And barter, as an author saith, Christ out o' th' church and his Apostles, In the same fortune, I suppose A sacrifice to the Parliament. There lurked the fire that turned to cinder Amid their sports, some shrewd turne done, From Nymptom, where the Cyder smiles, J. S. Account of Mr. Samuel Butler, from Aubrey's Letters, in the Bodleian Library, edited by Dr. Bliss. IX. Mr. Samuel Butler was borne at Pershore, in Worcestershire, as we suppose;1 his brother lives there : went to schoole at Worcester. His father a man but of slender fortune, and to breed him at schoole was as much education as he was able to reach to. When but a boy, he would make observations and reflections on every thing one sayd or did, and censure it to be either well or ill. He never was at the university for the reason alledged. He came when a young man to be a servant to the Countesse of Kent,2 whom he served severall yeares. Here, besides his study, he employed his time much in painting3 and drawing, and also in musique. He was thinking once to have made painting his profession. His love to and skill in painting made a great friendship between him and Mr. Samuel Cowper (the prince of limners of this age). He then studyed the common lawes of England, but did not practise. He maried a good jointuresse, the relict of .... Morgan, by which meanes he lives comfortably. After the restauration of his matie, when the courte at Ludlowe was againe sett up, he was then the king's steward at the 1 He was born in Worcestershire, hard by Barton-bridge, a mile from Worcester, in the parish of St John, Mr. Hill thinkes, who went to schoole with him. 2 Mr. Saunders (ye Countesse of Kent's kinsman) sayd that Mr. J. Selden much esteemed him for his partes, and would sometimes employ him to write letters for him beyond sea, and to translate for him. He was secretairie to the D. of Bucks, when he was Chancellor of Cambridge. He might have had preferments at first; but he would not accept any but very good, so at last he had none at all, and dyed in want. 3 He painted well, and made it (sometime) his profession. He wayted some yeares on the Countess of Kent. She gave her gent. 20 lib. per an. a-piece. From Dr. Duke. castle there. He printed a witty poeme called Hudibras, the first part Ao 166. which tooke extremely, so that the king and Lord Chanc. Hyde would have him sent for, and accordingly he was sent for. (The La Ch. Hyde hath his picture in his library over the chimney.) They both promised him great matters, but to this day he has got no employment, only the king gave him .... lib. He is of a middle stature, strong sett, high coloured, a head of sorrell haire, a severe and sound judgement: a good fellowe. He hath often sayd that way (e. g. Mr. Edw. Waller's) of quibling with sence will hereafter growe as much out of fashion and be as ridicule as quibling with words. 24. N. B. He hath been much troubled with the gowt, and particularly, 1679, he stirred not out of his chamber from October till Easter. He dyed of a consumption Septemb. 25 (Anno Dni 1680, 70 circiter), and buried 27, according to his owne appointment in the churchyard of Covent Garden; sc. in the north part next the church at the east end. His feet touch the wall. His grave, 2 yards distant from the pillaster of the dore, (by his desire) 6 foot deepe. About 25 of his old acquaintance at his funeral: I myself being one. HUDIBRAS UNPRINTED. No Jesuite ever took in hand For where there is not store of wealth, Souls are not worth the chandge of health. To sell their Ghospell for their wines, For had the Mexicans been poore, No Spaniard twice had landed on their shore. 'Twas Gold the Catholic Religion planted, Which, had they wanted Gold, they still had wanted. " [Siv. Edit.] 6 [Evidently written some time after the former part. E.] He had made very sharp reflexions upon the court in his last part. Writt my Lord (John 7) Rosse's Answer to the Marquesse of Dorchester. Memorandum. Satyricall witts disoblige whom they converse with, &c. consequently make to themselves many enemies and few friends, and this was his manner and case. He was of a leonine-coloured haire, sanguine, cholerique, middle sized, strong, 7 [In the hand-writing of Anthony à Wood. Edit.] HUDIBRAS. PART I. CANTO I. THE ARGUMENT. Sir Hudibras his passing worth, WHEN civil dudgeon first grew high, And made them fight, like mad or drunk, A ridicule on Ronsarde and Davenant. 5 1 VAR. 'Civil fury.'-To take in 'dudgeon' is inwardly to resent some injury or affront, and what is previous to actual fury. 2 It may be justly said, They knew not why;' since, as Lord Clarendon observes, "The like peace and plenty, and universal tranquillity, was never enjoyed by any nation for ten years together, before those unhappy troubles began." 3 By 'hard words' he probably means the cant words used by the Presbyterians and sectaries of those times; such as Gospel-walking, Gospel-preaching, Soul-saving, Elect, Saints, the Godly, the Predestinate, and the like; which they applied to their own preachers and themselves. VOL. I. B |