BUTLER. OF the great author of Hudibras there is a life prefixed to the latter editions of his poem, by an unknown writer, and therefore of difputable authority; and fome account is incidentally given by Wood, who confeffes the uncertainty of his own. narrative; more however than they knew cannot now be learned, and nothing remains but to compare and copy them. SAMUEL BUTLER was born in the parish of Strentham in Worcestershire, according to his biographer, in 1612. This account Dr. Nafh finds confirmed by the regifter. He was chriftened Feb. 14. His father's condition is variously reprefented. Wood mentions him as competently wealthy; but Mr. Longueville, the fon of Butler's principal friend, fays he was an honeft farmer, with fome fmall eftate, who made a thift to educate his fon at the grammar fchool of Worcefter, under Mr. Henry Bright, from whofe care he removed for a fhort time to Cambridge; but, for want of money, was. Thefe are the words of the author of the short account of Butler prefixed to Hudibras, which Dr. Johnson, notwithstanding whathe lays above, seems to have supposed was written by Mr. Longuevillle,. was never made a member of any college. Wood leaves us father doubt ul whether he went to Cambridge or Oxford; but at laft makes him pafs fix or feven years at Cambridge, without knowing in what hall or college: yet it cannot hardly be imagined that he lived fo long in either univerfity, but as belonging to one houfe or another; and it is ftill less likely that he could have fo long inhabited a place of learning with fo little diftinction as to leave his refidence uncertain. Dr. Nafh has difcovered that his father was owner of a house and a little land, worth about eight pounds a year, fill called Butler's tenement. Wood has his information from his brother, whofe narrative placed him at Cambridge, in oppofition to that of his neighbours, which fent him to Oxford. The brother's feems the best authority, till, by confeffing his inability to tell his hall ville, the father; but the contrary is to be inferred from a fubfe. quent paffige, wherein the author laments that he had neither fuch an acquaintance nor intereft with Mr. Longueville as to procure from him the golden remains of Butler the e mentioned. probably led into this mistake by a note in the Biog. Brit. p. 1977, fig fg, that the fon of this gentleman was living in 1736. 488 He was Of this friend and generous patron of Butler, Mr Wilhas Lond gueville, I find an account, written by a perion who was well acquainted with him, to this effect, v z, thất he was a conveying Lawyer, and a bencher of the Inner Temple, and had reefed limfell from al low beginning to very great emmence in that profeflion; that he was eloquent, and learned, of fpot is integrity; that Ire fupported an aged father who had ruined his fortunes by extravagance, and by his industry and application re-edified a ruined family; that he fupported Butler, who, but for him, muft literally have flarved, and received from him as a recompence the papers called his Remains. Life of the Lord-keeper Guildford, p. 289. Thefe have fince been given to the publick by Mr. Thyer of Munchefter; and the originals are now in the hands of the Rev. Dr. Farmer, mafter of Emanuel College, Cambridge. H. or college, he gives reafon to fufpect that he was refolved to bestow on him an academical education; but durft not name a college, for fear of detection. He was for fome time, according to the author of his Life, clerk to Mr. Jefferys of Earl's Croomb in Worcestershire, an eminent juftice of the peace. In his fervice he had not only leifure for ftudy, but for recreation; his amufements were mufick and painting; and the reward of his pencil was the friendship of the celebrated Cooper. Some pictures, faid to be his, were fhewn to Dr. Nash, at Earl's Croomb; but when he enquired for them fome years afterwards, he found them deftroyed, to ftop windows, and owns that they hardly deferved a better fate. He was afterwards admitted into the family of the Countefs of Kent, where he had the use of a library; and fo much recommended himself to Selden, that he was often employed by him in literary bufinefs. Selden, as is well known, was fteward to the Countefs, and is fuppofed to have gained much of his wealth by managing her effate. In what character Butler was admitted into that Lady's fervice, how long he continued in it, and why he left it, is, like the other incidents of his life, utterly unknown. The viciffitudes of his condition placed him afterwards in the family of Sir Samuel Luke, one of Cromwell s officers. Here he obferved fo much of the character of the fectaries, that he is faid to have written or begun his poem at this time; and it is likely that fuch a defign would be formed in a place where he faw the principles and practices of the re bels, bels, audacious and undisguised in the confidence of fuccefs: At length the King returned, and the time came in which loyalty hoped for its reward. Butler, however, was only made fecretary to the Earl of Carbury, prefident of the principality of Wales; who conferred on him the ftewardship of Ludlow Caftle, when the Court of the Marches was revived. In this part of his life, he married Mrs. Herbert, a gentlewoman of a good family; and lived, fays Wood, upon her fortune, having ftudied the common law, but never practifed it. A fortune fhe had, fays his biographer, but it was loft by baď fecurities. In 1663 was published the first part, containing three cantos, of the poem of Hudibras, which, as Prior relates, was made known at Court by the tafte and influence of the Earl of Dorfet. When it was known, it was neceffarily admired: the king quoted, the courtiers ftudied, and the whole party of the royalifts applauded it. Every ye watched for the golden thower which was to fall upon the author, who certainly was not without his part in the general expectation. In 1664 the fecond part appeared; the curiofity of the nation was rekindled, and the writer was again prailed and elated. But praife was his whole reward. Clarendon, fays Wood, gave hi.n reafon to hope for places and employments of value "and credit;" but no fuch advantages did he ever obtain. it is reported that the King once gave him three hundred guineas; but of this temporary bounty I find no proof.. I 5 Wood Wood relates that he was fecretary to Villiers Duke of Buckingham, when he was Chancellor of Cambridge: this is doubted by the other writer,. who yet allows the Duke to have been his frequent benefactor. That both thefe accounts are falfe there is reafon to fufpect, from a ftory told by Packe, in his account of the Life of Wycherley; and from fome verfes which Mr. Thyer has published in the author's Remains. "Mr. Wycherley," fays Packe, had always "laid hold of an opportunity which offered of re"prefenting to the Duke of Buckingham how "well Mr. Butler had deferved of the royal fa 66 mily, by writing his inimitable Hudibras; and "that it was a reproach to the Court, that a per"fon of his loyalty and wit fhould fuffer in obfcurity, and under the wants he did. The duke always feemed to hearken to him with attention enough; and after fome time undertook to re"commend his pretenfions to his Majefty. Mr. Wycherley, in hopes to keep him fteady to his "word, obtained of his Grace to name a day, "when he might introduce that modeft and un"fortunate poet to his new patron. At latt an appointment was made, and the place of meeting was agreed to be the Roebuck. Mr. Butler and his friend attended accordingly: the Duke "joined them; but, as the d--I would have it, "the door of the room where they fat was open, and his Grace, who had feated himself near it, obferving a pimp of his acquaintance (the crea"ture too was a knight) trip by with a brace of "Ladies, immediately quitted his engagement, to "follow another kind of bufineft, at which he was |