THOMAS HOBBS of Malmsbury.
This noted Person, who gave occasion for so many Pens to band against him, is of the more consideration, for what he hath either judged or writ in Poetry; but his Leviathan, which he wrote in Prose, caused the Pen of a no less than a learned Bishop to write against him. He wrote a Preface to Davenant's Gondibert, where no wonder if Complement and friendly Compliance do a little byass and over-sway Judgment. His Latin Poem De Mirabilibus Pexi, wanteth not due Commendation. After many bustles in the world, he sequestred himself wholly to Malmsbury, where he died better inform'd (as I have heard) of the Deity, than in the former part of his life he seemeth to have been.
Earl of ROCHESTER.
This Earl for Poetical Wit, was accounted the chief of his time; his Numbers flowing with so smooth and accute a Strain, that had they been all confined within the bounds of Modesty, we might well affirm they were unparallel'd; yet was not his Muse altogether so loose, but that with his Mirth he mixed Seriousness, and had a knack at once to tickle the Fancy, and inform the Judgement. Take a taste of the fluency of his Muse, in the Poem which he wrote in Defence of Satyr.
When Shakespeare, Johnson, Fletcher rul'd the Stage,
They took so bold a freedom with the Age,
That there was scarce a Knave, or Fool in Town,
Of any note, but had his Picture shown;