the rites of the Heathens; and so produced a work of learned appearance, and composed in elegant Latin, but disgraceful to Christian divinity, dishonourable to the church of England, and affording a very bad example to vain scholars who should succeed him." Others, however saw no ill consequences from admitting it; and the work upon the whole has been highly valued, for extensive erudition and research. The author afterwards greatly enlarged it, particularly with the addition of a fourth book; and his papers, being committed at his death to archbishop Tenison, were bequeathed by that prelate to the university of Cam bridge, together with the sum of 50%. to forward the printing of them. At length Mr. Leonard Chappelow, fellow of St. John's-college, and professor of Arabic, being depi ated by the university, and offered the reward, undertook a new edition of this work, with the author's additions and improvements; and published it at Cambridge, in 1727, in 2 vols. folio. It was also previously reprinted at the Hague in 1686, 4to; and at Leipsic in 1705.

Dr. Spencer died May 27, 1695, in the sixty-third year of his age, and was interred in the chapel of Corpus-college. To this college such was his liberality, that Mr. Masters says "he far exceeded all form er benefactors." In 1687, be purchased an estate at Elmington, an hamlet belonging to Oundle in Northamptonshire, which cost him 3600l. and settled it by a deed of gift on the college, for the augmentation of the mastership, fellowship: scholarships, &c.; and, in his will, bequeathed various suups to the society, to the church and deanery of Ely, and to the poor of the parishes in which he had officiated. He married Hannah, the daughter of Isaac Pullen of Hertford, by vvhom he had a son and daughter, but neither survived him.'

1

SPENER (PHILIP JAMES), a celebrated Lutheran divine of Frankfort on the Maine, but born in Alsatia, Jan. 11, 1,635, was one of those who first endeavoured to free divinity from scholastic subtleties, and captious questions, and to introduce a more plain and popular method of teaching theology. He succeeded, in a great measure, though not universally; and, about 1680, became the founder of a new sect, styled Pietists. It originated in certain private societies formed by him at Frankfort, with a design to rouse the lukewarm from their indifference, and excite a spirit of

Biog. Brit.-Master's History of C. C. C. C.

vigour and resolution in those who before had silently lamented the progress of impiety. The effect of these pious meetings was greatly increased by a book published by this able and well- meaning man, entitled "Pious Desires," in which he exhibited a striking view of the disorders of the church, and proposed the suitable remedies. His work was approved; but the remedies he proposed fell into unskilful hands, and were administered without sagacity and prudence.

The religious meetings, or Colleges of Piety, as they were called, tended, in several instances, to inflame the people with a blind and intemperate zeal, and produced tumults, and various com plaints; till at length, in many places, severe laws were passed against the Pietists. Spener settled for a time at Dresden, and afterwards at Berlin, where he held important coffices of ecclesiastical trust under the elec tor of Brandenburg, and where he died in 1705, aged seventy. He was a man of eloquence and piety'; and cer tainly far from intending to produce dissentions and schisms. His pionas works were published in the German language; but he wrote some in Latin on genealogy and heraldry; such as "Opus heraldicum:" "Theatrum nobilitatis:" "Sylloge historico-genealogica," &e. His son, James Charles Spenter, wrote a 66 Historia Germanica universalis et pragmatica," 2 vols. 8vo, and "Notitia Ger maniæ antiquæ," 1717, 4to, both works of authority. He died in 17 30. 1

SPENSER (EDMUND), a justly celebrated English poet, descended from the ancient and honourable family of Spen ser, was born in London, in East Smithfield by the Tower, probably about 1553. In what school he received the first part of his education, has not been ascertained. He was admitted, as a sizer, of Pembroke-hall in Cambridge, May 20, 1569, proceeded to the degree of bachelor of arts, January 16, 1572-3, and to that of master of arts June 26, 1576. Of his proficiency during this time, a favourable opinion may be drawn from the many classical allusions in his works, while their moral tendency, which, if not uniform, was more general than that of the writings of his contemporaries, incline us to hope, that his conduct was irreproachable.

1 Moreri. Dict. Hist.-Mosheim.

At Cambridge he formed an intimacy with Gabriel Harvey, first of Christ's-college, afterwards of Trinity-hall, who became doctor of laws in 1585, and survived his friend more than thirty years. Harvey was a scholar, and a poet of no mean estimation in his own time. He appears also as a critic, to whose judgment Spenser frequently appeals, looking up to him with a reverence for which it is not easy to account. We are, however, much indebted to his correspondence with Spenser, for many interesting particulars relating to the life and studies of the latter, although some of them afford little more than probable conjectu res. It is now fully disproved that Spenser was an unsuccessful candidate for a fellowship in Pembroke-hall, in competition with Andrews, afterwards successively bishop of Chichester, Ely, and Winchester. The rival of Andrews was Thomas Dove, afterwards bishop of Peterborough. But from one of Harvey's letters to Spenser it appears that some disagreement had taken place between our poet and the master or tutor of the society to which he belonged, which terminated his prospects of farther advancement in it, without lessening his veneration for the university at large, of which he always speaks with filial regard.

When he left Cambridge he is supposed to have gone to reside with some friends in the North of England, probably as a tutor. At what time he began to display his poetical powers is uncertain, but as genius cannot be long concealed, it is probable that he was already known as a votary of the Muses among his fellow-students. There are several poems in the "Theatre for Worldlings," a collection published in the year in which he became a member of the university, which are thought to have come from his pen. The "Visions," in this work, were probably the first sketch of those which now form a part of his acknowledged produc tions. Absolute certainty, however, cannot be obtained in fixing the chronology of his early poems; but it may be conjectured, with great probability, that his muse would not be neglected at an age when it is usual to court her favours, and at which he had much leisure, the scenery of nature before his eyes, and no serious cares to disturb his enthusiasm. His "Shepheard's Calender" was published in 1579. The tenderness of complaint in this elegant poem, appears to have been inspired by a mistress whom he has recorded under the name of Rosalind; and who, after trifling with his affection, preferred his rival. He is supposed

also to allude to the cruelty of this same lady in book VI. of the "Faerie Queene," under the name of Mirabella,

The year preceding the publication of this poem, he had been adviser by his friend Harvey to remove to London, where he was introduced to sir Philip Sidney, and by him recommend ed to his uncle the earl of Leicester. There is a wide difference of opinion, however, among Spenser's biographer: 5, as to the time and mode of the former of these events. Some suppose that his acquaintance with sir Philip Sidney was the consequence of his having presented to him the ninth canto of the "Faerie Queene." Others think that his first introduction was owing to the dedication of the "Shepheard's Calender," but a long letter from Spenser to Harvey, which Mr. Todd has preserved, proves that he was known to Sidney previous to the publication of the "She pheard's Calender" in 1579.

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It is certain that in consequence of this introduction, by whatever means procured, he became a welcome guest in sir Philip's family, and was invited to their seat at Pens hurst in Kent, where it is conjectured that he wrote at least the ninth eclogue. Under such patronage, the dedication of the "Calénder," when finished, to "Maister Philip Sidney," became a matter of course, as a mark of respectful acknowledgment for the kindness he had received. The prais e, however, bestowed on this poem was but moderate, and the name of the author appears to have been for some time not generally known. Dove, whose trans lation of it into Latin is extant in the library of Caius college, Cambridge, speaks of it not only as an unowned" poem, but as almost buried in oblivion. On the other hand, Abraham Fraunce, a barrister as well as a poet of that time, selected from it examples to illustrate his work entitled "The Lawier's Logike;" but Fraunce, it may be said, was the friend of sir Philip Sidney, and would naturally be made acquainted, and perhaps induced to admire the productions of a poet whom he favouredator

The patronage of men of genius in Spenser's age was frequently exerted in procuring for them public employments, and Spenser, we find, was very early introduced into the business of active life. In July 1580, when Arthur lord Grey of Wilton departed from England, as lord lieutenant of Ireland, Spenser was appointed bis secretary, probably on the recommendation of the earl of Leicester. Although the office of secretary was not at that

time of the same importance it is now, and much might not be expected in official business from a scholar and a poet, yet Spenser appears to have entered with zeal into political affairs, as far as they were connected with the character of the lord lieutenant. In his "View of the State of Ireland," which was written long after, he takes frequent opportunities to vindicate the measures and reputation of that nobleman, and has, indeed, evidently studied the politics of Ireland with great success.

After holding this situation about two years, lord Grey returned to England, and was probably accompanied by his secretary. Their connection was certainly not dissolved, for in 1586, Spenser obtained, by his lordship's interest, and that of Leicester and Sidney, a grant of three thousand and twenty-eight acres in the county of Cork, out of the forfeited lands of the earl of Desmond. As far as sir Philip Sidney was concerned, this was the last act of his kindness to our poet, for he died in October of the same year. Such were the terms of the royal patent, that Spenser was now obliged to return to Ireland, in order to cultivate the land assigned him. He accordingly fixed his residence at Kilcolman, in the county of Cork, a place which topographers have represented as admirably accommodated to the taste of a poet by its romantic and diversified scenery. Here he was visited by sir Walter Raleigh, with whom he had formed an intimacy on his first arrival in Ireland, who proved a second Sidney to his poetical ardour, and appears to have urged him to that composition which constitutes his highest fame. In 1590 he published "The Faerie Queene; disposed into Twelve Books, fashioning XII Morall Vertues."

This edition contains only the first three books. To the end of the third were annexed, besides the letter to Raleigh, the poetical commendations of friends to whose judgment the poem had been submitted. The names of Raleigh and Harvey are discernible, but the others are concealed under initials. These are followed by his own " Sonnets" to various persons of distinction, the number of which is augmented in the edition of 1596. Mr. Todd remarks that in that age of adulation, it was the custom of the author to present, with a copy of his publication, a poetical address to his superiors. It was no less the custom also, to print them afterwards, and, we may readily suppose,