Chapter Bradley to Brome of B by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Bradley to Brome

Bradley, Edward (1827-1889).—Novelist, was a clergyman. He wrote under the name of “Cuthbert Bede” a few novels and tales, Fairy Fables (1858), Glencraggan (1861), Fotheringhay (1885), etc.; but his most popular book was Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, which had great vogue.

Bradwardine, Thomas (1290?-1349).—Theologian, was at Oxford, where he became Professor of Divinity and Chancellor, and afterwards Chaplain to Edward III., whom he attended in his French wars. He was twice elected Archbishop of Canterbury by the monks, and on the second occasion accepted, but died of the plague within 40 days. He wrote on geometry, but his great work was De Causa Dei (on the Cause of God against Pelagius), in which he treated theology mathematically, and which earned for him from the Pope the title of the Profound Doctor.

Braithwaite, or Brathwaite, Richard (1588-1673).—Poet, born near Kendal, and educated at Oxford, is believed to have served with the Royalist army in the Civil War. He was the author of many works of very unequal merit, of which the best known is Drunken Barnaby’s Four Journeys, which records his pilgrimages through England in rhymed Latin (said by Southey to be the best of modern times), and doggerel English verse. The English Gentleman (1631) and English Gentlewoman are in a much more decorous strain. Other works are The Golden Fleece (1611) (poems), The Poet’s Willow, A Strappado for the Devil (a satire), and Art Asleepe, Husband?

Bramston, James (circa 1694-1744).—Satirist, educated at Westminster School and Oxford, took orders and was latterly Vicar of Hastings. His poems are The Art of Politics (1729), in imitation of Horace, and The Man of Taste (1733), in imitation of Pope. He also parodied Phillips’s Splendid Shilling in The Crooked Sixpence. His verses have some liveliness.

Bray, Anna Eliza (1790-1883).—Novelist, daughter of Mr. J. Kempe, was married first to C. A. Stothard, son of the famous R.A., and himself an artist, and secondly to the Rev. E. A. Bray. She wrote about a dozen novels, chiefly historical, and The Borders of the Tamar and Tavy (1836), an account of the traditions and superstitions of the neighbourhood of Tavistock in the form of letters to Southey, of whom she was a great friend. This is probably the most valuable of her writings. Among her works are Branded, Good St. Louis and his Times, Trelawney, and White Hoods.

Breton, Nicholas (1545-1626).—Poet and novelist. Little is known of his life. He was the son of William Breton, a London merchant, was perhaps at Oxford, and was a rather prolific author of considerable versatility and gift. Among his poetical works are A Floorish upon Fancie, Pasquil’s Mad-cappe (1626), The Soul’s Heavenly Exercise, and The Passionate Shepherd. In prose he wrote Wit’s Trenchmour, The Wil of Wit (1599), A Mad World, my Masters, Adventures of Two Excellent Princes, Grimello’s Fortunes (1604), Strange News out of Divers Countries (1622), etc. His mother married E. Gascoigne, the poet (q.v.). His lyrics are pure and fresh, and his romances, though full of conceits, are pleasant reading, remarkably free from grossness.

Brewster, Sir David (1781-1868).—Man of science and writer, born at Jedburgh, originally intended to enter the Church, of which, after a distinguished course at the University of Edinburgh, he became a licentiate. Circumstances, however, led him to devote himself to science, of which he was one of the most brilliant ornaments of his day, especially in the department of optics, in which he made many discoveries. He maintained his habits of investigation and composition to the very end of his long life, during which he received almost every kind of honorary distinction open to a man of science. He also made many important contributions to literature, including a Life of Newton (1831), The Martyrs of Science (1841), More Worlds than One (1854), and Letters on Natural Magic addressed to Sir W. Scott, and he also edited, in addition to various scientific journals, The Edinburgh Encyclopœdia (1807-29). He likewise held the offices successively of Principal of the United College of St. Salvator and St. Leonard, St. Andrews (1838), and of the University of Edinburgh (1859). He was knighted in 1831. Of high-strung and nervous temperament, he was somewhat irritable in matters of controversy; but he was repeatedly subjected to serious provocation. He was a man of highly honourable and fervently religious character.