DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53268#0194
( )
From Tome lines by his intimate acquaintance, Sir Afton Cokain, we learn
that he was a ftudent at the univerfity of Oxford, by the fupport, as it is
faid, of Sir Henry Goodere; though it does not appear that he took any
degree there. It has been fuggefted, from a paflage in the third book of
his poem on “ Mofes bis Birth and Miracles” defcriptive of the Spanifh
armada in 1588, that he might poflibly have been at Dover at that critical
period, in a military capacity ; be that as it may, it is certain that he had
feduloufly cherifhed and cultivated his propenfity and talent for poetry, in
which he became eminent ten years before the death of queen Elizabeth.
In 1593 he publifhed a collection of P aft orals, &c. and, foon after, his
Barons Wars 5 England's Heroical Epi/lies 5 The Legends of Robert, Duke
of Normandy ; Matilda; Pierce Gavefton; and Great Cromwell: for which
latter pieces he is ftiled by a contemporary, Pragcediographus.
Part of his Poly-Olbion, the firft eighteen fongs of which were not pub-
lifhed till 1613, is faid to have been written before 1598.
For thefe admirable productions, and his perfonal deferts, he was highly
celebrated, not only as a great genius, but a good man ; not only for the
fweetnefs and elegance of his words, but of his aCtions and manners; for
his humane and honourable principles, as well as his refined and polite
parts. The Poly-Olbion he enlarged by the addition of twelve fongs, and it
was publifhed complete in 1622.
The curious and important geographical defcriptions, with which this
lingular and noble poem abounds, will furnifh much information to every
antiquary who has a regard for his country ; his great difplay of knowledge
and obfervation in both political and natural hiftory, cannot fail to pleafe,
if not inftruCt, every refearcher into thofe departments of fcience ; and the
general ftrain of benevolence, which pervades his works, endears him
to readers of every clafs: thus was he characterized, not only by
Poets, or the more florid and panegyrical writers of his time, but
alfo by Divines, Hiftorians, and other Scholars of the moft ferious and folid
learning. On fubjeCts connected with Scripture very few have in any degree
fucceeded; there Milton reigns unrivalled 1 yet is there much real poetry,
From Tome lines by his intimate acquaintance, Sir Afton Cokain, we learn
that he was a ftudent at the univerfity of Oxford, by the fupport, as it is
faid, of Sir Henry Goodere; though it does not appear that he took any
degree there. It has been fuggefted, from a paflage in the third book of
his poem on “ Mofes bis Birth and Miracles” defcriptive of the Spanifh
armada in 1588, that he might poflibly have been at Dover at that critical
period, in a military capacity ; be that as it may, it is certain that he had
feduloufly cherifhed and cultivated his propenfity and talent for poetry, in
which he became eminent ten years before the death of queen Elizabeth.
In 1593 he publifhed a collection of P aft orals, &c. and, foon after, his
Barons Wars 5 England's Heroical Epi/lies 5 The Legends of Robert, Duke
of Normandy ; Matilda; Pierce Gavefton; and Great Cromwell: for which
latter pieces he is ftiled by a contemporary, Pragcediographus.
Part of his Poly-Olbion, the firft eighteen fongs of which were not pub-
lifhed till 1613, is faid to have been written before 1598.
For thefe admirable productions, and his perfonal deferts, he was highly
celebrated, not only as a great genius, but a good man ; not only for the
fweetnefs and elegance of his words, but of his aCtions and manners; for
his humane and honourable principles, as well as his refined and polite
parts. The Poly-Olbion he enlarged by the addition of twelve fongs, and it
was publifhed complete in 1622.
The curious and important geographical defcriptions, with which this
lingular and noble poem abounds, will furnifh much information to every
antiquary who has a regard for his country ; his great difplay of knowledge
and obfervation in both political and natural hiftory, cannot fail to pleafe,
if not inftruCt, every refearcher into thofe departments of fcience ; and the
general ftrain of benevolence, which pervades his works, endears him
to readers of every clafs: thus was he characterized, not only by
Poets, or the more florid and panegyrical writers of his time, but
alfo by Divines, Hiftorians, and other Scholars of the moft ferious and folid
learning. On fubjeCts connected with Scripture very few have in any degree
fucceeded; there Milton reigns unrivalled 1 yet is there much real poetry,