Theatrum poetarum, or, A compleat collection of the poets especially the most eminent, of all ages, the antients distinguish't from the moderns in their several alphabets : with some observations and reflections upon many of them, particularly those of our own nation : together with a prefatory discourse of the poets and poetry in generall
Phillips, Edward, 1630-1696?
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R.

Sr Ralph Freeman, the Author of a Tragedy, which by some is held in great esteem Entitled Imperiale.

Raphael Thorius, a learned French Poet, whose elegant style in Latin Vers, discovers it self in his noted Po∣em entitled Hymnus Tabaci, or Enco∣mium of Tobacco.

Reinhardus Lorichius Hadamarius, a German writer of many elaborate works, among which not least to be re∣garded is his Description in Verse of the luxurious and splendid Feasts of Aha∣suerus and Darius Kings of Persia: he was Flourishing in the year 1542.

Richard Brathwait, the writer of cer∣tain Poems, which coming forth about 30 years since, though of little or no fame in the World, yet not totally pe∣rishing in oblivion have gain'd the for∣tune to be here mentioned.

Remigius Bellaqua, one of the prin∣cipal Poets reputed of France, and by some accounted the third from Ron∣sard, that is by those in whose esteem Page  157Joachimus Bellaius holds the 2d place: he wrote many things in Latin, but most in the Mother Tongue: he is commonly chronologis'd under the year 1577.

Renatus Rapinus, a French, both Critical Judge of the Poets, as ap∣pears by his Reflections on Aristotle's Treatise of Poetry, and Poet also him self of no obscure fame by his Latin Poem of Horticulture or Gardening, which hath been of late ingeniouly translated by John Evelin, the younger of Says Court by Deptford, following in the trac of fame the footsteps of his Learned Father, sufficiently known by his many both delightful, and to the Pu∣blic most beneficial works.

Richard Brome, a Servant to Ben. John∣son; a Servant suitable to such a Master, and who what with his faithful service and the sympathy of his Genius, was thought worthy his particular commen∣dation in Verse; whatever Instructions he might have from his Master Johnson, he certainly by his own natural parts improved to a great heighth, and at last became not many parasangues infe∣rior to him in fame by divers noted Co∣medies, Page  158 as The Antipodes, the Novella, Mock-Marriage, the Covent Garden Wed∣ding, the Mad couple well Match't, the Ambitious Politic, the Court Beggar, the Citty wit; but especially his Nothern Lasse, his Jovial Crew, and his Aspara∣gus Garden.

Richard Corbet, a no less witty Poe∣tiser in his Youth, when his Iter Bore∣ale and other facetious Poems, were the effects of his juvenil fancy, then grave Divine in his Elder years, when his more serious studies advanc't him to the Bi∣shoprie, first of Oxford, then of Nor∣wich.

Richard Crashaw, Fellow first of Pembroke-Hall, afterwards of St. Peters Colledge in Cambridge; a Devout pou∣rer forth of his Divine Raptures and Meditations, in smooth and Pathetic Verse: His Poems consist of 3 parts, the first entitled Steps to the Temple, be∣ing for the most part Epigrams upon several passages of the New Testament; the second part, The Delights of the Muses, or Poem upon several occasions both English and Latin; the third and last part Carmen Deo nostro, being Hymns Page  159 and other Sacred Poems, addressed to the Countess of Denbigh, that Reli∣gious solitude and love of a recluse life, which made him spend much of his time, and even lodge many nights un∣der Tertullian's roof of Angels, in St. Mary's Church, drew him at length, turn∣ing Roman Catholick, to betake himself to that so zealously frequented place call'd Our Lady's of Loretto in Italy, where he died.

Sr Richard Fanshaw, heretofore Se∣cretary to his present Majesty, when Prince of Wales, and after his restora∣tion, his Embassador into Spain, where he died. Besides his Translation of Guarini's Pastor Fido into English Verse, and of Spencer's Sheapherds Calender into Latin Verse.

Richard Rablet, and Richard Turner, two Contemporaries (and therefore perhaps worthie of mention for anti∣quities sake) with Drayton, with whose Owl and other old Pieces of Poetry, two small things of theirs, Rablets Cob's Pro∣phesie, and Turner's Nosce te Humours, were publisht, and seem to be but the track of other Poetical works, though now lost and forgotten.

Page  160Richard Lovelace, an approv'd both Souldier, Gentleman & Lover, and a fair pretender to the Title of Poet; a Soul∣dier, having Commanded a Regiment in the late King's Army; a Gentleman of a Vicounts Name and Family; a Lover Militant under the Bannor of of Lucasta, the Lady Regent under a Poetical Name of his Poetical endea∣vours; and as to the last of his Qualifi∣fications, besides the acute and not un∣pleasant stile of his Verses, a Man may discern therein sometimes those sparks of a Poetic fire, which had they been the main design, and not Parergon, in some work of Heroic argument, might happily have blaz'd out into the per∣fection of sublime Poesy.

Robertus Aytonus, a Scotch Poet, of whom there is extant a Panegyric to King James in Latin Verse.

Robert Baron, a Dramatic writer, who wrote Don Quixot or the Knight of the Ill-favoured Countenance; a Comedy Gripus, and Hegio a Pastoral. Deorum Dona, Dick Scorner, Destruction of Je∣rusalem, the Marriage of Wit and Science, Masques and Interludes; Myrza, a Tra∣gedy.

Page  161Robertus Bodius, a Scotchman, whose Latin Verses have a Place among the works of several Eminent Scotch Poets.

Robert Chamberlain, the Author of a Comedy call'd The Swaggering Dam∣sel, and Sicelides, a Pastoral.

Robert Fleming, an English writer, recorded in History among those that Flourisht in the Reign of King Henry the 6th; not only for his Dictionary in Greec and Latin, but also for a work, he is said to have writ in Verse, of va∣rious Argument.

Robert Garnier, a French Counsellor of State, and writer of Tragedies.

Robert Sirnam'd of Glocester, a not altogether obscure writer in the Reign of Henry the Third; and seeming to passe for a Poet, in the esteem of Cambden, who quotes divers of his old English Rythms in praise of his na∣tive Country England.

Robert Gomersal, the Author of Lo∣dowic Sforza, a Tragedy, and some o∣ther things of Poetical subject.

Robert Green, one of the Pastoral Sonnet makers of Qu. Elizabeth's time, Page  162 Contemporary with Dr Lodge, with whom he was associated in the writing of several Comedies, namely The Laws of Nature, Lady Alimony, Liberality & Prodigality, and a Masque call'd Lu∣minalia; besides which he wrote alone the Comedies of Friar Bacon and Fair Emme.

Robert Heath, the Author of a Book of Poems, which about 20 years ago came forth under the Title of Clara∣stella; the ascribed title of that Cele∣brated Lady, who is suppos'd to have been both the Inspirer and cheif subject of them.

Robert Herric, a writer of Poems of much about the same standing and the same Rank in fame with the last mention'd, though not particularly influenc't by any Nymph or Goddess, except his Maid Pru. That which is chiefly pleasant in these Poems, is now and then a pretty Floury and Pastoral gale of Fancy, a vernal prospect of some Hill, Cave, Rcok, or Fountain; which but for the interruption of other trivial passages might have made up none of the worst Poetic Landskips.

Page  163 Sr Robert Howard, of the Noble Fa∣mily of the Earls of Berkshire, and Bro∣ther to the present Earl; besides the Dignity of his present Office, as being imploy'd in his Majesties Exchequer, but of the most considerable Fame by what he hath written in Poetry, espe∣cially to the Stage; viz. The Blind Lady, the Surprisal, the Comittie, Comedies; The Great Favourite a Tragedy, Inforc't Marriage a Tragy-Comedy; and The Indian Queen a Dramatic History.

Robert Mead, the Author of two not altogether obscure Comedies. The Combat of Love and Friendship, and the Costly Whore.

Robertus Obricius, a writer of La∣tin Hymns.

Dr Robert Wild, one of the Poetical Cassock, and not of the meanest rank, being in some sort a kind of Anti-Clea∣veland; in regard he stands up in behalf of the Presbyterians as notably as ever Cleaveland did against them: the first thing that recommended him to pu∣blic Fame, was his Iter Boreale, the same in Title, though not in Argu∣ment with that little; but much com∣mended Page  164 Poem of Dr Corbet's, before mention'd; this being upon Monk's Journy iuto Scotland, in order to His Majesty's Restoration, and lookt upon for a lofty and conceitful style: his other things are for the most part of a lepid and facetious nature.

Rochus, a Chartreux Monk, men∣tioned in History among other Eminent Men of K. Edw. the Fourth's time.

Sr De Roquigni, the Author of a late French Poem entitled Muse Chre∣stienne.

Rodulphus Agricola, a most Famous writer of Groeningen in Friseland, who among many other works wrote also Epitaphs and other Poems. There were moreover two others of the same name, both Poets; the first Rodolphus Agricola junior, a Poet Laureat, the other of Wassenburg.

Rodolphus Avincatius, his Poems de∣dicated to the Farnesi, were printed at Rome an. 1543.

Rodolphus Avantius, an Italian wri∣ter of Odes or Sonnets.

Rodolphus Gualtherus, a Native of Zurich, in Switzerland, and Pastor Page  165 of the Church of Zurich. In Prose he wrote very many things in Heroic verse, The Monomachie, or Single Combat be∣tween David and Goliah, with the Al∣legorical Exposition thereof.

Rodolphus Langius, a German writer, Prebend of Munster, who wrote a Poem of the 3 Magi or Wisemen, another of the Siege of Nuis to the Dean of Colen, besides others of various subjects.

Roger Ascham, a Man of that Emi∣nence for learning, that he was thought worthy to be chosen Preceptor to that most Glorious Princess Queen Eliza∣beth; and though principally fam'd for his Latin Epistles and other things in Prose, yet mentioned with commen∣dation by Balaeus, for Epigrams and other Latin Poems.

Roger Boile, Lord Broghil and Earl of Orery, the Credit of the Irish No∣bility for wit and ingenuous parts, and a smooth stile both in Prose and Verse; in which last he hath written several Dramatic Histories, as Mustapha, Edw. the Third, Henry the Fifth, Tryphon, and that with good success & applause, for the way he writes in, namely the conti∣nual Page  166 Riming, and love and honour way of the French.

Mr Rostrou, a French Tragedian censured by Renatus Rapinus, in his Reflections on Aristotle's Treatise of Poetry.

Ruccelaio, an Italian Poet, who wrote in Blank Verse of the Culture of Bees.