been meriting, had not those worldly Considerations over-swayed the Dictates of his own Conscience.  But this his temporizing with the Times, preferred him to be Poet Laureat (if that were any Preferment) to that notorious Traytor Oliver Cromwell; to whom being Usurper, if his Muse did homage, it must be considered (saith Mr. Phillips) that Poets in all times have been inclinable to ingratiate themselves with the highest in Power, by what Title so ever.

However it was, I have heard him often confess his Unhappiness therein:  and imparted to me a design he had, of committing to memory the Monuments of the several Churches in London and Westminster; not only those mentioned by Stow and Weaver, but also those who have been erected since, which might have been of great use to Posterity, had it been done before the great Conflagration of the Fire, thereby preserving many Monuments, endangered since to be lost, but Death interposing hindred him of his Design.

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EDWARD SHIRBURN, Esq;

Edward Shirburn (saith a learned Author) was intimately knowing as well of the ancient Greek and Latin, as of the choicest of modern Poets, both Italian, French, and Spanish; and in what he hath elegantly and judiciously Translated either of the former or latter; in the Translating of which he hath discovered a more pure Poetical Fancy, than many others can justly pretend to in their Original Works.  Nor was his Genius confined only to Poetry, his Version of those Books of Manilius, which relate meerly to Astronomy, is a very Noble Work, being set forth with most exact Notes, and other learned and proper Illustrations.  Besides many other genuine Pieces which he wrote.

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JOHN QUARLES.

John Quarles, Son to Francis Quarles, Esq; may be said to be born a Poet, and that his Father’s Genius was infused into him; nor was he less Loyal in his Principles to his Prince, writing besides several other Works, an Elegy on the Lord Capell, and A Curse against the Enemies of Peace; of which I remember those were the two last lines.

  That all the world may hear them hiss and cry,
  Who loves no peace, in peace shall never die.

He was also addicted to Arms, as well as Arts, and, as I have been informed, was a Captain in the King’s Army, but then Loyalty suffering an Eclipse, he came up to London, and continued there till the great Sickness, which swept away of the Pestilence no fewer than 68586 persons, amongst whom this unfortunate Gentleman was one, tho to my knowledge, to prevent it, he might have been kindly welcom to his worthy Kinsman, Mr. William Holgate of Saffron-Walden in Essex, but Fate had decreed it otherwise.

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