this want of civility, Selden would certainly have shewn a greater and more pious mind in forgiving it.* and Mr. Lydiat, soon after he was restored to liberty, presented a petition to King Charles, requesting his protection and patronage in an intended voyage to the East, for the purpose of collecting valuable manuscripts. The project displayed his zeal for the service of learning, but the ensuing political troubles prevented any attention being paid to his application. Though he was a man of low stature, rather insignificant in appearance, he was a person of a great mind and of uncommon learning, He puzzled the learned Christopher Clavius, the whole college of mathematicians, and even that Goliah of literature, Joseph Scaliger himself; who, when he found himself outstripped, scornfully stigmatized Mr. Lydiat with being a beggarly, beardless priest. He was, nevertheless, highly esteemed by the most learned men at home and abroad. Sir Thomas Chaloner and other celebrated scholars, with those mentioned above, were among his familiar acquaintance. The virtuosi beyond sea were pleased to rank him with the celebrated Lord * Mr. John Selden was sometimes styled "the great dictator of learning of the English nation," whom Grotius, his antagonist, calls "the glory of his country;" and Sir Matthew Hale, "a resolved and serious christian," He was a man of as extensive and profound erudition as any of his time; and was thoroughly skilled in every thing relating to his own profession of the law; but the principal bent of his studies was to sacred and profane antiquity. The greater part of his works are on uncommon subjects. Like a man of genius, he was not content with walking in the beaten track of learning, but was concerned to strike out new paths, and enlarge the territories of science. Towards the close of life, he owned, that, out of the numberless volumes he had read and digested, nothing stuck so close to his heart, or gave him such solid satisfaction, as the single passage of Paul in his epistle to Titus, ii. 11-14. He died in the year 1654; when the celebrated Archbishop Usher preached his funeral sermon, and, without scruple, declared "that he himself was scarcely worthy to carry his books after him." Mr. Selden was author of many learned publications, among which was "The History of Tithes;" for which, in 1618, he was convened before the high commission, and required to subscribe a degrading recantation. Afterwards, at an audience of King James, at the time when Montague was preparing a confutation of this work, the worthless and arbitrary monarch sternly forbade him to make any reply, saying, “If you or any of your friends shall write against this confutation, I will throw you into prison." He was a valuable member of the long parlia ment, and one of the lay members who sate with the assembly of divines. In their debates he spoke admirably, and confuted divers of them in their own learning. Sometimes, when they cited a text of scripture to prove their assertion, he would tell them, "Perhaps in your little pocket Bibles with gilt leaves," which they would often pull out and read, "the translation may be thus, but the Greek or Hebrew signifies thus and thus ;" and so would silence them.-Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. ii. p. 228.— Aikin's Lives of Selden and Usher, p. 26, 287.-Eclectic Review, vol. viii. p. 204.-Whitlocke's Mem. p. 71. Edit. 1732. Bacon and Mr. Joseph Mede; and when they found that he had no higher preferment, they said that Englishmen did not deserve such great scholars, since they made so little of them. "Though they have wronged his memory," says Fuller," who have represented him as an anabaptist; yet he was disaffected to the discipline and ceremonies of the church;" on which account he is, with justice, classed among the puritans. Mr. Lydiat, though opposed to the ecclesiastical discipline and ceremonies, was a man of loyal principles, and discovered his zeal in the royal cause; for which, upon the commencement of the civil war, he was a considerable sufferer from the parliament's army. His own statement to Sir William Compton, governor of Banbury castle, affirms that his rectory was four times pillaged, and himself reduced to so great a want of common necessaries, that he could not change his linen for a quarter of a year, without borrowing a shirt. He was also twice carried away to prison, and was cruelly used by the soldiers for refusing their demands of money, for defending his books and papers, and for his bold speeches in favour of the royal cause. From this and other circumstances, it appears that his manners were not conciliating, and that, to a scholar's ignorance of the world, he joined the bluntness of an independent character. Of his confident and sanguine disposition, a judgment may be formed from a passage in one of his letters to Usher. After expressing a hope that his learned friend would in the end assent to the truth of what he had delivered concerning the beginning and conclusion of Daniel's seventy weeks, and all the dependencies thereon, he says, " For certainly, how weak soever I, the restorer and publisher thereof, am, yet it is strong and will prevail; and, notwithstanding mine obscure estate, in due time the clouds and mists of errors being dispersed and vanished, it will shine forth as bright as the clear sun at noon-tide."+ This learned man finished his painful life, and died in indigence and obscurity at Okerton, April 3, 1646, aged seventy-four years. Though he obtained considerable reputation among learned men at home and abroad; yet his fame is so far obliterated, even in his own country, that it is probable few English readers have known to whom Dr. Johnson refers in his "Vanity of Human Wishes," * Fuller's Worthies, part ii. p. 338. + Aikin's Lives of Selden and Usher, p. 407. Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. ii. p. 46-48. where, as a warning against the enthusiastical expectations of the young scholar, he says,* If dreams yet flatter, once again attend; Wood says, "he was a man possessed of some excellencies; yet he set too high a value on his own performances, and for many years spent an idle and obscure life."+ Echard denominates him "a man of a great soul and incomparable learning, particularly in mathematics, antiquities, languages and divinity" and adds, "that he was admired by the greatest scholars of the age." Kennet styles him "that master of astronomy and mathematics, who, besides his admired works in print, left twenty-two volumes of manuscripts, as rarities, in the hands of Dr. John Lamphire." Mr. Lydiat's remains were interred by the side of his father and mother in the chancel of Okerton church, where a monumental inscription was afterwards erected, of which the following is a translation: Sacred to the MEMORY of THOMAS LYDIAT, rector of Okerton, at the expense of New College, Oxford, He was born in 1572, and died in 1646. His WORKS.-1. Tractatus de variis annorum formis, 1605.2. Prelectio Astronomica de naturâ coeli & conditionibus elementorum, 1605.-3. Disquisitio physiologica de origine fontium, 1605.— 4. Defentio tractatus de variis annorum formis contra Josephi Scaligeri objectionem, 1607.-5. Examen Canonum Chronologiæ Isagogicorum, 1607.-16. Explicatio temporum ad initio mundi huc usque, compendio facta, contra Scaligerum & alios, 1609.-7. Explicatio & additamentum argumentorum in libello emendationis temporum compendio factæ, de nativitate Christi & ministerio in terris, 1613.-8. Solis & Lunæ periodus, seu annus magnus, 1620.-9. De anni solaris mensurâ Epistola Astronomica, ad Hen. Savilium, 1620.-10. Numerus aureus melioribus lapillis insignitus factusq; Gemmeus, &c., 1621.—11. Canones Chronologici, nec non series summorum magistratuum & triumphorum Romanorum, 1675.—— 12. Letters to Archbishop Usher, printed in his Life, 1686. WILLIAM TWISSE, D. D.-This illustrious divine was born at Spenham-Land, near Newbury, in Berkshire, about the year 1575, and educated first at Winchester school, then in New College, Oxford, where he was chosen fellow. He spent sixteen years at the university; and, by a most intense application, obtained an extraordinary knowledge of logic, philosophy, and divinity. His profound erudition appeared in his public lectures and learned disputations, but especially in correcting the works of the celebrated Bradwardine, then published by Sir Henry Savile. He took his various degrees with universal applause. He was an admired and popular preacher, and greatly followed both by the collegians and townsmen. He continued in his beloved pursuits at the university, till his brilliant talents and profound literature excited very public attention. His uncommon fame reached the court of King James, who chose him to be chaplain to Lady Elizabeth, then about to leave her native country and go to the Palatine. He cheerfully complied with the appointment, and accompanied the pious young princess to the foreign court; and, to moderate her grief, and administer comfort to her troubled mind, upon her painful separation from her friends, he expounded some portion of scripture to her every day. He dwelt much upon the great uncertainty of life, and the importance of a suitable preparation for death; and, from his appropriate instructions and admonitions, she derived that signal advantage by which she was enabled to endure the greatest adversity with undaunted courage. This amiable princess was exercised with many trials very soon after her arrival. For, presently after she was crowned Queen of Bohemia, she was forced to flee from the country and to live an exile all the rest of her days. She bore these tribulations with christian magnanimity. This is represented as the effect of the doctor's excellent instructions, who taught her, "That Divine providence ordereth all the estates and conditions of all men, according to his own good pleasure, and for the eternal advantage of his people:" as, Rom. viii. 28. "We know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." He did not, however, continue very long at the court of the Palatine, but was called back to England, His return was the occasion of deep regret both to the prince and princess, which was particularly expressed at the * Clark's Lives, last vol. part i. n. 13, 14. time of his departure. Upon his arrival in his native country, he took his final leave of the court, and devoted himself to those profound studies by which he published to the world those learned works which will be the admiration of learned and pious men to the latest posterity. Dr. Twisse, about the same time, became curate of Newbury, near the place of his birth; where, by his exemplary life and useful preaching, he gained a most distinguished reputation. In this retired situation, which was exactly suited to his wishes, he lived in great peace and comfort; and being secluded from the world, his time was wholly devoted to his studies and the spiritual advantage of his flock. He never sought after worldly riches, or aspired after ecclesiastical preferment, but modestly refused them when they were offered. He, indeed, often congratulated himself that he was in so low a condition, and so little exposed to the alluring temptations. He often professed how greatly he was indebted to divine goodness, for having placed him in so mean and obscure a place, where he was preserved from aspiring after worldly preferment. No man ever sought more industriously to obtain ecclesiastical promotion than he sought to avoid it. Hence, when he was offered the provostship of Winchester college, and warmly entreated to accept it, he as warmly contended against it, though it was a post of considerable pecuniary interest. He preferred his studies, and the ministry of the word, to any idle or honourable post; and worldly interest had but little influence on his mind. Also, when the Bishop of Winchester laid a prebend at his feet, he politely thanked his lordship, but modestly declined accepting it. The Earl of Warwick promised to confer upon him a more valuable living than that of Newbury, which at first he agreed to accept, provided the people of his charge could be furnished with a suitable pastor. He accordingly waited upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, requesting his favourable approbation, and was kindly received. His lordship granted all that he requested, and observed, that he would make mention of him to the king as a pious and learned divine, and no puritan. Dr. Twisse was, however, sagacious enough to see the snares that were laid for him; and therefore, without making any further application, he returned to Newbury, resolving not to exchange his curacy for any other situation. Also the states of Friesland invited him to the professor's chair in the university of Franeker; and he was pressed to accept a professor's place at Oxford; but he refused them both. He |