LIFE OF WALTON, XXJX 



Herbert of Cherbury. He was a king's scholar at Westminster, 

 and, after that, a fellow of Trinity-College, in Cambridge. In 1619, 

 he was chosen university orator ; and, while in that station, studied 

 the modern languages, with a view to the office of secretary-of-state : 

 but being of a constitution that indicated a consumption, and withal 

 of an ascetic turn of mind, he gave up the thoughts of a court life, 

 and entered into holy orders. His first preferment in the church was 

 a prebend in the cathedral of Lincoln ; and his next and last, the rec- 

 tory of Bemerton, near Salisbury. About 1630, he married a near 

 relation of the Earl of Danby; and died about 1635, aged forty-two, 

 without issue. 



His elder brother, lord Herbert of Cherbury, mentions him in his 

 own Life ; and gives his character in the following words : " My bro- 

 ther George was so excellent a scholar, that he was made the public 

 orator of the university in Cambridge : some of whose English works 

 are extant, which, though they be rare in their kind, yet are far short 

 of expressing those perfections he had in the Greek and Latin tongues, 

 and all divine and human literature. His life was most holy and ex- 

 emplary ; insomuch that about Salisbury, where he lived beneticed for 

 many years, he was little less than sainted : he was not exempt from 

 passion and choler, being infirmities to which all our race is subject, 

 but. that one excepted, without reproach in his actions." 



During his residence in the university, he was greatly celebrated 

 for his learning and parts. Bishop Hacket in his Life of the Lord- 

 keeper Hi/ fiams, page 175, mentions a strange circumstance of him ; 

 which, for the singular manner of relating it, take in his own words : 

 '' Mr. George Ht-rbert, being praelector in the rhetoric school at 

 Cambridge, anno 1618, passed by those fluent orators that domineered 

 in the pulpits of ATHENS and KOMB, and insisted to read upon an 

 oration of King JAMBS : which he analysed j shewed the concinnity of 

 the parts ; the propriety of the phrase ; the height, and power of it 

 to move affection* ; the style, UTTERLY UNKNOWN TO TUB ANCIENTS, 

 who could not conceive what kingly eloquence was ; in respect of 

 which, those noted Drmayoyi were but hirelings, and triobolary rhe- 

 toricians." 



A collection of religious poems, entitled the Temple, and a small 

 tfact, Tin- l'i ii-st to the Temple; or, the Country Parson his Character, 

 with his Remains, are all of his works that are generally known to be 

 in print : but 1 have lately learned, that, not jnany months before his 

 decease, Herbert translated Cornaro's book Of temperance and long 

 fife; and that the same is to be found printed in 12mo. Cambridge, 

 1639 ; together with a translation, by another hand, of the Hygiasti- 

 con of Leonard Lessius. Among Herbert's Remains is a collection 

 of foreign proverbs translated into English, well worthy of a place, in 

 some future edition, with those of Kay. Lord Bacon dedicated to 



tln-ni ; but his lordship refusing, the dor tor declared that he could not 

 iulinnii-trr so holy and solemn a right to an unbfllercr. 



The doctor upon this left him ; and, conceiving hopes that his lordship's 

 sickness was not mortal, lie wrott- that discourse proving thai the n-li-ion 

 of Jt-Mis Chritl is from God, which is printed in his Dvctor Dubitaiitium, 

 and has lately been re-published by the truly reverend and learned Dr. 

 JUurd, now [1784] bisliopul Worcester. 



