by which London, Canterbury, and York were called in old times, when the Britons inhabited them; and this testimony agrees with the book, as we now have it. Some other pieces have been ascribed to Alredus; but this history, and that of St. John of Beverley, seem to have been all that he wrote. This last performance was never printed, but it is to be found in the Cotton library; though not set down in the catalogues, as being contained in a volume of tracts: it is entitled "Libertates ecclesiæ S. Johannis de Beverlik, cum privilegiis apostolicis et episcopalibus, quas magister Alueredus sacrista ejusdem ecclesiæ de Anglico in Latinum transtulit: in hoc tractatulo dantur cartæ Saxonica R. R. Adelstani, Eadwardi Confessoris, et Willelmi, quas fecerunt eidem ecclesiæ, sed imperito exscriptore mendose scriptæ. The liberties of the church of St. John of Beverley, with the privileges granted by the apostolic see, or by bishops, translated out of Saxon into Latin, by master Alured, sacrist of the said church. In this treatise are contained the Saxon charters of the kings Adelstan, Edward the Confessor, and William the Conqueror, granted by them to this church; but, through want of skill in the transcriber, full of mistakes." Mr. Hearne published an edition of Alredus's annals of the British History, at Oxford, in 1716, with a preface of his own. This was taken from a manuscript belonging to Thomas Rawlinson, esq. which Hearne says is the only one he ever saw.1

ALSAHARAVIUS. See ABULCASIS.

ALSOP (ANTHONY), a poetical and miscellaneous English writer, was educated at Westminster school, and thence elected to Christ-church, Oxford, where he took the degree of M. A. March 23, 1696, and of B. D. Dec. 12, 1706. On his coming to the university, he was very soon distinguished by dean Aldrich, and published "Fabularum sopicarum delectus," Oxon. 1698, 8vo, with a poetical dedication to lord viscount Scudamore, and a preface in which he took part against Dr. Bentley in the famous dispute with Mr. Boyle. This book, Dr. Warton observes, is not suffi ciently known. It was better known at one time, however, if we may credit bishop Warburton, who, in one of his letters to Dr. Hurd, says that "a powerful cabal gave it a surprising turn." Alsop passed through the usual offices in his college to that of censor, with considerable

1 Biog. Brit. from Bale, Pits, Tanner, &c.

reputation; and for some years had the principal noblemen and gentlemen belonging to the society committed to his care. In this useful employment he continued till his. merit recommended him to sir Jonathan Trelawny, bishop of Winchester, who appointed him his chaplain, and soon after gave him a prebend in his own cathedral, together with the rectory of Brightwell, in the county of Berks, which afforded him ample provision for a learned retire ment, from which he could not be drawn by the repeated solicitations of those who thought him qualified for a more public character and a higher station. In 1717 an action was brought against him by Mrs. Elizabeth Astrey of Oxford, for a breach of a marriage contract; and a verdict obtained against him for 2,000l. which probably occasioned him to leave the kingdom for some time. How long this exile lasted is unknown; but his death happened, June 10, 1726, and was occasioned by his falling into a ditch that led to his garden-door, the path being narrow, and part of it giving way. A quarto volume of his was published in 1752, by the late sir Francis Bernard, under the title of "Antonii Alsopi, ædis Christi olim alumni, Odarum libri duo." Four English poems of his are in Dodsley's collection, one in Pearch's, several in the early volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine, and some in the "Student." He seems to have been a pleasant and facetious companion, not rigidly bound by the trammels of his profession, and does not appear to have published any sermons. Mr. Alsop is respectfully mentioned by the facetious Dr. King of the Commons (vol. I. p. 236.) as having enriched the commonwealth of learning, by "Translations of fables from Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic ;" and not less detractingly by Dr. Bentley, under the name of "Tony Alsop, a late editor of the Æsopean Fables." Sir Francis Bernard, his editor, says, that among the various branches of philological learning for which he was eminent, his singularly delicate taste for the classic poets was the chief. This induced him to make use of the Sapphic numbers in his familiar correspondence with his most intimate friends, in which he shewed a facility so uncommon, and a style so natural and easy, that he has been, not unjustly, esteemed not inferior to his master Horace.

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▸ Bernard's Proposals for printing the Odes; issued July 27, 1748.—Nichels's Life of Bowyer, vol. II. p. 203.

ALSOP (VINCENT), an English nonconformist of considerable note, was a native of Northamptonshire, and educated at St. John's college, Cambridge, where he took the degree of master of arts. He afterwards received deacon's orders from a bishop, and settled at Oakham in Rutlandshire, as assistant to the master of the free school. Being a man who possessed a lively pleasant wit, he fell into gay company, but was reclaimed by the admonition of the rev. Mr. King, a Puritan minister at or near Oakham, whose daughter he afterwards married; and becoming a convert to his principles, he received ordination in the presbyterian way, not being satisfied with that of the bishop, which extended only to deacon's orders, and he was no longer willing to conform to the church by applying for those of a priest., He settled at Wilby, in the county of Northampton, whence he was ejected in 1662, for nonconformity. After which he ventured to preach sometimes at Oakham and at Wellingborough, where he lived; and was once committed to prison for six months, for praying with a sick person. The book he wrote against Dr. Sherlock, in a humorous style, made him first known to the world, and induced Mr. Cawton, an eminent nonconformist in Westminster, to recommend him to his congregation, as his successor. On receiving this invitation, he quitted Northampton, and came to London, where he preached constantly, and wrote several pieces, which were extremely well received by the public. His living in the neighbourhood of the court exposed him to many inconveniences, but he had the good fortune, to escape imprisonment and fines, by the ignorance of the informers, who did not know his Christian name, which he studiously concealed; and even Anthony Wood, who calls. him Benjamin, did not know it. His sufferings, however, ended with the reign of Charles II. at least in the beginning of the next reign, when his son, engaging in treasonable, practices, was frequently pardoned by king James. After this, Mr. Alsop went frequently to court, and is generally supposed to have been the person who drew up the Presbyterians' very fulsome address to that prince, for his general indulgence; a measure, however, which was condemned by the majority of nonconformists. After the revolution, Mr. Alsop gave very public testimonics of his affection for the, government, but on all occasions spoke in the highest terins of respect and gratitude of king James, and retained a very high sense of his clemency, in sparing his only son. The

remainder of his life he spent in the exercise of the ministry, preaching once every Lord's day; besides which he had a Thursday lecture, and was one of the lecturers at Pinner's hall. He lived to be a very old man, preserved his spirits to the last, and died May 8, 1703. On grave subjects he wrote with a becoming seriousness; but where wit might be shewn, he displayed it to considerable advantage. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Slater, aud his memory will always be remembered by his own learned and elegant writings; the most remarkable of which are : 1. "Antisozzo," in vindication of some great truths opposed by Dr. Sherlock, in whose treatise Concerning the knowledge of Jesus Christ," he thought he discovered a tendency towards Socinianism, and therefore entitled this work, which was published in 1675, "Antisezzo,” from the Italian name of Socinus. Sherlock and he had been pupils under the same tutor in the university. Dr. South allowed Alsop's merit in this contest of wit, but Wood undervalues his talent. 2. "Melius Inquirendum," in answer to Dr. Goodman's Compassionate Inquiry, 1679, 8vo. 3. "The Mischief of Impositions;" in answer to Dr. Stillingfleet's Mischief of Separation, 1680. 4. Duty and interest united in praise and prayer for Kings." 5. "Practical godliness the ornament of Religion," 1696; and several sermons.

ALSTEDIUS (JOHN HENRY), a German protestant divine, and a voluminous writer, was some time professor of philosophy and divinity at Herborn in the county of Nassau; afterwards professor at Alba Julia in Transylvania, where he continued till his death, which happened in 1638, in his 50th year. Of his public character, we only know that he assisted at the synod of Dort. He applied himself chiefly to reduce the several branches of arts and sciences into systems. His "Encyclopædia" has been much esteemed even by Roman catholics: it was printed at Herborn, 1610, 4to, ibid. 1630, 2 vols. fol. and at Lyons, 1649, and sold very well throughout all France. Vossius mentions the Encyclopædia in general, but speaks of his treatise of Arithmetic more particularly, and allows the author to have been a man of great reading and universal learning. Baillet has the following quotation from a German author : Alstedius has indeed many good things, but he is not sufBiog. Brit.Calamy.-Wood's Athenæ.

1

ficiently accurate; yet his Encyclopædia was received with general applause, when it first appeared, and may be of use to those who, being destitute of other helps, and not having the original authors, are desirous of acquiring some knowledge of the terms of each profession and science. Nor can we praise too much his patience and labour, his judgment, and his choice of good authors: and the abstracts he has made are not mere scraps and unconnected rhapsodies, since he digests the principles of arts and sciences into a regular and uniform order. Some parts are indeed better than others, some being insignificant and of little value, as his history and chronology. It must be allowed too, that he is often confused by endeavouring to be clear; that he is too full of divisions and subdivisions; and that he affects too constrained a method." Lorenzo Brasso says, "that though there is more labour than genius in Alstedius's works, yet they are esteemed; and his industry being admired, has gained him admittance into the temple of fame." Alstedius, in his "Triumphax Bibliorum Sacrorum, seu Encyclopædia Biblica," Francfort, 1620, 1625, 1642, 12mo, endeavours to prove, that the materials and principles of all the arts and sciences may be found in the scriptures, an opinion which has been since adopted by others. John Himmelius wrote a piece against his "Theologia Polemica," which was one of the best performances of Alstedius. He also published in 1627, a treatise entitled "De Mille Annis," wherein he asserts that the faithful shall reign with Jesus Christ upon earth a thousand years, after which will be the general resurrection and the last judgment. In this opinion, he would not have been singular, as it has more or less prevailed in all ages of the church, had he not ventured to predict that it would take place in the year 1694. Niceron has given a more copious list of his works, which are now little known or consulted. '

ALSTON (CHARLES), an ingenious physician and botanist, was the son of Mr. Alston, of Eddlewood, a gentleman of small estate in the west of Scotland, and allied to the noble family of Hamilton, who, after having studied physic, and travelled with several gentlemen, declined the practice of his profession, and retired to his patrimony. His son Charles was born in 1683, and at the time of his father's death was studying at the university of

1 Gen. Dict.--Moreri.--Niceron, vol. XLI.—Saxii Onomasticon,