Значение слова HERBERT в Литературной энциклопедии

HERBERT

1) of CHERBURY, EDWARD, 1ST LORD (1583-1648).-Philosopher and historian, was the eldest _s._ of Richard H., of Montgomery Castle, and was _b._ there or at Eyton, Shropshire. He was at Oxf., and while there, at the age of 16, he _m._ a kinswoman four years his senior, the _dau._ of Sir William H. Thereafter he returned to the Univ. and devoted himself to study, and to the practice of manly sports and accomplishments. At his coronation in 1603 James I. made him a Knight of the Bath, and in 1608 he went to the Continent, where for some years he was engaged in military and diplomatic affairs, not without his share of troubles. In 1624 he was _cr._ an Irish, and a few years later, an English, peer, as Baron H., of Cherbury. On the outbreak of the Civil War he sided, though somewhat half-heartedly, with the Royalists, but in 1644 he surrendered to the Parliament, received a pension, held various offices, and _d._ in 1648. It was in 1624 that he wrote his treatise, _De Veritate_, "An empirical theory of knowledge," in which truth is distinguished from (1) revelation, (2) the probable, (3) the possible, (4) the false. It is the first purely metaphysical work written by an Englishman, and gave rise to much controversy. It was reprinted in 1645, when the author added two treatises, _De Causis Errorum_ (concerning the Causes of Errors), and _De Religione Laici_ (concerning the Religion of a Layman). His other chief philosophical work was _De Religione Gentilium_ (1663), of which an English translation appeared in 1705, under the title of _The Ancient Religion of the Gentiles and Cause of their Errors considered_. It has been called "the charter of the Deists," and was intended to prove that "all religions recognise five main articles-(1) a Supreme God, (2) who ought to be worshipped, (3) that virtue and purity are the essence of that worship, (4) that sin should be repented of, and (5) rewards and punishments in a future state." Among his historical works are _Expeditio Buckinghamii Ducis_ (1656), a vindication of the Rochelle expedition, a _Life of Henry VIII._ (1649), extremely partial to the King, his _Autobiography_, which gives a brilliant picture of his contemporaries, and of the manners and events of his time, and a somewhat vainglorious account of himself and his doings. He was also the author of some poems of a metaphysical cast. On the whole his is one of the most shining and spirited figures of the time. Autobiography ed. by S. Lee (1886). Poems ed. by J. Churton Collins, etc. 2) HERBERT, GEORGE (1593-1633).-Poet, brother of above, was _ed._ at Westminster School and Trinity Coll., Camb., where he took his degree in 1616, and was public orator 1619-27. He became the friend of Sir H. Wotton, Donne, and Bacon, the last of whom is said to have held him in such high esteem as to submit his writings to him before publication. He acquired the favour of James I., who conferred upon him a sinecure worth L120 a year, and having powerful friends, he attached himself for some time to the Court in the hope of preferment. The death of two of his patrons, however, led him to change his views, and coming under the influence of Nicholas Ferrar, the quietist of Little Gidding, and of Laud, he took orders in 1626 and, after serving for a few years as prebendary of Layton Ecclesia, or Leighton Broomswold, he became in 1630 Rector of Bemerton, Wilts, where he passed the remainder of his life, discharging the duties of a parish priest with conscientious assiduity. His health, however, failed, and he _d._ in his 40th year. His chief works are _The Temple, or Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations_ (1634), _The Country Parson_ (1652), and _Jacula Prudentium_, a collection of pithy proverbial sayings, the two last in prose. Not _pub._ until the year after his death, _The Temple_ had immediate acceptance, 20,000 copies, according to I. Walton, who was H.'s biographer, having been sold in a few years. Among its admirers were Charles I., Cowper, and Coleridge. H. wrote some of the most exquisite sacred poetry in the language, although his style, influenced by Donne, is at times characterised by artificiality and conceits. He was an excellent classical scholar, and an accomplished musician. Works with _Life_ by Izaak Walton, ed. by Coleridge, 1846, etc. 3) HERBERT, SIR THOMAS (1606-1682).-Traveller and historian, belonged to an old Yorkshire family, studied at Oxf. and Camb., and went in connection with an embassy to Persia, of which, and of other Oriental countries, he _pub._ a description. On the outbreak of the Civil War he was a Parliamentarian, but was afterwards taken into the household of the King, to whom he became much attached, was latterly his only attendant, and was with him on the scaffold. At the Restoration he was made a Baronet, and in 1678 _pub._ _Threnodia Carolina_, an account of the last two years of the King's life.

Литературная энциклопедия. 2012