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The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687)
by William Winstanley
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JOHN OGILBY.

John Ogilby was one, who from a late Initiation into Literature, made such a Progress therein, as might well stile him to be the Prodigy of his time, sending into the world so many large and learned Volumes, as well in Verse as in Prose, as will make posterity much indebted to his Memory. His Volumes in Prose were his Atlas, and other Geographical Works, which gained him the Style and Office of the King's Cosmographer. In Verse his Translations of Homer and Virgil, done to the Life, and adorned with most excellent Sculptures; but above all, as composed Propria Minerva; his Paraphrase upon AEsop's Fables, which for Ingenuity and Fancy, besides the Invention of new Fables, is generally confest to have exceeded what ever hath been done before in that kind. He also set forth King Charles the Second his Entertainment through London, when he went to his Coronation, with most admirable Cuts of the several Pageants as he passed through, and Explanations upon them. And that which added a great grace to his Works, he printed them all on special good Paper, and had them printed on very good Letter.

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Sir RICHARD FANSHAW.

This worthy Gentleman, one of Apollo's chiefest Sons, was Secretary to King Charles the Second, when Prince of Wales, and after his Restoration, his Embassadour to Spain, where he died. His Employments were such, as one would think he should have had no time for Poetical Diversions, yet at leisure times he Translated Guarini's Pastor Fido into English Verse, and Spencer's Shepherds Callendar into Latin Verse.

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ROGER BOILE, Lord Broghil, Earl of Orrery.

This Noble Person, the credit of the Irish Nobility for Wit and ingenious Parts, and who had the command of a smooth Stile, both in Prose and Verse; in which last he hath written several Dramatick Histories, as Mustapha, Edward the Third, Henry the Fifth, and Tryphon, all of them with good success and applause, as writing after the French way of Rhyme, now of late very much in Fashion.

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THOMAS HOBBS of Malmsbury.

This noted Person, who gave occasion for so many Pens to band against him, is of the more consideration, for what he hath either judged or writ in Poetry; but his Leviathan, which he wrote in Prose, caused the Pen of a no less than a learned Bishop to write against him. He wrote a Preface to Davenant's Gondibert, where no wonder if Complement and friendly Compliance do a little byass and over-sway Judgment. His Latin Poem De Mirabilibus Pexi, wanteth not due Commendation. After many bustles in the world, he sequestred himself wholly to Malmsbury, where he died better inform'd (as I have heard) of the Deity, than in the former part of his life he seemeth to have been.

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Earl of ROCHESTER.

This Earl for Poetical Wit, was accounted the chief of his time; his Numbers flowing with so smooth and accute a Strain, that had they been all confined within the bounds of Modesty, we might well affirm they were unparallel'd; yet was not his Muse altogether so loose, but that with his Mirth he mixed Seriousness, and had a knack at once to tickle the Fancy, and inform the Judgement. Take a taste of the fluency of his Muse, in the Poem which he wrote in Defence of Satyr.

When Shakespeare, Johnson, Fletcher rul'd the Stage, They took so bold a freedom with the Age, That there was scarce a Knave, or Fool in Town, Of any note, but had his Picture shown; And (without doubt) tho some it may offend. Nothing helps more than Satyr, to amend Ill Manners, or is trulier Vertues Friend. Princes may Laws ordain, Priests gravely preach, But Poets most successfully will teach. For as the Passing-Bell frights from his meat The greedy Sick-man, that too much wou'd eat; So when a Vice ridiculous is made, Our Neighbours Shame keeps us from growing bad. But wholsom Remedies few Palats please, Men rather love what flatters their Disease.

Pimps, Parasites, Buffoons, and all the Crew That under Friendship's name weak man undo; Find their false service kindlier understood, Than such as tell bold Truths to do us good. Look where you will, and you shall hardly find A man without some sickness of the Mind. In vain we wise wou'd seem, while every Lust Whisks us about, as Whirlwinds do the Dust.

Here for some needless gain a Wretch is hurld From Pole to Pole, and slav'd about the World; While the reward of all his pains and cares, Ends in that despicable thing, his Heir.

There a vain Fop mortgages all his Land To buy that gaudy Play-thing, a Command; To ride a Cock-horse, wear a Scarf at's —— And play the Pudding in a May-pole Farce.

Here one, whom God to make a Fool thought fit, In spight of Providence, will be a Wit: But wanting strength t'uphold his ill made choice, Sets up with Lewdness, Blasphemy, and Noise.

There at his Mistress feet a Lover lies, And for a Tawdry painted Baby dies; Falls on his knees, adores and is afraid Of the vain Idol he himself has made. These, and a thousand Fools unmention'd here, Hate Poets all, because they Poets fear. Take heed (they cry) yonder mad Dog will bite, He cares not whom he falls on in his fit: Come but in's way, and strait a new Lampoon Shall spread your mangled fame about the Town

This Earl died in the Flower of his Age, and though his Life might be somewhat Extravagant, yet he is said to have dyed Penitently; and to have made a very good End.

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Mr. THOMAS FLATMAN.

Mr. Thomas Flatman, a Gentleman once of the middle Temple, of Extraordinary Parts, equally ingenious in the two Noble Faculties of Painting and Poetry; as by the several choice Pieces that have been seen of his Pourtraying and Limning, and by his Book of Poems, which came out about Fourteen or Fifteen Years ago, sufficiently appeareth: The so much Celebrated Song of the Troubles of Marriage, is ascribed to him.

Like a Dog with a Bottle tyed close to his Taile, Like a Tory in a Bog, or a Thief in a Jail, &c.

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MARTIN LUELLIN.

This Gentleman was bred up a Student in Christ-Church in Oxford; where he addicted his Mind to the sweet Delights of Poetry, writing an Ingenious Poem, entituled, Men Miracles, which came forth into the World with great applause. The times being then when there was not only Cobling Preaching, but Preaching Coblers; he followed the practice of Physick, and whether he be yet living is to me unknown.

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EDMOND FAIRFAX.

Edmond Fairfax, a most judicious, elegant, and approved Poet, and who we should have remembred before: But better out of due place, than not at all. This judicious Poet Translated that most exquisite Poem of Torquato Tasso, the Prince of Italian Heroick Poets, which for the Exactness of his Version, is judged by some not inferior to the Original it self. He also wrote some other things of his own Genius, which have passed in the World with a general applause.

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HENRY KING Bishop of Chichester.

This Reverend Prelate, a great lover of Musick, Poetry, and other ingenious Arts; amongst his other graver Studies, had some Excursions into those pleasing Delights of Poetry; and as he was of an Obliging Conversation for his Wit and Fancy; so was he also very Grave and Pious in his Writings; Witness his Printed Sermons on the Lords Prayer, and others which he Preached on several Occasions. His Father was John King, Bishop of London; one full fraught with all Episcopal Qualities; who died Anno 1618. and was Buried in the Quire of St. Paul's, with the plain Epitaph of Resurgam: But since a prime Wit did enlarge thereon, which for the Elegancy of it, I cannot but commit it to Posterity.

Sad Relique of a blessed Soul, whose Trust We Sealed up in this religious Dust. O do not thy low Exequies suspect, As the cheap Arguments of our neglect. Twas a commanded Duty that thy Grave As little Pride as thou thy self should have. Therefore thy Covering is an humble Stone, And but a Word[A] for thy Inscription. When those that in the same Earth Neighbour thee, Have each his Chronicle and Pedigree. They have their waving Penons, and their Flags, Of Matches and Alliance formal Brags. When thou (although from Ancestors thou came, Old as the Heptarchy, great as thy Name;) Sleepest there inshrin'd in thy admired Parts, And hast no Heraldry but thy Deserts. Yet let not them their prouder Marbles boast, For they rest with less Honour though more Cost. Go search the World, and with your Mattock wound, The groaning Bosom of the patient Ground: Dig from the hidden Veins of her dark Womb, All that is rare and precious for a Tomb. Yet when much Treasure, and more time is spent, You must grant his the Nobler Monument; Whose Faith stands o're him for a Hearse, and hath The Resurrection for his Epitaph.

[Footnote A: Resurgam]

This worthy Prelate was born in the same County, Town, House, and Chamber with his Father; Namely, at Warn hall nigh Tame in Buckingham-shire, and was Bred up at Christ-Church in Oxford. in Anno 1641. when Episcopacy was beheld by many in a deep Consumption, and hoped by others that it would prove Mortal. To cure this, it was conceived the most probable Cordial to prefer Persons into that Order, not only unblameable for their Life, and eminent for their Learning; but also generally, beloved, by all disegaged People; and amongst these, King Charles advanced this our Doctor, Bishop of Chichester.

But all would not do, their Innocency was so far from stopping the Mouth of Malice; that Malice had almost swallowed them down her Throat. Yet did he live to see the Restitution of his Order, live a most religious Life, and at leisure times Composed his generally admired and approved Version of Davids Psalms into English Meetre.

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THOMAS MANLEY.

Thomas Manley was (saith my Author) one of the Croud of Poetical writers of the late King's Time. He wrote among other things the History of Job in verse; and Translated into English, Pagan Father his Congratulatory Ode of Peace.

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Mr. LEWYS GRIFFIN.

He was born (as he informed me himself) in Rutland shire, and bred up in the University of Cambridge; where proving an Excellent Preacher, he was after some time preferred to be a Minister of St. George's Church in Southwark; where being outed for Marrying two Sisters without their Friends Consent, He was afterwards beneficed at Colchester in Essex; where he continued all the time during a sore Pestilence raged there. He wrote a Book of Essays and Characters, an excellent Piece; also The Doctrine of the Ass, of which I remember these two lines.

Devils pretences always were Divine, A Knave may have an Angel for a Sign.

He wrote also a Book called The Presbyterian Bramble; with several other Pieces, in Defence of the King and the Church. Now to shew you the Acuteness of his Wit, I will give you an Instance: The first year that Poor Robin's Almanack came forth (about Six and Twenty Years ago) there was cut for it a Brass Plate; having on one side of it the Pictures of King Charles the First, the Earl of Stafford, the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Darby, the Lord Capel, and Dr. Hewit; all six adorned with Wreaths of Lawrel. On the other side was, Oliver Cromwell, Bradshaw, Ireton, Scot, Harrison, and Hugh Peters, hanging in Halters: Betwixt which was placed the Earl of Essex, and Mr. Christopher Love; upon which plate he made these Verses.

Bless us, what have we here! What sundry Shapes Salute our Eyes! have Martyrs too their Apes? Sure 'tis the War of Angels, for you'd Swear That here stood Michael, and the Dragon there. Tredescan is out vy'd, for we engage Both Heaven and Hell in an Octavo Page. Martyrs and Traytors, rallied six to six, Half fled unto Olimpus, half to Styx. Joyn'd with two Neuters, some Condemn, some Praise, They hang betwixt the Halters and the Bayes; For 'twixt Nolls Torment, and Great Charles's Glory, There, there's the Presbyterian purgatory.

He died (as I am informed) at Colcester, about the Year of our Lord 1670.

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JOHN DAUNCEY.

John Dauncey, a true Son of Apollo, and Bacchus; was one who had an Excellent Command of his Pen, a fluent Stile, and quick Invention: nor did any thing come amiss to his undertaking. He wrote a compleat History of the late times; a Chronicle of the Kingdom of Portugal; the English Lovers, a Romance; which for Language and Contrivance, comes not short of either of the best of French or Spanish. He Translated a Tragi Comedy out of French, called Nichomede, equal in English to the French Original; besides several other things, too long to recite. His English Lovers was Commended by divers of sound Judgment; amongst others, Mr. Lewis Griffin, our forementioned Poet, made these verses in commendations of it.

Rich Soul of Wit and Language, thy high strains So plunge and puzzle unrefined brains; That their Illiterate Spirits do not know, How much to thy Ingenious Pen they owe, Should my presumptuous Muse attempt to raise Trophies to thee, she might as well go blaze Bright Planets with base Colours, or display The Worlds Creation in a Puppet-Play. Let this suffice, what Calumnies may chance, To blur thy Fame, they spring from Ignorance.

When Old Orpheus drew the Beasts along, By sweet Rhetorick of his learned Tongue, 'Twas deafness made the Adder sin; and this Caus'd him, who should have hum'd the Poet, hiss.

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RICHARD HEAD.

Richard Head, the Noted Author of the English Rogue, was a Ministers Son, born in Ireland, whose Father was killed in that horrid Rebellion in 1641. Whereupon his Mother with this her Son came into England; and he having been trained up in Learning, was by the help of some Friends, for some little time brought up in the University of Oxford, in the same Colledge wherein his Father had formerly been a Student. But means falling short, he was taken away from thence, and bound Apprentice to a Latin Bookseller in London; attaining to a good Proficiency in that Trade. But his Genius being addicted to Poetry, and having Venus for his Horoscope, e're his time were fully out, he wrote a Piece called Venus Cabinet Unlock'd: Afterwards he married, and set up for himself: But being addicted to play, a Mans Estate then runs in Hazard, (for indeed that was his Game) until he had almost thrown his Shop away. Then he betook himself to Ireland, his Native Country; where he composed his Hic & Ubique, a noted Comedy; and which gained him a general Esteem for the worth thereof. And coming over into England, had it Printed, dedicating it to the then Duke of Monmouth; But receiving no great Incouragement from his Patron, he resolved to settle himself in the World, and to that purpose, with his Wife took a House in Queens-Head Alley, near Pater-Noster-Row; and for a while followed his Business, so that contrary to the Nature of a Poet, his Pockets began to be well lined with Money: But being bewitched to that accursed vice of Play, it went out by handfuls, as it came in piece by piece. And now he is to seek again in the World, whereupon he betook him to his Pen; and wrote the first part of the English Rogue: which being too much smutty, would not be Licensed, so that he was fain to refine it, and then it passed stamp. At the coming forth of this first part, I being with him at three Cup Tavern in Holborn, drinking over a glass of Rhenish, made these verses upon it.

What Gusman, Buscon, Francion, Rablais writ, I once applauded for most excellent Wit; But reading thee, and thy rich Fancies store, I now condemn what I admir'd before. Henceforth Translations pack away, be gone, No Rogue so well-writ as the English one.

There was afterwards three more parts added to it by him, and Mr. Kirkman with a promise of a fifth, which never came out.

He wrote several other Books besides, as The art of Whedling; The Floating Island; or a Voyage from Lambethania to Ramalia; A discovery of O Brazil; Jacksons Recantation, The Red Sea, &c. Amongst others, he had a great Fancy in Bandying against Dr. Wild; (although I must confess therein over Matcht) yet fell he upon him tooth and nail in Answer to his Letter directed to his Friend Mr. J.J. upon Occasion of his Majesties Declaration for Liberty of Conscience; concluding in this manner.

Thus Sir you have my Story, but am Sorry (Taunton excuse) it is no better for ye, However read it, as you Pease are shelling; For you will find, it is not worth the telling. Excuse this boldness, for I can't avoid Thinking sometimes, you are but ill Imploy'd. Fishing for Souls more fit, then frying Fish; That makes me throw, Pease Shellings in your Dish. You have a study, Books wherein to look, How comes it then the Doctor's turn'd a Cook? Well Doctor Cook, pray be advis'd hereafter Don't make your Wife the Subject of our Laughter. I find she's careless, and your Maid a slut, To let you grease your Cassock for your gut. You are all three in fault, by all that's blest; Mend you your manners first, then teach the rest.

He was one who met with a great many Crosses and Afflictions in his Life; and was (as I am informed) at last cast away at Sea, as he was going to the Isle of Wight.

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JOHN PHILLIPS.

John Philips, the Brother of Edward Phillips, the Famous Continuator of Sir Richard Bakers Chronicle; and Author of The New World of English Words. He was also Nephew to the before mention'd John Milton, the Author of Paradice lost, and Paradice Regain'd; so that he might be said to have Poetical Blood run in his Veins. He was Accounted one of the exactest of Heroical Poets either of the Ancients or Moderns, either of our own or what ever other Nation else; having a Judicious command of Style both in Prose and Verse. But his chiefest Vein lay in Burlesque, and facetious Poetry, which produc'd that Ingenious Satyr against Hypocrites.

He also Translated the Fifth and Sixth Books of Virgils AEniedes into English Burlesque; of which that we may give you a Draught of his Method, take these few lines.

While Dido in a Bed of Fire, A new-found way to cool desire, Lay wrapt in Smoke, half Cole, half Dido, Too late repenting Crime Libido, Monsieur AEneas went his waies; For which I con him little praise, To leave a Lady, not i'th'Mire, But which was worser, in the Fire. He Neuter-like, had no great aim, To kindle or put out the flame. He had what he would have, the Wind; More than ten Dido's to his mind. The merry gale was all in Poop, Which made the Trojans all cry Hoop!

He it was who wrote that Jovial Almanack of Montelion; besides several other things in a serious Vein of Poetry. Nor must we forget his Song made on the Tombs at Westminster; which for a witty drolling Invention, I hold it to be past Compare, being Printed in a Book called The Miseries of Love and Eloquence.

You may reckon among these his Elegy upon our late Soveraign, and his Anniversary to His Majesty; Composed all by Dr. Blow.

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Mr. JOHN OLDHAM.

Mr. John Oldham, the delight of the Muses, and glory of those last Times; a Man utterly unknown to me but only by Works, which none can read but with Wonder and Admiration; So Pithy his Strains, so Sententious his Expressions, so Elegant his Oratory, so Swimming his Language, so Smooth his Lines, in Translating out-doing the Original, and in Invention matchless; whose praise my rude Pen is not able to Comprehend: Take therefore a small Draught of his Perfections in a Funeral Elegy, made by the Laureat of our Nation, Mr. John Dryden.

Farewel, too little and too lately known, Whom I began to think and call my own; For sure our Souls were near ally'd; and thine Cast in the same Poetick Mould with mine. One common note on either Lyre did strike, And Knaves and Fools we both abhorr'd alike: To the same Goal did both our Studies drive, The last set out the soonest did arrive. Thus Nisus fell upon the Slippery place, While his young Friend perform'd and won the race. O early ripe! to thy abundant store, What could advancing age have added more? It might (what Nature never gives the young) Have taught the numbers of thy Native Tongue. But Satyr needs not those, and wit will shine Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line, A noble error, and but seldom made, When Poets are by too much force betray'd. Thy generous Fruits, though gather'd e're their Prime, Still shew'd a quickness; and maturing time; But Mellows what we write to the dull sweets of Rhime. Once more, hail and farwel, farwel thou young, But all too short Marcellus of our Tongue; Thy brows with Ivy, and with Lawrels bound; But flat and gloomy Night encompass thee around.

This wittily learned Gentleman was of Edmund-Hall in Oxford, and dyed in the Earl of Kingston's Family in the prime of his Years; whose life had it been lengthened, might have produced as large a Volume of learned Works, as any this latter Age have brought forth.

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And thus have we given you an Account of all the most Eminent English Poets that have come to our knowledge; although we question not but many and those well deserving have slipped our Pen; which if these our Labours shall come to a Second Impression, as we question nothing to the contrary, we shall endeavour to do them right. In the mean time we shall give you a short Account of some of the most eminent that are now (or at least thought by us so to be) living at this time, and so conclude, beginning first with



Mr. JOHN DRIDEN.

Poet Laureat and Historiographer to his Royal Majesty; whose Poetry hath passed the World with the greatest Approbation and acceptance that may be, especially what he hath written of Dramatick, viz. The Maiden Queen; The Wild Gallant; The Mock Astrologer; Marriage Ala-mode; The Amorous Old Woman; and The Assignation, Comedies; Tyranick Love; and Amboyna, Tragedies; and The Indian Emperor; and two Parts of the Conquests of Granada; Historical Drama's. Besides several other Pieces, which speak their own worth, more than any Commendations my Pen can bestow upon them.

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Mr. ELKUNAH SETTLE.

An Ingenious Person, who besides his other Works hath contributed to the Stage two Tragedies, viz. Cambises, and The Empress of Morrocco, which notwithstanding the severe censure of some, may deservedly pass with good Approbation.

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Sir GEORGE ETHERIDGE.

The Author of Two Comedies, viz. Love in a Tub; and She Would if she Could; which for pleasant Wit, and no bad Oeconemy, are judged not unworthy the applause they have met with.

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Mr. JOHN WILSON.

The noted Author of that so Celebrated a Comedy entituled The Cheats; which hath passed the Stage and Press with so general an applause, also another Comedy called The Projectors and the Tragedy of Andronicus Commenius.

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Mr. THOMAS SHADWELL.

One whose Pen hath deserved well of the Stage, not only for the number of the Plays which he hath writ; but also for the sweet Language and Contrivance of them. His Comedies are, The Humorist; The Sullen Lovers; Epsom Wells, &c. Besides his Royal Shepherdess, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy; and his Tragedy of Psyche, or rather Tragical Opera, as vying with the Opera's of Italy, in the Pomp of Scenes, Marchinry and Musical performance.

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THOMAS STANLEY.

Thomas Stanley Esquire, of Cumberlo Green in Hartfordshire; a general Scholar, one well known both in Philosophy, History, and Poetry. Witness his learned Edition of AEschylus, and his lives of the Philosophers; But for that which we take the most notice of him here, his smooth Air and gentile Spirit in Poetry; which appears not only in his own Genuine Poems, but also from what he hath so well Translated out of Ancient Greek, and Modern Italian, Spanish, and French Poets; So that we may well conclude him to be both the Glory and Admiration of his time.

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EDWARD PHILLIPS.

Edward Phillips Brother to John Phillips aforesaid, the Judicious Continuator of Sir Richard Bakers Chronicle; which will make his name Famous to Posterity, no less than his Genuine Poems upon several occasions, in which he comes not far short of his Spritely Brother.

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Mr. THOMAS SPRAT.

Mr. Thomas Sprat, whose judicious History of the Royal Society, for the Smoothness of the Stile, and exactness of the Method, deserveth high Commendations; He hath also writ in Verse a very applauded, tho little Poem, entitled The Plague of Athens.

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WILLIAM SMITH.

William Smith the Author of a Tragedy entituled Hieronymo; as also The Hector of Germany.

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Mr. JOHN LACEY.

Mr. John Lacy, one of the noted'st Wits of these Times, who as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlow before him, rose from an Actor to be an Author to the Stage, having written two ingenious Comical Pieces, viz. Monsieur Ragou, and the Dumb Lady.

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Mr. WILLIAM WHICHERLY.

Mr. William Whicherly, a Gentleman of the Inner Temple, who besides his other learned Works, hath contributed largely to the Stage, in his Comedies of Love in a Wood, The Gentleman Dancing-Master, The Country Wife, &c.

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Sir ROGER L'ESTRANGE.

And so we have reckoned up all the most Eminent Poets which have come to our knowledge, craving pardon for those we have omitted. We shall conclude all with Sir Roger L'Strange, one whose Pen was never idle in asserting the Royal Cause, as well before the King's Restoration, against his open Enemies, as since that time against his Feigned Friends. Those who shall consider the Number and Greatness of his Books, will admire he should ever write so many, and those who have Read them, considering the Stile and Method they are writ in, will more admire he should Write so well. And because some people may imagine his Works not to be so many as he hath written, we will give you a Catalogue of as many as we can remember of them.

Collections In Defence of the King. Tolleration Discussed. Relapsed Apostate. Apology for Protestants. Richard against Baxter. Tyranny and Popery. Growth of Knavery. Reformed Catholique. Free-born Subjects. The Case Put. Seasonable Memorials. Answer to the Appeal. No Papist. The Shammer Shamm'd. Account Cleared. Reformation Reformed. Dissenters Sayings in Two Parts. Notes on Colledge. Citizen and Bumkin in Two Parts. Further Discovery of the Plot. Discovery on Discovery. Narrative of the Plot. Zekiel and Ephraim. Appeal to the King and Parliament. Papist in Masquerade. Answer to the Second Character of a Popish Successor.

These Twenty Six, with divers others, he writ in Quarto; Besides which he wrote divers others, viz.

The History of the Plot, in Folio. Quevedo's Visions Englished, Octavo. Erasmus's Coloquies Eng.. Oct. Seneca's Morals, Oct. Cicero's Offices in English. The Guide to Eternity, in Twelves. Five Love Letters from a Nun to a Cave, &c. The Holy Cheat. Caveat to the Cavaliers. Plea for the Caveat and the Author.

Besides his indefatigable pains taken in writing the Observator, a Work, which for Vindicating the Royal Interest, and undeceiving the People, considering the corruption of the Times, of as great use and behoof as may be, mens minds having been before so poysoned by Fanatical Principles, that it is almost an Herculean Work to reduce them again by Reason, or as we may more properly say, to Reason. Of which useful Work he hath done already Two large Volumes, and a Third almost compleated, his Pen being never weary in Service of his Country.

But should I go about to enumerate all the Works of this worthy Gentleman, I should run my self into an irrecoverable Labyrinth. Nor is he less happy in his Verse than Prose, which for Elegancy of Language, and quickness of Invention, deservedly entitles him to the honour of a Poet; and therefore I shall forbear to write more of him, since what I can do upon that account, comes infinitely far short of his deservings.

FINIS.

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