Chapter Cædmon to Calverley of C by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Cædmon to Calverley

Cædmon (died 680).—The first English poet of whom we have any knowledge. Originally employed as cowherd at the Abbey of Whitby, he became a singer when somewhat advanced in life. The story of how the gift of song came to him is given by Bede, how having fallen asleep in the stable he dreamed that one came to him desiring a song, and on his asking “What shall I sing?” replied “Sing to me of the beginning of created things.” Therefore he began to sing and, on awaking, remembered his song and added to it. Thereafter he told what had befallen him to the bailiff who was over him, who repeated the tale to the Abbess Hilda. She having called together certain learned and pious persons, Cædmon was brought before them, told his story, and recited his verses. A part of Scripture was read to him, which he was asked to turn into verse; and this being done he was received into the Abbey where, for the rest of his life, he lived as a monk, and continued to make his holy songs. Much that was formerly attributed to Cædmon is now held to be of later date. All that is known to be his is a Northumbrian version of Bede’s Latin paraphrases of Cædmon’s first song: although by some the authorship of “The Dream of the Holy Rood,” and of a fragment on “The Temptation and Fall of Man” is claimed for him.

English Literature from Beginning to Norman Conquest, Stopford Brooke (1898), and History of Early English Literature, by the same (1892).

Caird, Edward (1835-1908).—Philosopher, younger brother of John Caird (q.v.), was born at Greenock, and educated at Glasgow and Oxford, where he became Fellow and Tutor of Merton College In 1866 he was appointed to the Chair of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow, which he held until 1893, when he became Master of Balliol Coll., from which he retired in 1907. He has written Critical Philosophy of Kant (1877), Hegel (1883), Evolution of Religion, Social Philosophy and Religion of Comte (1885), Evolution of Theology in the Greek Philosophers (1904).

Caird, John (1820-1898).—Theologian, born at Greenock, and educated at Glasgow, entered the Church of Scotland, of which he became one of the most eloquent preachers. After being a minister in the country and in Edinburgh, he was translated to Glasgow, becoming in 1862 Professor of Divinity in the University of that city, and in 1873 Principal. A sermon on Religion in Common Life, preached before Queen Victoria, made him known throughout the Protestant world. He wrote an Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion (1880), and a vol. on Spinoza (1888).

Calamy, Edmund (1600-1666).—Puritan Divine, born in London, and educated at Cambridge, was one of the principal authors of a famous controversial work bearing the title Smectymnuus, made up of the initials of the various writers, and published in 1641 in reply to Bishop Hall’s Divine Right of Episcopacy. His other chief work is The Godly Man’s Ark. A Presbyterian, he was a supporter of monarchy, and favoured the Restoration, after which he was offered, but declined, the see of Coventry and Lichfield. He was a member of the Savoy Conference. The passing of the Act of Uniformity led to his retiring from ministerial work. He is said to have died of melancholy caused by the great fire of London.

Calderwood, David (1575-1650).—Scottish Church historian, belonged to a good family, and about 1604 became minister of Crailing, Roxburghshire. Opposing the designs of James VI. for setting up Episcopacy, he was imprisoned 1617, and afterwards had to betake himself to Holland, where his controversial work, Altare Damascenum, against Episcopacy, was published In 1625 he returned to Scotland, and began his great work, The Historie of the Kirk of Scotland, which was published in an abridged form (1646). The complete work was printed (1841-49) for the Woodrow Society. Calderwood became minister of Pencaitland, East Lothian, about 1640, and was one of those appointed to draw up The Directory for Public Worship in Scotland.

Calverley, Charles Stuart (1831-1884).—Poet and translator, son of the Rev. H. Blayds (who assumed the name of Calverley), was educated at Harrow, Oxford, and Cambridge He was called to the Bar in 1865, and appeared to have a brilliant career before him, when a fall on the ice in 1866 changed him from a distinguished athlete to a life-long invalid. Brilliant as a scholar, a musician, and a talker, he is perhaps best known as one of the greatest of parodists. He published Verses and Translations (1862), and Fly-leaves (1872). He also translated Theocritus (1869).