bridge, he became one of the king's chaplains in 1614, and took his station immediately among the first preachers of the day. It is said that within the first year of his ministry, he had the offer of fourteen different livings; he declined them all, but some time after accepted the Lincoln's-inn lectureship. In 1619, he attended Lord Hay on his embassy to the king of Bohemia. Upon his return next year, the king conferred upon him the deanery of St. Paul's. Several other lucrative appointments were bestowed upon him; and he now began to rise above the pressure of poverty with which he had so long struggled, He died, generally regretted, in 1631. Elegies in his honour were composed by Corbet, Carew, Jonson, and Falkland. Dryden has characterised Donne as "the greatest wit, though not the best poet of our nation." He "affects the metaphysics," he adds, "not only in his satires, but in his amorous verses, where Nature only should reign, and perplexes the minds of the fair sex with nice speculations of philosophy, when he should engage their hearts and entertain them with the softnesses of love." His satires are pungent and forcible, but exceedingly rugged and uncouth in their versification. Pope, borrowing Dryden's hint, who had said of them, that "when translated into numbers and English" they would be generally admired, has translated, or rather paraphrased them into his own smooth verse. His poems were printed together in one volume, 4to, in 1633, and re-edited by his son in 1635, 12mo, since which time they have undergone a variety of impressions. His prose works are numerous. Among them are three volumes of sermons in folio: the first printed in 1640, the second in 1649, the third in 1650. They abound in all kinds of learning, and contain many striking thoughts, but are exceedingly rugged in style. His most remarkable prose production is his 'Biathanatos, or Declaration of that paradox, or thesis, that Self-homicide is not so naturally sin that it may never be otherwise.' This extraordinary piece was probably written more as a trial of skill than with any serious intent. It was not published by the author himself, and probably never was intended for publication.

Michael Drayton.

BORN A. D. 1563.—died a. D. 1631.

THIS once popular poet was born in 1563 at Hartshill, a village in Warwickshire. Little is known of his life, but it appears from the dedication of one of his poems to Sir Henry Gordere of Polesworth, that he was indebted to that gentleman for the means of obtaining a liberal education. What progress he made in his studies at Oxford is not known; but it is probable from the nature of his subsequent productions, that he was neither idle in respect to general literature, nor famous for any great skill in logic or philosophy. On leaving the university he came to London, and appears to have trusted his chance of making a fortune to the attractions of his muse. He lived at a time when this was a far less dangerous experiment than it proved at a later period. The nation was prosperous and happy: the domestic customs of the people,—the taste of the court,—the stage at which both

the language and the literature of the country had arrived, were all favourable to poetry; and a man of even moderate genius might, without any extravagant hope, fairly look for popularity and patronage.

Drayton was very inferior to the great men whose names shed such a lustre over the reign of Elizabeth; but he was far from being unqualified to gain applause from her court. His talents had been cultivated by the study of national antiquities, and he possessed sufficient patriotism to prevent his desire of fame or profit from doing any important injury to his imagination. The taste of the sovereign and her court were, with respect to poetry, the same as that of the people. All ranks of the community loved to hear the glory of England exalted in every form that fancy could invent; and if Drayton could bear no comparison with the delicate Spencer, either in power or fertility, he was far from deficient in ingenuity, or in the knowledge of his art. The attention which the nationality of his verses was almost sure to acquire him, served as a stepping stone to popularity which at that time rarely failed. He enjoyed, therefore, during the reign of Elizabeth, a share of reputation which established him as one of the national poets, and as, consequently, entitled to address both the sovereign and the people with the assurance of an attentive hearing. But the accession of James the First changed to a considerable degree the aspect of the literary world. That learned monarch was of a less vain and frolicsome disposition than his predecessor: was fonder of philosophy than of poetry, and stood in a situation. which rendered it far more difficult to please him by eulogistic addresses than it had been to delight the virgin queen. Drayton, it seems, was employed by his friend Sir Walter Aston, who had been one of the officers of the bed-chamber to King James in his youth, in several important missions from the Scottish prince to Elizabeth. When James came to the throne, the poet lost no time in endeavouring to secure his favour, and a congratulatory poem to King James' was the immediate offering of his muse. He proved, however, a much worse politician than his willingness to be a courtier might have made him. Disappointment and imminent peril of disgrace were the only consequences of his loyalty, and he thus mournfully relates how near he had been driven to the verge of ruin. "I have neglected my papers," says he, speaking of the Polyolbion, "sometimes two years together, finding the times since his majesty's happy coming in, so fall so heavily upon my distressed fortunes, after my zealous soul had laboured so long in that, which, with the general happiness of the kingdom, seemed not then impossible somewhat also to have advanced me. But I instantly saw all my longnourished hopes even buried alive before my face: so uncertain in this world be the end of our dearest endeavours! And whatever is herein that tastes of a free spirit, I thankfully confess to proceed from the continual bounty of my truly noble friend Sir Walter Aston; which hath given me the best of those hours, whose leisure hath effected this which I now publish." The prize which Drayton's ambition had aimed at was either the appointment of poet-laureate, or some other office of similar honour; but whatever was the object of his wish, it was carried away by his rival, Mr Daniel, who was made laureate, and secured to himself all the advantages which the court, it seems, was willing to confer on poetical merit. Ben Jonson, between whom and Drayton there existed the most cordial intimacy, succeeded to the office of

laureate on the death of Daniel; but against this appointment friendship prevented Drayton making any complaint, and he recovered sufficient of his good humour to continue his poetical labours to the end of his days. Sir William Aston omitted no occasion of showing him respect, and with his patronage, and that of some other persons of distinction, he was enabled to pass his life in ease and respectability. From a passage in his introduction to the Polyolbion, he appears to have devoted a considerable portion of time to the study of the law, but whether it ever proved of any advantage to him is not stated The earl of Dorset cherished for him the most affectionate esteem, and the latter years of his life were spent under the hospitable roof of that nobleman.

When the number of his productions is considered, it will be easily seen that Drayton could have spent little of his time in idleness. The complete collection of his poems forms a folio volume of four hundred and ninety closely printed pages, and embraces almost every variety of composition. His most celebrated poem is the Polyolbion,-a work exhibiting many excellencies, both of description and versification, and at the same time so replete with antiquarian lore, that Bishop Nicholson remarks, "that it afforded a much truer account of this kingdom, and the dominion of Wales, than could be expected from the pen of a poet. Selden thought so well of it in this respect, that he took the pains to write annotations to the first eighteen cantos, while other antiquaries, such as Kennet, Hearne, &c., cite him as authority in disputed points. The labour which he expended on the work may be judged from his own statement, that he justified all by the self authors cited, crediting no transcribers but when of necessity he must ;" and that “his thirst compelled him always to seek the fountains, and by that, if means granted it, judge the river's nature; for that no one conversant in letters could be ignorant what error is oftimes fallen into by trusting authorities at second hand, and rash collecting, as it were, from visual beams, refracted through another's eye." A strong and somewhat prejudiced view is given in the same address of the literature of the time, but it is eloquently written, and deserves to be regarded as a chapter in the cotemporary history of James the First's reign. One of his long-drawn periods will enable the reader to judge both of his prose style, and his sentiments on the taste of his countrymen. Addressing those who were following the general fashion, and neglecting the true native muse, for foreign imitations, he says, "Then whosoever thou be, possessed with such stupidity and dulness, that rather than thou wilt take pains to search into ancient and noble things, choosest to remain in the thick fogs and mists of ignorance, as near the common lay-stall of a city, refusing to walk forth into the temple and fields of the muses; where, through most delightful groves, the angelic harmony of birds shall steal thee to the top of an easy hill; where, in artificial caves, cut out of the most natural rock, thou shalt see the ancient people of this isle delivered thee in their lively images; from whose height thou mayest behold both the old and later times, as in thy prospect, lying far under thee,—then conveying thee down by a scul-pleasing descent through delicate embroidered meadows, often veined with gentle-gliding brooks, in which thou mayest fully view the dainty nymphs in their simple naked beauties, bathing them in crystalline streams,-which shall lead thee to most

pleasant downs, where harmless shepherds are, some tuning their pipes, some singing roundelays to their gazing flocks: If, as I say, thou had'st rather (because it asks thy labour) remain where thou art, than strain thyself to walk forth with the muses, the fault proceeds from thy idleness, not from any want in my industry." The remarkable poem, of which its author thus speaks, is written throughout in the old Alexandrian metre, and contains much of that sweet variety of rural description which he promises in the above passage. Aikin, in his article on this author, professes his astonishment that two editions of his works should have been published within five years of each other, that is, ir 1748 and 1753, adding, that it is highly probable that not one of their purchasers ever completely perused the collection. The same observation might be made on similar grounds in respect to editions of even Milton and Dryden; there can, however, be little doubt but that the restoration of Drayton, and other writers of the same or an earlier period, would be of the most important service to our poetical literature, and afford one of the best signs that could be given of its improvement, or, perhaps, regeneration. The Barrons Wars; England's Heroical Epistles;'The Miseries of Queen Margaret;''Nymphidia, the Court of the Fairy;'The Owl;' The Moon-Calf;' are the titles of his smaller works. Besides these, he wrote some legendary pieces, several pastorals, and numerous little poems, to which he gave the name of Ideas, Odes, Elegies, &c. These productions exhibit various degrees of merit. In some parts they are in every respect worthy of the golden age of English literature; they are in but few destitute of some grace, or of that winning plainness of description which, while it fails to dazzle the imagination, pleases it by the distinctness with which it draws its pictures.

6

Drayton exercised his art during a period of forty years, and throughout that period enjoyed the friendship of the most enlightened men of the country. Had he been of a servile disposition there is little doubt but that he might have made himself acceptable to the courtiers of King James, and through them to the monarch; but it may be observed, that the names of neither Buckingham, Somerset, nor Salisbury, occur in his works, and he lived, it may be hoped, wholly free from the vices of the court and its flatterers. His death took place in 1631, and his remains were deposited in Westminster abbey.

Henry Briggs.

BORN A. D. 1556.-DIED A. D. 1630.

THIS eminent mathematician and calculator was born at Warley-wood, in the parish of Halifax, Yorkshire, in the year 1556. He received the rudiments of education at a school in the neighbourhood of his birthplace, and, in 1579, entered of St John's college, Cambridge. After taking both degrees in arts, he was chosen fellow of his college in 1588. Four years afterwards he was appointed examiner and lecturer in mathematics, and soon after, reader of the physical lecture founded by Linacre.

Upon the establishment of Gresham college in London, he was chosen the first professor of geometry in that institution, in March, 1596.

Soon after this, he constructed a table for finding the latitude—the variation of the magnetic-needle being given. In his lectures at Gresham college, he first proposed the alteration of the scale of logarithms, from the hyperbolic form which Napier had given them, to that in which unity is assumed as the logarithm of the ratio of 10 to 1. The illustrious inventor of logarithms was at first doubtful of the propriety of the change proposed; but after two personal conferences with the Gresham professor, who for that purpose visited Edinburgh, he adopted the views of his English associate. Previous to his interview with Napier, Briggs had contracted an intimacy with Usher, afterwards archbishop of Armagh. The correspondence of the two learned friends turned chiefly upon mathematical science.

In 1619, Briggs was appointed Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford. He resigned his Gresham professorship in consequence, and after his settlement in Merton college, devoted himself almost exclusively to the duties of his chair and mathematical investigations. In 1622, however, he found leisure to publish a small tract on the "North-west passage to the South seas, through the continent of Virginia and Hudson's-bay." Probably he had become a share-holder in the Virginian company, and thus interested himself in a speculation otherwise foreign to his habits of mind. The treatise was reprinted in Purchas's Pilgrims. In 1624 appeared his great and elaborate work the 'Arithmetica Logarithmica.' Its compilation was a stupendous undertaking for a single individual. It contains the logarithms of 30,000 natural numbers, computed to 14 places of figures, besides the index. He also lived to complete a table of logarithmic sines and tangents, for the 100th part of every degree, to 14 places of figures, besides the index, with a table of natural signs to 15 places, and the tangents and secants for the same to 10 places, all of which were printed at Gouda, in Holland, in 1631, under the care of Adrian Vlacq, and published in 1633, under the title of Trigonometria Britannica.' These two works, besides the evidence they bear to the indefatigable diligence and enthusiasm of their author, exhibit great powers of genius and invention. We meet with several of the most important discoveries in mathematics, for the first time, in them, such as the binomial theorem, the differential method, and the interpolation by differences.2

Mr Briggs died on the 26th of January, 1630. He was buried in the choir of the chapel of Merton college. Dr Smith gives him the character of being a man of the highest probity, and the utmost simplicity of character. Gataker bears testimony to the respect with which he was regarded by all the foreign mathematicians of his day. Oughtred calls him "the mirror of the age, for his excellent skill in geometry;" and Dr Barrow, one of his successors in the Gresham chair, has drawn a very flattering portrait of him in his inaugural oration. Besides the works already mentioned, Briggs published Tables for the Improvement of Navigation; Lucubrationes et Annotationes in opera posthuma, J. Neperi; Euclidis Elementorum VI. libri priores; Two Letters to archbishop Usher; and Mathematica ab Antiquis minus nita. Some other works of his, chiefly consisting of commentaries on Ramus and Longomontanus remain in manuscript.

Vol. iii. p. 852.

* See Introduction to Hutton's Mathematical Tables

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