BUT LE R. F the great author of Hudibras there is a life prefixed to the latter editions of his poem, by Opr 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 Strenfham in Worcestershire, according to his biographer, in 1612. This account Dr. Nash finds confirmed by the register. He was chriftened Feb. 14. His father's condition is variously reprefented. Wood mentions him as competently wealthy; but Mr. Longueville, the son of Butler's principal friend, fays he was an honest farmer with fome small eftate, who made a shift to educate his fon at the grammarschool of Worcester, under Mr. Henry Bright*, from *These are the words of the author of the fhort account of Butler prefixed to Hudibras, which Dr. Johnson, notwithstanding what he fays above, feems to have fuppofed was written by Mr. whose N 4 whofe care he removed for a fhort time to Cam bridge; 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 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. Nash has difcovered that his father was owner of a house and a little land, worth about eight pounds a year, ftill called Butler'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 this 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 Butler, Mr. William Longueville, I find an account, written by a person 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 raised himself from a low beginning to very great eminence in that profeffion; that he was eloquent and learned, of fpotlefs integrity; that he fupported an aged father who had ruined his fortunes by extravagance, and by his industry and application re-edified a ruined family; that he supported Butler, who, but for him, must 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's feems the beft authority, till, by confeffing his inability to tell his hall or college, he gives reason to suspect that he was refolved to bestow on him an academical education; but durft not name a college, for fear of a 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 justice of the peace. In his service he had not only leifure for study, 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 destroyed, 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 himfelf 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 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 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 secretary to the Earl of Carbury, prefident of the principality of Wales; who conferred on him the ftewardship 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, 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 praise 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 thele accounts is falfe there is reason to fufpect, 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-"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 "steady 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 last 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-1 would have it, the door of the room where they fat was open, and his Grace, who had feated himfelf near it, obferving a pimp "of |