accession of James to the crown of England, his father accompanied him to this country, and placed Patrick in the family of Dr. Lloyd, bishop of Chester, from whom he derived great assistance in his literary pursuits. In the year 1605 he went to Oxford, entered into deacon's orders, and was elected chaplain of New College. He employed himself in this seat of the muses in the assiduous study of ecclesiastical history and antiquities, and of the Greek language, in which he acquired an extraordinary knowledge. On his removal from the university he went to London, with the intention of obtaining preferment at court, to which he had easy access by means of his father. One of his principal patrons was Dr. James Montague, bishop of Bath and Wells, through whose interest he obtained a pension from the king of fifty pounds a year; and as he was master of an elegant Latin style, his pen was occasionally employed by his majesty, and by some other persons in power, in writing letters; and he was also engaged in examining the archives of the kingdom." It was one of the first objects of his ambition to obtain the post of keeper of Prince Henry's library and museum, in the palace of St. James's, which was his residence. In this he failed; but he was afterwards, through the influence of his patron, Bishop Montague, elected librarian to the king. To the royal library Mr. Young was a most assiduous visitor, spending the greatest part of his time in it, and, at the king's command, classing its contents in catalogues. He had frequent literary conversations with his majesty, who placed him in this situation, for which he was so well qualified. By his persuasion, on the death of the very learned Isaac Casaubon, in 1614, with whom he was familiarly acquainted, the king purchased most of his books and manuscripts for the library. Also, for the purpose of augmenting the stores committed to his care, he was very desirous of visiting the continent, but was unable to put his design in execution till 1617, when he went to Paris, taking with him recommendatory letters from the learned Camden to some of his literary acquaintance in that metropolis. By their means he was introduced to various other eminent men, with whom, by the sweetness of his disposition, and the candour and urbanity of his manners, he ingratiated himself, and also rendered himself peculiarly dear to all with whom he was connected. After his return, he assisted Biog. Britan, vol. viii. p. 4380.-Aikin's Life of Selden and Usher, p. 367. Mr. Thomas Rhead in making a Latin version of the works of King James, a task undoubtedly considered as highly important by the royal author. This translation, "which," says Dr. Smith, "will extend to all eternity the fame of this most learned king," appeared in 1619; and Mr. Young was deputed to carry the present copy from his majesty to the university of Cambridge, which was received with all due respect in solemn convocation. Mr. Young, in the year 1620, entered into the married state; and, about the same time, though only in deacon's orders, was presented to the rectory of Hays in Middlesex, and the rectory of Llanindimel in Denbighshire, and was soon after collated to a prebend of St. Paul's, London, and chosen to the office of treasurer of that church. In 1624, on the death of Mr. Rhead, he was recommended by Bishop Williams, then keeper of the great seal, to the Duke of Buckingham, as the fittest person in the kingdom to succeed him in the office of Latin secretary. Although he had hitherto published nothing in his own name, he appears to have acquired a high character among the learned, both at home and abroad, many of the latter of whom corresponded with him upon literary topics, and received from him many signal advantages. When the celebrated John Selden undertook to examine the Arundelian Marbles, he chose Mr. Young for one of his companions; and he derived so much assistance from him in drawing up the account of these valuable remains, that, passing by all patrons of higher rank, he inscribed his " Marmora Arundeleana" to Mr. Young, in an affectionate and grateful dedication, which confers honour on both the friends.+ The famous Alexandrian manuscript of the Old and New Testament being added to the treasures of the royal library, Mr. Young employed himself assiduously in collating it with other manuscripts and printed books, and communicated many various readings to Grotius, Usher, and other learned men. It was his intention to print the whole in types similar to the letters of the original, and he published a specimen of his design; but some circumstances occurred to prevent it from being accomplished. The cause of its failure Bishop Kennet ascribes to the puritans; and says, "that religion and learning were so little countenanced by the parliament and assembly of divines, that they never called for the work, and so it was left unfinished." What degree of credit is due to this statement, every reader who is at all conversant with the history of this period will easily judge. Wood observes, "that the laborious task was undertaken by the request of the assembly of divines,' and, towards the close of the year 1645, an ordinance was read for printing and publishing it. He had for his assistants the learned Selden and Whitlocke; but why it was never completed he could never learn. Another writer affirms, that the premature death of Mr. Young prevented the accomplishment of the design; after which it was taken up by Dr. Grabe.t Mr. Young, however, in the year 1633, edited, from the same manuscript, the "Epistles of Clemens Romanus;" and, in the year 1637, he published, with a Latin version, "Catena Græcorum Patrum Jobum, collectore Niceta Heraclea Metropolita." In 1638, he published " Exposito in Canticum Canticorum Folioti Episcopi Londinensis, una cum Alcuini in idem Canticum Compendio." This work was written by Gilb. Foliot, bishop of London, in the reign of Henry II. He greatly contributed to the publication of Walton's Polyglot Bible, particularly by his annotations in vol. vi. of that learned production. He continued in the office of librarian till the king's death; and had made preparations for editing various other manuscripts from the royal library, besides those mentioned above, but the confusions of the times prevented their publication. After his death, most of his Greek and Latin manuscripts, collected and written with his own hand, came to the possession of the celebrated Dr. John Owen.s From the concurrent testimony of Anthony Wood and Dr. Walker, it is certain that Mr. Young espoused the sentiments and cause of the presbyterians, and we have no evidence that he ever declined from them afterwards; therefore, he is with justice classed among the puritan * Kennet's Hist. of Eng. vol. iii. p. 148. + Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. i. p. 794. Aikin's Lives of Selden and Usher, p. 143.-This famous manuscript is now deposited in the British Museum; but Dr. Grabe never accomplished his design. However, in the year 1786, Dr. Woide, by unexampled labour and care, published a most perfect fac-simile of the New Testament, printed in types resembling the characters of the original. The Rev. Mr. Baber, one of the librarians of the British Museum, has lately published a fac-simile of the Psalms, and has also this year, 1813, announced his intention of publishing the Pentateuch in a similar style. Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 794. worthies. Upon his removal from the office of librarian, he retired to the house of his son-in-law, at Bromfield in Essex, where he was taken off by an acute disease, September 7, 1652, aged sixty-eight years. His corpse was interred in the chancel of Bromfield church, and over his grave was laid a stone of black marble, with the following monumental inscription :+ Here under lieth the body of PATRICK YOUNG, esq. and coheiresses. Elizabeth married to John Attwood, esq. Mr. Young was a person most celebrated both for piety and erudition, and one of the most distinguished Grecians of the age. Bishop Montague used to style him, "the patriarch of the Greeks." Of his character, both as a scholar and a man, abundant eulogies, from persons of literary distinction, are annexed to Dr. Smith's biographical memoir of him. He was consulted by most of the great scholars in Europe: as, Fronto-Ducæus, Sirmondus, Petavius, Grotius, Valesius, Salmasius, Vossius, Casaubon, Usher, Selden, and many others. DANIEL ROGERS, B. D.-This excellent divine was born in the year 1573, and educated in Christ's college, Cambridge, where he was chosen fellow. He was son to Mr. Richard Rogers, of Wethersfield in Essex, and brother to Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, both eminent puritan divines. Upon his removal from the university, he was some time minister at Haversham in Buckinghamshire; afterwards at Wethersfield, the place of his birth, though not the immediate successor of his father. In the latter situation, however, he met with some trouble under the persecution of Bishop Laud. This unmerciful prelate was no sooner advanced to the see of London, than he proceeded with the utmost severity against the nonconformists in his diocese; and, in the year 1629, great numbers, for preaching against arminianism and * Wood's Athenæ, vol. i. p. 794.-Walker's Attempt, part ii. p. 50. + Biog. Britan, vol. vii. p. 4383. + Walker's Attempt, part ii. p. 50. 1 the popish ceremonies, were suspended and brought into other troubles. Among the numerous sufferers from this intolerant prelate was Mr. Rogers. It does not appear how long he continued under the ecclesiastical oppression, or whether he ever obtained his lordship's favour. In the year 1643, one of his name, a godly and orthodox divine, became rector of Green's Norton in Northamptonshire, the living being sequestered from the Bishop of Oxford for his malignancy against the parliament. This was most probably the same person, but he did not enjoy the benefice any long time, resigning it into the hands of those from whom he received the presentation.+ But whether this was, indeed, the same person, or another of his name, it is certain Mr. Rogers spent his last years among his beloved people at Wethersfield. He was a man of great parts, great grace, and great infirmities. He had a natural temper so remarkably bad, tarnishing the lustre of his eminent graces, that the famous Mr. John Ward used to say, "My brother Rogers hath grace enough for two men; but not enough for himself." Though he was a man of most distinguished talents, and received the high applause of all who knew him, yet he enjoyed so large a portion of the grace of God, that he was never lifted up in his own eyes, but always discovered a very low opinion of himself. During the last year of his life, says our author, he exclaimed, in my presence, 660 cousin! I would exchange circumstances with the meanest christian in Wethersfield, who hath only the soundness of grace in him." Afterwards, he was seized with a quartan ague, which greatly affected his head; and though he recovered, he continued to be exercised with painful apprehensions about the safety of his own state. He often said, "To die is work by itself." But as the hour of his departure approached, the frame of his mind became more serene and happy; and, upon a review of the work of Christ, he often exclaimed, "O glorious redemption." He died in the month of September, 1652, about eighty years of age. Crosby intimates that Mr. Rogers was inclined to the peculiar sentiments of the baptists; and that he candidly declared that he was not convinced, by any part of scripture, in favour of infant baptism. + Kennet's Chronicle, p. 809. * Prynne's Cant. Doome, p. 373. |