ed. He held the sceptre of Judah forty-one years. 1 Kings, xv. 8-24. 2 Chron, xiv, xv, xvi. Joseph. Ant. lib. viii. c. 6.-E.

ASAPH, the son of Berachius, of the tribe of Levi, was a celebrated Hebrew musician in the time of David. Twelve of the Hebrew psalms are inscribed with his name, and are supposed to have been written by him but this cannot be true concerning several, which relate to the Babylonish captivity. 1 Chron. vi. 39. 2 Chron. xxix. 25. xxxv. 15. Nehem. xii. 46. Psalms, 50. 73-83.-E.

ASAPH, a monk, who flourished about the year 500, under Carentius, king of the Britons, obtained the appellation of Saint, and gave name to the episcopal see of St. Asaph in Wales. He wrote the "Ordinances of his Church," and the "Life of Kentigern," a Scotch bishop, who presided in the convent of Llan Elvy, which afterwards came under the care of St. Asaph, and took his name. Baleus de Script. Brit. Godwin de Præsul. Biog. Brit.-E. ASAR-HADDON, son of Sennacherib king of Assyria, succeeded his father about 712 years before Christ. He reigned thirty-two years in Niniveh, when he became also king of Babylon. He sent a colony of Babylonians and Cutheans into the kingdom of Israel or Samaria. His reign terminated 667 years before Christ. Esdra, lib. i.-E.

ASCELIN, a monk of the eleventh century, a native of Poitou, and a pupil of Lanfranc, was a zealous defender of the catholic faith against Berenger. In a public disputation at Brione with that divine, he is said to have put him to silence. Berenger afterwards wrote to Ascelin on the subject of the conference, and Ascelin replied in a letter, which maintains the catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. The letter may be found in D'Acheri's notes on the Life of Lanfranc prefixed to his works, printed at Paris in 1648. Moreri.-E.

ASCHAM, ROGER, a learned Englishman, of high reputation in the sixteenth century, was born at Kirby Wiske, a village near Northallerton in Yorkshire. His father, John Ascham, was house-steward in the family of Scroop; his mother, Margaret, was allied to several considerable families. They are said to have lived together in perfect harmony and affection sixty-seven years, (Dr. Johnson's Life of Ascham) and to have at last died almost on the same hour of the same day.

Roger, the third son of this worthy pair, a short time before his father's death, was received into the family of Sir Anthony Winfield, and enjoyed, with that gentleman's sons, the be

nefit of private education under a domestic tutor. He discovered an early fondness for reading, and made a rapid progress in classical learning. His friend and patron, pleased with the proofs which the young scholar gave of genius and docility, determined to afford him the advantage of an university education, and, in 1530, sent him to St. John's College, Cambridge.

With the peculiar talents for the study of languages which Ascham possessed, it was fortunate for him that he entered upon life at a period when the attention of the whole educated world was turned towards the revival and advancement of learning, and Greek and Roman authors were edited with diligence, and read and studied with avidity. The college in which he was to study had caught the classical spirit of the age. Metcalf the master was, as Ascham himself informs us, "though meanly learned himself, no mean encourager of learning in others." Fitzherbert his tutor was a good scholar, and possessed a happy facility of teaching; and his friend Pember, who was ready on all occasions to assist him in his studies, was a great proficient in Greek learning. Ascham, from his entrance upon academic life, felt the inspiration of an ardent desire to excel in learning, and devoted himself with uncommon industry to his studies. According to the maxim, "Qui docet, discit," he thought a language might be best learned by teaching it; and, when he had made some progress in Greek, he undertook to instruct boys in the rudiments of this language. His friend Pember approved his plan, and said, that he would gain more knowledge by reading with a boy a single fable in Æsop, than by hearing another read Latin lectures on the whole Iliad. Under the direction of the same valuable friend he became intimately acquainted with the best Greek and Roman authors. In his reading he observed a rule well worth the attention of students, to "lose no time in the perusal of mean or unprofitable books." Cicero and Cæsar, in particular, he diligently studied, as his best guides in writing the Latin language, and he formed his style upon these excellent models.

In the eighteenth year of his age, Ascham took his first degree of bachelor of arts, and was, about a month afterwards, chosen fellow of the college. Notwithstanding his uncommon merit, his election to the fellowship was attended with some difficulty, on account of the favourable disposition which he had discovered towards the reformed religion: so powerful was the influence of religious bigotry at this period, even in the schools of the learned. At the age

stowed upon men who ought to be despisers of the world, might well be spared; that the clergy, who had accumulated immense revenues, lived in idleness and luxury, and contributed little to the public benefit, while the laity were hazarding both their persons and fortunes in the service of their country, and that, therefore, in a moment of public necessity, it was reasonable to have recourse to this plentiful fund. Arundel, who was present, to avert the blow which threatened the church, pleaded, that the clergy had always contributed more to the public service than the laity; and that they were at least as serviceable to the king by their prayers as the laity by their arms. Sir John Cheney, the speaker, replied, that he thought the prayers of the church a very slender supply, and was of opinion, that their lands would do the nation more good. The archbishop angrily retorted, that the kingdom could not expect to prosper, as long as the prayers of the church were despised. At the same time he importuned the king to protect the church from depredation; and these spirited exertions put a stop, for the present, to the prosecution of this violent measure. (Walsingham, Hist. Angl. p. 371.)

While Arundel zealously defended the temporalities of the church, he discovered equal zeal for the preservation of its internal constitution. The Lollards, or Wickliffites, who were attempting large innovations both in doctrine and worship, excited the ardour of the metropolitan; and he adopted violent and unjustifiable measures for the suppression of this rising sect. Finding that the university of Oxford was beginning to be infected with these new opinions, he determined to pay an official visit to that seat of learning, on the ground of an ancient claim of his predecessors, which had been confirmed to him as metropolitan by the late king. The university at first refused to receive him as a visitor, but afterwards acquiesced on the king's decision in his favour. Supported by the body of the clergy, assembled in convocation at St. Paul's in London, who complained of the strange degeneracy and contumacy of the students in an university hitherto exemplary for its adherence to the catholic faith, and for orderly and obedient behaviour; the archbishop sent delegates to the university to enquire into the state of opinions among the students. A committee of twelve persons was appointed by the university to sit in inquisition, under the authority of the visitor's delegates, upon heretical books, particularly those of Wickliffe, and to examine such persons as were suspected of favouring this new heresy, and compel them to a

declaration of their opinions. The report of these inquisitors was transmitted to the primate, who confirmed their censures and the persecution was carried by this bigot to an absurd and cruel extremity. (Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford, p. 205.) Arundel solicited from the pope a bull for digging up Wickliff's bones, which, however, was wisely refused him. Upon the authority of the horrid act for burning here tics, passed in the reign of Henry IV. a Lollard, in the year 1410, was consigned to the stake; and, at the commencement of the reign of Henry V. Sir John Oldcastle, lord Cobham, one of the principal patrons of the sect, was indicted by the primate, convicted of heresy, and sentenced to the flames. Soon after the archbishop had pronounced the sentence of excommunication on lord Cobham, he was seized with an inflammation in his throat, which speedily terminated his life: he died on the 20th of February in the year 1413. The Lollards, who partook of the superstitious character of the times, imputed this sudden illness and death to the just judgment of God. A more enlightened age may condemn, in every sect alike, such preSumptuous attempts to point the thunderbolts of heaven; but it will not fail to pronounce all endeavours to restrain, by violent means, the freedom of enquiry, as at once impolitic and criminal. This prelate might possess strong talents and a courageous spirit, fit for the station which he occupied as guardian of the church; but he was too zealously attached to the papal power, to set a just value on the civil rights of his country; and the severities which he exercised towards the Lollards, together with the synodic precept which he issued, forbidding the translation of the scriptures into the vulgar tongue, will leave upon his memory the perpetual stain of bigotry and intolerance. Godwin de Præsul. Biog. Brit.-E.

ARZACHEL, or ARZCHAEL, a Spanish mathematician, lived in the tenth or eleventh century. He wrote an astronomical work entitled, "Observationes de Obliquitate Zodiaca.' Blancan. in Chron. Math. Vossius. Moreri.-E.

ASA, king of Judah, the son of Abijam, began his reign about 955 years before Christ. He showed great zeal for religion, demolishing the altars erected to idols, and restoring the wor ship of Jehovah. He obtained a victory over the Midianites, commanded by Zerah an Ethiopian. In a war with Baasha, king of Israel, he called in the assistance of Benhadad, king of Syria. The prophet Hanani reproved him for calling in foreign aid, and was severely punish

ed. He held the sceptre of Judah forty-one years. 1 Kings, xv. 8-24. 2 Chron, xiv, xv, xvi. Joseph. Ant. lib. viii. c. 6.-E.

ASAPH, the son of Berachius, of the tribe of Levi, was a celebrated Hebrew musician in the time of David. Twelve of the Hebrew psalms are inscribed with his name, and are supposed to have been written by him but this cannot be true concerning several, which relate to the Babylonish captivity. 1 Chron. vi. 39. 2 Chron. xxix. 25. xxxv. 15. Nehem. xii. 46. Psalms, 50. 73-83.-E.

:

ASAPH, a monk, who flourished about the year 500, under Carentius, king of the Britons, obtained the appellation of Saint, and gave name to the episcopal see of St. Asaph in Wales. He wrote the "Ordinances of his Church," and the "Life of Kentigern," a Scotch bishop, who presided in the convent of Llan Elvy, which afterwards came under the care of St. Asaph, and took his name. Baleus de Script. Brit. Godwin de Præsul. Biog. Brit.-E.

ASAR-HADDON, son of Sennacherib king of Assyria, succeeded his father about 712 years before Christ. He reigned thirty-two years in Niniveh, when he became also king of Babylon. He sent a colony of Babylonians and Cutheans into the kingdom of Israel or Samaria. His reign terminated 667 years before Christ. Esdra, lib. i.-E.

ASCELIN, a monk of the eleventh century, a native of Poitou, and a pupil of Lanfranc, was a zealous defender of the catholic faith against Berenger. In a public disputation at Brione with that divine, he is said to have put him to silence. Berenger afterwards wrote to Ascelin on the subject of the conference, and Ascelin replied in a letter, which maintains the catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. The letter may be found in D'Acheri's notes on the Life of Lanfranc prefixed to his works, printed at Paris in 1648. Moreri.-E.

ASCHAM, ROGER, a learned Englishman, of high reputation in the sixteenth century, was born at Kirby Wiske, a village near Northallerton in Yorkshire. His father, John Ascham, was house-steward in the family of Scroop; his mother, Margaret, was allied to several considerable families. They are said to have lived together in perfect harmony and affection sixty-seven years, (Dr. Johnson's Life of Ascham) and to have at last died almost on the same hour of the same day.

Roger, the third son of this worthy pair, a short time before his father's death, was received into the family of Sir Anthony Winfield, and enjoyed, with that gentleman's sons, the be

nefit of private education under a domestic tutor. He discovered an early fondness for reading, and made a rapid progress in classical learning. His friend and patron, pleased with the proofs which the young scholar gave of genius and docility, determined to afford him the advantage of an university education, and, in 1530, sent him to St. John's College, Cambridge.

With the peculiar talents for the study of languages which Ascham possessed, it was fortunate for him that he entered upon life at a period when the attention of the whole educated world was turned towards the revival and advancement of learning, and Greek and Roman authors were edited with diligence, and read and studied with avidity. The college in which he was to study had caught the classical spirit of the age. Metcalf the master was, as Ascham himself informs us, "though meanly learned himself, no mean encourager of learning in others." Fitzherbert his tutor was a good scholar, and possessed a happy facility of teaching; and his friend Pember, who was ready on all occasions to assist him in his studies, was a great proficient in Greek learning. Ascham, from his entrance upon academic life, felt the inspiration of an ardent desire to excel in learning, and devoted himself with uncommon industry to his studies. According to the maxim, "Qui docet, discit," he thought a language might be best learned by teaching it; and, when he had made some progress in Greek, he undertook to instruct boys in the rudiments of this language. His friend Pember approved his plan, and said, that he would gain more knowledge by reading with a boy a single fable in Æsop, than by hearing another read Latin lectures on the whole Iliad. Under the direction of the same valuable friend he became intimately acquainted with the best Greek and Roman authors. In his reading he observed a rule well worth the attention of students, to "lose no time in the perusal of mean or unprofitable books." Cicero and Cæsar, in particular, he diligently studied, as his best guides in writing the Latin language, and he formed his style upon these excellent models.

In the eighteenth year of his age, Ascham took his first degree of bachelor of arts, and was, about a month afterwards, chosen fellow of the college. Notwithstanding his uncommon merit, his election to the fellowship was attended with some difficulty, on account of the favourable disposition which he had discovered towards the reformed religion: so powerful was the influence of religious bigotry at this period, even in the schools of the learned. At the age

stowed upon men who ought to be despisers of the world, might well be spared; that the clergy, who had accumulated immense revenues, lived in idleness and luxury, and contributed little to the public benefit, while the laity were hazarding both their persons and fortunes in the service of their country, and that, therefore, in a moment of public necessity, it was reasonable to have recourse to this plentiful fund. Arundel, who was present, to avert the blow which threatened the church, pleaded, that the clergy had always contributed more to the public service than the laity; and that they were at least as serviceable to the king by their prayers as the laity by their arms. Sir John Cheney, the speaker, replied, that he thought the prayers of the church a very slender supply, and was of opinion, that their lands would do the nation more good. The archbishop angrily retorted, that the kingdom could not expect to prosper, as long as the prayers of the church were despised. At the same time he importuned the king to protect the church from depredation; and these spirited exertions put a stop, for the present, to the prosecution of this violent measure. (Wal(Walsingham, Hist. Angl. p. 371.)

While Arundel zealously defended the temporalities of the church, he discovered equal zeal for the preservation of its internal constitution. The Lollards, or Wickliffites, who were attempting large innovations both in doctrine and worship, excited the ardour of the metropolitan; and he adopted violent and unjustifiable measures for the suppression of this rising sect. Finding that the university of Oxford was beginning to be infected with these new opinions, he determined to pay an official visit to that seat of learning, on the ground of an ancient claim of his predecessors, which had been confirmed to him as metropolitan by the late king. The university at first refused to receive him as a visitor, but afterwards acquiesced on the king's decision in his favour. Supported by the body of the clergy, assembled in convocation at St. Paul's in London, who complained of the strange degeneracy and contumacy of the students in an university hitherto exemplary for its adherence to the catholic faith, and for orderly and obedient behaviour; the archbishop sent delegates to the university to enquire into the state of opinions among the students. A committee of twelve persons was appointed by the university to sit in inquisition, under the authority of the visitor's delegates, upon heretical books, particularly those of Wickliffe, and to examine such persons as were suspected of favouring this new heresy, and compel them to a

declaration of their opinions. The report of these inquisitors was transmitted to the primate, who confirmed their censures : and the persecution was carried by this bigot to an absurd and cruel extremity. cruel extremity. (Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford, p. 205.) Arundel solicited from the pope a bull for digging up Wickliff's bones, which, however, was wisely refused him. Upon the authority of the horrid act for burning here tics, passed in the reign of Henry IV. a Lollard, in the year 1410, was consigned to the stake; and, at the commencement of the reign of Henry V. Sir John Oldcastle, lord Cobham, one of the principal patrons of the sect, was indicted by the primate, convicted of heresy, and sentenced to the flames. Soon after the archbishop had pronounced the sentence of excommunication on lord Cobham, he was seized with an inflammation in his throat, which speedily terminated his life: he died on the 20th of February in the year 1413. The Lollards, who partook of the superstitious character of the times, imputed this sudden illness and death to the just judgment of God. A more enlightened age may condemn, in every sect alike, such preSumptuous attempts to point the thunderbolts of heaven; but it will not fail to pronounce all endeavours to restrain, by violent means, the freedom of enquiry, as at once impolitic and criminal. This prelate might possess strong talents and a courageous spirit, fit for the station which he occupied as guardian of the church; but he was too zealously attached to the papal power, to set a just value on the civil rights of his country; and the severities which he exercised towards the Lollards, together with the synodic precept which he issued, forbidding the translation of the scriptures into the vulgar tongue, will leave upon his memory the perpetual stain of bigotry and intolerance. Godwin de Præsul. Biog. Brit.-E.

ARZACHEL, or ARZCHAEL, a Spanish mathematician, lived in the tenth or eleventh century. He wrote an astronomical work entitled, "Observationes de Obliquitate Zodiaca." Blancan. in Chron. Math. Vossius. Mɔreri.-E.

ASA, king of Judah, the son of Abijam, began his reign about 955 years before Christ. He showed great zeal for religion, demolishing the altars erected to idols, and restoring the worship of Jehovah. He obtained a victory over the Midianites, commanded by Zerah an Ethiopian. In a war with Baasha, king of Israel, he called in the assistance of Benhadad, king of Syria. The prophet Hanani reproved him for calling in foreign aid, and was severely punish

ed. He held the sceptre of Judah forty-one years. 1 Kings, xv. 8-24. 2 Chron, xiv, 2 Chron, xiv, xv, xvi. Joseph. Ant. lib. viii. c. 6.-E. ASAPH, the son of Berachius, of the tribe of Levi, was a celebrated Hebrew musician in the time of David. Twelve of the Hebrew psalms are inscribed with his name, and are supposed to have been written by him but this cannot be true concerning several, which relate to the Babylonish captivity. 1 Chron. vi. 39. 2 Chron. xxix. 25. XXXV. 15. Nehem. xii. 46. Psalms, 50. 73-83.-E.

ASAPH, a monk, who flourished about the year 500, under Carentius, king of the Britons, obtained the appellation of Saint, and gave name to the episcopal see of St. Asaph in Wales. He wrote the "Ordinances of his Church," and the "Life of Kentigern," a Scotch bishop, who presided in the convent of Llan Elvy, which afterwards came under the care of St. Asaph, and took his name. Baleus de Script. Brit. Godwin de Præsul. Biog. Brit.—E. ASAR-HADDON, son of Sennacherib king of Assyria, succeeded his father about 712 years before Christ. He reigned thirty-two years in Niniveh, when he became also king of Babylon. He sent a colony of Babylonians and Cutheans into the kingdom of Israel or Samaria. His reign terminated 667 years before Christ. Esdra, lib. i.-E.

ASCELIN, a monk of the eleventh century, a native of Poitou, and a pupil of Lanfranc, was a zealous defender of the catholic faith against Berenger. In a public disputation at Brione with that divine, he is said to have put him to silence. Berenger afterwards wrote to Ascelin on the subject of the conference, and Ascelin replied in a letter, which maintains the catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. The letter may be found in D'Acheri's notes on the Life of Lanfranc prefixed to his works, printed at Paris in 1648. Moreri.-E.

ASCHAM, ROGER, a learned Englishman, of high reputation in the sixteenth century, was born at Kirby Wiske, a village near Northallerton in Yorkshire. His father, John Ascham, was house-steward in the family of Scroop; his mother, Margaret, was allied to several considerable families. They are said to have lived together in perfect harmony and affection sixty-seven years, (Dr. Johnson's Life of Ascham) and to have at last died almost on the same hour of the same day.

Roger, the third son of this worthy pair, a short time before his father's death, was received into the family of Sir Anthony Winfield, and enjoyed, with that gentleman's sons, the be

ASC

nefit of private education under a domestic tutor. He discovered an early fondness for reading, and made a rapid progress in classical learning. His friend and patron, pleased with the proofs which the young scholar gave of genius and docility, determined to afford him the advantage of an university education, and, in 1530, sent him to St. John's College, Cambridge.

With the peculiar talents for the study of languages which Ascham possessed, it was fortunate for him that he entered upon life at a period when the attention of the whole educated world was turned towards the revival and advancement of learning, and Greek and Roman authors were edited with diligence, and read and studied with avidity. The college in which he was to study had caught the classical spirit of the age. Metcalf the master was, as Ascham himself informs us, "though meanly learned himself, no mean encourager of learning in others." Fitzherbert his tutor was a good scholar, and possessed a happy facility of teaching; and his friend Pember, who was ready on all occasions to assist him in his studies, was a great proficient in Greek learning. Ascham, from his entrance upon academic life, felt the inspiration of an ardent desire to excel in learning, and devoted himself with uncommon industry to his studies. According to the maxim,

66

Qui docet, discit," he thought a language might be best learned by teaching it; and, when he had made some progress in Greek, he undertook to instruct boys in the rudiments of this language. His friend Pember approved his plan, and said, that he would gain more knowledge by reading with a boy a single fable in Æsop, than by hearing another read Latin lectures on the whole Iliad. Under the direction of the same valuable friend he became intimately acquainted with the best Greek and Roman authors. In his reading he observed a rule well worth the attention of students, to "lose no time in the perusal of mean or unprofitable books." Cicero and Cæsar, in particular, he diligently studied, as his best guides in writing the Latin language, and he formed his style upon these excellent models.

In the eighteenth year of his age, Ascham took his first degree of bachelor of arts, and was, about a month afterwards, chosen fellow of the college. Notwithstanding his uncommon merit, his election to the fellowship was attended with some difficulty, on account of the favourable disposition which he had discovered towards the reformed religion: so powerful was the influence of religious bigotry at this period, even in the schools of the learned. At the age