his eye was bored out, a big and bulky body, but blind. Memorable actions were either presented without any date which little informed, or too many dates which more distra∣cted the Reader. Our Mathew reduced such confused sounds to an Articulate and in∣telligible voice, regulating them by a double directory of time, viz. the beginnings and deaths of all the Kings of England and Arch bishops of Canterbury. He wrote one History from the beginning of the world to Christ; a second, from Christs Nativity to the Norman Conquest; a third; from thence to the beginning of King Edward the second, augmenting it a•…•…terwards with the addition of his life and King Edward the thirds. He named his book Flores Historiarum, and if sometimes (for it is but seldome) he presenteth a flower less fragrant, or blasted bud, the judicious Reader is not tyed to take what he tenders, but may select for his own ease a Nosegay out of the choicest flowers thereof. He dyed about the year 1368.
Since the Reformation.
BENIAMIN JOHNSON was born in this City. Though I cannot with all my industrious inquiry find him in his cradle, I can fetch him from his long coats. When a little child he lived in Harts-horn-lane near Charing-cross, where his Mother married a Bricklayer for her Second husband.
He was first bred in a private school in Saint Martins Church, then in VVestminster school, witness his own Epigram;
Camden, most reverend Head, to whom I owe
All that I am in Arts, all that I know.
How nothing's that, to whom my Country owes
The great renown and Name wherewith she goes, &c.
He was Statutably admitted into Saint Johns-colledge in Cambridge, (as many years after incorporated a honorary Member of Christ-church in Oxford) where he continued but few weeks for want of further maintenance, being fain to return to the trade of his father in law. And let not them blush that have, but those that have not a lawful calling. He help'd in the building of the new structure os Lincolns-Inn, when having a Trowell in his hand, he had a book in his pocket.
Some gentlemen pitying that his parts should be buried under the rubbish of so mean a Calling, did by their bounty manumise him freely to follow his own ingenuous inclinations. Indeed his parts were not so ready to run of themselves as able to answer the spur, so that it may be truly said of him, that he had an Elaborate wit wrought out by his own industry. He would sit silent in learned company, and suck in (besides wine) their several humors into his observation. What was ore in others, he was able to refine to himself.
He was paramount in the Dramatique part of Poetry, and taught the Stage an ex∣act conformity to the laws of Comedians. His Comedies were above the Volge, (which are onely tickled with down right obscenity) and took not so well at the first stroke as at the rebound, when beheld the second time; yea they will endure reading, and that with due commendation, so long as either ingenuity or learning are fashionable in our Nation. If his later be not so spriteful and vigorous as his first pieces, all that are old will, and all that desire to be old, should excuse him therein.
He was not very happy in his children, and most happy in those which died first, though none lived to survive him. This he bestowed as part of an Epitaph on his eldest son, dying in infancy.
Rest in soft peace and Ask'd, say here doth lye,
Ben Johnson his best piece of Poetry.
He dyed Anno Domini 1638. And was buried about the Belfry in the Abby-church at VVestminster.