was published in 1608, under the title of "Antiquitatis Academiæ Oxoniensis Apologia, in tres libros divisa," Oxon. 4to. The chief object of this work was to refute what Kaye or Caius had asserted in his history of Cambridge on the antiquity of that university, proving it to be 1267 years older than Oxford. So absurd an assertion would scarcely now be thought worthy of a serious answer, but Twyne was an enthusiast on the question, and mere antiquity was thought preferable to every other degree of superiority. He therefore produced his "Apologia," in which he revives and endeavours to prove that Oxford was originally founded by some Greek philosophers, the companions of Brutus, and restored by King Alfred in 870. Smith, in his history of University college, has very ably answered his principal arguments on this question, which indeed has nothing more than tradition on its side. He was a young man when he wrote this book, and intended a new edition; but his interleaved copy for this purpose, with his additions, &c. was unfortunately lost in a fire at Oxford, which happened some time after his death. He left, however, several volumes of MS collections to the university, of which Wood availed himself in his history.'

TWYSDEN (SIR ROGER), the second baronet of the family, of Roydon hall, East Peckham, in Kent, was born in 1597. His father, William Twysden, esq. was one of those who conducted king James to London, when he first came from Scotland, to take possession of the English crown, and was first knighted and afterwards created a baronet by his majesty. Sir William had a learned education, understood Greek and Hebrew well, and accumulated a valuable collection of books and MSS. which he made useful to the public, both in defence of the protestant religion and the ancient constitutions of the kingdom. He died in January 1627-8. Sir Roger, his eldest son, had also a learned education, and was a good antiquary. He assisted Mr. Philpot in his Survey of Kent, who returns him acknowledgments, as a person to whom, "for his learned conduct of these his imperfect labours, through the gloomy and perplexed paths of antiquity, and the many difficulties that assaulted him, he was signally obliged." He was a man of great accom

1 Ath. Ox. vol. II.-Smith's Hist. of Univ. College, p. 174, 195, 227.-Strype's preface to his Life of Parker, p. 4, and Life, p. 280.-Letters by eminent Persons, 1813, 3 vols. 8vo.

plishments, well versed in the learned languages, and exemplary in his attachment to the church of England. He made many important additions to his father's library, which seems seldom to have been unemployed by his family or his descendants. His brother, THOMAS, was brought up to the profession of the law, and became one of the justices of the King's Bench after the restoration, and was created a baTonet, by which he became the founder of the family of Twisdens (for he altered the spelling of the name) of Bradbourn in Kent. Another brother, JOHN, was a physician, and a good mathematician, and wrote on both sciences.

Sir Roger was loyal to his unfortunate sovereign, and detesting the undutiful behaviour of many of his subjects, was not content to sit still, but was one of the first to oppose their arbitrary proceedings, which drew on him a severe persecution. He was confined seven years in prison, his estate sequestered, his timber cut down, and paid a fine of 1300l. when he was restored to his estate. When he came again to his seat he lived retired, and his greatest comfort was, conversing with the learned fathers of the primitive church, and the ancient laws and constitution of his country, which he lived to see restored. The appearance of the "Decem Scriptores," with other collections, were owing to his endeavours, and be wrote a learned preface to them. He was also the author of "The Historical Defence of the Church of England." This worthy baronet died June 7, 1672, in the seventy-fifth year of his age:1

TYE (CHRISTOPHER), a musician of the sixteenth century, born at Westminster, and brought up in the royal chapel, was musical preceptor to prince Edward, and probably to the other children of Henry VIII. In 1545 he was admitted to the degree of doctor in music at Cambridge; and in 1548 was incorporated a member of the university of Oxford; in the reign of queen Elizabeth he was organist of the royal chapel, and a man of some literature. In music he was excellent; and notwithstanding that Wood, speaking of his compositions, says they are antiquated, and not at all valued, there are very few compositions for the church of equal merit with his anthems.

In an old comedy, or scenical history, whichever it is proper to call it, with the following whimsical title, "When you see me you know me," by Samuel Rowley, printed in

Collins, and Betham's Baronetage.

1623, wherein are represented in the manner of a drama some of the remarkable events during the reign of Henry VIII. is a conversation between prince Edward and Dr. Tye on the subject of music, which, for its curiosity, sir John Hawkins has transcribed at length. The "Acts of the Apostles," mentioned in this dialogue, were never completed; but the first fourteen chapters thereof were, in 1553, printed by Wyllyam Seres, with the following quaint title: "The Actes of the Appostles, translated into Englyshe metre, and dedicated to the kynges most excellent majestye by Christofer Tye, doctor in musyke, and one of the Gentylmen of hys graces moste honourable Chappell, wyth notes to eche Chapter, to syng and also to play upon the Lute, very necessarye for studentes after theyr studye, to fyle theyr wyttes, and alsoe for all Christians that cannot synge to reade the good and godlye storyes of the liues of Christ hys Apostles." The dedication is, "To the vertuous and godlye learned prynce Edwarde the VI." and is in stanzas of alternate metre. The reader will find some account of it in the "Bibliographer," vol. I.

The "Acts of the Apostles," set to music by Dr. Tye, were sung in the chapel of Edward VI. and probably in other places where choral service was performed; but the success of them not answering the expectation of their author, he applied himself to another kind of study, the composing of music to words selected from the Psalms of David, in four, five, and more parts; to which species of harmony, for want of a better, the name of Anthem, a corruption of Antiphon, was given. In Dr. Boyce's collection of cathedral music, lately published, vol. II. is an anthem of this great musician, "I will exalt thee," a most perfect model for composition in the church-style, whether we regard the melody or the harmony, the expression or the contrivance, or, in a word, the general effect of the whole. In the Ashmolean MS. fol. 189, is the following note in the hand-writing of Antony Wood: "Dr. Tye was a peevish and humoursome man, especially in his latter days; and sometimes playing on the organ in the chapel of Qu. Eliz. which contained much music, but little delight to the ear, she would send to the verger to tell him that he played out of tune; whereupon he sent word, that her ears were out of tune." The same author adds, that Dr. Tye restored church-music after it had been almost ruined by the dissolution of abbeys. What sir John

Hawkins, from whom this article appears to have been taken by our predecessors, has said of Tye, is confirmed by Dr. Burney, who says that he was doubtless at the head of all our ecclesiastical composers of that period. This eminent musical historian adds, that Dr. Tye, "if compared with his contemporaries, was perhaps as good a poet as Sternhold, and as great a musician as Europe then could boast; and it is hardly fair to expect more perfection from him, or to blame an individual for the general defects of the age in which he lived."

1

TYERS (THOMAS), a miscellaneous writer of considerable talents, was one of the two sons of Mr. Jonathan Tyers, the original embellisher of Vauxhall gardens, of which he was himself a joint proprietor till the end of the season of 1785, when he sold his share to his brother's family. He was born in 1726, and being intended for one of the learned professions, was sent very early in life to the university of Oxford, where he entered of Exeter college, and was so young when he took his bachelor's degree that he was called the boy bachelor. That of master of arts he completed in April 1745, when he was only nineteen. In 1753 he was admitted a student of the Inner Temple, and became, after he had kept his terms, a barrister in that house; but he tells us that, although his father hoped he would apply to the law, take notes, and make a figure in Westminster-hall, he never undertook any causes, nor went a single circuit. He loved his ease too much to acquire a character in that or any other profession. It is said that the character of Tom Restless (in the Idler, N° 48) was intended by Dr. Johnson for Mr. Tyers, but he was certainly a man of superior cast to the person described under that name. It could not be said of Mr. Tyers that he sought wisdom more in conversation than in his library, for few men read more, and he was heard to say, not long before his death, that for the last forty years, he had not been a single day, when in health, without a book or a pen in his hand, "nulla dies sine linea."

He began early to write, and when at college, or very soon after, published two pastorals, "Lucy," inscribed to lord Chesterfield, and "Rosalind," to earl Grenville. He was also the author of a great deal of vocal poetry, or

1 Hawkins's Hist. of Music.-Burney's Hist. vols. II. and III.-Philips's Theatrum, by sir E. Brydges, p. 79.-Warton's Hist. of Poetry.-Bibliographer, vol. I.-Ath, Ox. vol. I.-Tanner.

what he called "sing song," principally for Vauxhall-gardens; and the satisfactory description of Vauxhall, published in Mr. Nichols's "History of Lambeth," was drawn up by him. Having inherited from his father an easy fortune, and from nature an inclination to indulge in learned leisure, he was happily enabled "to see what friends and read what books he pleased." He was, if any man could be said to be so, most perfectly master of his own time, which he divided at his pleasure between his villa at Ashted, near Epsom, and his apartments in Southampton-street. Indefatigable in reading the newest publications, either of belles lettres or politics, and blest with a retentive memory, he was every where a welcome guest; and, having the agreeable faculty of always repeating the good-natured side of a story, the anecdotes he retailed pretty copiously were rarely found either tedious or disagreeable. In the country he was considered by all the surrounding gentry as a man of profound learning, who had some little peculiarities in his manners, which were amply atoned for by a thousand good qualities both of the head and heart. In London he was in habits of intimacy with many whom the world have agreed to call both great and good. Dr. Johnson loved him, lord Hardwicke esteemed him, and even the mitred Lowth respected him. The literati in general had more regard for him than authors usually have for each other; as Mr. Tyers, though known for many years to have been a writer, was rather considered by them as an amateur than a professor of the art. He was certainly among the number of "gentlemen who wrote with ease;" witness his "Rhapsodies" on Pope and Addison; and particularly his Biographical sketches of Johnson, warm from the heart when his friend was scarcely buried, and which have not been. exceeded by any one of our great moralist's biographers. The "Political Conferences" of Mr. Tyers, however, will place him in a higher point of view; in that production, much ingenuity and sound political knowledge are displayed; and the work has received the plaudits it so well deserved, and passed through two editions. One part of Mr. Tyers's knowledge he would have been happier had he not possessed. He had a turn for the study of medicine, and its operations on the human frame, which gave him somewhat of a propensity to hypochondriasm, and often led from imaginary to real ailments. Hence the least variation of the atmosphere had not unfrequently an effect