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SAMUEL BUTLER.

BUTLER.

1612-1680.

Born at Strensham in Worcestershire-Educated either at Oxford or Cambridge-Enters the service of the Countess of Kent-Employed by Selden, and acquires the friendship of Cooper the painter-Made Steward of Ludlow Castle-Marries-Sir Samuel LukePublishes 'Hudibras' in three parts-His Poverty-Death and burial in St. Paul's, Covent Garden-Monument in Westminster Abbey-Works and Character.

Or the great author of 'Hudibras' there is a 'Life' prefixed to the latter editions of his poem, by an unknown writer, and therefore of disputable authority; and some account is incidentally given by Wood, who confesses 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 Strensham, in Worcestershire, according to his biographer, in 1612. This account Dr. Nash finds confirmed by the register. He was christened February 14.

His father's condition is variously represented. Wood mentions him as completely wealthy; but Mr. Longueville, the son of Butler's principal friend,' says he was an honest farmer with some small estate, who made a shift to educate his son at the grammar school of Worcester, under Mr. Henry Bright, from whose care he removed for a short time to Cambridge; but for want of money was never made a member of any college. Wood leaves us rather doubtful whether he went to Cambridge or Oxford; but at last makes him pass six or seven years at Cambridge, without knowing in what hall or college yet it can hardly be imagined that he lived so long in either university but as belonging to one house or another; and it

1 It is not clear Longueville said anything of the kind. Johnson is writing from Grey's 'Life,' 1744, and from Broughton's 'Life,' in the 'Bio. Britannica,' fol. 1748, vol. ii. p. 1077. Both Grey and Broughton had communicated with young Mr. Longueville on the subject of Butler.

is still less likely that he could have so long inhabited a place of learning with so little distinction as to leave his residence uncertain. Dr. Nash has discovered that his father was owner of a house and a little land, worth about eight pounds a-year, still called Butler's Tenement.

Wood has his information from his brother, whose narrative placed him at Cambridge, in opposition to that of his neighbours, which sent him to Oxford. The brother's seems the best authority, till, by confessing his inability to tell his hall or college, he gives reason to suspect that he was resolved to bestow on him an academical education; but durst not name a college, for fear of a detection.

He was for some time, according to the author of his Life, clerk to Mr. Jefferys, of Earl's Croomb in Worcestershire, an eminent justice of the peace. In his service he had not only leisure for study, but for recreation : his amusements were music and painting; and the reward of his pencil was the friendship of the celebrated Cooper. Some pictures, said to be his, were shown to Dr. Nash, at Earl's Croomb; but, when he inquired for them some years afterwards, he found them destroyed, to stop windows, and owns that they hardly deserved a better fate.

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He was afterwards admitted into the family of the Countess of Kent, where he had the use of a library; and so much recommended himself to Selden, that he was often employed by him in literary business. Selden, as is well known, was steward to the Countess, and is supposed to have gained much of his wealth by managing her estate.

In what character Butler was admttted into that lady's service, how long he continued in it, and why he left it, is, like the other incidents of his life, utterly unknown.

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The vicissitudes of his condition placed him afterwards in the family of Sir Samuel Luke, one of Cromwell's officers. Here he observed so much of the character of the sectaries, that he is said

2 Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent, daughter of Gilbert Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury. She ved at Wrest in Bedfordshire, died in 1651, and was buried at Flitton.

⚫ Of Woodend, near Cople, in Bedfordshire, and scoutmaster for Bedfordshire during omvell's government. He died in 1670, and was buried at Cople.

to have written or begun his poem at this time; and it is likely that such a design would be formed in a place were he saw the principles and practices of the rebels, audacious and undisguised in the confidence of success.

At length the King returned, and the time came in which loyalty hoped for its reward. Butler, however, was only made secretary to the Earl of Carbury, president of the principality of Wales, who conferred on him the stewardship of Ludlow Castle, 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, says Wood, upon her fortune, having studied the common law, but never practised it. A fortune she had, says his biographer," but it was lost by bad securities.

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 taste and influence of the Earl of Dorset. When it was known, it was necessarily admired: the King quoted, the courtiers studied, and the whole party of the royalists applauded it. Every eye watched for the golden shower which was to fall upon the author, who certainly was not without his part in the general expectation.

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In 1664 the second part appeared; the curiosity of the nation

4 He does not seem to have held the situation of Steward after 1662, when he was succeeded by Edward Lloyd. See 'Notes and Queries,' vol. v. p. 5.

5 Dr. Grey.

6 1662, Dec. 26th.-. . . falling into discourse of a new book of drollery in use, called Hudibras, I would needs go find it out, and met with it at the Temple: cost me 2s. 6d. But when I come to read it, it is so silly an abuse of the Presbyter Knight going to the wars that I am ashamed of it; and by and by, meeting at Mr. Townsend's at dinner, I sold it to him for 18d.

1663, Feb. 6.-... to a bookseller's in the Strand, and there bought Hudibras again, it being certainly some ill humour to be so against that which all the world cries up to be the example of wit; for which I am resolved once more to read him, and see whether I can find it or no.

1663, Nov. 28.-To Paul's Church Yard, and there looked upon the second part of Hudibras, which I buy not, but borrow to read, to see if it be as good as the first, which the world cried so mightily up, though it hath not a good liking in me, though I had tried but twice or three times reading to bring myself to think it witty.

1663, Dec. 10.-To St. Paul's Church Yard, to my booksellers... chose.... Hudibras, both parts, the book now in greatest fashion for drollery, though I cannot, I confess, see enough where the wit lies.-PEPYS.

7 As the three parts of Hudibras in the first editions are far from common, I transcribe their title-pages:

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