"There is an anonymous work deserving of some notice, entitled A Short Critical Review of the Political Life of Oliver Cromwell. The title professes that it was written by a gentleman of the Middle Temple, but there is reason to believe that it proceeded from the pen of the learned Bishop Gibson."
It would seem, therefore, by these statements, that two different lives of the Great Protector have been ascribed to Gibson. Query, Did Gibson ever write a life of Cromwell; and if so, which is it?
It is well worth knowing which Gibson did write, if he wrote one at all, for he was connected with the Cromwell family, and, what is of more consequence, a learned, liberal man, not given to lying, so that his book probably contains more truth than any of the other Cromwell biographies of that time.
DRYASDUST.
79. English Translation of Alcon.
—Is there any translation of Alcon by Baldisare Castiglione? The Lycidas of Milton is a splendid paraphrase of it. The parallel passages are to be found in (I think) No. 47. of the Classical Journal, published formerly by Valpy. The prototypes of L'Allegro and Il Penseroso are at the beginning of Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy. Thus three of Milton's early poems cannot be termed wholly original.
ÆGROTUS.
Replies.
JOHN BODLEY.
(Vol. iv., p. 59.)
John Bodley is a name that ought not to be passed over without due reverence. He not only fostered the translation of the Genevan Bible, but was specially interested in its circulation throughout England. Neither Fox, Burnet, or Strype, Mr. Todd, or Mr. Whittaker give us any particular information respecting him. Lewis glances at him as one John Bodley; and Mr. Townley, in his valuable Biblical Literature, after some notice of Whittingham, Gilby, Sampson, &c., closes by saying, "Of John Bodleigh no account has been obtained."