He from a Student in, became Dean of Christchurch, then Bishop of Oxford, being of a courteous carriage, and no destructive nature to any who offended him, counting himself plentifully repaired with a Jest upon him.  He afterwards was advanced Bishop of Norwich, where he died Anno 1635.

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Mr. BENJAMIN JOHNSON.

This renowned Poet, whose Fame surmounts all the Elogies which the most learned Pen can bestow upon him, was born in the City of Westminster, his Mother living there in Harts-horn-lane, near Charing-cross, where she married a Bricklayer for her second Husband.  He was first bred in a private School in St. Martin’s-Church, then in Westminster-School, under the learned Mr. Cambden, as he himself intimates in one of his Epigrams.

Cambden, most reverend head, to whom I owe All that I am in Arts, all that I know.  How nothings that, to whom my Country owes, The great renown and name wherewith she goes.

Under this learned Schoolmaster he attained to a good degree of learning, and was statutably admitted in St. John’s-Colledge in Cambridge, (as many years after incorporated a honorary Member of Christ-Church in Oxford) here he staid but some small time, for want of maintainance; for if there be no Oyl in the Lamp, it will soon be extinguish’d:  And now, as if he had quite laid aside all thoughts of the University, he betook himself to the Trade of his Father-in-law; And let not any be offended herewith, since it is more commendable to work in a lawful Calling, then having one not to use it.  He was one who helped in the building of the new Structure of Lincolns-Inn, where, having a Trowel in his hand, he had a Book in his pocket, that as his work went forward, so his study went not backward.

But such rare Parts as he had could be no more hid, than the Sun in a serene day, some Gentlemen pitying such rare Endowments should be buried under the rubbish of so mean a Calling, did by their bounty manumise him freely to follow his own ingenious 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; yet were his Repartees for the most part very quick and smart, and which favour’d much of ingenuity, of which I shall give you two instances.

He having been drinking in an upper room, at the Feathers-Tavern in Cheap side, as he was coming down stairs, his foot slipping, he caught a fall, and tumbling against a door, beat it open into a room where some Gentlemen were drinking Canary; recovering his feet, he said, Gentlemen, since I am so luckily fallen into your company, I will drink with you before I go.