Chapter Manley to Marlowe of M by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Manley to Marlowe

Manley, Mrs. Mary De La Riviere (1663 or 1672-1724).—Novelist, dramatist, and political writer, daughter of Sir Roger Manley, was decoyed into a bigamous connection with her cousin, John Manley Her subsequent career was one of highly dubious morality, but considerable literary success. Her principal works are The New Atalantis (sic) (1709), a satire in which great liberties were taken with Whig notabilities, Memoirs of Europe (1710), and Court Intrigues (1711). She also wrote three plays, The Royal Mischief, The Lost Lover, and Lucius, and conducted the Examiner. In her writings she makes great havoc with classical names and even with spelling. She was a vivacious and effective political writer.

Manning, Anne (1807-1879).—Miscellaneous writer. Her best known works are Mistress Mary Powell, which first appeared in Sharpe’s Magazine in 1849, and The Household of Sir Thomas More, a delightful picture of More’s home life told in the form of a diary written by his daughter Margaret. Her writings have much literary charm, and show a delicate historical imagination.

Manning, Henry Edward (1808-1892).—Cardinal and theologian. born at Totteridge, Herts, and educated at Harrow and Oxford, where he became notable as an eloquent preacher, and as one of the ablest of the Tractarian party. He was rector of Woollavington-cum-Graffham 1833, and Archdeacon of Chichester 1840. In 1851 he entered the Church of Rome, in which he attached himself to the Ultramontane party. More even than Newman he was the leading spirit of the Roman Church in England. His writings consist of sermons, of which he published several vols. before his secession from the Church of England, and controversial works, including Petri Privilegium (1871), The Vatican Decrees (1875), in answer to Gladstone’s Vaticanism, and The Eternal Priesthood (1883). He became Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster 1865, and Cardinal 1875.

Mannyng, Robert, or Robert De Brunne (flourished 1288-1338).—was a Canon of the Gilbertine Order. His work, Handlynge Sinne (c. 1300), translated with original additions from the Manuel des Péchés, a book written in French verse by William of Waddington, is practically a collection of tales and short stories on the Commandments, Seven Deadly Sins, Sacraments, etc., and is of value as giving a contemporary picture of the time. He also made (c. 1335) a translation in verse of the French Chronicle of Peter Langtoft, the second and more interesting part of which covers the period from the death of Cadwallader to the end of the reign of Edward I.

Mansel, Henry Longueville (1820-1871).—Metaphysician, son of a clergyman, was born at Cosgrave, Northamptonshire, and educated at Merchant Taylors’ School and Oxford He took orders, was Reader in Theology at Magdalen College 1855, Bampton Lecturer 1858, Professor of Ecclesiastical History 1867, and Dean of St. Paul’s 1869. Among his writings are Prolegomena Logica (1851), The Limits of Demonstrative Science (1853), Man’s Conception of Eternity (1854), Limits of Religious Thought (1858), Philosophy of the Conditioned (1866). He was also joint editor of Sir. W. Hamilton’s Lectures.

Map, Or Mapes, Walter De (flourished 1200).—Ecclesiastical statesman and romancist. Most of the facts about him are gleaned from his De Nugis Curialium (Of the Trifles of the Courtiers), a miscellany of contemporary notes and anecdotes, throwing much light on the manners and opinions of the Court of Henry II. He was born probably in Herefordshire, and had Celtic blood in his veins, his flourished had rendered service to the King, and he had studied at Paris, and on his return attended the Court, where he found favour, and obtained preferment both in Church and State, and in 1173 was a travelling justice. Thereafter he attended the King, probably as chaplain, on his foreign wars, represented him at the French Court, and went to Rome to the Lateran Council of 1179. After the death of Henry II. he seems to have continued in favour under Richard I. and John, and was Archdeacon of Oxford in 1196. Map is the reputed author of some at least of the Golias poems, rough satires on the vices of the clergy, but his great work, which has influenced the future of English literature, was his systematising and spiritualising the Arthurian legends with additions of his own, including the legends of Launcelot, of the Quest of the Holy Grail, and of the Morte d’ Arthur.

Markham, Gervase (1568?-1637).—Translator and miscellaneous writer, served as a soldier in the Low Countries and Ireland. Retiring into civil life about 1593 he displayed extraordinary industry as a translator,