SOME ACCOUNT

OF THE

LIFE AND WRITINGS

OF

JOHN SELDEN.*

JOHN SELDEN, whom Grotius calls "the glory of the English nation," was born at Salvington, an obscure village on the coast of Sussex, on the 16th of December, 1584. "His father," says Anthony Wood, "was a sufficient plebeian, and delighted much in music, by the exercising of which he obtained, as 't is said, his wife, of whom our famous author, John Selden, was born." He received his early education at

*Those who would know more of Selden are referred to Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses, Wrangham's British Plutarch, the Biographia Britannica, Aikin's General Biography, and Aikin's Life of Selden, published in an 8vo volume in 1812. This last work contains the most complete account of his life, character, and writings.

the free school of Chichester, and at the age of fourteen was sent to Hart Hall, in the University of Oxford. "Here," continues Wood, "being instructed in logic and philosophy for about three years, which with great facility he conquered, he was transplanted to the Inner Temple, to make proficiency in the municipal laws of the nation. After he had continued there a sedulous student for some time, he did, by the help of a strong body and a vast memory, not only run through the whole body of the law, but became a prodigy in most parts of learning, especially in those which were not common, or little frequented or regarded by the generality of students of his time. So that in few years his name was wonderfully advanced, not only at home, but in foreign countries, and was usually styled, the great Dictator of learning of the English nation.' The truth is, his great parts did not live within a small ambit, but traced out the latitudes of arts and languages, as it appears by those many books he hath published. He had great skill in the divine and human laws; he was a great philologist, antiquary, herald, linguist, statesman, and what not. His natural and artificial memory was exact, yet his fancy slow, notwithstanding he made several sallies into the faculties of poetry and oratory to ease his severer thoughts and smooth his rough style. He seldom or never appeared publicly at the bar, but sometimes gave chamber-counsel, and was good at conveyance."

So assiduously did he devote himself to literary occupations in the midst of his legal studies, that, at the early age of twenty-two, he had completed

his "Dissertation on the Civil Government of Britain before the Norman Conquest." * This work is an astonishing performance, considering the age at which it was composed. In 1610, we find him pursuing the same course of study, the fruits of which were given to the world, under the titles of "Jani Anglorum Facies Altera," "England's Epinomis," and "The Duello, or Single Combat." These publications were in a measure connected with the studies incident to his profession; but in 1612, was put forth his elaborate and interesting commentary on the first twelve books of Drayton's Polyolbion; he must, therefore, have been indefatigable in his pursuit of knowledge through every channel, and in all its various branches. His intense application appears to have very materially injured his health; for in the dedication of his "Titles of Honor," published in 1614, to his friend, Mr. Edward Heyward, he says, "Some year since it was finished, wanting only, in some parts, my last hand — which was then prevented by my dangerous and tedious sickness." From this attack he recovered, by the skill and care of Dr. Robert Floyd, returning to his studies with fresh zeal and renewed vigor; "and thus," says he, "I employed the breathing-times which, from the so different studies of my profession, were allowed me; nor hath the proverbial assertion, that the lady Common Law must lie alone,' ever wrought with

*

6

This was not published until 1615, when it was printed at Frankfort, under the title of "Analecton Anglo-Britannicon Libri Duo."

me." His fame now rang through Europe, and his books were received and read with avidity. In the year 1617, was produced that extraordinary and profoundly erudite treatise on the Deities of the Ancient Syrians,* which he "intended as a commentary on all the passages of the Old Testament relating to the idols of the heathens, and discussing, therefore, not only the Syrian, but the Arabian, Egyptian, Persian, African, and European idolatry."

His "History of Tithes

was published in 1618, in which he seemed to combat the divine right of the church to them, and, consequently, gave great offence to the clergy, and incurred the displeasure of king James. He was admitted, at the intercession of his friend Ben Jonson, to explain himself to the king in person, and seemed to have conciliated him ; but in a very short time he was cited before the high commission court, his book was prohibited, he was enjoined to declare his contrition for having written it, and forbid to reply to any of those who might write against it, upon pain of imprisonment.

In the preface to his "History of Tithes," he reproaches the clergy with ignorance and laziness, and upbraids them with having nothing to keep up their credit, but beard, title, and habit; and that their studies reached no farther than the breviary, the postills, and polyanthea : this was enough to draw down their indignation upon him, and he was consequently vehemently attacked. Wood says, that "the usage he met with sunk so deep into his stomach, that he

* "De Diis Syris Syntagmata Duo. Lond. 1617.”

66

did never after affect the bishops and clergy, or cordially approve their calling, though many ways were tried to gain him to the church's interest." He had certainly a great contempt for the ignorant and fanatic among the clergy of his day, and did not scruple to express it openly: indeed it appears he was of opinion, that the state should invariably keep a rein on the church. Though not orthodox in his opinions, he was a resolved serious Christian," as Sir Matthew Hale told Baxter, "a great enemy to Hobbes's errors, and that he had seen him openly oppose Hobbes so earnestly as either to depart from him or drive him from the room." In his last illness, he was visited by Archbishop Usher and Dr. Langbaine; and to them he declared, "that he had his study full of books and papers of most subjects in the world; yet at that time he could not recollect any passages out of infinite books and manuscripts he was master of, wherein he could rest his soul, save out of the holy Scriptures."

In the year 1621, James asserted, in one of his speeches, that the privileges of parliament were original grants from the crown. Upon this occasion, Selden was consulted both by the Lords and the Commons; and in the opinion which he delivered, though he wholly denied the point in question, yet with the strictest integrity he did ample justice to the prerogative of the Crown.

The protest made by the Commons, on this occasion, was attributed to him, and the vengeance of the court followed. He was imprisoned by an order in council of the 16th of June, which directed, "that