Π B. BAADIN, MAHOMET GEBET AMALI, a celebrated Persian doctor, was the editor of an abridgment of civil and canon law, entitled, "The Summary of Abbas," because it was written by the command of Abbas the Great. This work consists of twenty books, five of which were written by Baadin, the rest by one of his disciples under his direction. Chardin's Travels. Moreri.-E. BABA, a famous impostor of Turcomania, appeared among the Mahometans, in the city of Amasia, in the year of the hegira 638, or of Christ 1240. He required from his followers this profession of faith: "There is but one God, and Baba is his messenger." The Mahometans, enraged to see their prophet thus supplanted, made every effort to sieze the person of Baba, but in vain; for his followers were so numerous, that he was soon able to raise a large army, with which he ravaged and pillaged a great part of Natolia. At last, however, the Mahometans calling in the assistance of the Europeans, pursued him with such vigour, that he was entirely routed, and his sect dispersed. D'Herbelot, Biblioth. Orientale.-E. for his accurate knowledge and sound judg ment, that he was frequently consulted on ecclesiastical questions and cases of conscience, and he retained his faculties in their full vigour to the last. Journal de Trevoux, 1743. Moreri.-E. BABINGTON, GERVASE, an English bishop, born about the middle of the 16th century, was, according to some, a native of Nottinghamshire (Fuller's Abel Redivivus, p. 455, and his Church Hist. p. 56.), according to others, of Devonshire. (Izacke's Catalogue of Bishops in Antiquities of Exeter; and Prince's Worthies of Devon, p. 87.) He was educated in Trinity College, at Cambridge, where he became a celebrated preacher. He was domestic chaplain to Henry Earl of Pembroke, president of the council in the marches of Wales. While he was in this station he is said (Brief View of the State of the Church of England, by Sir J. Harrington, Lond. 12mo. 1653, p. 128. Wood's Athen. Ox. Col. 704. Ballard's Memoirs of British Ladies, second edit. p. 184.) to have assisted the Lady Mary Sidney, countess of Pembroke, in her English BABIN, FRANCIS, born at Angers in 1651, metrical version of the psalms of David; and, the son of an advocate in that city, was esteem- whatever were that lady's learning, or poetical ed a skilful canonist, and a profound theologian. talents, it was no discredit to her to receive asHe was elected professor of divinity in the uni- sistance from the bishop, in giving an exact versity of Angers at twenty-five years of age, version of difficult passages. Through the and read lectures to numerous classes for twen- interest of his patron, Dr. Babington was apty years. Being, in 1706, appointed by the pointed treasurer of the church of Landaff, and bishop of Angers one of his grand vicars, he was afterwards, in 1591, advanced to that biwas employed by that prelate to reduce into shopric, whence he was successively translated form the minutes of the conferences of the dio-to the see of Exeter, and of Worcester. After The work was published in eighteen volumes, 12mo. and is much esteemed for its clear method, and the easy simplicity of its style. In 1697, Babin published in 4to. with out the name of the author or printer, "A Narrative of what passed in the University of Angers on the Subjects of Jansenism and Cartesianism." He received from Louis XIV. a pension of 2000 livres, and was appointed to several honourable and lucrative offices, which he enjoyed till his death, in 1734, at the age of eighty-three. Babin was so highly esteemed cese. remaining in the latter diocese thirteen years, he died in 1610; but, though he had repaired the cathedral, and left to it, as a legacy, his valuable library, he was buried without a monument. He is highly extolled for his learning and piety, and for his freedom from indolence, pride, and covetousness: but unfortunately for his character in the latter respect, it is recorded (Prince's Worthies of Devon, p. 88.) that he did an irreparable injury to the bishopric of Exeter, by alienating from it the rich manor of Crediton, in Devonshire. Bishop Babington is said to have been a pathetic preacher. Speci- BABYLAS, a Christian bishop and martyr, flourished in the third century under the emperor Gordian. He was chosen to the see of Antioch in the year 238, and governed that church about thirteen years, when he fell in the persecution of Decius. Ancient writers are not agreed concerning the manner of his death. Eusebius and Jerom assert that he died in prison; Chrysostom, who has celebrated his memory, says that he was brought out of prison, and conducted to capital punishment. Epiphanius, Sozomen, and Theodoret, only mention him in general terms as a martyr. Chrysostom extols his courage in refusing entrance into the church to an emperor, who had stained his hands with the blood of a king's son, whom he had received as an hostage, and supposes that this refusal was the cause of his death; and this is supposed to refer to the emperor Philip, who put the young Gordian, his collegue, to death. In confirmation of this supposition it is observed, that Eusebius speaks of a bishop, who would not permit Philip to enter into the church, till he had confessed his sins, and placed himself among the penitents. But Chrysostom does not mention the emperor to whom this happened, nor Eusebius the bishop who treated him in this manner. It is also doubtful, whether the emperor Philip was a Christian, and still more, whether he ever submitted to public penance. The whole story, therefore, rests upon uncertain ground. The tomb of Babylas having been removed from Antioch to the grove of a temple of Apollo, and a church erected over his remains, the oracle was silenced, by the presence, as was supposed, of this saint's body, but more probably, as Van Dale conjectures (De Oraculis, p. 441.), by an apprehension of the priests, that the Christians, who daily visited the tomb of the martyr, would detect their imposture. Julian soon afterwards demolished this church, and the Christians removed the relics of their saint in triumph to Antioch. The night following, the temple of Apollo was consumed, and the Christians of Antioch asserted, that through the prayers of St. Babylas the edifice had been struck with lightning. Julian, however, imputed the fire to the Christians, and treated them with severity. Euseb. Hist. Eccl. lib. vi. c. 29, 39. Chrysost. tom. ii. p. 669. orat. 48. Julian. Misopogon, p. 361. Ammianus Mar. lib. xxii. c. 12, 13. Bayle. Moreri. Gibbon's Hist. ch. 23.-E. BACCHINI, BENEDICT, a learned Italian monk of the 17th century, was born at Borgo San Donino, in the duchy of Parma, in the year 1651. He received his early education at Parma, and at sixteen years of age entered into the order of St. Benedict in the monastery of Mount-Cassin, where he studied so intensely as to injure his health. Being chosen secretary to Arcioni, abbot of the Benedictines of Ferrara, he accompanied him to Arezzo, Venice, Padua, and other cities, where he became acquainted with many learned men. Settling at Parma, he resigned his office of secretary, and devoted himself to study. Here he published a periodical literary journal, in which he discovered great learning and judgment, but which created him numerous enemies, some of whom had sufficient interest with the duke of Parma to procure from him a sentence of banishment from his territory. Bacchini retired to Modena; and the duke of Modena soon afterwards took him under his patronage, and made him his historiographer and librarian. In the former capacity, he investigated the genealogy and history of the house of Este, and collected large materials, which, upon his resigning this station to take the abbacy of the Benedictines of Modena, he transferred to his illustrious successor, Muratori. In 1705, he founded at Modena an academy of ecclesiastical literature. After some other changes of situation, he was elected professor of ecclesiastic history in the university of Bologna, where he died, at the age of seventy, in the year 1721. Bacchini was one of the most celebrated scholars of his age: his learning was universal, and his taste refined. In his youth, his eloquence was much admired, and he would have been one of the first preachers of the age, had not his want of health obliged him to quit the ministry. He was a great theologian and canonist, and was deeply read in every branch of ecclesiastical philology: he possessed great skill in deciphering ancient manuscripts; and he was esteemed an exact and penetrating critic. Beside the journal already mentioned, which commenced at Parma in 1686, and was continued to 1690, and which was afterwards resumed at Modena from 1692 to 1697, and remains in nine volumes 4to. Bacchini wrote, in Italian, "The History of the Benedictine Monastery of Polironi," and in Latin, "De Sistrorum Figuris ac Differentiâ," 4to. Bononiæ, 1691; and reprinted at Utrecht, 4to. 1696, with remarks by Tollius: "De Ecclesiastica Hierarchia Originibus," 4to. Modena, 1703; with other small pieces. Journal de Venise, tom. viii. Bibliotheque Ital. tom. viii. Tiraboschi. Moreri.-E. BACCHYLIDES, a Greek poet, nephew of Simonides, was a native of the island of Ceos, and flourished in the 82d Olympiad, about B. C. 452. He is reckoned the last of the nine famous lyric poets of ancient Greece; not in merit, for king Hiero is said to have preferred his compositions to those of Pindar. They consisted of hymns, odes, and epigrams. They abounded in moral sentiment, with the purity of which the emperor Julian, according to Ammianus Marcellinus, was so much delighted, that he was frequently accustomed to repeat his verses. Horace is said to have imitated him in some of his pieces, particularly in the prophecy of Nereus, which was suggested by the Greek poet's vaticination of Cassandra. Nothing remains of Bacchylides but some fragments. Vossius de Poët. Græc. Lilius Gy raldus.-A. BACCHYLUS, a Christian divine in the second century, bishop of Corinth, distinguished himself in the controversy, which in this early age of the church arose concerning the time of celebrating the festival of Easter. He wrote a letter upon this subject in the name of the bishops of Achaia, which Jerom, who says that this writer flourished under the emperor Severus, calls an elegant book. Eusebius mentions Bacchylus together with Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, Serapion bishop of Antioch and others, who had left testimonies of the orthodoxy of their faith in writing:" his works are lost. Euseb. Hist. Eccl. lib. v. c. 22, 23. Hieron. de Vir. Ill. c. 44. Dupin. Lardner. -E. BACH, a very eminent musical family in Germany, which has furnished a succession of great performers and composers for more than two hundred years. The following individuals of it are worthy of biographical commemo ration. JOHN SEBASTIAN BACH, son of John Ambrose Bach, musician to the court and senate of Eisenach, was born in that city in 1685. He was early taught the practice of the harpsichord by his eldest brother John-Christopher, and at the age of eighteen was appointed first organist of the new church of Arnstadt. In 1708 he settled at Weimar, and became chamber-musician and court-organist to the duke; and afterwards his concert-master. During his residence at Weimar, the celebrated French organist, Marchand, arriving at Dresden, after having vanquished all the performers of that class in France and Italy, offered to play with any German whom the king of Poland should nominate. No Dresden organist choosing to enter the lists, Sebastian Bach was sent for from Weimar, who came immediately, and obtained a decisive victory over the challenger. He became, in 1717, chapel-master to the prince of Anhalt Cothen; in 1723, music-director at Leipsic, and chapel-master to the duke of Weissenfels. As a performer on the organ he was the rival of Handel, and has been reckoned even superior to him. His compositions for the harpsichord and organ, and his canons, have given him the character of many great musicians in one: profound in science, fertile in fancy, and fond of all that was new and difficult in harmony. He died at Leipsic in 1754, and left behind him a school comprising all the principal organists of Germany, and four sons, all musicians of great excellence. Hawkins. Burney's Hist. of Music, and Musical Tour in Germany, &c.—A. CHARLES PHILIP EMMANUEL BACH, second son of the preceding, was born at Weimar in 1714. He was originally designed for a civilian, and studied the law at Leipsic and Frankfort on the Oder; but his natural propensity to music was so decided, that his father consented that he should make it his profession. While studying at Frankfort, he composed and directed the music at the academy there, and at all public musical exhibitions. He went to Berlin in 1738, where his talents obtained the notice of the prince-royal (the great Frederic), who, on his accession in 1740, took him into his service. At Berlin he composed a great number of works, chiefly for the harpsichord, in which he displayed a style of his own, rich in invention, taste and learning, and crowded with new, and sometimes far-fetched ideas. He continued near thirty years at Berlin, though the king was himself attached to a different style of music, and did not rank him according to his merit. But he was married in that capital; and his wife and children being reckoned subjects of Prussia, and, according to its slavish maxims, not capable of leaving it without the king's permission, it was not till 1767 that he was allowed to remove with his family to Hamburg, where the place of music-director was conferred upon him. Dr. Burney found him there in 1773, and was favoured by him with some performances on the clavichord, which he animated with the enthusiasm of genius. "During this time" (says the writer) "he grew so animated and possessed, that he not only played but looked like one inspired. His eyes were fixed, his under lip fell, and drops of effervescence distilled from his countenance. He said, if he were to be set to work frequently in this manner, he should grow young again." Bach was then fifty-nine. Dr. Burney characterises him as not only one of the greatest composers that ever existed for keyed instruments, but the best player in point of expression. Burney's Mus. Tour in Germany, and Hist. Music, IV.-A. JOHN CHRISTIAN BACH, another of the sons of John-Emanuel, was a scholar of his brother Emanuel, and became a fine performer on keyed instruments. He went to Italy, and raised himself a great reputation by his dramatic compositions in music. The empress-queen appointed him organist to the duomo of Milan. He came over to England in 1763, and composed operas, which were highly admired by all true judges, for the richness of the harmony, the ingenious texture of the parts, and the natural elegance of the melody. He was the first composer who seems to have observed the law of contrast as a principle, having generally, after a rapid and noisy passage, introduced a slow and soothing one. He was particularly original in his symphonies, and in the accompaniments of his pieces. Burney Hist. Mus. IV.-A. BACHOVIUS, REINIER, a German civilian, born at Cologne in 1544, resided at Leipsic, where he suffered persecution for his religious principles. Having for many years exercised his profession, and occupied public offices, with credit, he was compelled to relinquish them, becau e he chose to profess the doctrines of Calvin rather than those of Luther. Finding himself under the necessity of leaving Leipsic on account of the popular odium which his religious tenets brought upon him, he went into the Palatinate, where he found in the elector a generous patron. At Heidelberg he enjoyed several honourable and profitable posts till his death, which happened in 1614. He wrote a theological tract, entitled "The Catechism of the Palatinate," in which he largely cited the writings of the fathers in defense of Calvinism. Melchior Adam. Vit. Jurisc. Germ. Bayle. Moreri.-E. BACHOVIUS, REINIER or REINHARD, the son of the former, was professor of civi law in the university of Heidelberg, and obtained distinction among the civilians of his time. His contemporaries pass high encomiums upon his talents, and particularly remark, that he excelled more in overthrowing the opinions of others, than in supporting his own. After occupying the professorial chair with credit for upwards of twenty years, when, in_1622, Count Tilly took Heidelberg, and the Elector Palatine dissolved the university, Bachovius left the city. Having corresponded with the learned Cunæus, professor at Leyden, he applied to him to obtain for him permission to read lectures in that university, but without success. He made an attempt equally unsuccessful to establish himself as a lecturer in Strasburg. Returning to Heidelberg, after having met with much vexation and numerous disappointments, chiefly owing to his protestantism, he thought it his duty, or found it convenient, to return into the bosom of the catholic church: the elector re-established the university; and Bachovius was restored to his office, with it's emoluments. The particulars of his life from this period are unknown. His works are, "Exercitationes ad Partem posteriorem Chiliados Fabri," published, in folio, in 1624:. "De Actionibus," 1626; "De Pignoribus et Hypothecis," 1627; "Disputationes de variis Juris civilis Materiis," 8vo. Heidelberg, 1604. "In Institutionum Juris Justiniani Libros quatuor Commentarii," 4to. Francf. 1628; and other law tracts. Bayle. Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Hist.-E. BACICI, a painter, whose real name was GIO BAPTISTA GAULI, was born at Genoa in 1639. His parents, who were of mean condition, died of the plague, and left him at an early age quite destitute. Coming one day with his port-folio under his arm out of the workshop of Borgonzone, he saw a galley ready to depart for Rome with the envoy of the republic. He requested to be admitted: and on the captain's refusal, he applied to the envoy himself, who ordered him a place among his domestics. Arriving at Rome about the age of fourteen, he was placed by the envoy with a picture-merchant, where he became known to the celebrated Bernini. This artist, admiring the proofs he gave of genius, patronised him, and procured him employ as a portrait-painter, in which branch he greatly excelled. He was enabled to take a house and maintain himself with credit; and at twenty he painted his first history-piece, which was much noticed, and procured him an advantageous marriage. He soon rose to the highest credit in his art. Bernini introduced him to pope Alexander VII. who sat to him, and gave him free admission to his palace. He was preferred to several capital painters for the great work of the dome of the Jesuit's church, which he was five years in finishing, but which gained him universal applause. Sonnets were made in his praise, and his company was generally sought after, to which the strong sense and vivacity of his conversation much contributed. He seems to have been fully sensible of his own value, and set a high price on his performances; and if any dispute or hesitation arose in the payment, he was apt to fly into transports of impatience. He was invited to his native city in order to paint the hall of the town-house, but the price he demanded caused the work to be given to another. On his return to Rome, employment pressed on him from all quarters, which he executed with wonderful quickness and dexterity. An extraordinary proof of his skill is mentioned; that of painting, at the request of the marquis Lorenzo Centurioni, his uncle Hippolito, general of the gallies of Genoa, who had been dead twenty years, and whom he had never seen. By repeated attempts and alterations, from the nephew's description, he made a portrait so like as to be recognised by all the Genoese who were acquainted with the original. Bacici had a domestic misfortune which caused him for some time to lay aside the pencil. Finding his son Lorenzo one day amusing himself with his companions instead of going to his business at the office of an advocate, he gave him a box on the ear; which the young man took as such a heinous affront that he went and threw himself into the Tiber. Bacici's rapidity of execution at length injured both his health and reputation. When. at the age of sixty-seven, he painted in two months the dome of the church of the Santi Apostoli. Three years afterwards, heating himself with placing the cartoons for the mosaics in the little cupola of St. Peter's, he fell into a fever, which carried him off at the age of seventy, in April 1709. His character as an artist is that of a strong but irregular genius, indefatigable, a good colourist, skillful in the art of fore-shortning, whence his figures have wonderful relief, and seem to come out of the canvas, but often incorrect in the drawing, heavy in his outline, and a mannerist in the drapery. His original strong manner was latterly changed by the advice of Bernini to a clearer tone of colouring, but to the injury of his peculiar excellence. His forte was in por trait, of which he painted a vast number; among them, seven popes and all the cardinals of his time. His history-pieces are almost all in churches in Rome. The four angles of the cupola of saint Agnes, and the dome, angles, arcade, and tribune of the Jesuits' church, are some of the principal. D'Argenville, Vies des Peintres.-A. BACON, ROBERT, sometimes confounded with Roger Bacon, an English divine, flourished in the 13th century. Having first studied at Oxford, and afterwards completed his education, according to the custom of the times, at Paris, he settled at Oxford, where he read: divinity lectures, and became a famous preacher. He is chiefly memorable for a sermon which he preached before Henry III. at Oxford' in 1233. That prince having given great offence to the English nobility and clergy, by the confidence which he placed in Peter de Rupi bus, bishop of Winchester, and by the indulgence, which, under the influence of that prelate, he gave to foreigners, particularly the Poictevins, he called a parliament at Oxford, at which the barons, though repeatedly summoned, refused to attend. Robert Bacon, who was appointed to preach before the king, freely reproved him for his partiality to strangers, and plainly told him, that the public discontent could only be removed by dismissing from his councils Peter de Rupibus. The king is said to have been so much impressed by this address, as to discover a disposition to listen to the complaints of his nobles. Robert Bacon enjoved the friendship and patronage of Edmund Rich, called St. Edmund, archbishop of Canterbury, and after his decease in 1240, wrote his life. He was also the author of sundry commentaries, sermons, and lectures. He is said by some writers to have been the brother of Roger Bacon, but that celebrated man was born in 1214, and Robert died in 1248 at an advanced age; whence there must have been about forty years difference in the times of their birth, and it is hardly credible that they could have been brothers. There are few names concerning which there is more confusion. among our English historians than the Bacons of the thirteenth century. Pits de Illust. Ang.. Ser. p. 318. M. Paris. Hist. vol. ii. p. 747-ed. 1640. fol. Biogr. Brit.-E. BACON, ROGER, a celebrated English monk of the Franciscan order, for the time in which he lived a prodigy of knowledge, was born in the year 1214 at Ilchester in Somersetshire. In order to discover how far this splendid luminary, which dazzled the feeble sight of |