forming the royal library. He was also sent as bis aad»ftasador to. Venice,, with a view of procuring Greek yoaths for the purpose of founding a college at Paris simi- lar to that of Rome. After the accbmpiisbment -of dtber jimpoitaot . missions, be died at Rome in 1535, at anad« vattoed: age. He translated into the Latin language, a wndi^ extracted from Polybius, on the military constitutions of >jtbe Romans; and composed epigrams in Greek and Latin ; this- rare volame is entitled '* Lascaris Rhydacehi ep^jraaofflsata, Gr. Lat edente Jac. Tossano,"' printed at Paris, 1527,. 8vo. There is anotber Paris edition of 1544, 4tou: :JMr. Dibdin has given an aimple and interesting ac- eoont of bis.^Antbologia*' from lord Spencer's splendid veUom copy*^
LASENA, or LASCENA (P£T£R), a learned ItaHan, was.boni at '.Naples, Sept. 25, 1590. In compliance with bis.fatb^r^ be first cQltivateU and practised the law ; but afterwards followed 'the bent of liis inclination to polite literature; applying himself diiigeiitly to acquire the Greek language, in which his education bad been defec- txve. He also. learnt French and Spanish. From Naples be removed .to Rome ; whene be> was no sooner settled, tbali'he obtained the protection of cardinal Francis JBar* . berini, besides >other prelates ; he also procnred the friend- shift of Lucas Hblstenius, Leo Allatids, and other persons of rank in . the republic of letters. He made use of the
^ Hodius de Graci« illustribus.-*-Oresswell's Poliiiao.^-Rotcoe's Leo. — BibU Spenceriaoa, toI. II. ,
9^ : i. A S^.N A..
rrepose he enjoyed ill this sitaation .to put the Iifist faandtd . some works whicbibe bad began at Naples; but bis conti-» MMisfti intense application, 'And (iao~great abstinence (for he ; made' but one^oieal in t^entyt^four bour^), threw him ioto a fever, of^which : be died; Sept ^0^ 1636: At bis dea^fa^ • he^iefc to cardinsil Barberinii two Latin discourses, which lie bad4pfronoanced before the Greek academy of tb^ monks -of £t..Ba8il,"^''De Lingua Heilenistica,'' in which he dis- itfuss^d, with great learning, a point upon that isubject^ ' which then divided tbe literary world. He atiso left to car- dinal Bracucaccio his book entitled *' Dell" antioo Giniiasio
< Napolitanc^" which was afterwards published in 16S8,'4to.
- It contains a description of the sports, shows, spectacles, ' and combats, which were formerly exhibited to the pec^le . of. Naples: .He was tbe author likewise of ^f Nepenth<i^
< Homeric seu deabolendo luctu,?' Lugd. 1624, 8vo; and ; *^ Cleombrotus^ sive de iis aui in aquis pereont," Roma^
- 163^7, 8vo.»
LASCOv. SeeALASCO.
LASSALA (Manuel), a Spanish Ex-jeaoit, was born
jatValentiain 1729/ and died in 1 7 98v at Bologna, to which be had retired on the expulsion of his order. Our autho* rity gives little of his personal history. . He owed his cele- brity to bis knowledge of the ancient languages,: and of . poetry and history, which be taught > in. tbe univ^ersity of Valentia. His works are in Spanish, Italian, and Latin ; in the Spanish. be wrote, 1. ^* An essay on general History,
1 ancient and modem,** Valentia, 1755, SLvols. 4to^ ftaid to be the best abridgment of the kind which 'the Spaniards
, have'; at the end he gives the lives of the Spanish poets , 2* ^^ Account of the Castillian poets,*', ibid. 175.7, 4ta He wrote also tragedies; 1. ^^ Joseph,** acted and printed at Valentia :in 1762. 2. *^ Don Sancho Abarva,** ibid. 1765,
' in Italian, and such pure and elegant Italian as; to astonish the critics of Jcaly. He wrote three tragedies; 1. >^ Ipbi*
, genia in Aulis.** 2. >' Ormisinda.** 3. ^^ Lucia Miranda.^*
. In Latin, he exhibited his talents for poetvy, and is bighlj eommendeii for the classical purity of style of his .^< Rhe-
• nus,** Bologna, 1781 ; the subject, tbe inundations of the Rhine : and his " De serificio clvium Bologniensium libel- lus singularis,** ib. 1782, composed in.honour of afdte giveii by tbe merchants of Italy. He also made a good tran^U*?
«
1 Niceron^ vol. XV.— ^Sai^ Ooooiatiieou.
'
L A 8 S d N E. - 2f
tlon fcom the Arri)ic into Hebrew of *^ Loknaan^s FaMes,^ Bologna, 1781, 4to.'
LASSONE (Joseph Maria Francis de), an emmenfc French physician, was born at Carpentras, oh the Sd-of July, 1717. He was removed for education to Paris, but in bis early years be waa less remarkable for his perseTe- rtfitce in study, tliah for a propensity which be shewed for the gmy pleasures of youth ; yet even then he raised the hopes of his friends by some ii>genious performances, which merited acadeihic honours. At length he applied iimh se- Yiousness to study, and devoted himself wholly to the puif* suits of anatomy, in which he made such rapid progress, that, at thie age of twenty* five, he was received into the academyof sciences as asaociate^anatomtst: An extraor-
' dinary event, however, p%it a period to his anatomical pur- suits, lo selecting among some dead bodies a proper sub-
/ jeetfor dissection, he fancied he perceived in one of them some very doubtful signs of death, and endeavoured to re-animate it} his efforts were for a long time vain ; but bis %st persoa^on induced him to persist, and be ultirtiately
: cucceeded in brtogitig his patient to Kfe, wlio proved t6 be a poor peasant. This (Mr^umstance impressed so deep a sense of horror on the mind of the anatontist, - that be de- ciified ttiese pursnits'iit future. "Natural history succeeded the study of anatomy, and mineralogy becoming a favourite object of his pursuit, he pnblisbed bia observatiotis on the
. crystallized free-stones of Foiuakibleau ; but - chemistry finally became the beloved occnpation of M. de Laasone. •His oamerous memoirs, which were read bejfbre the royal ^academy of sciences, presented a valuable train of new observations, useful both to the progress of that study, 'and to the 'art of compounding remedies ; and in every part of
■ these he evinced the sagacity of an attentive observer^ and of an ingenious experimentalists' After having practised medicine for a long time in the hospitals and cloisters, he was setit for to court ; and held the office of first physician at Versailles. • He lived in friendship- with Fontenelle, Wihslow, D'Alembert, BufTon, and other scientific . cha- racters; an^d the affability of his manners, and his ardent zeal for the advancement of knowledge, among the young •scholars, whose industry he encouraged, and whose fepu* |ation'waa become one of his most satiafactoiy enjoymeotSji
• » fiiot^ IinftrSuppleiiMtitv'
, I
U L A S S O N E.
gained him general respect. When from a natural ielu cacy of constitution, M* de Lassone began to experience the inconireniencea of a preoiature old age, he became forrowful and fond of solitude ; yet, reconciled to his situa^ tioD, he calmly observed his death approaching, and ex^
Eired on Dec» 8, 1788. Lassone, at the time of his deaths eld the appointment of first physician to Louis XVI. and bis queen ; be was counsellor of state, doctor*regent of the faculty of medicine at Paris, and pensionary «-veteraii of the 9.cademy of sciences, menober of the academy of medicine at Madridf and honorary associate of the coilegf of medicine at Nancy .^
LASSUS (Ob]lanou8), or, as he is called by the Jta<^ Jians, Orlando di Lasso^ an eminent musician, was a na^ live of Moos, in Haioault, bora in 1520, and not only apent many years of bis life in Italy, but had his musical ^idu^ation there, having been carried thither surreptitiously, when a child, on account of bis fine voice. The historian Thuanus, who has given Orlando a place among the illus*- trious men of bis time, tells us that it was a common prac>- iice for young tingen to be forced away from their parent^ and detained in the service of princes ; and that. Orlando .was carried to Milan, Naples^ and Sicily, by Ferdinand Oonaaffo. Afterwards, when h^ was grown up, and had probably lost his voice* he went to Rome, where be taught music during two years; at the expiration of which, be travelled through different parts of Italy and France witb Julius Cttsar Brimcatius, and at length, returning to Flan^ d^rs, resided many years at Antwerp, til}^ being inyite(|, by tbe duke of Bavaria, to Munich, he settled at. that court, and. married* He had afterwards an invitation, acqon^f- pariiefl with . the promise of great emoluments, frooi Charles IX. Mng of France, to take upon him the oflSce of master and director of bis bi^nd ; an honour which be ficc/epted, but was stopped on the road to Paris by tb^ .newa of that n^onarcb's death. After this event he returned tQ Municbf whither be was recalled by William*, jthe son .J9i,ndi succe^or of bis ptitrpn Albert, to the same oflSce wbicii ^e bad be)d uader bijB father. Orlando con^niied at tb^ i(H>wrt till his death, in 1593, at upwards of seventy years of age. His reputation was so great, that it was said of him ; ^^ Hie ille Orlandus Lassus, qui recreat orbem.*'
I Hnteli!Mmi!9 Me^csl Biogfmpli7.-*-Itees't Cydop^dia.
L A S S U S. t9
As he lited to a considerable age, and never seems to have checked the fertility of bis genias by indolence, his compositions exceed, in number, even those of Palestrina. There is a complete catalogue of them in Draadius^ amounting to upwards of fifty different works, consisting of masses, magrnificats, piassiones, motets, and psalms : mtli Latin, Italian, German, and French songs, printed in Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. He ez- icelled in modulation, of which he gave many new speci- mens, and was a great master of harmony.*
LATCH (John), an English lawyer, was a native of Somersetshire, and educated at Oxford, in St* John^s coI« lege, as Wood was informed, where, he adds, he made considerable proficiency in< literature. Afterwards he re- lAoved'to the Middle Temple, but being of a delicate habit, does not appear to have practised as a barrister, ^ome years before bis death, he had embraced the Roman catholie religion^ influenced by the artifices of a priest or ilesait who prevailed on him to leave bis estate to the so- ciety of Jesuits. He died at Hayes in Middlesex, in Au- gust i655. He was the reporter of certain ** Cases in the first three- years of K. Car. L'* which were published in French, by Edivard Walpole, 1662, folio.*
LATIMER (Hugh), bishop of Worcester, one of the 6rst reformers of the church of England, was descended of honest parents at Tburcaston in Leicestershire ; where his father, though he had no land of his own, rented a small farm, and by frugality aud industry, brought up a family pf sis: daughters besides this son. In one of his court sermons, in Edward's time, Latimer, inveighing against the nobility and gentry, and speaking of the mo- deration of landlords a few years before, and the plenty in which their tenants lived, tells his audience, in his familiar way, that, ^* upon a farm of four pounds a year, at the utmost, his father tilled as much groutid as kept half a dozen men; that he had it stocked with a hundred sheep and thirty cows ; that he found the king a man and horse, himself remembering to have buckled on his father's har- ness when he went to Blackheath ; that he gave his daughters five pounds apiece at marriage; that he lived hospitably among his neighbours, and was not backward in
' y Bantey'i Hitt. of Music* sod in'Re<«i*t Cvclopadia. s atb. Ox, vol. ll.-*BridfBiAn*s JLe;gal hkuUogt tipby.
30 LATIMER.
his alms to the poor.*' He was born in tbe farm-house about 1470; and, being put to a grammar-school) he took; learning so well, that it was determined to breed him to« the church. With this view, be was sent to Cambridge^ Fuller and others say to Christ's college^ which must be a tradition, as the records of that college do not reach his time. At the usual time, be took the degrees in arts^ and, entering into priest's orders, behaved with remarka- able zeal and warmth in defence of popery, the established, religion. He read the schoolmen and the Scriptures with equal reverence, and held Thomas a Becket and the apos- tles in ^qual honour. He was consequently, a zealous op^- ponent of the opinions which had lately discovered them** selves in England; heard the teachers of them with high indignation, and inveighed publicly and privately against the reformers. If any read lectures in tbe schools, Latimer tvas sure to be there to drive out the scholars, and could not endure Stafford, the divinity-lecturer, who, howeveri is said to have been partly an instrument of his conversion. When Latimer commenced bachelor of divinity^ he gave an open testimony of his dislike to their proceedings in an oration against Melancthon, whom he treated most severely for bis impious, as he called them, innovations in religion.' HiszeaLwas so much taken notice of in the university, that he was elected cross-bearer in ail public processions;- an employment which he accepted with reverence, and; discharged with solemnity.
Among those in Cambridge who favoured the reforma- tion, the most considerable was Thomas Bilney, a clergy- man of a most holy life, who began to see popery in a very disagreeable light, and made no. scruple to own it. Bilney was an intimate, and conceived a very favourable opinion, of Latimer ; and, as opportunities offered, used to suggest to him many things about corruptions in religion, till he gradually divested him of his prejudices, brought him to. think with moderation, and even to distrust what he had so earnestly embraced. Latimer no sooner ceased from being a ;zealous papist, than he became (such was bis con-, stitutional warmth) a zealous protestant ; active in support- ing the reformed doctrine, and assiduous to make converts both in town and university. He preached in public, ex- horted in private, and everywhere pressed the necessity of a holy life, in opposition to ritual observances; A be- haviour of this kind Was immediately taken notice of^ X^m^
L A T I ME «• SI
bridge, no leM thm theretft of tli6 kingdom, was entirely popi^^ and everf new opinion was watched with jealousy^ Ltftimer soon perceived how obnoxious be had made bim^ self; and the first remarkable opposition he met witli from the popish party, was occasioned by a course «f sermons be preached, during the Christmas holidays, before .{be university) in which he spoke his sentiments with great freedom upon, many opinions and usages maintained and practised in the Romish church, and particularly insisted upon the great abuse of locking up ^he Scriptures in an unknown tongue. ' Few of the tenets of popery were then questioned in England, but such as tended td a relaxatioa 6^ moi'ais $ transubstantiation, and other points rather spe-* cnlative, still held their dominion ; Latimer therefore chiefiy dwelt upon those of immoral tendency. He shewed what tree religion was, that it was seated in the heart ; and that, in comparison with it, external appointmentg were of no value. Having a remarkable address in adapt- ing him^If to the capacities of the people, and being con- sidered as a preacher of eminence, the orthodox . clergy thought it high time to oppose him openly. This task was undertaken by Dr. Buckingham, prior of the Black-friars^ who appeared in the pulpit a few Sundays after ; and, with great pomp and prolixity, shewed the dangerous tendency of Latimeir's opinions; particularly inveighing against hit heretical notions of having the Scriptdres in English, lay- ing open the bad effects of such an innovation. ** If that heresy,'* said he, '* prevail, we should soon see an end of every thing useful among us. The ploughman, reading that if he put his hand to the plough, and should happen to look back, he was unfit for the kingdom of heaven, would' soon lay aside his labour ; the baker likewise read- ing, that a little leaven will corrupt his lump, would give us a very insipid bread } the simple man also finding him-4 self commanded to pluck out his eyes, in a few years we should have the nation full of blind beggars.*' Latimeis could not help listening with a secret pleasure to this in- genioas reasoning; perhaps- he had acted as prudently, if he had considered the prior's arguments as unanswerable ; Uttt, he could not resist the vivacity of his temper, which strongly inclined him to expose this solemn trifler. . The whole university met together on Sunday, when it waa known Mr. Latimer would preach. That vein of plea-^ tantry ittd humour which ^raa through all. bis words and
ss LATIMtBR.
mclions^ would here, it wa$ im^iiiedy lliite iU fbU flcopf } atidy IQ say ihe tradi, tbe proacb^r wajs not a little condcioiif of his. oiTQ superiority: to c^omplete tbe scene^ just hef<Mre tbe sermon began, prior Buckingham himself entered the church with bis cowl about bis 8houlder8> und seated binl^ self, with an air of importance^ before tbe pu)pit» Lati* mer,» with great gravity, recapitulated the learned docior*^ arguments, placed them in the strongest light, and then rallied them with such a flow of wit, and at the same time with so much good humour, that, without tbe fippearance of ill-nature, he made his adversary in the highest degree Hdiculous. Jle then, with great address, appealed to the people; descanted upon the low esteem in which tbeii guides had always held their understandings; expressed the utmost offence at their being treated with such.eoil^ tempt^ and wished his honest countrymen might only have the. use of the Scripture till they shewed themselves sUch absurd interpreters. He concluded his discourse with a few observations upon scripture metaphors. A figurative manner of speech, he said, was common in all langui^es : representations of this kind were in daily use, and generally understood. Thus, for instance, continued he (address^* ing himself to that part of the audience where the prior was seated) ,^ when we see a fox painted preaching is^ friar^s hood, liobpdy imagines that a fox is meant, bat that craft and hypocrisy are described, which are sooften found disguised in that garb. But it is probable that h^* timer thought this levity unbecoming ; for when one Vene^ tus, a foreigner, not long after, attacked him again upon tbe same subject, and in a manner tbe most scurrilous and provoking, we find htm using a graver strain. .Whether he ridiculed, bowevef( or reasoned, with so much of the spirit of true oratory^ considering the times, were bis ha<» rangues animated, that they seldqm failed of their intended effect ; his raillefy shut up the prior within his monastery ; and his arguments drove Venetus from tbe university.
These advantages increased . tbe credit of the protestant party in Obmbridge, ef which Bilney and Latimer were the leaders ; and great was the alarm of the popish clergy, of whfch some were the heads of colleges, and senior part 9f the university. JTrequent convocations were held, tutors were admonished to have 'a strict eye over their pupils, and academical censures of all kinds were inflicted. But aca* demical censures were found insufficienit. Latiaaei (?oitti«
LATTIMEK. S%
fiUed to preacbi and heresj to spfead. The heads of the popish party applied to the bishop of Ely^ Dr. West, as their diocesan ; but that prelate was oot a man for their purpose ; he was a papist indeed, but moderate. He, how« erer, came to Cambridge, examined the state of religion, and, at their intreaty, preached against the heretics ; but he would do nothing farther ; only indeed he silenced Mr. Latimer, wbith, as he had preached himself, was an in- stance of his prudence. But this gave no check to the reformers ; for there happened at this time to be a pn>« testant prior in Cambridge, Dr. Barnes, of the Austin-^ friars, .who, having a monastery exempt from episcopal jurisdiction, and being a great admirer of Latimer, boldly licensed him to preach there. Hither his party followed him ; and, the late opposition having greatly excited the curiosity of the people, the friars* chapel was soon inca- pajble of containing the crowds that attended. Among others, it is remarkable, that the bishop of Ely was often one of his hearers, and bad the ingenuousness to declare, that Latimer was one of the best preachers he had ever heard. The credit to his cause which Latimer had thus gained in the pulpit, he maintained by the piety of his life. Bilney and he did not satisfy themselves with acting unexception- ably, but were daily giving instances of goodness, which malic^ could not scandalize, nor envy misrepresent They were always together concerting their schemes. The place where they used to walk, was long afterwards known by the na.me of the Heretics* Hill. - Cambridge at that time was full of their good actions ; their charities to the poor, and friendly visits to the sick and unhappy, were then common topics. But these served only to increase the heat of persecution from their adversaries. Impotent themselves, and finding their diocesan either unable or unwilling to work their purposes, they determined upon an appeal to the higher powers ; and heavy complaints werd carried to court of tfjie increase of heresy, not without for- mal deposttious agaih^t the principal abettors of it
Th^ principal persons at this time concerned in eccle« siasttodi a^airs were cardinal Wolsey, Warham archbishop of Gailterbury, and Tunstal bishop of London ; and as Henry VIH. was now in the expectation of having the bu- siness of -his divorce ended in a regular way at Rome, he was careful to observe all forms of civility with the pope. Hie cardinal therefore etected a court, consisting of biAcips^
Vol. XX. D
3* L A-T I ME R.
divines, and canonists, to put the laws in exeOution agdnst- heresy : of this court Tunstal was made president ; and - Bilney, Latimer, and one or two tx^oxe, were called before him. Bilney was considered as the heresiarch, and against him chiefly the rigour of the court was levelled ; and they succeeded so far that he was prevailed upon to recant : accordingly he bore his faggot, and was dismissed. As for Latimer, and the rest, they bad easier terms : Tunstal omitted no opportunities of shewing mercy ; and the here- tics, upon their dismission, returned to Cambridge, where they were received with open arms by their friends. Amidst this mutual joy, Bilney alone seemed unaffected ; he .shunned the sight of his acquaintance, and received their congratulations with confusion and blushes. In short, he was struck with remorse for what he had done, grew me- lancholy, and, after leading an ascetic life for three years, resolved to expiate his abjuration by death. In this reso- lution he went to Norfolk, the place of his nativity ; and,, preaching publicly against popery, he was apprehended by order of the bishop of Norwich, and, after lying a while ^ in the county gaol, was executed in that city.
His sufferings, far from shocking the reformation at Cambridge, inspired the leaders of it with new courage. Latimer began now to exert himself more than he had yet done ; and succeeded to that credit with his party, which. Bilney had so long supported. Among other instances of. his zeal and resolution in this cause, he gave one very re- markable : he had the courage to write to the king against a proclamation then just published, forbidding the use of the Bible in English, and other bpokson religious subjects. He bad preached before his majesty once or twice at Windsor^ and had been noticed by him in a more affable manner than that monarch usually- indulged towards his subjects. But, whatever hopes of preferment his sove- reign's favour tnight have raised in him, he chose to put. all to the hazard rather than omit what he thought his duty. , He was generally considered as one of the most eminent, who favoured protestantism, and therefore thought it be* ^ame him to be one of the most forward in opposing popery. His letter is the picture of an honest and sincer^. heart : it was chiefly intended to point .out to the king the bad intention of the bishops in procuring the proclamation^, and concludes in these terms : ^^ Accept, gracious, sove-. reign, without displeasure, what I have written ^ I thoughtj>
LA T I M E IL 35
it nay duty to mention these things to yonr inajesty* No personal quarrel^ as God shall judge me, have I wiih.any man ; I wanted only to induce your majesty to consider well what kind of persons you have about you, and the ends for virbich they counsel. Indeed, great prince, many of them, or they are* much slandered, have very private ends. God grant your majesty may see through all the designs of evil men, and be in all things equal to the high office with which you are intrusted. Wherefore, gracious king^ remember yourself, have pity upon your own soul, and think that the day is at hand, when you shall give account of your office, and of the blood that hath been shed by your sword : in the which day, that your grace nfay stand stedfasdy, and not be ashamed, but be clear and ready in your reckoning, and have your pardon sealed with the blood of our Saviour Christ, which alone serveth at that day, is my daily prayer to him who suffered death for our sins. The spirit of God preserve you!"
Though the influence of the popish party then prevailed so far that this letter producied no effect, yet the king, no way displeased, received it, not only with temper, but with condescension, graciously thanking him for his well* intended advice. The king, capricious and tyrannical as be was, shewed, in many instances, that he loved sincerity and openness ; and Latimer's plain and simple manner had before made a favourable impression -upon him, which this letter contributed not a little to strengthen ; and the part be acted in promoting the establishment of the king's su« premacy, in 1535, riveted him in the royal favour, -Dr. Butts, the king's physician, being sent to Cambridge on that occasion, began immediately to pay his court to the pro- testant party, from whom the king expected most unani« mity in bis favour. Amongthe first, Jiemade his applica* tion to Latimer, as a person most likely to serve him; begging that he would collect the opinions of his friends in the case, and do his utmost to bring over those of most eminence, who were still inclined to the papacy. Latimer^- being a thorough friend to the cause he was to solicit, un- dertook it with his usual zeal,' and discharged himself s6 much to the satisfaction of the doctor, that, when that gentleman returned to court, he took Latimer alotfg with him, with a design, no doubt, to procure him. some favouf suitfi(ble to bis merit.
. D 2
3« LATIMER.
About this time a person was rising into power, who be^ came his chief friend and patron : The lord Cromwell, who, bein^ a friend to the Reformation, encouraged of course 8u<^h churchmen as inclined towards it. Among these was Latinier, for whom his patron soon obtained West Kington, a benefice in Wiltshire, whither he resolved, as soon a& possible, to repair, and keep a constant residence. His friend Dr. Butts, surprized at this resolution, did what he could / to dissuade him from ft : *^ You are deserting,*' said he^ , ^^ the fairest opportunities of making your fortune : the prime minister intends this only as an earnest of his future fa* vours, and will certainly in time do great things for you : but it is the manner of courts to consider them as provided for, who seem to be satisfied ; and, take my word for it, an absent claimant stands but a poor chance among rivals who have the advantage of being present." Thus the old courtier advised. But these arguo^ents had no weight. He was heartily tired of the court, where he saw much debau- chery and irreligion, without being able to oppose them ; and, leaving the palace therefore, entered immediately upon the duties of his parish. Nor was he satisfied within those limits; he extended his labours throughout the county, where he observed the pastoral care most ne- glected, having for that purpose obtained a general licence from the university of Cambridge. As his manner of preaching was very popular in those times, the pulpits every vrfiere were gladly opened for him ; and at Bristol, where he often preached, he was countenanced by the magis-. trates. But this reputation was too much for the popish clergy to suffer, and their opposition first broke out at Bristol. The mayor had appointed him to preach there on " Easter^day. Public tiotice had been given, and all people were pleased; when, suddenly, came an order from the bishop, prohibiting any one to preach there without his licence. The clergy of the place waited upon .Latimer, in- formed him of the bishop's order; and, knowing he had na such licence, were extremely sorry that they were thus deprived of the pleasure of hearing him. Latimer received their compliment with a smile ; for he had been apprized of the affair, and knew that these very persons had written to the bishop against him. Their opposition became after- wards more public and avowed ; the pulpits were used to spread iuvectives against him; and such liberties were
LATIMER. 37
taken with his character, that he thought it necessary to justify himself. Accordingly, he called upon his malignevs to accuse him publicly before the mayor of Bristol ; and, with all mea of candour, he was justified ; for, when the parties were convened, and the accusers produced, no- thing appeared against him; but the whole accusatiosn was left to rest upon the uncertain evidence of hearsay information.
His enemies, however, were not thus silenced. The party against him became daily stronger, and more inflamed. It consisted in general of the country priests in those parts, headed by some divines of more eminence. These persons, after mature deliberation, drew up articles against him, ex« tracted chiefly from his sermons ; in which he was charged with speaking lightly of the worship of saints ; with saying there was no material fire in hell ; and that he would rather be in purgatory than in Lollard's tower. This charge being laid before Stokesley bishop of London, that prelate cited Latimer to appear before him ; and, when he appealed to his own ordinary, a citation was obtained out of the arch- bishop's court, where Stokesley and other bishops weife commissioned to examine him. An archiepiscopal citation brought him at once to a compliance. His friends would have had him fly for it ; but their persuasions were in vain. He set out for London in the depth of winter, and under a severe fit of the stone and cholic ; but he was more dis* tressed at the thoughts of leaving his parish exposed to the popish clergy, who would not fail to undo in his ab- sence what he bad hitherto done. On his arrival at Lon- don, be found a court of bishops and canonists ready to receive him ; where, instead of being examined, as he ex- pected, about his sermons, a paper was put into his hands, which he was ordered to subscribe, declaring his belief in the eflScacy of masses for the souls in purgatory, of prayers to the dead saints, of pilgrimages to their sepulchres and reliques, the pope's power to forgive sins, the doctriue of merit, the seven sacraments, and the worship of images ; and, when he refused to sign it, the archbishop with a frown begged he would consider what he did. ^< We intend not," says he, ^^ Mr. Latimer, to be hard upon you ; we dismiss you for the present ; take a copy of the articles, examine them carefully ; and God grant that, at our next meeting, we may find each other ifi a better temper S'* At the nextaAd several succeeding meetings the same scene
58 LATIMER.
was acted over again. He continued inflexible, and they conjtinued to distress him. Three times every week they regularly sent for him, with a view either to draw some- thing from him by captious questions, ^or to teaze him at length into compliance. Of one of these examinations he gives the following account: ^^I was brought out,'' says he, ^*.to be examined in the same chamber as before.; but at this time it was somewhat altered : for, whereas befor^e there was a fire in the chimney, now the fire was taken away, and an arras hanged over the chimney, and the table stood near the chimney's end. . There was, among these bishops that examined me, one with whom I have been very familiar, and whom I took for my great friend, an aged man ; and he sat next the table-end. Then, among other questions, he put forth one, a very subtle and crafty one; and when I. should make answer, ' I pray you, Mr. Latimer,' said he, < speak out, I am very thick of hearing, and there be many that sit far off.' I marvelled at this, that I was bidden to speak out, and began to misdeem, and gave an ear to the chimney ; and there I heard a pen plainly scratching behind the clotli. They had appointed one there to write all my answers, that I should not start from them.. God was my good Lord, and gave m^ an- swers ; I could never else have escaped them." At length he was tired out with such usage ; and when he was next summoned, instead of going himself, he . sent a letter tp the archbishop, in which, with great freedom, he tells him, that *^ the treatment he had of late met with, had fretted him into such a disorder as rendered him unfit to attend that day ; that, in the mean time, he could not help taking this opportunity to expostulate with his grace for detaining him so long from the discharge of his duty ; that it seemed to him most unaccountable, that they, who never preached themselves, should hinder others ; that, as for their exar mination of him, he really could not imagine what they aimed at; they pretended one thing in the .beginning, and another in the progress; that, if his sermqns were what gave offence, which he persuaded himself were neither contrary to the truth, nor to any canon of the church, he was ready to answer whatever might be thought exception- able in them ; that be wished a little more regard might be had to the judgment of the people ; and that a distinc- tion might be made between the ordinances of God and
jmu > lUat U some abases m reUgion did prevail^ -s^. was
LATIMER. S9
then commoiily supposed, be thought preaching was the be&t means to discountenance them ; that be wished all pastors might be obliged to perform their duty : but that^ however, liberty might be given to those who were willing; that, as for the articles proposed to him, he begged to be excused from subscribing tbem ; while he lived, he never would abet superstition : and that, lastly, he hoped the ^archbishop would excuse what he had written ; he knew his duty to his superiors, and would practise it : but, in that case> he thought a stronger obligation laid upon him."
What particular effect this letter produced, we are not informed. The bishops, however, continued their prose* cution,.till their schemes were frustrated by an unexpected hand ; for the king^ being informed, most probably by lord Cromwell's means, of Le^timer's ill-usage, interposed ^n his behalf, and rescued him out of their hands. A figure of so much simplicity, and such an apostolic appearance as his at court, did not fail to strike Anne Boleyn, who men- tioned him to her friends, as a person, in her opinion, well qualified to forward the Reformation, the principled ^f which she had imbibed from her youth. Cromwell rai3ed our preacher still higher in her esteem; and they both joined in an earnest recommendation of him for a bishopric to the king, who did not want much solicitation in bis favour. It happened, that the sees of Worcester and Salisbury weise at that time vacant, by the deprivation* of Ghinuccii and Campegio, two Italian bishops, who fell under the king's displeasure, upon his rupture with Rome« The former of these, was offered to Latimer; and, as this promotion came unexpectedly to him, he looked upon it as the work of Providence, and accepted it without much persuasion. Indeed, he bad met with such usage already, as a private clergyman, and saw before him so hazardous a *|>rospect in his old station, that he thought it necessary, both for bis own safety, and fpr the sake of being of more service to the world, to shroud himself under a little more temporal power. All historians mention him as a person re* markably zealous in the discharge of bis new office; and tell us, that, in overlooking the clergy of his diocese, he was uncommonly active, warm, and resolute, and pre- sided in bis ecclesiastical court in the same, spirit In; visiting he was frequent and. observant: in ordaining strict wd wary : la preaching indefatigable : in reproving and
40 LATIMER.
exhortifig severe and persuasive. Thus far he could act with authority ; but in other things he found himself under difficulties. The popish ceremonies gave him great offence; yet he neither durst, in times so dangerous and unsettled^ lay them entirely aside ; nor, on the other hand, was he willing entirely to retain them. In this dilemma his address was admirable : he inquired into their origin ; and when be found any of them derived from a good meaning, heincul* cat^d their original, though itself a ccnrruption, in the room of a more corrupt practice. Thus he put the people in mind, when holy bread and water were distributed, that these elements, which had long been thought endowed with • kind of magical influence, were nothing more'than appeii-* dages to the two sacraments of the Lord's*supper and bap- tism : the'former, he said, reminded us of Cbrist^s death ; and the latter was only a simple representation of being pu« rified from sin. By thus reducing popery to its principl^s^ he improved, in some measure, a bad stock, by lopping from it a few fruitless excrescences. . While his endeavours to reform were thus confined te his diocese, he wfs called upon to exert them in a more public manner, by a summons to parliament and convocn^ tion in 1536. This session was thought a crisis by the Protestant party, at the head of which stood the lord Cromwell, whose favour with the king was now in its me- ridian. Next to him in power was Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury, after whom the bishop of Worcester was the most considerable man of the party ; to whom were added the bishops of Ely, Rochester, Hereford, Salisbury, and St. David's. On the other hand, the popish party was headed by Lee archbishop of York, Gardiner, Stokesle}!^ smd Tunsta), bishops of Winchester, London, and Dur- ham. The convocation was opened as usual by a sermon^ or rather an oration, spoken, at the appointment of Cran- mer, by the bishop of Worcester, .whose eloquence was at this time everywhere famous. Many warm debates passed in this assembly ; the result of which was, that four sacra- ments out of the seven were concluded to be insignificant : but, as the bishop of Worcester made no figure in them, for debating was not his talent, it is beside our purpose to enter into a detail of what was done in it. Many altera- tions were made in favour of the reformation ; and, a few months after, the Bible was translated into English, and recommended to general perusal in October 1537^
JL A T I M E R. 41
In tbe mean time the bishop of Worcester, highly satis- fied with the prospect of tbe times, repaired to his diocese, having made a longer stay in London than was absolutely necessary. He had no tpileuts for state affairs, and there* fore mtddled not with them. It is upon that account that bishop Burnet speaks very slightingly of his public charac- ter at this time, but it is certain that Latimer never desired to appear in any public character at all. His whole am- bition was to discharge the pastoral functions of a bishop, neither aiming to display the abilities of a statesman, nor those of a courtier. ^How very unqualified he was to sup- port the latter of. the3e characters, will sufficiently appear ifom tbe following story. It was the custom in those days for the bishops to make presents to the king on New-year^ s- day, and many of them would present very liberally, pro- portioning their gifts to. their expectations. Among the rest, the bishop of Worcester, being at this time in town, waited upon the king with his o£Fering; but instead of a purse of gold, which was the common oblation, he pre- sented a New Testament, with a leaf doubled down, in a very conspicuous manner, to this passage, ^^ Whoremon- gers and adulterers God will judge."
Henry VIII. made so little use of his judgment, that his whole reign was one continued rotation of violent passions, which rendered him a mere machine in the hands of his ministers ; and he among them who could make the most artful address to the passion of the day, carried his point. Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, was just returned from Germany, having successfully negotiated some commis- sions which the king had. gready at heart ; and, in 1539, a parliament was called, to confirm the seizure and sur- jrendry of the monasteries, when that subtle minister took his opportunity, and succeeded in prevailing upon his ma- jesty, to do something towards restoring the old religion, ^. being most advantageous for bis views in the present situation of Europe. In this state of affairs, Latimer re- ceived his summons to parliament, and, soon after his ar- rival in town, -he was accused of preaching a seditious sermon. The sermon was preached at court, and the preacher, according tq, his custom, had been unquestion- ably severe enough against whatever he observed amiss. The king had called together several bishops, with a view to consult, them upoa some points of religion. When they bad all given their opinions, and ^ere about to be dis-
42
LATIMER.
missed, tlie bishop of Winchester (for it was most pfobdbly be) kneeled down and accused the bishop of Worcester as above-mentioned. The bishop being called upon by the king with some sternness, to vindicate himself, was so far from denying or even palliating what he said, that be boldly justified it; and turning to the king, with that noble unconcern which a goc(d conscience inspires, made this auswer : " I never thought myself worthy, nor I never suedto be a preacher before your grace ; but I was called to it, and would be willing, if you mislike it, to give place to my betters ; for I grant there may he a. great many more worthy of , the room than I am. Andt if it be your gtace-s pleasure to allow them for preacher^, I could be content to bear their books after them. But if your grace allow me for a preacher, I would desire you to give me leave to dis«- charge my conscience, and to frame my doctrine according to my audience. I had been a very dok indeed, to have preached so at the. borders of your realm, as I preach be- fore your grace." This answer baffled his accuser's malice^ the severity of the king's conscience changed into a gra- cious smile, and the bishop was dismissed with that oblig- ing freedom which this monarch never used but to those whom he esteemed. In this parliament passed the famous act, as it was called, of the six articles^, which was no sooner published than it gave an universal alarm to all the favourers of the reformation ; and, as the bishop of Worv cester could not give his vote for the act, he thought it wrong to hold any office. He therefore resigned bis bi- shopric f, and retired into the country ; where be resided during the heat of that persecution which followed upoa this act, and thought of nothing for the remainder of his days but a sequestered life. . He knew the storta which was up could not soon be appeased, and he had no inclination to trust himself in it. But, . in the midst of his security, an unhappy accident carried him again into the tepipestu^
* These articles were, 1. In the sa-. crament of the altar, after the coDse> cration there remains no substance of bread and wine, but the natural bod^r and blood of Christ. 2. Vows of chas- tity oogiit to be observed. S. The use of private masses ought to be continued* 4. Cprnmunion in both kinds is not ne- cessary. 5. Priests must not marry. 6. Aurienlar -'confession is to be re- tained in the church.
f it is related of him, that when he came from the parliament-bouse to his lodgings, be threw off his robes ; aocf, leaping up, declared t6 those aboul; him, that he found himself iigtiter than ever be found himself before. Thfe itory is not unlikely, a^itismnchia charactec: a vein of pleasantry and good humour accompanying the most serious actions of^his liie. >
LATIMER. «
ous weather that was abroad : he received a bruise by the fall of a tree, and the contusion was so dangerous, that he was obliged to seek out for better assistance than the coun-^ try afforded. With this view he repaired to London, where he had the misfortune to see the fall of his patron, the lord Cromwell ; a loss of which he was soon made sen- sible. Gardiner's emissaries quickly found him out ; and something, - that somebody had somewhere heard him say against the six articles, being alleged against him, he was sent to the Tower, where, without any judicial examina*' tion, he suffered, through one pretence or another, a cruel imprisonment for the remaining six years of king Henry's reign.
Immediately upon the accession of Edward VI. he and all others who were imprisoned in the same cause, were set at liberty ; and Latimer, whose old friends were now in power, was received by them with every mark of affec^ tion. He* would have found no difficulty in dispossessing Heath, in every respect an insignificant man, who had succeeded to his bishopric : but be had other sentiments, and would neither make suit himself, nor suffer his friends to make any, for his restoration. However, this was done by the parliament, who, after settling the national con'- cems, sent up an address to the protector to restore him': and the protector was very well inclined, and proposed the resumption to Latimer as a point which he had very much at heart ; but Latimer persevered in the negative, alleging his great age, and the claim he had from thence to a private life. Having thus rid himself of all incum- brance,' he accepted an invitation from Cranmer, and took up his residence at Lambeth, where he led a very retired life, being chiefly employed in hearing the complaints and redressing the injuries, of the poor people. And, indeed-, his character for services of this kind was so universally known, that strangers from every part of England would resort to him, so that he had as crowded a levee as a mi- nister of state. In these employments he spent more thaii two years, interfering as little as possible in any public transaction ; only he assisted the archbishop in composing the homilies, which were set forth by authority in the first year of king Edward ; be was also appointed to preach the Lent sermons before his majesty, which office he performed during the first three years of his reign ^. As to his ser-
* We are informed by Dr. Heylin, that the pulpif was remoTed out of the that such crowds went to hear Latimer, Royal chapel into the Privy .garden.
44 LATIMER.
inons, which are still extant^ they are, indeed, far enougk from being exact pieces of composition : yet, his simpli* city and familiarity, his humour and gibing drollery, were well adapted to the times ; and his oratory, according to the mode of eloquence at that day, was exceedingly popu- lar. His action and manner of preaching too were very affecting, for he spoke immediately from his heart His abilities, however, as an orator, made only the inferior part of bis character as a preacher. What particularly re- commends him is, that noble and apostolic zeal which b« exerts in the cause of truth.
But in the discharge of this duty a slander passed upom him, which, being recorded by a low historian of thojie days, has found its way into ours. It is even recorded as credible, hy Milton, who sufFerefd his zeal against episco- pacy, in more instances than this, to bias his veracity, or at best to impose upon his understanding. It is said that after the lord high admiral's attainder and execution, which happened about this time, he publicly defended his death in a sermon before the king ; that he aspersed his charac- ter ; and that he did it merely to pay a servile complimeat to the protector. The first part of this charge is true ; but the second and third are false. As to his aspersing the ad« miraPs character; his character was so bad, there was no room for aspersion ; his treasonable practices too were no- torious, and though the proceeding against him by a bill in parliament, according to the custom of these times, may be deemed inequitable, yet he paid no more than a due forfeit to the laws of his country. However, his death oc<* casioned great clamour, and was made usi^ of by the lords of the opposition (for he left a very dissatisfied party be- hind him), as an handle to raise a popular odium against the protector, for whom Latimer had always a high esteem* He was mortified therefore to see so invidious and base an opposition thwarting the schemes of so public-spirited a man ; and endeavoured to lessen the odium, by shewing the admiraPs character in its true light, from some anec- dotes not commonly known. This notice of lord Seymour, which was in Latimer's fourth sermon before king Edward, is to be found only in the earlier editions.
Upon the revolution which happened at court after the death of the d uke of Somerset, Latimer seems to have retired into the country, and made use of the king's licence as a general preacher in those parts where be thought his labours
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•
might be most serviceable. He ttras thus employed daring the remainder of that reign, and continued in the same course, for a short time, in the beginning of the next ; but, as soon as the introduction of popery was resolved on, the first step to- wards it was the prohibition of all preaching throughout the kingdom, and a licensing only of such as were known to be popishly inclined : accordingly, a strict inquiry was made after the more forward and popular preachers ; and many of them were taken into custody. The bishop of Win- chester, who was now prime minister, having proscribed Latimer from the first, sent a message to cite him before the council. He had notice of this design some hours be- fore the messenger^s arrival, but made no use of the intel- ligence. The messenger found him equipped for his jour- ney; at which expressing surprize, Latimer told him that he was as ready to attend him to London, thus called upon to answer for bis faith, as he ever was to take any journey in his life ; and that he doubted not but God, who had en- abled him to stand before two princes, would enable him to stand before a third. The messenger, then acquainting hiqi that he had no orders to seize his person, delivered a letter, and departed. Latimer, however, opening the letter, and finding it contain a citation from the council, resolved to obey it He set out therefore immediately ; and, as he passed throueh Smithfield, where heretics were usually burnt, he said cheerfully, '^ This place hath long groaned for me." The next morning he waited upon the council, who, having loaded him with many severe reproaches, sent him to the Tower. This was his second visit to thisprison,^ but now he met with harsher treatment, and had more fre« quent occasion to exercise his resignation, which virtue no man possessed in a larger measure ; nor did the usual cheer- fulness of his disposition forsake him. A servant leaving his apartment one day, Latimer called after him, and bid him tell his master, that unless he took better care of him, he would certainly escape him. Upon this message the lieutenant, with some discomposure of countenance, came tb Latimer^ and desired an explanation. " Why, you ex- pect, I suppose, sir,** replied Latimer, " that I should be burnt ; but If you do not allow me a little fire this frosty weather, I can tell you, I shall first be starved.** Cran- mer and Ridley were also prisoners in the same cause with Latimer; and when it was resolved to have a public dis- putation at Oxford, between the knost eminent of the popish
4fr LATIMER.
and protestant divines, these three were appointed to tb^ nage the dispute on the part of the protestants. Accord- ingly they were taken out of the Tower, and sent toOxford, where they were closely confined in the cominon prison^ and might easily imagine how free the disputation was likely to be, when they found themselves denied the use even of books, aiid pen and ink.
Fox has preserved a conference, afterwards put inta writing, which was held at this time between Ridley and Latimer, and which sets our author^s temper in a strong light. The two bishops are represented sitting in tbei-r prison, ruminating upon the solemn preparations thei> making for their trial, of which, probably, they were now ' first informed. " The time,'* said Ridley, *' is now come ; we are now called upon, either to deny our faith, or to suffer death in its defence. You, Mr. Latimer, are an old soldier of Christ, and have frequently withstood the fear of death; whereas I am raw in the service, and unexpe* rienced.'' With this preface he introduces a request that Latimer, whom he calls ^^ his father,^' would hear him propose such arguments as he thinks it most likely his ad- vjersaries would urge against him, and assist him in pro- viding proper answers to them. To this Latimer, id his usual strain of good humour, replied that ^' he fancied the good bishop was treating him as he remembered Mr. BiK ney used formerly to do ; who, when he wanted to teach him, would always do it under colour of l^eing taught him- sielf. But in the present case,^' said he, ^^ my lord, I am determined to give them very little trouble: I shall just offer them a plain account of my faith, and shall say very little more; for I know any thing more will be to no purpose : they talk of a free disputation, but I am well assured their grand argument will be, as it once was their forefathers, * We have a law, and by our law ye ought to die.' Bishop Ridley having afterwards desired his prayers,; that he mi^ht trust wholly upon God : " Of my prayers,'* replied the old bishop, ^^ you may be well, assured ; nor do I doubt but I shall have yours in return, and indeed prayer and patience should be our great resources. . Fo^i inyself, had I the learning of St. Paul, I should think it: ill laid out upon an elaborate defence ; yet our case, my/ lord, admits of comfort. Our enemies can do no more< than Cod permits; and God is faithful, who, will not suf-^ i^r us, to be tempted aboye our 8trei>gth. Be at a points
L- A T I M E R. • «
wkh them ; gtond totbat, and let them say and do what they please. . To use many words would be vain ; yet it is requisite to give a. reasonable account of your faith, if they will quietly hear you. For other things, in a wicked judg- ment-hall, a man may keep silence after the example of Christ/' &c. Agreeably to this fortitude, Latimer con- ducted himself throughout the dispute, answering their questions as far as civility required; and in these answers it is observable he managed the argument much better thaa. either Ridley or Cranmer ; who, when they were pressed in defence of trapaubstantiation, with some passages from the fathers, instead of disavowing an insufficient authority, weakly defended a good cause by evasions and distinctions, after the manner of schoolmen. Whereas, when the same ' proofs were multiplied upon Latimer, he told them plainly that ^' such proofs had no weight with him ; that the fa- thers, no doubt, were often deceived ; and that he never depended upon them but when they depended upon Scrip- ture.'* " Then you are not of St. Chrysostom's faith," replied they, " nor of St. Austin's ?" " I have told you,'* says Latimer, .'< I am not, ex<:ept they bring Scripture for what they say." The dispute being ended, sentence lyas passed upon him ; and he and Ridley were burnt at Oxford, on Oct. 16, 1555. When they were brought to' the fire, on a spot of ground on the north side of Baliol- coUege, and, after a suitable sermon, were told by an offiper that they might now make ready for the stake, they supported each other's constancy by mutual exhortations. Latimer, when tied to the stake, called to his companion, M Be of good cheer, brother; we shall this day kindle such a torch in England, as I trust in God shall never be ex- tinguished."— The executioners had been so merciful (for that clemency may more naturally be ascribed to them than tp the religious, zealots) as to tie bags of. gunpowder about these prelates, in. order to put a speedy period to their*. tortures. The explosion killed L&timer imniediately ; but Ridley continued alive during some time, in the midst of' the flames. — 'Such was the life of Hugh Latimer, one ofr the* leaders of that glorious army of martyrs, .who intro-/ du^ecl the reformation in England, He was. not esteemed. a*^very learned man, for he cultivated only useful learning; and that, he thought, lay in a very narrow compass' Hb^ n'iBVer 6nga^ed in worldly affairs, thinking that a clergy-.. man ought to employ himself in his professibivouly 9 and
4» L A T I M E R.
bis talents, temper, and disposition, were adAiirat)!^ adapted to render the most important services to the re-' formation*
Latimer^s " Sermons" appear to have been printed se-' parately at first ; but a collection was published in 1549,' 8vo, and a larger afterwards in 4to, has often been re- printed. They contain in a quaint and familiar style, more ample materials for a hiistpry of the manners and morals of the time, than any volume we are acquainted with of that period ; and the number of anecdotes he brought forward to illustrate his subjects, must have con- tributed greatly to his popularity.*
LATIMER (William), one of the revivers of classical^ learning in England, was educated at Oxford, and became fellow of All-Souls* college, in 1489. Afterwards travelling into Italy, which was then the resort of those who wished' to extend their studies, he remained for some time at' Padua, where he improved himself very much, especially in the Greek language. On his return to England,' he was incorporated M. A. ^t Oxford, Nov. 18, 1513. Soon afterwards he became tutor to Reginald Pole, afterwards tbe celebrated cardinal, by whose interest, it is thought, be obtained the rectories of Saintbury and Weston-under- Edge, in Gloucestershire, and a prebend of Salisbury* He had also the honour of being one of those who taught Erasmus Greek at Oxford, and assisted him in the second edition of his New Testament. He died very old, about Sept. 1545 ; and was buried in the chancel of his church at Saintbury. He was reckoned one of the greatest men of his age, and with Colet, Lily, and Grocyn, contributed much to establish a taste for the Greek language. Eras- mus styles him an excellent divine, conspicuous for in* tegrity and modesty ;. and Leland celebrates his eloquence, judgment, piety, and generosity. Of his writings there is nothing extant, but a few letters to Erasmus.'
LATINI (Brunetto), an eminent grammarian of Flo- rence, in the thirteenth century, was of a noble family in that city, and during the party contests between the Guelphs and Ghibelins, took part with the fofmer. ^h^v tbe Ghibelins hsld obtained assistance from Mainfroy, king
t Life by Oilpio, and by Fox, in Wordsworth's EccU Biography, to which refer on aceount of tbe ▼aluable notes.— -Baroet's Hist, of the Reformation.— Ct>llier*s Ob. Hist.
* Ath. Ox. T<d. I.— Jaiiin's Erasmas.—Kaight's dittoy
I
L A *r I ^ 1. 4^
i>f Sitil?, th^ Godphs seht Brtknetto to obtain similar aid fi-oni Alphonso king of CaBtiik; but oti his return, hearing that the Ghibelihs had defeated hi^ t)arly and eot posses- idnn of Florence, be fled to Fraricfe, Wb^re lie resi()ed i^erai years. At length he was enabled to retuHi to his own cotifitry, ih whith he ^d appoihted to sottie honour* able offices. He died in 1294. The historian Villahi at- tHbiltes td hicti the m^rit of h&vin^ fiHt introduced it de- ^e of i^eBneinent atnong his ceuhti-jmen, ind of having reforttied their language, and the genei-al cohduct of public affijiirs. The v^otk which ha^ contributed most to his ce- lebrity, was oHe which he ehtltled " Tresbr,'* and wrote HihtKi in Prance, and irt the Ff-eficb lahguage, which be iHys he chose because it ^as the (host agreeable language and the tnon common in £uh)))e. This work is a kind of abridgtkiebt of the fiible, o^ Piiny thb naturalist, So(inu^» and other writers who have treated on different sciences^ and may be called an Encyclopsdia of the knowledge of his time. It was translated into Italian about the same piVib^, AtiA tbiJ} tran^laiibn 6»ly Was pnhtedi bui there ikie.about 4 dot^n tfani^ct^ipis 6f the original iii the royal llbraiT at Pdrt^, and ihefe Is a tft6 Ms. of il iii the Vatir tkti, m>tlnd ih (:riA[^siDii Velvet, ^\th ttianuscript notes, hjf PitM^h. Af^er his retufn td Floteilice, Latini wrote his *^ TesDtetto,** o¥ little treasure, which, however, is no^ ai stime have reported, an abridgn&eht of the " Tresor,*' but a colle^tton bf liioral precepts ih verse, ke also tfanslated ifito the Italian language part of Cicero ** de In- Ventiboe.^' fiis gi-eatedt honour seems to have been that hef was. the tbtoir of Dante, not however in poetry, for bis *^Tes6retto** affords no ground to consider hitn as a master X>f that art.'
LATlNtJS (LatiKiUs), one of the most learned critics of the sixteenth century, was born about 15 13, at Yiterbo. Hid acquired an extensive knowledge of the belles lettres atid (Sciences, and was chosen witb the other learned meo| in 157 J, to correct Gratian*s " Decretal," in which great W6tk he took much pains. H^ died January 21, 1593, ai Rotoe. Latinus left Aotes on Tertulliah, and a very learneci bonk, entitled *^ iBibliotbeca sacra el profand, sive Observa* fl6n^,e6rrfct;tioneii,conjectur8eetvai'iaBLectiones,"16'f^,/ol/
1 Tirabotcbi -'^Crescerebtoi.^-Oinsu^i Hist. Lit X>*itaiie. ^ Saxii OnoioatU— Diet. Hist.
YoL. XX. £
50 L A T O M E.
. LATOME, or LATOMUS (James), a learned scholastk? divine of the sixteenth century, a native of Gambron, in Hainault, doctor of Louvain, and canon of St. Peter'^s in . the same city, wrote against Luther, and was esteemed by his party one of the best controversialists of his time. He died 1544. All his works were collected and published, 1550, fol. by his nephew, James Latomus, who died 1596. They are io Latin, and consist of " Treatises on the Church," the " Pope's Primacy," aud ^ Auricular Con- fession ;" a ** Defence of the Articles of Louvain ;" a tract ** On the study of Divinity, and of the three Languages," in which he defends scholastic divinity. ^ Erasmus having refuted this work, Latomus answered him by an Apology. He wrote Latin with facility, but without elegance, and neither understood Greek nor Hebrew. Luther's confu-
% ...
tation of Latomus's defence of the articles of Louvain is accounted one of the ablest productions of that eminent reformer.'
L'ATTAIGNANT.— See ATTAIGNANT.
LAtJD (William), archbishop of Canterbury, was son of William Laud, a clothier of Reading;, in Berkshire, by Lucy his wife, widow of John Robinson, of the same place, and sister to sir William Webbe, afterwards lord-mayor of London, in 1591. His father died in 1594, leaving his son, after his mother's decease, the house which he inha- bited in Broad-street, and two others in Swallowfield ; 1200/. in money, and the stock in trade. The widow wfis to have the interest of half the estate during her life. She died in 1600. These circumstances, although in them- selves of little importance, it is necessary to mention as a contradiction to the assertion of Prynne, that he was of poor and ' obscure parents, which was repeated by lord Say, in the house of peers. He was born at Reading, Oct. 7, 1573, and educated at the free-school there, tUl July 1589 ; when, removing to St. John's college, in Ox- ford, he became a scholar of the house in 1590, and fellow in 1593. He took the degree of A. B. in 1594, and that of master in 1598. He was this year chosen grammar- lecturer; and being ordained priest in 1601, read, th^ following year, a divinity-lecture in his college, which w^s then supported by Mrs. Maye. Tn some of these^ chapel exercises he maintained against the puritans, the
* Dupin.— Moreri.
LAUD. 51
perpetual visibility of the church of Rome till the refortna* tion ; by which he incurred the displeasure of Dr. Abbot, then vice-chancellor of the university, who maintained that the visibility of the church of Christ might be deduced through other channels to the time of that reformation. In 1603, Xaud was one of the proctors; and the same year became chaplain to Charles Blount, earl of Devon- shire, whom he in<ionsiderateIy married, Dec. 26, 1605, to^ . Penelope, then wife of Robert lord Rich; an affair that exposed him afterwards to much censure^ and created him great uneasiness; in reality, it made so deep an impres* sion upon him, that he ever after kept that day as a day of fasring and humiliation*.
He proceeded B. D. July 6, 1604. In his exercise for this degree, be maintained these two points : the neces- sity of baptism ; and that there could be no true church without diocesan bishops. These were levelled also against the puritans, and he was rallied by the dtvinityrprofessor. He ]ikewi£»e gave farther offence to the Calvinists, by a sermon preached before the university in 160j6; and -we are loki it was made heresy for any to be seen in his com- pany, and a misprision of heresy to give him a civil salu- tation ; his learning, parts, and principles, however, pro- cured him some friends. His first preferment was the vi-' carage of Stanford, in Northamptonshire, in 1607; and in 1608 he obtained the advowson of North Kilwortb, in Leicestershire. He was no sooner invested in these livings, but he put the parsonage- houses in good repair, and gav^ twelve poor people a constant allowance out of them, which was bis constant practice in all his subsequent pre- ferments. This same year be commenced D. D. and was made chaplain to Neile, bishop of Rochester ; and preached' his first sermon before king James, at I'beobalds, Sept. 17, 1609. In order to be near his ]>atron, be Exchanged North Kilwortb for the rectory of West Tilbury, in Essex, into which he was inducted in 1609.. The following year, the bishop gave him the living of Cuckstone, in Kent, on which he resigned his fellowship, left Oxford, and settled' at Cuckstone ; but the unhealthiness of that place having-^ thrown him into an ague, he exchanged it 800i> after for- Norton, a benefice of less value^ but in a better air. >.
* She was divorced by the eeclesi' in the opinion, that in case of a dr- astical jtidge for adultery ; and Laod vorce, both the innocent and guilly Viftliied to the instances of his patron may lawful) v ra-marry.
E 2
M L A U D.
In Dec. 1610, Dr. Backeridge, president of St. J^obn% being promoted to the see of Rochester, Abbot^ jnewijr nade archbishop of Canterbury, who had distiked Laud^s principles at Osford, complained of him to the lord-chafi'- cdllor Kliesoiepe, chancellor of the university; AHedgtng that be was cordially addicted to popery. The comptaifii was supposed io be made, in order to prevent his see- needing Bockeridge in the presidentship of his college ; and the lord-chancellor carrying it to the king, ail his Cftedit, Interest, and advancement, would probably have been destroyed thereby, had not his firm friend bishop Neile contradicted the reports to his discredit. He was therefore elected president May 10, 1611, though then sick in London, and unable either to widke interest in per- son or by writing to bis friends; and the king not only confinsed his election, after a hearing of three hoors at Tichbourn^ but as a farther token of his favour, made him -one of bis, chaplains^ upon the recommendation of bishop Neile. Laud having thus attained a footing at court, flat- tered himself with hopes of great and immediate prefer- ment ; but abp. Abbot always opposing applications in hit behnJf, after three years fruitless waiting, he was upon the point of leaving the oonrt, and retiring wholly to bis cMeffif when his friend and patron Neile, newly trans- lilted . to Lincoln, prevailed with him to stay one year longer, smd in the mean time gav« hwn the prebend of Bng- deOy in the church of Lincoln, in l€t4 ; and the arcbdea* eoory of Huntingdon the foUowing year.
Upon the lord*cbancellor Ellesmere's decline, in 1616^ Laud's interest began te rise at court, so that, in Noveiti- ber that year, the king gave him the deanery of Giouces* ter ; and as a farther instance of his being in favoui*, be was selected to attend the king in his journey to Scotland, in 1617. Some royal directions were by his procurement sent to Oxford, for ibe better government of the univer* sity, before he set out on that journey, tlie design of which was to bring the church of Scotland to an uniformity with that of England; a fovourite scheme of Laud and other divines : but the Scotch were resolute in their ad-- .faeience to the presbyterian form of church government, and the only fruit of this expensive journey wes, that the- king found bis commands nugatory, and his authority cpQ- Hmned.
LAUD. 15
Laud, faow€?«', sdems to hsre tdvancedl in fiuronr mih his RH^ieaty^ for on Ihs relwrA fron Soodftnd^ Asg. 2> ^6t79 be «vas inducted to the reotorjr of Ibstock, in Letceiea^- Akei and Ja»» 22, 1620-i» installed inio a |ireb€Qd of WosMniaster. Aboot the saaiof time, there was a gewend •9pectaiio» at court,, that the deanery of that ofavrcb wMld have been conferrod upon him; but Dr. WiWaoM,^ liion dean^ vratMiagtoJceei^itin coaiinendiMa wkh thebiriiopric of L^coliR^ to which he was promoted,, procured tbafc Liiud ^houM be pvoovoted to the bishopric of St. Daf id^s. The day before bis conseeration, da resKg^aed the presidentship of St^ Johii'a, in obedience to* the cotiege- statute ; baa was pefUMkted^ to k^tp hh pcebeod of Weitmiml«r in com* mendam^ tbKwigb the lordi-keeper Wiilianna'a interest, vrho, abcMt a year after, gave him a Iinriug of about 1202. a year, >q« the dioee^ of Sl David's, to help his revenue ; and 10 jaeuary 1620^ the king! gave hitti also the rectory of Creeke^ iti Northamptanahire. The preacheni of those tiiae^ ietrodueing m their sermona discusitfons on. the doc- trines of predestination: and election, and even the noyal prero^aUrVey; the king publisbedv August lr622, directions cwcerning preachers and preaching, in H^iich L<iud was said to baiie a baud, and whicfa^ being aitned at the pu^- vitaas and lecturers,, occasioned great clamour .among theniy and' was one of the first causes of Laud^s unpopu^ Jarity. . Tliis year also, our prelate held* his famous coti«- iereuoe with Fisher the Jesuit, before the marquia of Backinghao) and bis mother^ in order to confirm them •both in the protestantr netigion,. in> wiiioh. they were then fvavering, - Tber conference wiaa printed in 1624, and pro^ d^ed an intiaiafte acqiuaititanoe bemveen' htm and the mar* qfrn^ w^o^d sfieoial iavouritat he became at tlus time, and to whom be \sf charged with making himself too; subsev- vient ; the proof of which is said to be, that Buckingham left- him his agent at court, when be went with the prince to Madrid, and frequently cornesponded witbhim. ' About Oct* 1623, the lord-keeper Wiliiams^s jealousy of Laud, as a rival in the duke of Buckingham's favour^ and other misunderstandinga or misrepresentationaon both rides,- occasioned such animosity between these two pre* Ifttes^as yvaa attended with the worst consequences' Arch^ bkhop Abbot also, resolving to depress Laud aslpngas be could^ left him out of the high commission, of which: he co^i- plained to the duLo of Buckingham, Nov. 1624, and then*
54
L A U D.
was put into the commission. Yet he was tiot so attached .to Buckingham, as not to oppose the design, formed by that nobleman, of appropriating the endowment of the Charter-house to the maintenance of an army, under pre^ tenc^ of its being for the king's advantage and the ease of the subject. In December this year, he presented to the duke a tract, drawn up at his request, under ten heads, concerning doctrinal puritanism. He corresponded also with him, during bis absence in France, respecting Charles the First^s marriage with the princess Henrietta-Maria ; and that prince, soon after his accession to the throne, wanting to regulate the number of his chaplains, and to know the principles and qualifications of the most eminent divines in his kingdom, our bishop was ordered to draw a list of them, which he distinguished by the letter O for orthodox, and P for puritans. At Charles's coronation, Feb. 2, 1625-6, he officiated as dean of Westminster, in the room of Williams, then in disgrace; and has been charged, althodgh unjustly, with altering the coronation- oath^. In 1626 he was translated from St. David's to . Bath and Wells ; and in 1 628 to London. The king having appointed him dean of his chapel •roj'al, in 1626, and taken him into the privy-council in 1627, he was likewise in the commission for exercising archiepiscopal jurisdiction iluring Abbot's sequestration. In the third parliament of king Charles, which met March 17, 1627, he was voted a. favourer of the Arminians, and one justly suspected to be unsound in his, opinions that way ; accordingly, his name was inserted as such in the Commons' remonstrance ; and, because he was thought to be the writer of the king's speeches, and of the duke of Buckingham's answer to his impeachment, &c. these suspicions so exposed him to po- pular rage, that his life was threatened f. About the same
* The alteration was said to be Ihia : in that part whera the king swears <^ to maintain the laws/' be added *' so far forth as it i-tands with the pre- rogative ;" or, as it appears in Whar- ton's preface, " saving tbe king's pre- rogative KoyaU'' litis accusation was renewed by lord chief baron Atkyns, in his speech to the lord mayor^ Oct. 1693, with a bint that archbishop San- crofl had struck out much more from tbe coronation-oath of James II. Laud ▼indicated himself at bis trial, by hav- ing the bpokfl of tiie coronation of king
James I. and king Charles compared, which were found to agree.
f A paper was found in the dean's yard of St. PauPs to this effect: " Laud, look to thyself; be assured thy life is sought. As thou art the fountain of all wickedness, repent thee of thy mon- strous sins before tbou be taken out of the world, &c. And aftsnre thyself neither God nor tbe world c^a endure such a vile counsellor, or such A whim- perer j" or to this effect. Laud's Diary, p..4*»
LAUD. ' 55
feime> he was put into an ungracious office ; namely, in a commissipn for raising money by impositions, which the Cooimons called excises ; but it seems never to have been executed.
Amidst all these employments, bis care was often exerted * towards the place of his education, the university of Ox- ford. In order to rectify the factious and tumultuary man- uer of electing pr6ctors, he fixed them to the several col- leges by rotation, and caused to be put into order the jar- ring and imperfect statutes of that university, which had lain. confused some hundreds of years. In April 1630 he was elected their chancellor ; and he made it his business, the; rest of his life, to adorn the university with buildings, and to enrich it with books and MSS. In the first design he began with his own college, St. John's, * where he built the inner quadrangle (except part of the south side of it, which was the old library) in a solid and elegant manner : the first stone of this design was laid in 1631. He also erected that elegant pile of building at the west-end of the divinity-school, known by the name of the convocation- bouse below, and Selden's library above * ; and gave the university, at several times, 1300 MSS. in Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldee, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Armenian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, La- tin, Italian^ French, Saxon, English, and Irish ; an inva- luable collection, procured at a prodigious expence.
A^ter the duke of Buckingham's murder, Laird became chief /avourite to Charles I. which augmented indeed his ppvver and interest, but at the same time increased that envy and jealousy, already too strong, which at length proved fatal to him. Upon the decline of archbishop Ab- bot's health and favour at cotilrt, Laud*s concurrence in the very severe prosecutions carried on in the high-commission and star-chamber courts, against preachers and writers, did him great prejudice with most people. Among these, however, it has been remarked that bis prosecution of the king^s printers, for leaving out the word ** not,'' in the seventh commandment, could be liable to no just ob- jection. On May 13, 163 3, he left London to attend
* Ue ha<] also projected to clear the vocations an-l con^rei^ations, the law«r
^rcat$tquarebelwe«D St. Mary's church for a walk or place of coiirerence, ^e.
ami the suhools, where now sUnds the But, the owners of ihe hauses not j^eios
RadclifTe-iibrary.- His desifu was i<v witling to part with iheniy the design
raise a fair and spacious room upon was fru:>traievi* HcyliUj p. 379, pillars, ibc upper part to %erre for coa-
'ss,- I< A U p,
t^ kiag^ y^o waj^s ^ho^sfi t^ a^t Qi^t l^p Uii Q0MiHKli<|9 isr ^:9il^ud2 and w^a sworti ft privy-comi^^if^r of .^b»k kiag^ doxD^ June 15, s^n4 ou ttie 26th^ om^. faAek to FuUimii. During his stay in Scotland he formed a resololion oh b^iqg^og that church tq a cpnformly vi.tb ibe cboroh.of £%^9d ; hijk% the king c^minitt^ the ftz^mog of a Ufliurgji. tQ s^syel^t nuii^ber of ScQ,ttisb bii^ops, wdbo, infterlaDg. se^. veral variations fy^m tiie EngUsb litwrgy, "w^ra Qf>posed s.tre»uouts\y biut unsuccessfully, by' L«uii. Having endo^ voured to. su^ppl^^t Abbplij ^^ wlp^oqi,^' ast £tiiU«B obsei^vMi i% ^M ^huifch history, S^ b^ cokM uol be catt tented t^i sij^c^/^ upcvii h.i>» de^ij^b \u Auj^t Ibis year, ine wa» ^PPK^^P^^^ ^is syc^esfliQ^. 'tk^ v^ry^ moxoing, August 4, tbere canae oD^e to him at Qvei^nwic^ wilb a serious offer (^nd ap avQ^^d abiUty to ps^r^Qirm. \i)i ^i a eardkial'ii hat ; wh^ich ol^r Wi^ rep/^aited o^ %bf^ 1%^; but his answer bath tinges w^, ^^ tb«at ^OQ^e^^rbs^t dwelt withiu him whieh would i^o.t suffer thfLt ti^l R9m^ were q^h^r. thao it is." On Sept. 14 be w.as elected cba^oeUoii^ of t^b^ uc^YeriMty of Dublin. : One of bis^ &^st acts^^ a^ft^r bis adyancement ta the apchx* bisljiopric, was ^n injunotion, October 1$, pujrsuant to the .kiug^s letter, that no. pJ^rgymant dikOii^M b^ ordaiued priest witbput a title. A^t ^be s.aa9.e ti.9).ecaiii:e!ovit the king^&der citation about lavi^f^l s^r^Si Qf)> SjUiAdays, wbkh L^ud was cbagrged . with having reviv^ a[\d oalairged ; andibkat, with the. vexatious pecsetcutioii^ of sj^/ch ciejpgym^a as refused' so read it in their churches, brought a great odjuut) ispoa him. It wa3 in. vaip that 1^ plew^ed precedents in foreign cljiurches; and perhaps 19^ a^ of thift unhappy iieign gave a n^ore violent sbock to the iQyab^ of tha peof)le, which Laud, unfortunately, seldpra^ ooosMHed. Soon aitec he y e^ fa^tbf r interfered with pppuUv pcejttdioea. Dtturing a me^ t];opoliticaI visitation, by his ^i<^v«!geoeral, a^iong other regulations, th^, cburcbrviraffdens io eviory parish were, en- joined to ijemove the compauniourtaJlile from thei^iddie ta the ea^t end of the chancel, {Jtar-wise^ the ground ben>g raised for tha.t purpose, apd, to fence it in. with diecent raib, to avoid profaneness ; and the ref usu^ra were prosecuted in the high-con^miasion or star-chambei; courts. In this visi* tation, the Dutch and Walloon congregations were sum- moned to appear; and such as were bocn in England en- joined to repair to the seveir^l parisbncburicbea ^ere« they inhabited, to hear divine service and sermons, and perform all duties and payments required on that behalf; and. thos>e*
1. A U D. 5»
I
tflbMiy nakiistarsand Qlbex% tibat vert ftKeiM born, to lut llio isUi^isb Uturgy ^ansh^od inio FrcuMeb or Dutch ; but mmf of tbese^ ratbor ihai^ eomply^ choae to leave tbe king- 4a«»; V^ cbe great detriment of oar maDufeetures.
In 1 6^4 our avcbbisbep did the pocw IrUb clergy a very io^fMirtJim aenriee^ by obfcaiiiing for Ibein, from the king, a {iaojk of aU the impropriatioiis then remaining ka tbe crown. Ke alao iai^oved and settled tbe voveimea ef tbe London clergy in a better manner than befo«e« On Feb. 5, 1634-.5, be was put into tbe gr^t ceoinaittee of trade, and tbe kifig'a refvei>ue, and apipointed one of tbe eommisstonerB of tbe tdieasury, March tbe 4tb, 'upoA the deatb of Weston earii of Portland. Besadea ihift, he was, two day» after, called into tbe foreign coataittee^ and had likewise the aide diapoMd of whatsoever concerned the cbui ob ; but be Ml into warm disputes with the lord Cottington, cbancellev ef tbe exchequer, who took all opportunities of imposing upon bkn ^. Aft^r having continued for a year commis* i^oiier ol* tbo ireaaury, and acc^inted himself with tbe ajTstecies of it^ be procused the brd-treasurer^s staff for fi^. WiUiam Jijucotii, wbe ba«l thretugh bis interest been sofloesaiveiy advianced to tbe presidentship of St. John's cellegey. deanery of Woreeatec, elerbship of bis majesty's oioset, and bissbepsie o£ L<»ndon, as already noticed in our life of J4ixon. For some years Laud had set his heart upm getting tbe English liturgy introdoced into Sco«iaml ; and some of the Scottish bishops bad, uiMier his directiOR, prepared both that book and a collection of canons for public service; Um capons were published in 1635, but tbe liturgy came not in use till 1 637. On the day it was* fiat read «t St Giles's churchy in Edinburgh, it occasioned Inmost violent tumult among tbe. people, eivcouraged by the nobility, who were losers by the restitution df episco- pacy, aiul by tbe ministers, who lost tbeir clerical goverif^ ment. Laud, having been tbe greaib promoter of that aftiiv, was reviled for it iii tbe most abusive manner, and bodi h#^anrd the book were changed, with downright popery. Tbe estremely severe prosecution carried on about the* aame^timeio the star-cbamben, chiiefly through his insti-
< . *
'in AS) CqUuigtoiK v;V> ^^ i^VOft Bf tfal oC Ridiraoiut.park, aud which tliey/
ct»urt>er ttult perhaps any tinap hjis both agreed to dissutidQ his Majesty
]irurfi|OCH}> fcHud'B'Open hoaffty twis from ait+MjK-mp, may he, seen in Cla-
•P. ePM| • pf « y/ ^ . biio. Am iaat^iMe qC tfiut^u i^s ii6»h .^^ th<) R^beU>op». tbis^ wiib. i^gaitl U> the-ik«treDclosioj(^
5$ LAUD.
gation, against Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton, did bitrr also infinite prejudice, and exposed him to numberless libels and reflections; though he endeavoured to vindicate his conduct in a speech delivered at their censure, June 14, 1637, which was published by the king's command. Aijother rigorous prosecution, carried on with his concur- rence, in the star-chamber, was against bishop Williams, an account of which may be seen in bis article, as also of Lambert Osbaldiston, master of Westminster school.
In order to prevent the printing and publishing of what he thought improper books, a decree was passed in the star-chamber, July 11, 1637, to regulate the trade of print-* ^^^^9 '^y wbich it was enjoined that the masters-printers^ should be reduced to a certain number, and that none of- them should print any books till they were licensed either by the archbishop, or the bishop of London, or some of their chaplains, or by the chancellors or vice-chaneellors of the two universities. Accused as he frequently wa&, of popery, he fell under the queen's displeasure this year,: by speaking, with his usual warmth, to the king at the council-table against the increase of papists, their frequent resort to Somerset house, and their insufferable mitde- uieanors in perverting his majesty's subjects to popery,- On Jan. 3i, 1(538-9, he wrote a circular letter to his suf- fragan bishops, exhorting theoi and their clergy to contri-* bote liberally towards raising the army against the Scots; For this he was called an incendiary: but he declares, on. . the contrary, that he laboured for peace so long, till b^ i^ceived a great check ; and that, at court his counsels alone prevailed for peace, and forbearance. In 1639 he - employed one Mr. Petley to translate the liturgy into* Greek; and, at his recommendation, Ur. Joseph :Hail,^ bishop of Exeter, composed his learned treatise of <* Epis- copacy by Divi{)e Right asserted." On Dec. 9, the same year, he was one of the three privy-counseilors who ad^- vised the king to call a parliament in case of the Scot- tish rebellion; at which time a resolution, was adopted to assist the king in extraordinary ways, if the parliament _ should prove peevish and refuse supplies. A new parlia-^« ment being summoned, met April 13, 1649, and the con« vocation the day following; but the Copiinons beginning ' with complaints against tlie archbishop, and insisting upon a redress of grievances before they granted any supply, the parliament was unhappily dissolved^ May 5. The con-
LAUD.
59
vcX^aiion, however, vcontinued sitting; and certain canons were made in it, which gave great offence. On Laud many laid the blame and odium of the parliament's dissolution ; and that noted enthusiast, John Lilburne, caused a paper to be posted, May 3, upon the Old Exchange, animating the apprentices to 6ack his house at Lambeth the Monday fallowing. On tha< day above 5000 of them assembled in a riotous and tumultuous manrrer ; but the archbishop, re- ceiving previous notice, secured the palace as well as he cotfid, and retired to his chamber at Whitehall, where he remained some days; and one "of the ringleaders was hanged, drawn, and quartered, on the 21st. In August following, a libel was found in Covent-garden, exciting the apprentices and soldiers to fall upon him in the king's absence, upon his second expedition into Scotland. The parliament that met Nov. 3, i 640, not being better disposed towards him, but, for the most part, bent upon his ruin, several angry speeches were made against him in the House of commons.
It can be no wonder that his rain should appear certain, considering bis many and powerful eneanies ; almost the whole body of the puritans ; many of the English nobility' and others; and the bulk of the Scotch nation. The pu-' ritans considered him as the sole author of the innovations and of the persecutions against them ; the nobility could not brook his warm and imperious manner, and his grasp- ing at the office of prime- minister; and the Scots were excited to rebellion, by the restoring of episcopal govern- ment^ and the introduction of the English service-book among them. In this state of general discontent, he was not only examined, Dec. 4, on the earl of Strafford's case, but) when the Commons came to debate upon the late canons and convocation, he was represented as the author of them*; and a committee was appointed to inquire into.
^ Upon the attack made upon him for these canons, he wrote the fol lov- ing letter to Selden, an active man in the Commons agrainst him : '* To my much honored friend Mr. Selden these, Sal. in Chriftto. Worthy sir, I under- ' stand ttvit tlie byainets about the late ranoni will be handled againe in your- Hoiue tonaorrowe. I shall never aske any unworthie thinge of you ; but give me leave M aaye as fbilowes : If wee have erred in an ye point of legalityc uoknoirne unto us, wee shall be bar*
tilye sorrye for it, and hope that erroc shall not be made a cry me. We heare that ship-monye is layd aside, .as a thinge that will dye of itself; and I am gfad it will have «oe quiett a death. Maye not these nnfortuf^ate canons be •uflTered to dye as quyetlye, without btetiii^hinge the church, wbicb bath so m^iiye enemies hioth at home and abroad? and if thiss may be, 1 heare promise you, I will presenllye humblye teseeche his majesty e for a licence 'tu review the canons and abrogat them^
M
L A tl D.
aUbisacUofl% aloid prepare a charge agarnst iiinv on the letb. The samemoriung^ ia tke House of Lords, he was Qaoobed as an ineeikdiavy, m an accosatiott from the Scottish coriMnissioQer^ ; and, two days .after, an impeachinent of hi^b- treason was carried up t» tike Ipovds by Dentil Hoire9> desiring be qnight be forthwith secpesteted from parlia- Qient, aad committed, axd the Comrooivi would, in a con* veoient time, resoirt to them witb particular articles. ^Sooii after, the Scotch eommtssionera presented also to the up« per House the charge against him, tending to prove htm an incendiary, and he was immediately committed to the custody of the black rod. After ten weeks, sir Henry Vane, junior, brought up^ Feb. 2:6, foarteen articles against bim, whiiQb they desired time to proite in particular, anJ, in the n»ean tioie, that he be Icept safe. Accordingly, the black rod conveyed him to the Tower, March 1, 1640i-]!, amidst the insults and reproaches of the mob.
Hia enemies, of which the number was great, began then to give full vent to their passions and prejudices, and ta endeavour to ruin, bis reputation. In March and April, the House of Commons ordered him, jointly wid) ail those' that had parsed seatence in the Star-eliamber against Bar-' tan, Bastwick, and Prynne^ tx> make satisfaction and repsr- cation for the damages thi»y had sustained by their sentence^ and imprifionnpent ; ancl be was fined 20,000/. for bis act- ing in the late con voeation. He was also condemned by* the House of Londs. to pay 50O&. to sir Robert Howard for faise imprisonment. This pecson was living ia open adul- tery with lady f unbeck ; and both were imprisoned by an Qrdec of the bigU. commissioa court, at the king's particiiiar CQjlUQandk Qn* June 25,. L64-1, be resigned his* ehaiioeMor-' ship of the university of 0<s3fend>; and, in- October, t<he» House of Lords seqnMbered bis j^ri^ction, putting it ivivo-
•isaringe mreself that all my brethren will joyne with me to pr^senre the pub- irck peace, ralHer ihan that act of onrs should be thoivgbt-a publick grievance. And upon niye crcditt with yoU| I had moved* for ih:*s licence at the verye lirst sftun^v uf thiss parliament, but tHat both rny.eHf if and others diii feare the Ht>a8e of'CoiDYnous would lake of- f&ncv at it (as tin y did at ihe last) and sa^^le, wee did' ii on purpcse to pre* vent Utpm. I understand yuu meane taipeak of'ihi<s. business in the House tomorrow^ and that b«tb wade me
Wright tlie«e lynes to you, to lett yon know our meaninge and desypes. Afid 1 shall take it for a great kindness to me, and a great service to the ciiiuroba if by your means the Hou^ wiU> be satisfied with tiiisy, which is hearo offered, of abrogatifige the canons. Ta God's blensed protection I jts^fo yjoUj.and rest ,
Your loving poore frei^d* . iyimbeth, Nov. '^V, 1640. Vf^CSifT* " I mean to move the king tliias daye for a KceAse "at i» within ino»> tioned/' ♦
fOt^.^ 4yi, ^i*t'-
LAUD. tl
the hamAg of his infmor oftceni ; and enjcniied, dmt h« ehauld give no benefice widiout fiist having the House's Approbation of the person nominated by him. On Jan* 20, 1644-2, they ordered his armoury at Lambeth-palace, which had cost him above SOO/. and whiefa tbey represented aa sufficient for 2000 men, to be taken away by the sheriffs of London. Before the end of the year, all the rents and profits of the archbishopric were sequestered by the lords for the nseof the oomcnonvrealtli ; and bis hoase was plun* dered of what money it aflbrded by two members of the Hottse of Commons ; and sncb was their wanton sei^eriiyi than when he petitioned the parliament afterwards for a maintenance) he could not obtain any, nor even the leain part of abore two hundred pounds worth of his own wood and coal at Lambeth, for his necessary use in the Tower* On April 25, t64S, a motion was made in the House ef Commons, at the instance of Hugh Peters and olbers of that stamp,, to send or transport him to New England ; but that motion was rejected. On May 9> his goods and books in Lambeth-house were seized, and the goods sold for scarce the third part of their value,, and all this before be had. been brought to any trial, the issise of which alone eould justify such proce^edings. Seven days after, there came ont an ordinance of parliament^ enjoining him to give no benefice without leave and order of both Houses* On May 31, W. Prynne, by a warrant from the clost eommittee, came ami searched his room, while.be was in bed, and even rifled his pockets ; tidcing away his diary, private devotions, and twenty-one bundiet of piipers, which he had prepaned for his own defence. Prynne promised e ^hful restitution ol' th«m within three or four days ; hnt he never returned quite three buiSlles of the papen. in the mean time, the archbishop not complying exactly with she ordinance above-mentioned, all the temporalities of his archbishopric were sequestered to the pariiametit Jtrne 10, and he was suspentled from his. office and benefice, and from all jurisdiction whatsoever.
On Oct. 24, an order was brought to the archbishop, ivom the Lords, with ten additional articles of impeachment from the Commons, adding to the charge of treason ** other high crimes and misdemeanours/* He petitioned for his papers, but the committee oil sequestrations would nos grant them, nor permit any copies but at Iris own ex^eoce; and as to any allowance fof the charges of his trials it waa
6a L A 0 D.
iasuUingly said by Mr.Glyn, "that h« might plead ia/arfHa pauperis?^ At length Mr. Deil, his secretary, was ap- pointed bis solicitor, and Mr. Heme, of Lincoln's-inn, bis counsel; and two .ihore servants were sent to bim, for bis assistance. After nearly three years* imprisonmejit, on Nov. 13 the archbishop was brought to the bar of the House of Lords, and put in his answer in writing, in this form, ^' all advantages of law against this impeachmeDC saved and reserved to this defendant, he pleads, not guilty, to all and every part of the impeachment, in manner and form as it is changed in the articles ;*' and to this answer be then .set bis band. He then petitioned that bis counsel might be heard, and might advise him, both with regard to law and fact; which was. allowed in things not charged as treason. On Jan. 8, there was an order for the arch- bishop^s appearance ; but, at his request, it was postponed to the 16th ; when the committee began vi^itb the foriper general articles, to which the archbishop had put in no answer, nor even joined issue : therefore he was peremp- torily commanded to put in his answer both to the original and additional articles, in writing ; which he did, plead- ing, in general, not guilty. . . '
On Tuesday, March 12, 1643-4, the trial was opened in form^ tbe original and additional articles of impeachment were read, and, after that, the arcbbishop^s answer, plea; and demurrer to tbem. He requested that the charge and evidence to all the articles might be given together ; and the articles of misdemeanour separated from those of trea- son ; to which the celebrated lawyer, Maynard, answereid, that, in the earl of Strafford*s trial, he was put to answer every day tbe particular evidence given that day ; thac they were now only to try matters of fact, hot of law, and that all the articles collectively, not any one separately, made up ;the charge of treason. Serjeant Wilde then made a long speech, upon the charge of high treason, insisting chiefly upon the archbishop^s attachment to popery, and his intention to introduce.it into England ; concluding with these words, that *' Naaman was a great man, but he was a leper," and that the archbishop^s leprosy had so infected- all, *^ as there remained no other cure but the sword of justice/' The archbishop replied to the several charges, and mentioned various persons whom he had brought hack from the Romish religion, particularly sir William Webbe^ his . l^insmaii^ and two of . his daughters; his sofi ht^ took.
LAUD. 68
ftQta . bim ; aod, his father being utterly decayed, bred him at bis own cbarge, and educated him in the prbtestant religion. The trial lasted above twenty days, and on Sept. 2f 1644, the archbishop made a recapitulation of the whole cause ; but, as soon as he came into the House, he saw every lord present with a new thin book in folio, in a blue cover; which was his " Diary," which Prynne, as already mentioned, had robbed him of, and printed with notes of bis own, to. disgrace the archbishop. On Sept. 11, Mr. Brown delivered, in the House of Lords, a summary of the whole charge, with a few observations on the arch- bisbop^s answer. The queries of his counsel on the law of treason was referred to a committee ; which ordered his counsel to be heard on Oct. J I, when Mr. Heme delivered bis argument with great firmness an^ resolution. The lord chancellor Finch told archbishop Sancroft that the argu- riieot was sir Matthew Hale*s, afterwards lord chief justice ; and that being then a young lawyer, he, Mr. Finch, stood behind Mr. Heme, at the bar of the house, and took notes of it^ which he intended. to publish in his reports. With this argument, the substance of which may be seen in our authorities, the trial ended for that day ; but, after this, a petition was sent about LondQn, '^ for bringing delinquents to justice ;"' and many of the preachers exhorted the people to sign it ; so that with a multitude of hands, it was deli-< vered to the House of Commons, on Oct. 8. The arch* bishop was summoned on Nov. 2, to the House of Coni- mons, to hear the whole charges, and to make his defence, which he did at large, Nov. U. On the following Wed- nesday Mr. Brown replied; and after the afchbishop was dismissed, the House called for the ordinance, and without hearing bis counsel, voted him guilty of high treason. After vj^rious delays, the Lords had a conference with the Commons, on Dec. 24, in which they declared, *^ that they had diligently weighed ail things charged' against the arch* bishop, but could not, by any one of them,, or all, find bim guilty of treason." The judges had unanimously made the same declaration. At the second conference, on Jan* 2, 1644*5, the reasons of the Commons for the attainder of the. archbishop were coipmunicated to the Lords, who in a very thin bouse, passed the ordinance that he should suffer death by bangingy^ which was fixed for Friday the loth. He pleaded the king^s pardon, under the great seaH which was over-ruled, and rejected, without being read,
«« L A U D.
md the onlj fafonr granted^ and lisat ci^tet ^Uf Md #]|li reiucuficei was, tbiit bis sentence riunild be eblidged to beheading.
The arcbbisfaop coatioaed 4 jouriMil of dll tb^ ttrctmft' stances of bis trial aod impiisoinneiit to Jftitttary 9 ; but oh bearing that tke bill of aitaindttr bsd passed ifaie Lord^ bd broke off bis bistoty, and prepared biodscif f<^ dtoth. He received the notice with gn^at oditiposttfev and paAMd tbe tidne between bis sentence and esteetMion^ in prityet Md devout exercises. He slept soundly the night before bis death, till tlie time came whet) his servants were appbiflted to attend his rising ; then, he applied bimsetf td hia pri^ik,le prayers^ and so continved until sir John PenAingtoA, lieutenant of the Tower, came to cottdWct bite tH tbe scafibid, which be ascended with a cheerfel eouAt^ftniMy and was beheaded Jan. 10^ I644-S| libout 12 o'eto^k it^ noon. His body was buried in the cbureb of AlUhaltowSy Barking; but was removed to St. JobA^s c^teg^ ii^ lM%^ where it was placed in a vank in the cbap^l.
By bis will, dated Jan. 13, 1643, be bequeiaibed the bulk of bis property to chariubie of libertal p^^^^es : to fit. John's college, all his chapel plate andfufhiriufe^ wb&t bocfks tfaey bad fK)t in their library, and 5002. lo pnrcbftse hindi, the rent to be divided between every scholar and fellow 6t) Ost i 7, every y^&r. We have already oientioned that be blsik the inner qoadrangle of 8u John's ; be also bbtaikied froA king CbBrle^ the vicarage ef 8t Leareinie fMf this college!, with other valuable preferiMnts. He foDhded an Arable lecture which began to be read Aug. 10, 16$^, by the celebrated Pocoeke, whose saccessors ka>^ b^M aU schoiani of eminence^ Drs. Hyde, Walli^, tinht, and the late Dr. Joseph White. To the bishopric ef Oxford, Laud added Ae impropriation of the vicarage of Cudde^-^. deti« In his native town of Reading be founded an eicef- lent school.
His diaracter has been variously represented, ahd ihde6d enters mare or tesa into every controversy reitpecting the ttnbappy reign in which be flourished. He was a man df strict integrity, sincere^ and zealous ; but, in matiy re- spects, was indiscreet and obstinate, eagerly pursuing matters that were either inconsiderable or mischievous. The rigorous prosecutions in the Star-chamber and High-com* ^ mission courts were generally imputed to him: and he formed the aury project of uniting the t&ree kingdoms in an
I
t
• L A U D. 65
Udifbrmiiy of reHgioa; and the passing of some cerenfionies in this last afiair brought upon him* the odious imputation of popery, and of being popishly affected, without .any good grounds. He was more given to interfere in matters qf state than bis predecessors ; and this at a time when a jealousy; of the power of the clergy was increasing. Hav- ing naturally a great warmth of temper, ji^'hich betrayed itself in harsh language, he was ill fitted to contend with the party now so powerful that it may even be doubted whether a conciliating temper would have had much ef- fect in preventing their purposes against the church and state. Mr. Gilpin's comparison between him and his great predecessor Cranmer appears to us worthy of consideration. "Both," says> that elegant writer, " were good nien, both were equally zealous for religion, and both were engaged in the work of reformation. I mean not to enter into the affair of introducing episcopacy in Scotland ; nor to throw any favourable light on the ecclesiastical views of those times. I am at present only considering the measures which the two archbishops took in forwarding their respec- tive plans. While .Cranmer pursued his with that caution and temper, which we have just been examining; Laud^ in.the violence of his integrity (for he was certainly a well-meaning man), making allowances neither for men nor opinions, was determined to carry all before him. The consequence was, that he did nothing which he attempted; while Cranmer did every thing. And it is probable that if Henry had chosen such an instrument as Laud, he wpuld have miscarried in his point: while Charles with such a primate as Cranmer, would either have been successful in his schemes, or at least have avoided the fatal consequences that ensued.'^ But, whatever Laud's faults, it cannot be denied that he was condemned tq death by an ordinance of parliament, in defiance of the statute of treasons, of the law of thQ land, and by a stretch of prerogative greater th^n any one of the sovereign whom that parliagoent opposed^
The few productions we have of archbishop Laud show that his time was more occupied in act.ive life, than ^ in studious retirement, and demonstrate but little of that learning which was very justly attributed to him. These are, L *^ Seven Sermons preached and printed on several Occasions," reprinted in 1651, 8vo. j2../* Short Annota- tions upon the Life and Death of the'nijcilfe august King James,'* drawn up at the desire of George duke of Bucks.
Vol. XX. F
66 L A U D.^
3. ^^ Aaswer to the Remonstrance made by the Hous« of Commons in 1628," 4. " His Diary by Wharton in 1694 ; with six other pieces, and several letters, especially one to sir Kenelm Digby, on his embracing Popery." $. '^ The second volume of the Remains of Archbishop Laud, written by himself," &c. 1700, fol. 6. " Officium Quotidianum ; or, a Manual of private Devotions," 1650, 8vo. 7. " A Summary of Devotions," 1667^ 12mp. There are about 18 letters of his to Gerard John Vossius, printed by Colomesius in his edition of " Vossii Epistol." Lond. 1690, fol. Some other letters of his are published at the end of Usher's liife by Dr. Parr, 1686, fol. And a few more by Dr. Twells, in his " Life of Dr. Pocock," pre- fixed to that author's theological works, 1645, in 2 vols, folio."
LAUDER (William), a native of Scotland, the author of a remarkable forgery, was, educated at the university of Edinburgh, where he finished his studies with great repu- tation, and acquired a considerable knowledge of the Latin tongue. He afterwards taught with success the Latin tongue to some students who were recommended to him by the professors. In 1734, Mr. professor Watt fall- ing ill of that sickness of which he died, Lauder taught for him the Latin class, ip the college of Edinburgh, and tried, without success, to be appointed professor in bis room. He failed also in his application for the office of libirarianT^ In Feb. 1739, he stood candidate, with eight others, for the place of one of the masters of the high . school ; but, though the palm of literature was assigned by the judges to Lauder, the patrons of the school preferred one of his opponents. In the same year he published at Edinburgh an edition of ^* Johnston's Psalms,*' or rather a collection of Sacred Latin poetry, in 2 vols, but his hopes of profit from this were disappointed. In 1742, although he was recommended by Mr. Patrick Cuming and Mn Colin Mactaurin, professors of church history and mathe- matics, to the mastership of the grammar-school at Dun- dee, then vacant, we find him, the same year, in London, contriving to ruin the reputation of Milton ; an attempt which ended in the destruction of his own. His reason for the attack has been referred to the virulence of violent
1 Wbarton's Troubles and Trial of Land, — Pf ynoe's end Heylin's Li?es.-^ Life in Coates's Hist, of Reading. — Biog. Brit. Itc. &c. .
LAUDER. 67
party-spirit, which triumphed over every principle of honour and honesty. He began first to retail part of t|ts design in "The Gentleman's Magazine," in 1747; and, finding that his forgeries were not detected, was encou- raged in 1751 to collect them, with additions, into a vo-» lume, entitled " An Essay on Milton's Use and Imitation of the Moderns in his Paradise Lost,*' 8vo. The fidelity of his quotations had been doubted by several people ; and the falsehood of them was soon after demonstrated by Dr. Douglas, late bishop of Salisbury, in a pamphlet, entitled "Milton vindicated from the Charge of Plagiarism brought agaipst him by Lauder, and Lauder himself convicted of forgeries and gross impositions on the public. In a letter humbly addressed to the right honourable the earl of Bath," 175 1, 8vo. The appearance of this detection overwhelmed Lauder with confusion. He subscribed a confession, dic- tated by Dr. Johnson, on whom he had imposed, in which he ingenuously acknowledged his offence, which he pro- fessed to have been occasioned by the injury he bad re- ceived iTrom the disappointment of his expectations of profit from the publication of " Johnston's Psalms." This mis- fortune he ascribed to a couplet in Mr. Pope's Dupciad, book iv. ver. iii. and thence originated his rancour against Milton. He afterwards imputed his conduct to other mo- tives, abused the few friends who continued to countenance him ; and, finding that his own character was not to be retrieved, quitted the kingdom, and went to Barbadoes, where he was for some time master of the free-school in Bridgetown, but was discharged for misconduct, and passed the remainder of his life in universal contempt ^^ He ^ died," says Mr. Nichols, "some time about the year 1771, as my friend Mr. Reed was informed by the gentleman who read the funeral-service over him." It may be added, that notwithstanding Lauder's pretended regret for his at- tack on Milton, he returned to the charge in 1751', and published a pamphlet entitled " The Grand Impostor de- tected, or Milton convicted of forgery against Charles I.'* which was reviewed in the Gent. Mag. of that year, pro- bably by Johnson. '
LAUNAY (Francis de), an abte Frenqh lawyer, waa born August 6, 1612, at Angers. He was received ad vo-
1 Nichols's Bowyer. — Cbalnaers's Life of Ruddiman, p. 146.— > Hawkins and Bosweirs Lires of Johnson.— Qeat Mng ; see Index.
F 2
ea L A U N A Y.
cajke at Paris 1638, became eminent afterwards at the bar, and was the first professor of French law at the college of Gambray, that chair being newly founded 1680. He died July 9, 1693, aged 81. His works are, "Commentaries on Anthony LoisePs Instituts Coutumiers,'' 1688, 8vo; " Trait6 du Droit de Chasse,'* 1681, 12rao ; " R6marques sur I'Institution du Droit Romain, et du Droit Frangois,'* 1686, 4to, and other valuable works.'
LAUNAY (Peter de), a learned and judicious pro- testant writer, was born 1573, at Blois, descended from one of the most respectable families in that city. At the age of forty, he resigned a post in the exchequer, the title of king's secretary, and all prospects of advancement, that he might devote himself entirely to the sacred writings i and from that time till he was eighty-nine, rose constantly at four in the morning, to read and meditate on Scripture. The French protestants placed an extraordinary cpnfidenc6 ki him. He was deputed to all the synods of his province, and to almost every national synod held in his time, and died in 1662, greatly lamented. His works are, " Para- phrases^' on all St. PauPs Epistles, on Daniel, Ecclesiastes, the Proverbs, and Revelations ; and ^' Remarks on the Bible, or an Explanation of the difficult words, phrases, and metaphors, in the Holy Scriptures," Geneva, 1667, 4to. These two works are much valued. He wrote abo a treatise " De la Sdinte C^ne," and another, " Sur le Millenarisme."^
LAUNOI (John de),. or Launoius, a very learned man and voluminous writer, was born about 1601, and took a doctor of divinity's degree in 1636. He made a journey to Rome, for the sake of enlarging his ideas and know- ledge ; and there procured the esteem and friendship of Leo AUatius and Holsten. Upon his return to Paris, he shut himself up, entering upon an extensive course of reading, and making collections upon all. subjects. He held at his house every Monday a meeting where the learned conversed on many topics, but particularly on the discipline of the church, and the*rights of the Grallican church ; and they cordially agreed in condemning such legends as the apostolate of St. Dionysius the Areopagit« into France, the voyage of Lazarus and Mary Magdalen into Provence, and a multitude of other traditions. Lau-
1 Moreri. — Niceron, vol. XV. — Diet. Hift. • t Diet. Hist •
L A U N O I. 69
noi was such an enemy to legendary saints, that Voltaire xecords a curate of St. Eustachius, as saying, ** I always make the most profound obeisance to Mr. Launoi, for fear he should take from me my St. Eustachius.'* He died at cardinal d'Estr^es's hotel, March 10, 1678, aged 75, and was buried at the convent of the Minimes de la Place Roiale, to whom he left two hundred crowns ip gold, all the ritnals which he had collected, and half his books ; be- queathing the remainder to the seminary at Laon. Few men were so industrious and so disinterested, as M. de Launoi, who persisted in refusing all the benefices which were offered him, and lived in a pla\n, frugal manner, contented with his books and his private fortune, though the latter was but moderate. He was an enemy to vice and ambition, charitable, benevolent, a kind friend, ever consistent in his cpnduct, and submitted to be excluded from the faculty of theology at Paris, rather than sign the censure of M. Arnauld, though he differed in opinion from , that celebrated doctor on the subject of Grace.
His works were collected by the abbe Granet, and pub- lished in 1731, 10 vols, folio; his '* Letters'* had been printed before at Cambridge, 1689, fol. The principal of the other works contained in this edition are, the famous treatise ** De variSl Aristotelis fortune," and ^^ Hist, du Col- lege de Navarre/' containing some curious and interesting particulars and inquiries on several points of history and ecclesiastical discipline. All M. de Launoy^s works discover great reading, and extensive knowledge of ecclesiastical affairs. He forcibly defends the liberties of the Gallican church, and shews much penetration and skill in criti* cism. His style is neither Howery nor polished, nor is hib reasoning always just : but he fully compensates for these defects by the variety tif his subjects, and the depth of his learning. ^
LAURA. See PETRARCH.
LAURIERE (EusEBius Jam£S de), a celebrated^ lawyer^ and learned advocate of the parliament of Paris, was born July .31, 1659, and was the son of James de Lauriere, a surgeon. He attended but little to the bar, his life being almost wholly spent in study, in the course of which he ex* plored, with indefatigable pains, every part of the French hkff, both ancient atld modern, formed friendships with
1 KieeroD, roh XXXII.-^Gcn. Diet.— Saxii Oiiomafiticon.
70 L A U R I E R E.
men of learning, and was esteemed by all the most able magistrates. He died at Paris, January 9, 172S, aged 69, •leaving many valuable works, some of whi6h be wrote ifi conjunction with Claude Berroyer, another eminent advo* cate of Paris. The principal are> 1. " De Torigine d« Droit d'Amortissemeot," 1692, 12mo; 2. " Texte des Cos- tumes dela Pr6v6t6 et Vicomt^ de Paris, avec des Notes," 12mo ;• 3. " Bibliotheque des Coutumes," 4to ; 4*. M. LoisePs ^^ Instituts Coutumiers," with notes, Paris, ]710, .2 vols.* 12mo, a very valuable edition ; 5. " Trait6 deK In- stitutions at des Substitutions contractuelles,'* 2 vols. 12mo. 6. The first and second volumes of the collection of ^^ Of- dinances'' of the French kings, which valuable and very interesting work has been continued by M. Secdusse, a member of the academy of inscriptions and belles- 1 iutres, xind M. de Villeraut, to 1) vols. fol. ; 7*^' Le Glossaire du Droit Fran9ois," 1704, 4to, &c.*
LAVATER (John Caspar), the celebrated physiogno- mist, was born at Zurich, Nov. 15, 1741. He was fi'om his earliest years of a gentle, timid disposition, but rest- less in the pursuit of knowledge. At school he was per- petually varying his studies by attempting mechanical 6pe- rations, and often showed indications of genius and inveif- tion in his amusements. When he reached the upper' classes of school, his diligence in study was encouraged by the advice of Bodmer and Breitenger, and quickened by a wish to emulate some school-fellows of superior talent. His turn of thinking was original, liberal, and manly. As be grew up he wrote some essays on subjects of morals and religion, which gained him the hearts of his countrymen. Having gone through the usual course of reading and in- struction for the ecclesiastical profession, he was admitted into orders in May 1761, and two years afterwards be tra- velled with the brothers Hess, two amiable friends, of whom death deprived him, and, with Henry Fuseli, our cele- brated painter. They went over Prussia, under the tuition of professor Sulzer, and Lavater made a considerable stay with Spalding, then curate of Barth in Pomeranian Prus- sia, and afterwards counsellor of the grand consistory. On his return to Zurich he became a very eloquent and much admired preacher, and proved himself the father of his flock by the most benevolent attention- to their w^uts bodily and
» Cbaufepie^-^Niccron, toI. XXXVII.— Diet, U\$U
L A V A T E R. 71
menUiL After having been for some years deacon of the Orphans' churchy he was in 1774 appointed first pastor. la 1778 the parishioners of the church of St. Peter, the only persons in the canton of Zurich who have a right to chuse their own minister, made choice of Lavater as deacon; and, in 1786, as first pastor. Here he remained, intent on the duties of his office, and on his physiognomical studies t^ntil Zurich was stormed in 1797. On this occasion he was wounded by a Swiss soldier, on whom he had conferred important benefits ; from the effects of this he never reco- yeredy although he lived in full possession of hi^ faculties till Jan. 2, 1801, when he expired in the sixtieth year of 'his age« Hi$ principal works are, 1. *^ Swiss Songs," which be composed at the desire of the Helvetic society, smd which were sung in that society, and in other cantons. 2. Three collections of ^^ Spiritual Songs, or Hymns," an4 two volumes of *' Odes," in blank verse. 3. '< Jesus Mes- siah, or the Evangelists and Acts of the Apostles,'' 4 vols, a poetical history of our Saviour, ornamented with 72 en* gravings from his designs, executed by Chodoweiki, Lips, . &c« 4. ^* A Look into Eternity," which being severely criticised by Gothe, Lavater, who loved truth in every shape, instead of being offended at the liberties he took, sought out the author, and became his friend and corre- spondent. 5. ^^ The secret Journal of a Self-Observer," which was published here in 1795. In this Lavater un- veUs his secret conduct^ and displays the motions of his heart*. It may justly be said that every good heart is generally in unison with him, but it is impossible not to differ from many of his opinions, and not to perceive in them an uncommon degree of extravfigance and enthu- siasm* We learn from his J.ournal, however, and indeed from all, his works, that a warm desire to promote the ho- nour of God^ and the good of his fellow creatures, was the principaK feature in his character,, and the leading motive of all be did. Next to these were an indefatigable placa- bility, and an inexhaustible love for his enemies.
But his physiognomical work is that which procured him most reputation in Europe. Accident is s^id to have led him to the study of physiognomy ; standing one day at a window with Dr. Zimmerman, he was led to make such
* Many of hii opmions and singu- " Aphorisms,*' a translation of which Unties are alio perceivahte in bis was published by Mr. Fuseli in 178S.
72^ L A V A T E R.
remarks on the singular countenance of a soldier that wa^ passing by, as induced Zimmerman to urge him to pursue and methodize his ideas. He accordingly considered the subject more seriously, and acquired not only a fondness for it, but a steady conviction of the reality of the physio* gnomical science, and of the vast importance of the disco- veries he had made in it. In 1776, he published the first fruits of his labours in a quarto volume, entitled ^^ Frag- ments,*' in which he took a wide range of inquiry, and carried his ideas of physiognomy beyond the observation of those parts of the countenance which' exhibit to a com- mon eye the impressions of mental qualities and affections^ and maintained, as a leading position, '^ that the powers and faculties of the mind have representative signs in the solid parts of the countenance.'* Two more volumes ap- peared in succession, which presented a most extraordinary assemblage of curious observations, subtle and refined rea- soning, delicate feeling, and philanthropical and pious sentiment, together with a large admixture of paradox, mysticism, whim, and extravagance. The whole is illus- trated with a great number of engravings ; many of which are highly finished and singularly expressive. The work was soon translated into the French and English languages, and for a time became the favourite topic of literary dis- cussion, but has now ceased to maintain much interest. Lavater, we are told, was not only an enthusiast in thii art, but was'so far carried away by his imagination, as to believe in the continuation of miracles, and the power of casting out spirits to these days ; opinions which he did not scruple to make public, and maintain with all boldness.'
LAVINGTON (Georgje), an English prelate, andvery eminent scholar, was descended from a family long settled in Wiltshire, and was born at the parsonage- bouse of Mil- denhall, in the above county, and baptised Jan. 18, l€&3, his grandfather. Constable^ being then rector of that pa- rish. Joseph, father to bishop Lavington, is supposed to have exchanged his original benetice of Broad Hinton, in 'Wiltshire, for Newton Longville, in Bucks, a living and a manor belonging to New college, in Oxford. Trans- planted thither, and introduced to the acquaintance of several members Of that society, he >¥as encouraged to
Melster's Portraits 4es komibes illustrcs de 1& Suisse .-^Reei'i Cycloptciii^ -ii Onomasticon: ' ' ' ' " '
L A V I N G T O N. 74
educate the elde^ of his numerous children, George, th6 sabject of this article, at Wykeham*s foundation, neai* Winchester, from whence he succeeded to a* fellowship of New college, early in the reign of queen Anne. George, while yet a schoolboy, had produced a Greek translation of Virgil's eclogues, in the style and dialect of Theocritus,' which is still preserved at Winchester in manuseript. At the university he was distinguished by his wit and learning, and equally so by a marked attachment to the protestant succession, at a period when a zeal of that kind could pro- mise him neither preferment nor popularity. But if some of bis contemporaries thought his ardour in a good cause excessive, still their affection and esteem for him remained undiminished by any difference of political sentiment. In 1717, he was presented by his college to their rectory of Hayford Warren, in the diocese of Oxford. Before this his talents and principles bad recommended him to the notice of many eminent persons in church and state. Among others Talbot, then bishop of Oxford, intended him for the benefice of Hook Norton, to which his suc- cessor, bishop Potter, collated him. Earl Goningsby not only appointed him his own domestic chaplain, but intro- duced him in the same capacity to the court of king George I. In this reign he was preferred to a stall in the cathe- dral church of Worcester, which he always esteemed as one of the happiest events of his life, since it laid the foundation of that close intimacy which ever after subsisted between him and the learned Dr. Francis Hare, the dean'. No sooner was Dr. Hare removed to St. Paul's, than he exerted all his influence to draw his friend to the capital after him ; and his endeavours were so successful that Dr. LaVington was appointed in 1732, to be a canon residen- tiary of that Church, and in consequence of this station*, obtained' successively the rectories of St. Mary Aldefmary, and St. Michael Bassishaw. In both parishes he was es^ teemed a minister attentive to his duty, and an instructive and awakening preacher. He would probably never have thought of any other advancement, if the death of Dr. Stil- lingBeet, dean of Worcester, in 1746, had not recalled to his memory the pleasing ideas of many years spent in that city, in the prime of life. His friends, however, had higher views for bim ; and, therefore, on the death of bishop Ciagget, lord chancellor Hardwick, and the duke of Newcastle, recommefKled him to the king, to fill the
74
JL A V I N G T O N*
vacancy, Without his solicitation or knowledge. From Um time he resided at Exeter among his clergy, a faithful and vigilant pastor, and died universally lamented, Sept. 13, 1762; crowning a life that bad been devoted to God's honour and service, by a pious act of resignation to his will ; for the last words pronounced by bis faulteriog tongue, were Ao&iTd0 0ta) — << Glory to God." He married Francis Maria, daughter of Lave, of Corf MuUion, Dorset, who bad taken refuge in this kingdom from the popish perse* cution in France. She survived the bishop little more than one year, after an union of forty years. Their only daughter is the wife of the rev. N. Nutcombe, of Nutcombi», in Devonshire, and chancellor of the cathedral at Exeter.
' Bishop Lavington published only a few occasional sermons, except his ^^ Enthusiasm, of the Methodists and Papists compared,^' three parts^;. which involved him in a tern* porary controvery with Messrs. Whitfield and Wesley.^
LAVOISIER (AKTHOiiy Lawrence), a distinguished chemicai philosopher, was born at Paris, on the Iftth of August, 1743. His father, a inan of opulence, sparing no expence on his education, he displayed very early proofs of the extent and success of his studies, especially in the circle of the physical science^. In 1764, when the French government proposed a prize question, relative to the best method of lighting the streets of a large city, Lavoisier
' presented a dissertation on the subject, which was highl}' approved, printed at the .expence of the academy <^ sciences, and obtained for him the prei^nt of a gold medal from the king, which was delivered to him by the presi« dent of the academy, at a public sitting, in April 1766. Two years afterwards, he was admitted a member of that learned body, of which he. was constantly one of the mosr active and useful associates. About the saqae time, he was occupied in experimental researches on a variety of subjects ; such as the analysis of the gypsum found in the
• « The bishop of Exeter's book against the Methodists is, I tbiok, on the whole, composed well enough (though it be a bad copy of Still ing- fleet's famous book of the ** Fanaticism of the Church of Rome)" to do the exe- cution he intended. In pushing the Methodists, to make them Uke every thing that is bad, he compares their laiiaticisBi to the ancient mysteries;
but, as the mysteries, if they had ever been good, were not, in the bishop's opinion, bad enough for this purpose, he therefore endeavours to show against me, that they were abominations even from the beginning. As this contra** diets all antiquity so evidenUy, I thought it would be ridiculous in me to take any notice of him.*'— WarbUF- ton't Letters to Hurd, p, 86, 4to edit.
^ Foiwhele's Hist, of Deronaliirei yol. I, p. 31^.
L* A r O I S I E R. 75
neighbourhood of Paris; the crystallization of salt; the properties of water ; and in exploring the phenomena of thunder, and of the aurora borealis : and he distinguished himself by several dissertations on these and other topics, practical and speculative, which appeared in different pe* nodical works. In the Memoirs of the Academy for 1770 were published bis observations on the nature of water, and on the experiments which had been supposed to prove the possibility of its conversion into earth. He proved, by a careful repetition of these experiments, that the earthy deposit, left after repeated distillations of water, proceeded solely from an abrasion of the vessels employed. Lavoisier performed several journeys into various parts of France, in company with M. Guettard ; in the course of which he coUected a store of materials for a lithological and minera- logical history of that kingdom, which he ingeniously ar- ranged in the form of a chart. These materials were the basis of a great work on the revolutions of the globe, and ion the formation of the strata of the earth : two interesting sketches of which were printed in the Memoirs of the Aca- demy for 1772 and 1787.
- • Between these two periods, Lavoisier, struck with the -discoveries that had been made by Dr. Black, and pursued by Dr. Priestley, respecting the properties of certain aeriform substances, gases, or factitious airb, entered into the same field of research, and published the result of his experiments in 1774, in his ** Opuscules Chymiques,*' which contained not only a clear and elegant view of all -that had hitherto been done, in regard to gaseous or aeri- form fluids, but also several original experiments, re- markable for their ingenuity and accuracy.
The existence of a gaseous body, in a fixed or solid Btate, in the mild alkalies and alkaline earths, which, when expelled from these substances, assumed an atrial form, and left them in a caustic state, as well as its production during the combustion of fuel, had been demonstrated by Dr. Black; and Bergman bad shown that this air possessed acid properties. Dr. Priestley had also submitted it to various experiments in 1767, but the honour of ascertain- ing the real constituent parts of this acid gas, or fixable air, was reserved for Lavoisier. He now turned his ex- perimental researches to the subject of the calcination of metak. It had already been shewn by ftey and Homberg^ that metals acquire an augmentation of weight during piil*
76 LAVOISIER-
cination ; but they differed io the causes of this augmen- tation. Lavoisier, who published the result of bis expe* riments on the subject in 1.774, demonstrated that a given quantity of air was requisite for the calcination of a giveti quantity of tin ; that a part of the air is absorbed during this process, by which not only the bulk, but the weight of the air is diminished ; that the weight of the tin is increased during the same process ; and lastly, that the weight acquired by the tin is exactly equal to that which is lost by the air.
Thus, by a few simple, accurate, and well- chosen ex- periments, Lavoisier had apparently arrived at the legi- timate inference, that during the process of the formation of acids, whether with carbonaceous matter, sulphur, or phosphorus, and also during that of the calcination of me«* tals, an absorption and fixation of air take place ; and thus he gained a glimpse of principles, in the view of which his singular sagacity in devising experiments, and his accu- racy in executing them, would in all probability have alone conducted him to those brilliant results to which Dr. Priestley so materially contributed. The synthetic proofs only of this union of air with the base had b^en as yet as* certained ; but Dr. Priestley first furnished the analytic proof, by dissevering the combination ; a discovery which at once advanced the nascent theory of Lavoisier, and, in his hands, became the source of more than one important conclusion. In August 1774, Dr. Priestley discovered that by heating certain metallic calces, especially the calcined mercury (the precipitate per se, as it was then called) a quantity of air was separated, while the mercury resumed its metallic form ; and this air, which he found was much purer than that of the atmosphere, he called, from the theory of the time, depldogisticated air. Having communis cated this discovery to Lavoisier, the latter published a memoir in 1775, in which he shewed, in conformity with the experiments of Dr. Priestley, that the mercurial pre* cipitate per se^ by being heated in a retort, gives out a highly respirable air (called since oxygen)^ and is itself re- duced to the metallic state ; that combustible bodies burn in this air with increased brilliancy ; and that the same* mercurial calx, if heated with charcoal, gives out not the pure air, but fixed air ; whence be concluded that fixed*, air is composed of charcoail and the pure air. It has, therefore^ since been called carbonic acid.
L-A V O I S I E R. 77
A 9ec0nd very important consequence of Dr. Priestley's diflcovery of the pure or vital air, was the analysis of tb9 ftir of the atmosphere, which was accomplished by Lavoisier in the following manner. He included some mercury in a elose vessel^ together with a known quantity of atmospheric air, and kept it for some days in a boiling state ; by de- grees a small quantity of the red calx was formed upon the surface of the metal ; and when this ceased to be produced the contents of (he vessel were examined. The air was found to be diminished both in bulk and weight, and to have been rendered altogether incapable of supporting combustion or animal life ; part of the mercury was found converted into the red calx, or precipitate per se ; and» which was extremely satisfactory, the united weight of the mercury and the precipitate exceeded the weight of the original mercury, by precisely the same amount as the air had lost. To complete the demonstration, the precipitate was then heated, according to Dr* Priestley's first expe- riment, and decomposed into fluid mercury and an air which bad all the properties of vital air ; and this air, wbea -iriijced with the unrespirable residue of the original air of thereceiver, composed an elastic fluid ppssessing the same properties as atmospherical ain The vital air was after- wards made the subject of various experiments in respect to the calcination of metals, to the combustion and conver- sion of sulphur and phosphorus into acids, 4^c. in which processes it was found to be the chief agent. Hence it was named by Lavoisier c^rj/^^n (or generator of acids), and the unrespirable residue of the atmosphere was called a%ot j^u e. incapable of supporting /i/i;).
The new theory thus acquired farther support and con«* sistency ; oxygen appeared to be one of the most active and important agents of chemistry and of nature ; combus- tion, acidification, and calcination (or, as it was now called, o^t/daiioriy the calces being also termed oxyds, i. e. some- thuig approaching to, or. resembling acids), were proved to be processes strikingly analogous to each other ; all ac- cording in these points, that they produced a decomposi- tion of the atmospheric air, and a fixation of the oxygenous {portion in the substance acidified or calcined;
Time alone seemed now requisite j:o establish these doc- trines, by exemplifying them in other departments of che- mical research^ In } 777 six memoirs were communicated to the Academy of sciences by Lavoisier, jn whick his
W LAVOISIER.
former experiments w^re confirmed, and new advanced were made to a considerable extent* Our countrvymen^ Black and Crawford, in their researches respecting latent heat, and the different capacities of bodies under different circumstances, had laid a solid foundation, on which the dbctrines of combustion, resulting from the foregoing ex- periments, might be perfected, and the cause of the light and heat connected with it might be explained. The first nyentioned philosopher. Dr. Black, had shewn, that a solid, when it is made to assume a liquid form, and a liquid, when it assumes the form of vapour, absorbs or combines with, and renders latent, a large portion of heat, which is again parted with, becomes free and cognizable by the sense of feeling, arid by the thermometer, when the va* pour is again condensed into a liquid, and the liquid be- comes solid. In like manner, it was now said by Lavoisier, during the process of combustion, the oxygen, which was previously in a gaseous state, is suddenly combined with' the substance burnt into a liquid or solid. Hence all the latent ^eat, which was essential to its gaseous state, being instantaneously liberated in large quantity, produces fiame, which is nothing more than very condensed free heat. About the same time, the analogy of the operation and necessity of oxygen in the function of respiration, with the preceding hypothesis of combustion, was pointed out by Lavoisier. In the process of respiration,, it was found thatj although atmospheric air is inhaled, carbonic acid and azot are expired. This animal operation, said Lavoisier, is a species of slow combustion : the oxygen of the air unites with the superfluous carbon of the venous blood, and pro- > duces carbonic acid, while the latent or combined caloric (the matter of heat) is set free, and thus supplies the ani« mal heat Ingenious and beaqtjkful, however, as this ex* tension of the analogy appeared, the subject of animal, temperature is still under many obscurities and difficulties. The phenomena of chemistry, however, were now ex- plicable upon principles more simple, consistent, and sa- tisfactory than by the aid of any former theory ; and the Lavoisierian doctrines were everywhere gaining ground. But there yet remained a formidable objection to them, which was derived from a circumstance attending the so- lution of metals in acids ; to wit, the production of a con«< ' siderable quantity of inflammable air. If sulphuric acid (formerly called vitriolic acid, or oil of vitriol) consists onlj
L A V O I &I E R. 79
of nalpbur and oxygen^ it was said, how does it happen^ that wheu these two substances, with a little water, comef in contadt, they should produce a large quantity of inflam- mable air during their re-action ? This objection was un- answerable, and appeared to be fatal to the whole theory : but it was most opportunely converted into an argument in its favour, by the grefit discovery of the decompositioa of water, made by Mr. Cavendish ; who resolved that ele- ment, as it was formerly esteemed, into oxygen and inflam- Inable air. The latter has since, therefore,, been called hydrogen^ or generator of water. This experiment was repeated with full success by Lavoisier and his associates in 1783 ; and the discovery was farther established by a sue*- * cessful experiment of the same chemists, carried on upon a. grand scale, in which, by combining the oxygen with hydrogen, they produced water, and thus adding synthesis to analysis, brought the fact to demonstration.
This new view of chemical phenomena, together with the immense accession of new compounds and substances, which the labours of modern experimentalists had brought to light, appeared to demand a correspondent alteration in the nomenclature. Accordingly, a committee of some of the ablest of the French chemists, of whom Lavoisier was the most conspicuous, undertook the arduous task, and produced a regular system of nomenclature, derived from the Greek language, which, although far from being fault* less^ and notwithstanding much opposition with which it was at first treated, has become the universal language of chemical science, and has been adopted even in pharmacy and medicine. His work, entitled ^^ Elemens de Chymie,'* which was published in 1789, was a model of scientific composition.
We have hitherto Viewed M. Lavoisier principally as a chemical philosopher, in which character he has founded his great claims to the respect and admiration of posterity. But the other arts and sciences are indebted to him for considerable services which he rendered thein, both in a public and private capacity. In France, more than in any other country, men of science have been consulted in mat- ters of public concern; and the reputation of Lavoisier caused him to be applied to, in 1776, to superintenjd tlie manufiu:ture of gunpowder, by the minister Turgot. By the applics^tion of his chemical knowledge to this manufac-
so LAVOISIER,
tttre, he was enabled to increase the explosive forc^ df the powder by one- fourth ; and ^while he. suppressed the trou- blesome regulations for the collection of its materials from private houses, previously. adopted, he quintupled the pro- duce. The academy of sciences. received many services ffom his hands. In addition to the communication of forty papers, relative to many of the most important subjects of philosophical chemistry, which were printed in the twenty volumes of Memoirs, from 1772 to 1793, he most actively promoted all its' useful plans and researches, being a mem«« ber of its board of consultation, and, when appointed to the office of treasurer, he introduced order into its ac- counts, and economy into its expenditure. When the new system of measures was proposed, he contributed some new and accurate experiments on the expansion of metals. The national convention consulted him with advantage coi^« kerning the best method of manufacturing assignats, find of securing them against forgery. Agriculture early en- gaged his attention, and he allotted a considerable tract of land on his estate in the Vendome, for the purpose of ex« perimental farmings The committee of the constituent assembly of 1791, appointed to form an improved system of taxation, claimed the assistance of his extensive know- ledge ; and he drew up, for their information, an extract of a large work on the different productions of the country and their. consumption, for which he had been long col- lecting materials. This was printed by order of the assem- bly, under the title of ^^Richesses Territoriales de la France," and was esteemed the most valuable memoir on the subject. In the same year, he was appointed one of the commissioners of the national treasury ; and he intro- duced into that department such order and regularity, that the proportion between the income and the expenditure, in all the branches of government, could be seen at a single view every evening. This spirit of systematic and lucid arrangement was, indeed, the quality by which he was peculiarly distinguished, and its happy influence appeared in every subject which occupied his attention.
The private life of this distinguished person was equally estimable with his public and philosophical character. Ha was extremely liberal in his patronage of the arts, and en- couraged young men of talents in the pursuit of science* His house became a vast laboratory, where philosophical experiments were incessantly carrying on, and where he
L A y O I S I E & 81
bdld cOnvevsaBibnes twice a w6ek, to which be invited every literary character that was most celebrated in geometrical, physicali and chemical studies; in these instructive dis* cussions, the opinions of the most eminent literati in Eu^ rope were canvassed ; passages the most striking and novels out of foreign writers, were recited and animadverted on ; and* theories were compared with experiments. Hera learned men of all nations found easy admission ; Priestley, Fontana, Blagden, Ingenhousz, Landriani, Jacquin, Watt, Bolton, and other illustrious physiologists and chemists of England, Geprmany, and Italy, found themselves mixed in the same company with Laplace, Lagrange, Borda, Cousin, Meunier, Vandermonde, Mouge, Guyton, and Bertbollet In his manners M. Lavoisier was mild; afiable, and obliging ; a faithful friead and husband, a kind rela« tioD, and charitable to the poor upon his estates; in a word equally claiming esteem for his moral qualities, as for those of his understanding. «
The time was arrived, however, when distinction event by his talents and worth was so hx from securing publio respect, amid the tumults of tbe revolution, that it became aiource of danger, and, when joined with wealth, was almost certainly fatal. All those especially who had held any situation under the old administration, particularly in the financial departments, were sacrificed, during the mur- derous reigu of Robespierre, to tbe popular odium. La- voisier was seized and thrown into prison, upon some charges fabricated, against himself and twenty-seven other farmers-genaral. During his confinement he foresaw that be should be stripped of all his property ; but consoled himself with the expectation that he would be able to main- tain himself by the practice of pharmacy. But a more se<* vere fate awaited him : be was capitally condemned, and dr^ged to th^ guillotine on the 8th of May, 1794. ^
llie name of Lavoisier will always be ranked among the most illustrious chemists of the present age, when it is con- sidered what an extensive and beneficial influence his 1^-* hours have had <^^t the whole science. It has been said, iadaefl, that if be be estimated on the score oi his actual discoveries, not only Scbeele and Priestley, and Caven- ^sb, but many moie, will stand before him. But he pos^ sessed in a high degree that rare talent of discernment, hy which he detected analogies, which others overlooked, even in their own discoveries, and a sagacity in devising
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S2 LAVOISIER.
and an accuracy in completing his experiments, for th6 purpose of elucidating every suggestion which he thus ac^ quired, such as few philosophers have possessed No on^ who did so much, probably ever made so few unsuccessfol or random experiments. It was the singular perspicuity^ 'siioplicityy and order ta which he reduced the phenomena of chemistry, that claimed for his theory the general re- ception which it met with, and occasioned the abandon- ment of those doctrines which prejudice and habit con- spired to support. Subsequent discoveries, however, and more especially those numerous facts which the genius of sir Humphrey Davy has lately brought to light, through the medium of that most. powerful agent of decomposition, galvanism, have rendered several modifications of the La- voisierian theory necessary, and bid fair to produce a more general revolution in the language and doctrines of che- mistry.
M. Lavoisier married, in 177 1, the daughter of a farmer- general, a lady of pleasing manners and considerable ta- lents, who partook of her husband's ^eal for philosophical inquiry, and cultivated chemistry with much success. She engraved with her own band the copper*plates for his liet work. Mad. Lavoisier aft^erwards gave her hand to anolber . emment philosopher, count Rumford, who, in ISK, left her a widow a second time.' \
LAW (Edmund), bishop of Carlisle, was bom in the parish of Carl mel in Lancashire, in 1703» His father, wha was a clergyman, held a small chapel in that neighbour- hood, but the family bad been situated at Askham, in the county pi Westmoreland. He w.as educated for some time at Cartmel school, afterwards at the fr^ grammar-school at Kendal; from which. he went, very well instructed im the learning of grammar-schools, to St. John^s college, Cambridge. He took his bachelgr^s degree in 1723, and soon after was elected fellow of ChristVcollege. in. that uuiversity, where he. took bis. mastetr'-s degree in 172^. During his residence here, he became knowa to.the pi>b- ]}c by a. translation of archbishop King's (see William. Kino) " Essay* upon the jOngbx . of Evil,!' >with > cpptokia notes;. in which many metaphysical subjects,