34 



ENGLAND. (LITERATURE.) 



Paris, a monk of St Alban's, who died in 1259. His 

 authority is much respected by modern historians. 

 During the thirteenth century appeared Roger 

 Bacon, whose abilities, if we consider the general 

 darkness of the age, cannot be sufficiently admired. 

 The progress of learning could not be great among 

 the generality of people in any country, while the 

 art of printing remained unknown ; an art for which 

 the human race cannot be too grateful. While books 

 could be multiplied only by the slow and expensive 

 mode of transcription, they were confined to the 

 possession of the great, who were frequently more 

 engaged in the turbulent and destructive projects of 

 ambition, than in the calm pursuits of literature. 

 What little learning these early ages possessed, was 

 confined to convents and monasteries. To these we 

 chiefly owe the preservation of those monuments of 

 antiquity, which have tended both to civilize modern 

 nations, and to promote the improvement of modern 

 taste. The art of printing, which Caxton introduced 

 to England in 1471, conspired, more than any other 

 cause, to advance the interests of learning in Eng- 

 land, as well as in other nations. Cliaucer, who is 

 generally esteemed the father of English poetry, 

 flourished before this period. 



The period immediately succeeding the introduction 

 of the art of printing, though distinguished, per- 

 haps, by many names celebrated in their own times, 

 has transmitted to posterity few who are known, 

 except to the antiquary. The introduction of the 

 reformation by Henry VIII. tended to emancipate 

 the nation from those religious fetters in which it had 

 formerly been held, and was succeeded by what is 

 now universally considered to be the most brilliant 

 era in English literature namely, the Elizabethan. 

 In the reign of that queen and of her successor James 

 I., the drama was cultivated with unparalleled suc- 

 cess. We need only mention the names of Marlow, 

 Shirley, Ford, Massinger, Beaumont, Fletcher, Ben 

 Jonson, and last of all, SHAKSPEARE, to remind the 

 reader of the high achievements accomplished in this 

 department of literature. Spenser, too, in this age, 

 sung with a luxuriant sweetness not equalled by any 

 succeeding bard ; and Bacon burst the fetters of 

 Aristotle, and established a new epoch in the history 

 of philosophy. 



Though speculations on government and politics 

 must have been somewhat restrained by the almost 

 unlimited power of Queen Elizabeth, the knowledge 

 of law was not altogether neglected ; and we find 

 Plowden's and Dyer's names still mentioned with 

 considerable approbation. Mathematical learning, 

 as well as many of the sciences connected with 

 it, were not neglected ; but astronomy, one of the 

 chief of these, was degraded by the prevailing 

 propensity to astrology; and what was called natural 

 philosophy was seldom anything more than alchymy. 

 Dee was at that time celebrated for his knowledge 

 in mathematics ; he was likewise an astrologer and 

 an alchymist. Thomas Digges directed mathemati- 

 cal knowledge to the improvement of the military 

 art ; Thomas Harriot's improvements in algebrai- 

 cal calculations are still known ; and John Balgrave 

 applied mathematics to the business of private 

 life. 



The navigators of this period, though they cannot 

 be said to have contributed much to the improve- 

 ment of literature, certainly widened the boundaries 

 of human knowledge. Drake was the first English- 

 man who circumnavigated the globe. He was fol- 

 lowed by Cavendish, while Frobisher, Gilbert, and 

 Davis, signalized themselves by their discoveries in 

 the northern ocean. Sir Walter Raleigh, a man of 

 an ambitious and enterprising spirit, by his voyages, 

 added somewhat to the knowledge of his countrymen. 



and contributed to the advance of learning by his 

 History of the World ; a performance still held in 

 some degree of estimation. About this time, 

 flourished Hakluyt, the compiler of tliat celebrated 

 collection of voyages still known by his name. 



The reign of Elizabeth produced several writers on 

 botany, among whom have been named William 

 Turner, William Bulleyn, Thomas Penny, and Henry 

 Lyte. These are known chiefly to antiquaries ; but 

 the botanical works of Gerard and Parkinson have 

 not long been displaced by the increase of botanical 

 knowledge. Medicine, at the same time, boasted of 

 many able practitioners, and of some successful 

 writers. Of the latter class, Caius seems to have 

 been the chief, since his celebrity is notyet obliterated. 



The knowledge of Greek and Latin, and of other 

 languages, generally distinguished by the name of 

 learned, was, during this age, more prevalent than 

 at present. Elizabeth herself was no inconsiderable 

 scholar. Many translations of ancient authors were 

 at this time given to the world ; but an enumeration 

 of them would not be of much use, as they have long 

 been displaced by others, which, if not more correct, 

 are at least more agreeable to modern taste. With 

 the knowledge of the ancient, the improvement of 

 the English language, and the principles of criticism, 

 kept an equal progress. In no time, indeed, did 

 English composition advance more rapidly towards 

 perfection than during this age. If we except the 

 History of the World, by Raleigh, already mentioned, 

 and which, indeed, belongs not properly to the reign 

 of Elizabeth, as it was published in that of James I., 

 this period affords no historical performance of 

 acknowledged distinction. The names of Stow and 

 Camden, the antiquaries, are still well known, and 

 their extraordinary merit is still acknowledged. 



England did not, during this age, and, indeed, for 

 a long period afterwards, produce any painter of 

 celebrity. Several foreigners were introduced, who 

 obtained considerable reputation j among these have 

 been named Lucas de Heere, Cornelius Ketel, Fred- 

 eric Zeuchero, Marc Gassard, and Henry Cornelius 

 Vroom. The most noted engravers were William 

 Cunnyngham, Ralph Aggas, Humphrey Cole, John 

 Bettes, William Rogers, Christopher Saxton, George 

 Hoefiiagle, and Robert Adams. 



The reign of James I. was distinguished by a 

 literary undertaking of the greatest consequence to 

 the nation. That version of the Bible which is still 

 in use, was commenced in 1607. It was completed 

 and published in 1611. Many of the most learned 

 men in the nation were employed in this undertaking: 

 those whose names have descended to posterity with 

 greatest reputation, are Dr Andrews, Dr Overall, 

 Mr Chaderton, Dr Reynolds, Dr Smith, Mr Downes, 

 Mr Boyes, Dr Barlow, and Mr Fairclowe. The 

 theological disputes which about this time were agi- 

 tated in England, and, indeed, in all Europe, gave 

 rise to many theologians well skilled in the polemical 

 parts of their profession. Some of their names and 

 works are still known, but they do not retain that 

 celebrity which formerly was attached to them. 



Several statesmen of considerable abilities adorned 

 the reign of James ; but the power of the king was 

 still too arbitrary to permit the free discussion of the 

 maxims of government. Sir Edward Coke has 

 attained the highest celebrity, as a commentator on 

 the laws of his country. Dr Cowel was, at the same 

 period, remarkable for his proficiency in the civil law. 

 In mathematical learning, the name of Briggs is well 

 known, and his labours are still useful. Gunter, 

 celebrated for several inventions in mathematical 

 instruments, lived about the same time. During the 

 reign of James, natural history, and medical know- 

 ledge, did not make much progress. 



