But the good Queen, who had a particular tenderness for handsome fellows, would not permit Sir John to run the hazard of the trial.

In Whitworth's edition of David Lloyd's State Worthies, 8vo. 1766, Vol. 1. P. 504. seq. are the following Observations on the Life of Sir John Packington.

Sir John Packington was a person of no mean family, and of form and feature no way despicable: for he was a brave gentleman, and a very fine courtier; and for the time which he stayed there, was very high in the queen's grace: but he came in, and went out, and through disassiduity lost the advantage of her favour; and death drawing a veil over him, utterly deprived him of recovery. Had he brought less to the court than he did he might have carried away more than he brought: for he had a time for it, but was an ill husband of opportunity. His handsome features took the most, and his neat parts the wisest at court. He could smile ladies to his service, and argue states-men to his design with equal ease. His reason was powerful, his beauty more. Never was a brave soul more bravely seated: Nature bestowed great parts on him, education polished him to an admirable frame of prudence and vertue. Queen Elizabeth called him Her Temperance, and Leicester His Modesty. By the courtiers he was called Moderation.

It is a question to this day, whether his resolution took the soldiers, his prudence the politicians, his complyance the favourites, his complaisance the courtiers, his piety the clergy, his integrity and condescention the people, or his knowledge the learned, most? This new court-star was a nine days wonder, engaging all eyes until it set satisfied with its own glory. He came to court, he said, as Solomon did, to see its vanity; and retired as he did, to repent it. It was he who said first what Bishop Sanderson urged afterwards, That a sound faith was the best divinity, a good conscience the best law, and temperance the best physick. To conclude this amiable character, Lloyd adds, Sir John Packington was virtuous and mo dest, and died in his bed an honest and an happy man!

Dr. RICHARD COX.

THIS learned Divine was born at Whaddon, in Buckinghamshire, of obscure parents, in the year 1499.

He received, probably, the rudiments of his education in the small priory of Suelshall in the parish of Whaddon; was afterwards sent to Eton-school, and thence elected into a scholarship at King's-college in Cambridge, in 1518, of which he became Fellow in 1519. The same year he took his Bachelor of Arts degree; and, having become eminent for piety and learning, was invited to Oxford by Cardinal Wolsey, as one of those bright scholars intended to fill up his new foundation; when he was preferred to be one of the Junior Canons of Cardinal-college, now absorbed into Christ-church: in 1525 he was incorporated Bachelor of Arts at Oxford also, and in 1526 proceeded Master of Arts. He was reputed one of the greatest scholars of his age; and his poetical compositions are said to have been in great esteem. Upon what ground this latter encomium rests is not very clear; his version of the Lord's Prayer, at the end of Sternhold and Hopkins' Psalms, will not confer on him the character of a Poet: he might have composed some Latin verses in his youth; a common practice with those who receive a classical education; and upon this foundation many persons, with as little pretensions to the title, have been denominated Poets.

By his aversion to many of the Popish superstitions, and open preference for some of Luther's opinions, he drew on himself the displeasure of the Governors of the University, who deprived him of his preferment, and imprisoned him on suspicion of heresy. On his releasement he left Oxford, and was some time after chosen Master of Eton-school, which flourished exceedingly through his industry and vigilance. In 1537 he commenced Doctor in Divinity at Cambridge; in 1540 was made Arch deacon of Ely; and in 1541 was appointed the first Prebendary in the

first stall of the same cathedral, upon the new founding of it by King Henry VIII. In 1542 he was presented by that Monarch to the Prebend of Sutton with Buckingham, in the church of Lincoln; but this he surrendered up in 1547.

In 1543 he supplicated the University of Oxford, that he might take place among the Doctors of Divinity there, which was unusual, he not having then been incorporated into that University, as Doctor in Divinity; nor was he so till 1545. When a design was formed, among other new Bishopricks intended to have been erected by King Henry VIII, of converting the Collegiate Church of Southwell into a Bishoprick, Dr. Cox was nominated Bishop of it; but, either the King's luxury and extravagance, or the greediness of his courtiers, swallowed up the revenues wherewith they were to have been endowed.

In 1543-4 he was made the second Dean of the newly erected Cathedral of Osney near Oxford; and in 1546, when that See was translated to Christ-church, he was also made Dean there. These promotions he is said to have obtained through the interest of Archbishop Cranmer and Bishop Goodrich, to which latter Prelate lie had been Chaplain; and, by their recommendation, he was chosen tutor to the young Prince Edward, whom he instructed with great care in the true principles of religion, and formed his tender mind to an early sense of his duty, both as a Christian and a King. On that Prince's accession to the Throne, he was made a Privy-counsellor, and the King's Almoner; which office was granted him during the King's pleasure: and he had afterwards a farther grant of all the Goods and Chattels of Felons, for the augmentation of the King's alms.

In 1547 he was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford; in 1548 installed Canon of Windsor; and in 1549 made Dean of Westminster. About this time he was appointed one of the Commissioners to visit the University of Oxford; in which he is accused of having, with his colleagues, abused his commission, by making dreadful havock among the Libraries; destroying, burning, or selling for the vilest uses, all the illuminated