tures upon the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper," 1630, 4to. 4. " Nine-and-twenty Lectures of the Church, for the support of the same in these times," ibid. 1631, 4to.'

RANDAL (JOHN), music professor in the university of Cambridge, was probably a native of London, where he was born in 1715. He was brought up in the king's chapel, and was one of the children of that choir who first performed in Handel's oratorio of Esther, at the house of Bernard Gates, master of the boys in James-street, Westminster, on Wednesday, February 23, 1731, when it was performed in action, previous to its having been heard in public, or any where but at Cannons, the magnificent seat of the duke of Chandos, for whose chapel it was composed in 1720. Dr. Randal was never rated very high in his profession, but was regarded as a slight organ-player, and had never distinguished himself as a composer. He obtained his degree at the installation of the duke of Grafton in the university of Cambridge, for which he composed the ode written by Gray. To the astonishment of all the musical profession, he undertook to have this composition performed by the musicians resident in the university, without the expence of additional hands and voices from London, as Drs. Greens and Boyce had thought necessary on former occasions at Cambridge, and Dr. William Hayes at Oxford. As Dr. Randal's professional life was unmarked by talents, his death, which happened March 18, 1799, in the eightyfourth year of his age, was hardly noticed, except by the candidates for the professorship, and his organist's places. 2

RANDOLPH (THOMAS), a statesman in queen Elizabeth's reign, the son of Avery Randolph of Badlesmere in Kent, was born in that county in 1523. He was, according to his own account, a pupil of George Buchanan, but had his academical education at Christ Church, Oxford, then newly founded; where he took the degree of bachelor of law in 1547, about which time he was made a public notary. In Nov. 1549, he became principal of Broadgatehall (now Pembroke college), and continued in that office until 1553, when the persecution of the protestants under queen Mary, obliged him to retire to France. On the accession of queen Elizabeth, he came into high favour, and his talents recommended him to be employed in various embassies, particularly in Scotland during the commotions

Ath. Ox. vol. I.

By Dr. Burney in Rees's Cyclopædia.

there: he was sent thrice to queen Mary, and afterwards seven times to her son and successor James VI. We find him also several times supporting the same character at the courts of Russia and France. His first mission to Scotland, in 1561, had for its professed object to promote a mutual friendship between the two nations, and to endeavour that queen Mary, who had just lost her husband, Francis II. king of France, should not again marry a foreigner; but according to Sir James Melvil and others, his real business was to intrigue between the two parties which then divided Scotland, and rather to increase than allay their animosities. In this plan secretary Cecil was supposed to be the director, and Ran-. dolph the executor. By a letter published by Mr. Lodge, who says that Randolph was a man of "a dark intriguing spirit, full of cunning, and void of conscience," we learn that at one time he was confined in prison at Edinburgh; but probably for a short time, as the circumstance is not mentioned in any history. In Russia, to which he was sent in 1560, his conduct merits greater approbation, as in the following year, he brought to conclusion a commercial treaty highly advantageous to the English merchants, who were then enabled to establish the "Russia Company. His secretary on this embassy was George Turberville the poet, who has described the manners and customs of the Moscovites in some epistles to his friends, which are inserted in Hakluyt's voyages. In 1571, during one of his embassies to Scotland, he had the spirit to challenge Virac, the French ambassador in that kingdom, who had taken some liberties with queen Elizabeth's character and with his own.

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For all these services the queen is accused of having rewarded Mr. Randolph rather niggardly, having bestowed on him only the order of knighthood, the office of chamberlain of the exchequer, and that of postmaster, to neither of which last was much profit annexed, and a few small estates. Yet with these he is said to have been content, although he had a large family. He died at his house on St. Peter's hill, near Thames-street, London, June 8, 1590, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, and was buried in the church of St. Peter, Paul's wharf. In his latter days he appears to have lived retired, "setting his mind," as he expresses it," upon the heavenly country, and reconciling himself to the divine mercy by a timely repentance." Such likewise is the advice he gave to sir Francis Walsingham, whose sister he had married. He tells him, "how worthy,

yea, how necessary a thing it was, that they should at length bid farewell to the tricks, he of a secretary, and himself of an ambassador." Several of his letters and dispatches are in the Cotton collection in the British Museum, and among bishop More's books in the public library at Cambridge. Two of his letters were published by James Oliphant, among Buchanan's Letters, 1711, 8vo, and have been inserted since in the Leyden and Edinburgh edition of Buchanan's works, one to Buchanan himself, and the other to Peter Yonge, school-master to James VI. There are also some of his letters, instructions, and dispatches, printed in Strype's "Annals," Goodall's "Examination of the Letters said to be written by Mary queen of Scots," and in Robertson's "History of Scotland," &c.1

RANDOLPH (THOMAS), an English poet, was the son of a steward to Edward lord Zouch, and born in Northamptonshire (Wood says, at Newnham, near Daintry; Langbaine,at Houghton) June 15, 1605. He was educated at Westminster-school, whence, being a king's scholar, he was elected to Trinity college, Cambridge, in 1623. Here he obtained a fellowship, and afterwards commenced master of arts, in which degree he was incorporated at Oxford. Very early in life he gave proofs of good talents, and was not only esteemed and admired by the learned at the university, but grew in equal favour with the wits and poets of the metropolis. His learning, gaiety of humour, and readiness of repartee, gained him admirers, procured him admission in all companies, and especially recommended him to the intimacy and friendship of Ben Jonson, who admitted him as one of his adopted sons in the Muses, and held him in equal esteem with Cartwright.

As a dramatic writer, his turn was entirely to comedy; and Baker pronounces his language elegant, and his sentiments just and forcible; his characters for the most part, strongly drawn, and his satire well chosen and poignant ; and this critic also recommended the altering his pieces, so as to render them fit for the present stage, or at the least giving the world a correct and critical edition of them.

The dramatic pieces he has left behind him, five in number, were published in 1638, by his brother, Mr. Thomas Randolph, of Christ-church college, Oxford, along with his poems, some of which have considerable merit. Of

1 Biog. Brit.-Lodge's Illustrations,

his dramatic pieces, the "Muses' Looking-glass" is the most generally admired; in it there is great variety of characters of the passions and vices, drawn with much truth, and interspersed with many strokes of natural humour. A late critic thinks he has discovered in it the ground-work of the "Rehearsal," and similar satires. "The Looking-Glass" was about fifty years ago revived at Covent-garden theatre, and is reprinted in Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays. Had Randolph lived, it is thought he would have produced many more valuable pieces; but, as Antony Wood says, being somewhat addicted to libertine indulgences, in consequence of keeping too much company, and running into fashionable excesses with greater freedom than his constitution could bear, he assisted in shortening his own days, and died March 17, 1634, before he had completed the age of twenty-nine years, at the house of William Stafford, esq. of Blatherwyke iu Northamptonshire. He was buried, with the ancestors of the family of Stafford, in an aile adjoining to the church of that place, soon after which a monument of white marble was erected over his grave, at the charge of sir Christopher (afterwards lord) Hatton, of Kirby, with an inscription upon it, in Latin and English verse, written by our author's intimate friend Peter Hausted.'

RANDOLPH (THOMAS), archdeacon of Oxford, and president of Corpus Christi college, the son of Herbert Randolph, esq. recorder of the city of Canterbury, was born August 30, 1701. He received his school education at the king's school in Canterbury, then in great repute, under the rev. Mr. Jones. At the early age of fourteen, being then a good proficient in classical learning, he was elected into a county scholarship in Corpus Christi college, Oxford. There he entered upon a course of aca-, demical studies under the tuition of the rev. Mr. Smith, in which, as well in his whole conduct, he acquitted himself to the great satisfaction of those who were set over him; having in view throughout the sacred profession, to which he had been destined from his early youth. He proceeded regularly through the degree of B. A. to that of M. A. the latter in 1722. In 1724 he was ordained deacon, and in the following year priest. At the same time he entered

1 Biog. Brit. and Dram.—Cibber's Lives.-Ellis's Specimens.—Ath. Ox, vol, I, -Cens Lit. vol. I.-Europ. Mag. Jan. 1803, p. 17.

upon the duty of his profession, and undertook a cure at such a moderate distance from the university, as that he might discharge the duties of it, and not be obliged to give up his residence, and the farther prosecution of his studies there. This course of life he continued for a few years, and then returned to a more strict residence in the university; nor was he intent on his own improvement only, but occasionally took part in the education of others, and in the government of his college, in which he succeeded to a fellowship in 1723. He took the degree of B. D. in 1730, and that of D. D. in 1735. In the mean time his reputation as an able divine introduced him to the notice of Dr. Potter, then bishop of Oxford, who soon after his translation to Canterbury, collated Mm to the united vicarages of Perham and Waltham in Kent. He also shortly after recommended him to Dr. Rye, regius professor of divinity, as a person fit to act as his deputy, who appointed him accordingly. This appointment will appear the more honourable, as the divinity disputations are esteemed a trial of the skill and learning of the senior part of the university; and Dr. Randolph acquitted himself in such a manner, that on a vacancy for the professorship in 1741, his friends thought him amply qualified to succeed; but on this occasion the superior interest of Dr. Fanshaw carried the election; and Dr. Randolph retired to his liv ing of Perham.

F

About this time several bold and artful attacks were made upon the Christian religion, which drew forth many able answers from the divines of the church of England. Amongst other works published in favour of deism and infidelity, was that entitled "Christianity not founded on Argument;" which, from the singularity of its positions, attracted much notice. Dr. Randolph was encouraged by his patron, archbishop Potter, to try his strength in controversy in answer to this plausible writer; nor was the archbishop disappointed in the hopes he might form: Dr. Randolph's answer, entitled "The Christian's Faith a rational assent," 1744, was considered as a truly valuable acquisition, and met with a most favourable reception.

The archbishop, still continuing his patronage to Dr. Randolph, collated him, in 1746, to the rectory of Saltwood, with the chapel of Hythe annexed; his residence, however, still continued at Perham, until he was elected, without his knowledge, or any communication with the