Page images
PDF
EPUB

whofe care he removed for a fhort 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 laft makes him pafs fix or feven years at Cambridge, without knowing in what hall or college; yet it can hardly be imagined that he lived fo long in either univerfity but as belonging to one house or another; and it is ftill lefs 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 dicovered that his father was owner of a houfe and a little land, worth about eight pounds a year, ftill called Buller's tenement.

Longueville, the father; but the contrary is to be inferred from a fubfequent paffage, 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 there mentioned. He was probably led into the mistake by a note in the Biog. Brit. p. 1077, fignifying that the fon of this gentleman was living in 1736.

Of this friend and generous patron of Eutler, Mr. William Longueville, I find an account, written by a perfon who was well acquainted with him, to this effect; viz. that he was a conveyancing lawyer, and a bencher of the Inner Temple, and had raifed bimself from a low beginning to very great eminence in that profeflion; that he was cloquent and learned, of fpotless integrity; that he supported an aged father who had ruined his fortunes by extravagance, and by his induftry and application re-edified a ruined family; that he supported Butler, who, but for him, muft literally have starved; and received from him as a recompence the papers called his Remains. Life of the Lord-keeper Guilford, p. 289. These have fince been given to the publick by Mr. Thyer of Manchester; and the originals are now in the hands of the Rev. Dr. Farmer, mafter of Emanuel College, Cambridge. H.

Wood

Wood has his information from his brother, whose narrative placed him at Cambridge, in oppofition to that of his neighbours, which fent him to Oxford. The brother feems the best authority, till, by confeffing his inability to tell his hall or college, he gives reason 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 amusements 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 Countess 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 business. Selden, as is well known, was steward to the Countefs, and is fuppofed to have gained much of his wealth by managing her eftate.

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

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 saw the principles and practices of the rebels, 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 practised it. A fortune fhe had, fays his biographer, but it was loft by bad 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 taste 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 eye watched for the golden fhower 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 praised and elated. But praife was his whole reward. Clarendon, fays Wood, gave him reason 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.

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 reason to suspect, from a story 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 repre"fenting to the Duke of Buckingham how well Mr. "Butler had deferved of the Royal Family, by writ

[ocr errors]

ing his inimitable Hudibras; and that it was a "reproach to the Court, that a perfon 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 recommend 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 unfortunate poet to his new patron. At laft an

[ocr errors]

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-1 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

"of his acquaintance (the creature too was a knight) "trip by with a brace of ladies, immediately quitted "his engagement to follow another kind of business, "at which he was more ready than in doing good "offices to men of defert, though no one was better "qualified than he, both in regard to his fortune and “understanding, to protect them; and, from that "time to the day of his death, poor Butler never "found the leaft effect of his promife!"

Such is the story. The verfes are written with a degree of acrimony, fuch as neglect and disappointment might naturally excite; and fuch as it would be hard to imagine Butler capable of expreffing against a man who had any claim to his gratitude.

Notwithstanding this difcouragement and neglect, he still profecuted his defign; and in 1678 published the third part, which still leaves the poem imperfect and abrupt. How much more he originally intended, or with what events the action was to be concluded, it is vain to conjecture. Nor can it be thought strange that he should stop here, however unexpectedly. To write without reward is fufficiently unpleafing. He had now arrived at an age when he might think it proper to be in jeft no longer, and perhaps his health might now begin to fail.

He died in 1680; and Mr. Longueville, having unfuccefsfully folicited a fubfcription for his interment in Westminster Abbey, buried him at his own coft in the church-yard of Covent Garden *. Dr. Simon Patrick read the fervice.

Granger

* In a note in the " Biographia Britannica," p. 1075, he is faid, on the authority of the younger Mr. Longueville, to have lived for

« PreviousContinue »