Chapter Fielding to Flecknoe of F by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

extraordinarily successful. In the department of letter-writing also he attained an excellence perhaps unequalled in his day.

Fitzstephen, William (died 1190).—w as a servant of Thomas á Becket, witnessed his murder, and wrote his biography, which contains an interesting account of London in the 12th century.

Flavel, John (1627-1691).—Divine, born at Bromsgrove, studied at Oxford, was a Presbyterian, and was settled at Dartmouth, but ejected from his living in 1662, continuing, however, to preach there secretly. He was a voluminous and popular author. Among his works are Husbandry Spiritualised and Navigation Spiritualised, titles which suggest some of his characteristics as an expositor.

Flecknoe, Richard (died 1678).—Poet, said to have been an Irish priest. He wrote several plays, now forgotten, also miscellaneous poems, some of them sacred, and a book of travels. His name has been preserved in Dryden’s satire, MacFlecknoe, as “throughout the realms of nonsense absolute;” but according to some authorities his slighter pieces were not wanting in grace and fancy.