translator to be a skilled literary workman. His classical scholarship was also shown to advantage in his translation of Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherdess" into Latin hexameters and hendecasyllabics. Fan shawe's few surviving original English poems exhibit rare literary faculty, and it is to be regretted that they are so few. -LEE, SIDNEY, 1889, Dictionary of National Biography, vol. XVIII, p. 189. James Howell 1594?-1666 James Howell, born near Brecknock about 1594, was educated at Jesus College, Oxford. He was appointed manager of a patent glass manufactory in London, and travelled on the continent from 1619 to 1621, in which year he was elected a fellow of Jesus College. He became secretary to Lord Scrope in 1626, secretary to an extraordinary embassy to Denmark in 1632, and having filled various appointments, obtained the clerkship of the Council at Whitehall in 1640. Howell, sent to the Fleet in 1643, was liberated soon after the execution of Charles I., and at the Restoration was appointed historiographer royal. He died Nov. 1666, and was buried in the Temple Church. Howell was a prolific writer. His best known works are "Dendrologia, Dodona's Grove, or the Vocal Forest," a poem published in 1640, and the "Epistolæ Ho-Eliana: Familiar Letters, Domestic and Foreign, &c." of which the first volume appeared in 1645, and the second in 1655.-TOWNSEND, GEORGE H., 1870, ed. The Every-Day Book of Modern Literature, vol. 1, p. 177. PERSONAL Multofarious indeed were Howell's acquirements. He was one of the best modern linguists of his day: sometimes he figures at the court of Denmark, delivering Latin speeches before the king: then in Ireland, under Wentworth, afterwards Earl of Strafford-with whose death Howell's hopes sank. He had long been a kind of poet of a low standard; and he consoled himself on mediocrity by presenting to Charles the First his "Vote," a poem which procured him a place as Clerk of the Council, and gave him a suite of apartments at Whitehall.THOMPSON, KATHERINE (GRACE WHARTON), 1862, The Literature of Society, vol. 1, p. 232, A thorough Welshman, Howell became a celebrated English author in his day. He was past forty years of age before his first book was published. Then for the remaining twenty odd years of his life, with an incessant and unwearying industry, he wrote, compiled, or translated book after book, each varying greatly in subject. Lastly, he is one of the earliest instances of a literary man successfully maintaining himself with the fruits of his pen.-ARBER, EDWARD, 1869, Howell's Instructions, Preface. Howell has been accused of being a prig, which is harsh, and of being a coxcomb, which is true enough; and he has other qualities which are not in themselves gifts or graces. But his pedantry, his egotism, his adroit, if seldom quite abject flattery of the great, his spice of ill-nature now and then, his self-seeking and intriguing, present, as they are reflected in his style and matter, a spectacle by no means ugly, and very decidedly lively.-SAINTSBURY, GEORGE, 1893, English Prose, ed. Craik, vol. II, p. 236. DODONA'S GROVE 1640 This is a strange allegory, without any ingenuity in maintaining the analogy between the outer and inner story, which alone can give a reader any pleasure in allegorical writing. The subject is the state of Europe, especially of England, about 1640, under the guise of animated trees in a forest. The style is like the following: "The next morning the royal olives sent some prime elms to attend Prince Rocolino in quality of officers of state; and, a little after, he was brought to the royal palace in the same state Elaiana's kings use to be attended the day of their coronation." The contrivance is all along so clumsy and unintelligible, the invention so poor and absurd, the story, if story there be, so dull an echo of wellknown events, that it is impossible to reckon "Dodona's Grove" any thing but an entire failure. Howell has no wit; but he has abundance of conceits, flat and commonplace enough. With all this, he was a man of some sense and observation. HALLAM, HENRY, 1837-39, Introduction to the Literature of Europe, pt. iii, ch. vii, par. 61. The great bibliographer Haller was deceived into including the title of James Howell's "Dendrologia, or Dodona's Grove" (1640), in his "Bibliotheca Botanica."-WHEATLEY, HENRY B., 1893, Literary Blunders, p. 75. FAMILIAR LETTERS James Howell published his "HoEliana" for which he indeed was laughed at (not for his letters which acquainted us with a number of passages worthy to be known and had never else been preserved) but which, were the language enlightened with that sort of exercise and conversation, I should not question its being equal to any of the most celebrated abroad. EVELYN, JOHN, 1668, Letter to Lord Spencer. He had a singular command of his pen, whether in verse or in prose, and was well read in modern Histories, especially in those of the Countries wherein he had travelled, had a parabolical and allusive fancy, according to his motto Senesco non Segnesco. But the Reader is to know that his writings have been only to gain a livelihood, and by their dedications to flatter great and noble persons, are very trite and empty, stolen from other authors without acknowledgment, and fitted only to please the humours of novices. Many of the said Letters were never written before the Author of them was in the Fleet, as he pretends they were, only feigned, (no time being kept with their dates) and purposely published to gain money to relieve his necessities, yet give a tolerable history of those times.-WOOD, ANTHONY, 1691-1721, Athenæ Oxonienses. I believe the second published correspondence of this kind, and, in our language at least, of any importance after Hall, will be found to be "Epistolæ Hoelianæ, or the Letters of James Howell," a great traveller, an intimate friend of Jonson, and the first who bore the office of the royal historiographer, which discover a variety of literature, and abound with much entertaining and useful information.-WARTON, THOMAS, 1778-81, History of English Poetry, sec. Ixiv. A work containing numberless anecdotes and historical narratives, and forming one of the most amusing and instructive volumes of the seventeenth century.BRYDGES, SIR EGERTON, 1808, Censura Literaria. These letters were written in England, but are not the coinage of British soil. They are amusing and instructive, and have deservedly gone through half a score of editions. The account in them of the assassination of Henry IV. of France is minutely curious.-DIBDIN, THOMAS FROGNALL, 1824, The Library Companion, p. 601, note. I Montaigne and "Howel's Letters" are my bedside books. If I wake at night, I have one or other of them to prattle me to sleep again. They talk about themselves for ever and don't weary me. like to hear them tell their old stories over and over again. I read them in the dozy hours and only half remember them. I am informed that both of them tell coarse stories. I don't heed them. It was the custom of their time, as it is of Highlanders and Hottentots, to dispense with a part of dress which we all wear in cities. I love, I say, and scarcely ever tire of hearing, the artless prattle of those two dear old friends, the Perigourdin gentleman and the priggish little Clerk of King Charles's Council.-THACKERAY, WILLIAM MAKEPEACE, 1862, On Two Children in Black, Roundabout Papers. . To the list of writers whom it is impossible to use with confidence must, I am afraid, be added that agreeable letterwriter Howell. But there can be no doubt that many of his letters are mere products of the bookmaker's skill, drawn up from memory long afterwards [e. g. I. ii. 12]. On the other hand, some of the letters have all the look of being what they purport to be, actually written at the time, but even then, the dates at the end are frequently incorrectly given.GARDINER, SAMUEL RAWSON, 1864, Prince Charles and the Spanish Marriage, Preface, p. xiv. He may be called the Father of Epistolary Literature, the first writer, that is to say, of letters which addressed to individuals, were intended for publication. A style animated, racy, and picturesque; keen powers of observation; great literary skill; an eager, restless, curious spirit; some humour and much wit; and a catholicity of sympathy very unusual with the writers of his age- are his chief claims to distinction.-SCOONES, W. BAPTISTE, 1880, Four Centuries of English Letters, p. 71. It is strange that no new edition of Howell's "Letters" has appeared for the last 130 years. In the century after their first appearance, no less than a dozen editions testified to their continued vitality, and stray allusions prove that they have never passed beyond the ken of the true lovers of books. A work which Thackeray has praised so highly, and Scott, Browning, and Kingsley have used for some of their most popular effects, cannot be said to have ever lost its chances of revival. Perhaps the supply of the second-hand copies of twelve editions has hitherto been sufficient to satisfy the demand. But the avidity of our American cousins is fast causing this source to fail, and the time seems opportune for Howell to make a fresh bid for the popularity he deserves. JACOBS, JOSEPH, 1892, ed., The Familiar Letters of James Howell, Preface, P. ix. Surpassed all previous letter-writers in the ease and livelienss of his letters. GOSSE, EDMUND, 1897, Short History of Modern English Literature, p. 152. Has survived in English literature as a retailer of lively and agreeable gossip and anecdotage. Howell's style is careless and colloquial, but his "Letters" will always retain their interest as a record of the life of the time, and for their genuine literary merit.-MASTERMAN, J. HOWARD B., 1897, The Age of Milton, pp. 238, 239. GENERAL Not to know the Author of these Poems, were an ignorance beyond Barbarism. . He may be called the prodigie of his Age, for the variety of his Volumes; for from his Aevolodoyía or "Parly of Trees" [1610], to his Oncoloyía or "Parly of beasts" [1660] (not inferior to the other), there hath pass'd the Press above forty of his Works on various subjects; useful not only to the present times, but to all posterity. And 'tis observed that in all his Writings there is somthing still New either in the Matter, Method or Fancy, and in an untrodded Tract. Moreover, one may discover a kinde of Vein of Poesie to run through the body of his Prose, in the Continuity and succinctness thereof all along. He teacheth a new way of Epistolizing; and that "Familiar Letters" may not only consist of Words and a bombast of Compliments, but that they are capable of the highest Speculations and solidest kind of Knowledge.-FISHER, PAYNE, 1664, Mr. Howel's Poems, Preface. He had a great knowledge in modern histories, especially in those of the countries in which he had travelled, and he seems, by his letters, to have been no contemptible politician: As to his poetry, it is smoother, and more harmonious, than was very common with the bards of his time. As he introduced the trade of writing for bread, so he also is charged with venal flattery, than which nothing can be more ignoble and base. CIBBER, THEOPHILUS, 1753, Lives of the Poets, vol. II, p. 34. In the time of the civil war, he was commited a close prisoner to the Fleet, where he continued for many years. The greatest part of his works were written for his support during his confinement; and he indeed appears, in several of his hasty productions, to have been more anxious to satisfy his stomach, than to do justice to his fame. His "Dodona's Grove," which was published in the reign. of Charles I. gained him a considerable. reputation. But of all his performances, his "Letters" are the most esteemed, though, as Mr. Wood justly observes, many of them were never written till he was in prison.-GRANGER, JAMES, 17691824, Biographical History of England, vol. IV, p. 51. Notable because he wrote so much; and I specially name him because he was the earliest and best type of what we should call a hackwriter; ready for anything; a shrewd salesman, too, of all he did write; travelling largely having modern instincts, I think; making small capitalwhether of learning or money-reach enormously. He was immensely popular, too, in his day; a Welshman by birth, and never wrote at all till past forty; but afterward he kept at it with a terrible pertinacity. MITCHELL, DONALD G., 1890, English Lands Letters and Kings, from Elizabeth to Anne, p. 107. Howell is one of the earliest Englishmen who made a livelihood out of literature. He wrote with a light pen; and although with attractive ease in the correspondence which he professes to have addressed to men of all ranks and degrees of intimacy. . . . Most of Howell's letters were in all probability written expressly for publication "to relieve his necessities" while he was in the Fleet-LEE, SIDNEY, 1891, Dictionary of National Biography, vol. XXVIII, pp. 112, 113. A busy "polygraph" as the French say, and a professional man of letters who had travelled much, and tried many irons in many fires, has filled his letters (his miscellaneous writings are mostly unread) with such vivid and interesting detailsgossip, anecdote, description, and what not as have altogether bribed many good judges, and have not failed to produce an effect even upon the most incorruptible. -SAINTSBURY, GEORGE, 1895, Social England, ed. Traill, vol. IV, p. 101. James Shirley 1596-1666 Born, in London, 18 Sept. 1596. At Merchant Taylors' School, Oct. 1608 to June 1612. Matric., St. John's Coll., Oxford, 1612. Removed to Catherine Hall, Cambridge. B. A., 1617. Ordained Curate of parish near St. Albans. Resigned Curacy on becoming a Roman Catholic. Kept a Grammar school at St. Albans, 1623 24. This failing, he removed to London; devoted himself to literature. Mem. of Gray's Inn, 1634. Wrote many plays till 1640. Valet of Chamber to Queen Henrietta Maria. Kept a school in White Friars, 1640-46. Resumed career of dramatist, 1646. Died, in London, Oct. 1666. Buried in church of St. Giles'-in-the-Fields, 29 Oct. Works: "Eccho" (no copy known), 1618 (another end., called: "Narcissus, or the Self-Lover," 1646); "The Wedding," 1629; "The Greatful Servant," 1630; "The School of Complement" (also known as "Love Tricks"), 1631; "Changes," 1632; "The Wittie Fair One," 1633; "A Contention for Honour and Riches," 1633; "The Bird in a Cage," 1633; "The triumph of Peace," 1633; "The Traytor," 1635; "Hide Park," 1637; "The Young Admirall," 1637; "The Gamester," 1637; "The Example," 1637; "The Lady of Pleasure," 1637; "The Royall Master," 1638; "The Duke's Mistris," 1638; "The Maide's Revenge," 1639; "The Ball" (with Chapman). 1639; "Chabot, Admiral of France" (with Chapman), 1639; "The Opportunitie," 1640; "The Coronation" (pubd. under Fletcher's name), 1640; "St. Patrick for Ireland," 1640; "The Constant Maid," 1640 (another end., called: "Love will finde out the Way," 1661): "The Humorous Courtier," 1640; "The Arcadia," 1640; "Poems," 1646; "The Triumph of Beautie," 1646; "The Way made Plain to the Latin Tongue," 1649; "Grammatica Anglo-Latina," 1651; "The Cardinal," 1652; "Six New Playes," 1653 [1652]; "Cupid and Death" (under initials: J. S.), 1653; "The Gentleman of Venise," 1655; "The Polititian," 1655; "The Rudiments of Grammar," 1656; "Elaywyn," 1656; "Honour and Mammon; and, the Contention of Ajax and Ulysses," 1659; "Andromana" (under initials: J. S. ), 1660. Posthumous: "An Essay towards an Universal and Rational Grammar," ed. by J. T. Phillipps, 1726; "Double Falsehood" (pubd. under Shakespeare's name; probably by Shirley), 1728; "Jenkin of Wales," ed. by J. O. Halliwel., 1851. Collected Works: "Dramatic Works and Poems," ed., with memoir, by A. Dyce (6 vols.), 1833.-SHARP, R. FARQUHARSON, 1897, A Dictionary of English Authors, p. PERSONAL James, thou and I did spend some precious yeeres At Katherine-Hall; since when, we sometimes feele In our poetick braines, (as plaine appeares) A whirling tricke, then caught from Katherine's wheele. -BANCROFT, THOMAS, 1639, Two Bookes of Epigrammes. He was educated at St. John's College, in Oxford, where he was taken great notice of by Dr. Laud, then president of that house. He entered into holy orders; though he was much discouraged from it, by his friend the president, on account of a large mole on his left cheek; and was some time a parish priest in Hertfordshire. He afterward turned Roman Catholic, and kept a school at St. Alban's, but soon grew tired of that employment, and going to London commenced poet. He wrote no less than thirty dramatic pieces, some of which were acted with great applause. In the Interregnum, he was necessitated to return to his former profession of schoolmaster; in which he became eminent, and wrote several grammatical books for the use of his scholars.-GRANGER, JAMES, 1769-1824, Biographical History of Eng. land, vol. III, p. 130. GENERAL In the play of the Ball written by Shirley and acted by the Queen's players there were divers personated so naturally both of lords and others in the Court that I took it ill and would have forbidden the play but that Beeston promised many things which I found fault withall should be left out, and that he would not suffer it to be done by the poet any more, who deserves to be punished: and the first who offends in this kind of poets or players shall be sure of public punishment.. HERBERT, SIR HENRY, 1632, Master of the Revels Office Book, Nov. 18. Heywood and Shirley were but types of thee, Thou last great prophet of tautology. -DRYDEN, JOHN, 1682, Mac Flecknoe. One of such Incomparable parts, that he was the Chief of the Second-rate Poets: and by some has been thought even equal to Fletcher himself. I need not take pains to shew his Intimacy, not only with the Poets of his Time; but even the Value and Admiration that Persons of the first Rank had for him; since the Verses before several of his Works, and his Epistles Dedicatory sufficiently shew it. He has writ several Dramatick Pieces, to the Number of 37, which are in print: besides others which are in Manuscript.LANGBAINE, GERARD, 1691, An Account of the English Dramatick Poets, pp. 474, 475. Think, ye vain scribbling tribe of Shirley's fate, You that write farce, and you that farce translate; Shirley, the scandal of the ancient stage Claims a place amongst the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent talent in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly the same language, and had a set of moral feelings and notions in common. A new language, and quite a new turn of tragic and comic interest, came in with the Restoration.-LAMB, CHARLES, 1808, Specimens of Dramatic Poets. Shirley was the last of our good old dramatists. When his works shall be given to the public, they will undoubtedly enrich our popular literature. His language sparkles with the most exquisite images. Keeping some occasional pruriences apart, the fault of his age rather than of himself, he speaks the most polished and refined dialect of the stage; and even some of his over-heightened scenes of voluptuousness are meant, though with a very mistaken judgment, to inculcate morality. I consider his genius, indeed, as rather brilliant and elegant than strong or lofty. His tragedies are defective in fire, grandeur, and passion; and we must select his comedies, to have any favourable idea of his humour. His finest poetry comes forth in situations rather more familiar than tragedy and more grave than comedy, which I should call sentimental comedy, if the name were not associated with ideas of modern insipidity. That he was capable, however, of pure and excellent comedy will be felt by those who have yet in reserve the amusement |