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borders of Wales about the year 1500. He was entered at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and early imbibed the doctrines of Luther. Being persecuted in England for this work, he fled to Germany, and afterwards to Antwerp, where through the private machinations of the English clergy, who sent over informations against him, he was condemned and suffered death as an heretic in 1536; being first strangled by the hands of the common hangman, and afterwards burnt. VANDILLE, (M. Dɛ.) was the most remarkable man in Paris, on account of his extreme wealth and avarice. He lodged on the upper floor, to avoid noise or visits, and had no other servant than a poor old woman, whom he allowed only seven sous per week, or one penny per diem. His common food was bread and milk; but on a Sunday, he usually indulged himself with a little sour wine. This prudent œconomist had been a magistrate at Boulogne, but afterwards removed to Paris. The great value a miser annexes to a farthing, will make us less surprised at the infinite attachment he must have to a guinea; of which it is the seed, growing by gentle gradations into pence, shillings, pounds, thousands, and ten-thousands. He literally adopted the old maxim of" Take care of the farthings, and the pence, shillings, and pounds will take care of themselves; these semina of wealth may be compared to seconds of time, which generate years, centuries, and even eternity itself." In 1735, he possessed upwards of seven hundred thousand pounds, which he be

got

got or multiplied on the body of a single shilling, from the age of sixteen to the age of seventy-two. On a hot summer's day, he bargained with a woodman for a quantity of wood to serve for fuel, and afterwards took an opportunity of stealing as much as he could carry from the same pile. In carrying this load of pilfered property to his hiding place, the weight of the burthen, together with the heat of the weather, threw him into a fever. He then, for the first time in his life, sent for a surgeon to bleed him, but he desired to know his terms, which being mentioned, Vandille thought them exorbitant: an apothecary was then applied to, who was equally high in his demand. At length he proposed terms to a common barber-surgeon, who undertook to open a vein for three-pence a-time. "But (says the worthy economist) how often I will it be requisite to bleed!" Three times,' said he. "And what quantity of blood do you propose to take?" About eight ounces each time,' replied the operator. "That will be nine pence!-too much!-too much!" exclaimed old' Vandille," I have determined to go a cheaper way to work-take the whole quantity at once, that you propose to take at three times, and that will save me sixpence." This being insisted on, he lost twenty-four ounces of blood, and died in a few days, leaving his vast treasures to the king whom he appointed his sole heir. Thus he contracted his disorder by pilfering; and his death by an unprecedented stretch of parsi

mony.

VAN

322

VAN DYCK-VILLIERS.

VAN DYCK, (SIR ANTHONY) an illustrious his- torical and portrait painter, was born at Antwerp in 1599, and brought up under Rubens. He visited Italy, and, after staying a short time at Rome, repaired to Venice, where he attained the beautiful colouring of Titian, Paul Veronese, and the Venetian school. When he returned to Flanders, he had acquired a manner so noble, natural, and easy, that Titian was hardly his superior; and no other master equal to him in portraits. His pictures had rendered him so famous, that cardinal Richelieu invited him to France, from whence he soon after came over to England, and was taken into the service of Charles I; who admired his performances, honoured him with knighthood, granted him a considerable pension, and presented him with his own picture set round with diamonds. Here he amassed great riches, and married one of the greatest beauties of the English court, a daughter of the earl of Gowry. He died in 1641, and was buried in St. Paul's cathedral. VILLIERS, (GEORGE) duke of Buckingham, memorable in English story for having been the favourite of two kings, was born at Brookesby in Leicestershire, in 1592. Being a very handsome youth, his mother resolved to introduce him at court, concluding that a young gentleman of his fine figure, would attract the notice and favour of James I. The king being present at a play, performed by the Cambridge scholars, it was previously contrived that Villiers should appear. The plan succeeded; for the king no sooner cast his eyes upon him, than he becamd

fascinated

fascinated: for, as Lord Clarendon observes, "though he was a prince of more learning and knowledge than any other of that age, and really delighted more in books and in the conversation of learned men, yet, of all wise men living, he was the most delighted with handsome persons and fine clothes." The earl of Somerset, his majesty's late favourite, was immediately dis carded, and Villiers soon after his first appearance at court, was appointed cnp-bearer to the king. In the space of a few weeks he was successively knighted, made a gentleman of the bedchamber, and knight of the garter. In a short time he was created a baron, a viscount, an earl, and a marquis. He also became Lord High Admiral of England, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Master of the Horse. All the favours, honours, and offices of the three kingdoms were entirely at his disposal. In con sequence of which, he exalted almost the whole of his numerous family and dependants, many of whom had no other merit than that of their alliance to him. On the succession of Charles, in 1625, the Duke was equally a favourite with that prince, but he had lost all confidence with the Parliament. Votes and remonstrances passed against him as an enemy of the country; and the king was refused a supply on

the

ground of his ill-management. The Duke caused this and the next Parliament to be soon dissolved, and proposed new projects for raising money. He acted, indeed, as violence and passion dictated. A war having been declared against France, he took the command at the

descent

descent upon the isle of Rhée; in which the flower of the army was lost. Returning to England, he reviewed the fleet and army, and was about to repair to the relief of Rochelle, which was then besieged by Cardinal Richelieu, and was at Portsmouth for that purpose, when he was assassinated by one John Felton, an Englishman; who, from a gloomy disposition, conceived it would be doing God and the nation service to rid the world of such a mischievous man. This assassination took place on the 23d of August, 1628. VOLTAIRE, (MARTE FRANÇOIS AROUET DE) a celebrated French historian, philosopher, dramatic writer, and epic-poet, was born at Paris in 1694. In his earliest years he displayed specimens of brilliant wit, and a sprightly imagination; and as he said of himself, made verses before he was out of his cradle. Many of his essays are now existing, which, though written when he was between twelve and fourteen, betray no marks of infancy. Voltaire began his education in the palace of Louis le Grand, and being intended for the profession of the law, he went to study jurisprudence; but he soon became disgusted with the dryness of that pursuit, and devoted his time to the service of the muses. He had a particular relish for satire, and the government did not escape the lash of his pen, for which he suffered a year's imprisonment in the Bastille. About this time he composed his "Edipus," and soon after he produced the tragedy of Marianne." The eccentricity and severity of his writings, in general, obliged him to with

draw

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