bonds, and a martyr for his truth. Some of his writings are now loft, fome may be feen in Fox, and fome are exhibited in his Life written by Dr. Glofter Ridley, 4to t to which we muft refer the reader, if he is defirous of a fuller account of this excellent perfon's life, learning, and fufferings. Nichols's Select Col RIDLEY (Dr. GLOSTER). This worthy divine was defcended collaterally from Dr. Nicholas Ridley, bifhop lection of of London, who was burnt in the reign of queen Mary. Poems, He was born at fea, in 1702, on board the Gloucefter vol. VIII. Eaft Indiaman, to which circumftance he was indebted P. 75. for his Chriftian name. He received his education at Winchefter school, and thence was elected to a fellowship at New-college, Oxford, where he proceeded B. C. L. April 29, 1729. In thofe two feminaries he cultivated an early acquaintance with the Mufes, and laid the foundation of thofe elegant and folid acquirements for which was afterwards fo eminently diftinguifhed, as a poet, a hiftorian, and a divine. During a vacancy in 1728, he joined with four friends, viz. Mr. Thomas Fletcher (afterwards bishop of Kildare), Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Eyre, Mr. Morrifon, and Mr. Jennens, in writing a tragedy, called "The Fruitlefs Redrefs," each undertaking an act, on a plan previously concerted. When they de livered in their feveral proportions, at their meeting in the winter, few readers would have known that the whole was not the production of a fingle hand. This tragedy. which was offered to Mr. Wilks, but never acted, is ftill in MS. with another called "Jugurtha." Dr. Ridley in his youth was much addicted to theatrical performances. Midhurst in Suffex was the place where they were exhibited; and the company of gentlemen actors to which he belonged confifted chiefly of his coadjutors in the tragedy already mentioned. He is faid to have performed the characters of Marc Antony, Jaffier, Horatio, and Monefes, with diftinguifhed applaufe, a circumftance that will be readily believed by thofe who are no ftrangers to his judicious and graceful manner of fpeaking in the pulpit. Young Cibber, being likewife a Wykehamift, called on Dr. Ridley foon after he had been appointed chaplain to the Eaft-India Company at Poplar, and would have per fuaded him to quit the church for the ftage, obferving that "it ufually paid the larger falaries of the two." For great part of his life, he had no other preferment than the Small G 2 1 fmall college living of Weftow in Norfolk, and the do- ten ten by Dr. Lowth, bishop of London, is infcribed upon his monument: 46 "H. S. E. GLOSTERUS RIDLEY, Oratoriae facultati impenfius ftuduit. Quam fuerat in concionando facundus, 66 Two poems by Dr. Ridley, one ftyled " Jovi Eleutherio, or an Offering to Liberty," the other called "Pfyche, are in the third volume of Dodfley's Collection. The fequel of the latter poem, intituled "Melampus," with Pfyche" its natural introduction, was printed 1782, by fubfcription, for the benefit of his widow. Many others are in the 8th volume of Nichols's "Collection." Befides the Sermons abovementioned, nine others by him are enumerated in Gent. Mag. 1774. pp. 508, and 554 His tranfcript of the Syriac Gofpels, on which he had beftowed incredible pains, was put into the hands of Profeffor White; who has published them with a literal Latin Tranflation, in 2 vols. 4to. Oxford, at the expence of the Delegates of the prefs. The MSS. Codex Heraclenfis, Codex Barfalibæi, &c. (of which a particular account may be feen in his Differtation" De, Syriacarum Novi "Foederis verfionum indole atque ufu, 1761," were bequeathed by Dr. Ridley to the library of New college, Oxford. Of thefe ancient MSS. a fac-fimile fpecimen was published in his Differtation abovementioned. A copy of 66 Theonal, with MS. Notes by Dr, Ridley," was in the library of the late Dr. Winchefter RIENZI (NICHOLAS GABRINI DE), who, from a Memoirs of low and defpicable fituation, raifed himfelf to fovereign Nicolas Gabrini de authority in Rome, in the 14th century; affuming the Rienzi, title of Tribune, and propofing to restore the ancient free from we G 3 republic, French of Framoy & republic, was born at Rome, and was the fon of no Cerceau, 12mo. greater a perfonage than a mean vintner [A], na Lawrence Gabrini, and Magdalen, a laundrefs. However, Nicholas Rienzi, by which appellation he was commonly distinguished, did not form his fentiments from the meannefs of his birth. To a good natural understanding, he joined an uncommon affiduity, and made a great proficiency in ancient literature. "Every thing he read, he "compared with fimilar paffages, that occurred within "his own obfervation; whence he made reflections, by "which he regulated his conduct. To this he added a "great knowledge in the laws and cuftoms of nations. "He had a vast memory: he retained much of Cicero, "Valerius Maximus, Livy, the two Senecas, and Cafar's "Commentaries efpecially, which he read continually, "and often quoted by application to the events of his own times. This fund of learning proved the bafis "and foundation of his rife: the defire, he had to diftin"guifh himself in the knowledge of monumental hiftory, drew him to another fort of the fcience, which few "men at that time exerted themfelves in. He paffed "whole days among the infcriptions which are to be "found at Rome, and acquired foon the reputation of a The great antiquary in that way." Having hence formed within himself the most exalted notions of the justice, liberty, and ancient grandeur of the old Romans, words he was perpetually repeating to the people, he at length perfuaded not only himfelf, but the giddy mob, his followers, that he fhould one day become the reftorer of the Roman republic. "His advantageous ftature, his countenance, "and that air of importance which he well knew how to "affume, deeply imprinted all he faid in the minds of his "audience:" nor was it only by the populace that he was admired; he alfo found means to infinuate himself into the favour of thofe who partook of the adminiftration. Rienzi's talents procured him to be nominated one of the deputies, fent by the Romans to pope Clement the fixth, who refided at Avignon. The intention of this deputation was to make his holinefs fenfible, how prejudicial his abfence was, as well to himself, as to the intereft of Rome. "At his firft audience, our hero charm"ed the court of Avignon by his eloquence, and the fprightlinefs of his converfation. Encouraged by fuc[A] By fome authors, particularly in the " Hiftoire des Papes," Lawrence Gabrini is faid to have been a miller. ❝cefs, "cefs, he one day took the liberty to tell the pope, that "the grandees of Rome were avowed robbers, public thieves, infamous adulterers, and illuftrious profligates; "who by their example authorized the most horrid "crimes. To them he attributed the defolation of "Rome, of which he drew fo lively a picture, that the holy father was moved, and exceedingly incenfed against "the Roman nobility." Cardinal Colonna, in other refpects a lover of real merit, could not help confidering thefe reproaches as reflecting upon fome of his family; and therefore found means of difgracing Rienzi, fo that he fell into extréme mifery, vexation, and fickness, which, joined with indigence, brought him to an hospital. Neverthelefs," the fame hand that threw him down, raised "him up again. The cardinal, who was all compaffion, "caufed him to appear before the pope, in affurance of his being a good man, and a great partizan for juftice "and equity. The pope approved of him more than "ever; and, to give him proofs of his efteem and confidence, made him apoftolic notary, and fent him back loaded with favours." Notwithstanding which, his fubfequent behaviour fhewed, that refentment had a "greater afcendency over him than gratitude." Being returned to Rome, he began to execute the functions of his office; therein, by affability, candour, affiduity, and in the adminiftration of juftice, he arrived at a fuperior degree of popularity; which he ftill improved by continued invectives against the vices. of the great, whom he took care to render as odious as poffible; till at laft, for fome ill-timed freedoms of fpeech, he was not only feverely reprimanded, but difplaced. His difmiffion did not make him defift from inveighing against the de bauched, though he conducted himfelf with more pru dence. From this time it was his conftant endeavour to infpire the people with a fondness for their ancient liberties; to which purpofe, he caufed to be hung up in the moft public places emblematic pictures, expreffive of the former fplendour and prefent decline of Rome. To thefe he added frequent harangues and predictions upon the fame fubject. In this manner he proceeded, till one party looked on him only as a mad man, while others careffed him as their protector. Thus he infatuated the minds of the people, and many of the nobility began to come into his views. The fenate in no wife miftrafted a man, whom they judged to have neither interest nor ability. |