If now my genius to a height I raise,
  Such parts, and such humanity to praise. 
    This ancient [1]Baginton can witness well,
  And the rich [2]library before it fell;
  The precious hours amongst wise authors past,
  Your Soul with their unvalued wealth possest;
  And well may he to heights of knowledge come,
  Who that Panthaeon always kept at home. 
    Thus once, Sir, you were blest, and sure the fiend
  That first entail’d a curse on human-kind,
  And afterwards contriv’d this fatal cross,
  Design’d the public, by your private loss. 
    Oh! who had seen that love to learning bore,
  The matchless authors of the days of yore;
  The fathers, prelates, poets, books where arts
  Renown’d explain’d the men of rarest parts,
  Shrink up their shrivell’d bindings, lose their names,
  And yield immortal worth to temporary flames,
  That would not sigh to see the ruins there,
  Or wish to quench ’em with a flowing tear. 
    But as in story, where we wonders view,
  As there were flames, there was a Phoenix too;
  An excellence from the burnt pile did rise,
  That still aton’d for past calamities;
  So my prophetic genius in its height,
  Viewing your merit, Sir, foretels your fate. 
  Your valiant [3]ancestors, that bravely fought,
  And from the foe the Royal standard got;
  Which nobly now adorn your houshold coat,
  Denotes the former grandeur of your race;
  Your present worth fits you for present grace. 
    The Sovereign must esteem what all admire,
  Bromley and Baginton shall both raise higher,
  Fate oft contrives magnificence by fire.

[Footnote 1:  The ancient seat of the Bromleys in Warwickshire.]

[Footnote 2:  A famous Library burnt there.]

[Footnote 3:  Vide History of Warwickshire.]

* * * * *

Elkanah settle, Son of Joseph Settle of Dunstable in Bedfordshire, was born there; and in the 18th year of his age, 1666, was entered commoner of Trinity College, Oxon, and put under the tuition of Mr. Abraham Champion, fellow of that house; but he quitted the university without taking any degree, and came to London[1], where he addicted himself to the study of poetry, in which he lived to make no inconsiderable figure.  Finding the nation divided between the opinions of Whig and Tory, and being sensible that a man of parts could not make any considerable figure, unless he attached himself to one of these parties; Settle thought proper, on his first setting out in life, to join the Whigs, who were then, though the minor, yet a powerful party, and to support whose interest he employed his talents.