"English Puritanism," 1605, an abstract of which is to be found in Neal's History of the Puritans. Besides that work he wrote a "Treatise on Justification," and "A Plaine and Pithy Esposisition of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians."—J. S., G.
BRADSTREET, Simon, one of the early governors of the colony of Massachusetts, was born at Horbling, a small village near Folkingham, Lincolnshire, England, in March, 1603. His father, a nonconformist minister, was a fellow of Emanuel college, and much esteemed for his piety and learning. In several positions which he occupied, the son was thrown much into the company of those who were then proposing to emigrate to New England, and, after marrying Anne Dudley in 1628, he decided to join them. He arrived at Salem, in Winthrop's company, in June, 1630, was present at the first general court held at Charleston, in August of the same year, and was there elected an assistant and secretary of the colony, which office he held for fourteen years. When the New England colonies formed their memorable confederation for mutual defence in 1643, Mr. Bradstreet was appointed one of the two commissioners on the part of Massachusetts, and took an active part in all thier proceedings. After the Restoration, when the colony were in a fever of apprehension lest Charles II. should take away their charter and their privileges, he drew up the address and report defending both, and was sent to England, with Mr. Norton, to make the best terms they could with the monarch. He showed much prudence and address in this delicate office, and brought back a letter from the king, which he maintained was really favourable to Massachusetts, though the more resolute puritans were dissatisfied with it, and censured his conduct as compromising the honour and rights of the colony. Also, when the royal commissioners arrived in 1665, he advised a quiet compliance with their demands, instead of the stiff-necked course actually adopted. In 1673 he was chosen deputy-governor, and was re-elected for six successive years. Then, in 1679, at the age of seventy-six he was first chosen governor, having previously served as an assistant for fifty successive years. To this high office he was annually re-elected till May, 1686, when the charter was dissolved; and then, though nominated first of the seventeen councillors who were to act under Dudley, the first royal president, he nobly refused to serve. The tyranny of Audros followed, grievous but short; and when, on the news arriving of the revolution of 1688, the people of Boston and the vicinity, without waiting for authority from England, rose in arms, and required Audros immediately to give up the government and the fortifications; the venerable Bradstreet was at their head, and Massachusetts once more coming together in general court, chose him governor again. And "the Nestor of New England," as he was fitly termed, was annually re-elected to this office till May, 1692, when Sir William Phips arrived with a new charter, which no longer allowed the people to choose their own chief magistrate. Still he was nominated as senior councillor under the new government; but he refused to serve, and retired to Salem to await the long-deferred summons to meet the Master whom he had so long served on earth. He died at Salem, March 27, 1697, in the ninety-fifth year of his age.
BRADWARDIN or BREDWARDINE, Thomas, surnamed the Profound Doctor, an eminent English schoolman, born in the diocese of Chichester of an ancient family, deriving its name from Bredwardine, a village or camp on the river Wye. The date of his birth is uncertain, but as he was proctor in the university of Oxford in 1325, it could not have been later than the middle of the reign of Edward I. At Merton college where he graduated, he became professor of divinity, holding in conjunction with that office the chancellorship of the university. Resigning both these dignities, he was appointed chaplain to the famous bishop of Durham, Richard de Bury, and subsequently became chancellor of the diocese of London, prebendary of Lincoln, and chaplain and confessor to Edward III. This victorious monarch he attended in his French wars, influencing his councils to a remarkable degree by the candid exercise of the functions which belonged to a confessor in the times of chivalry, if not, as is pretended by contemporary writers, directly influencing his fortunes by virtues and piety, which could not belong to the chaplain without prospering the king. On the death of Stratford, archbishop of Canterbury, he was elevated to that see; but the king refused to ratify the election, observing that "he could very ill spare so worthy a man to be from him, and he never could perceive that he himself wished to be spared." The see being again vacant within the year, however, Bradwardin was consecrated at Avignon in 1349. Shortly after his return to England he fell a victim to the plague. The work which procured for him from the reigning pope the appellation of the Profound Doctor, is his "De Causa Dei," a digest of his lectures at Oxford, edited by Sir Henry Savile in 1618. It is directed against the Pelagians. His other published works are—"Geometria Speculativa," &c., Paris, 1495; "De Proportionibus," Paris, 1495; "De Quadratura Circuli," Paris, 1495.—J. S., G.
BRADY, Nicholas, D.D., an Irish divine, who, in connection with his fellow-countryman, Nahum Tate, composed the metrical version of the psalms now in use in the church of England. He was the son of Major Nicholas Brady, a descendant of Hugh Brady, first protestant bishop of Meath, and was born at Bandon, in the county of Cork, on the 28th October, 1659. He received his early education in England, but obtained his degrees in Trinity college, Dublin. He obtained preferments in Ireland, and being a firm adherent of the Orange party, he was sent with an address to William III. on his accession to the throne. Remaining in London, he obtained some good livings, and became successively chaplain to the king and queen, Queen Anne, and the prince of Wales; and though he was in receipt of a large income, he contrived to spend it, and was obliged to keep school at Richmond to eke out his means. He died on the 20th May, 1726. He translated the Æneid of Virgil, a performance now neither read nor known; published some volumes of heavy sermons, of which the same may be said; and wrote some dramas and a tragedy which were not devoid of merit, and had reasonable success, though the subject and its treatment were rather strange for a divine. Brady and his works would have long passed from the memory of mankind, but for the happy chances that have floated them down the stream of time in the poor composition to be found appended to the book of Common Prayer.—J. F. W.
BRADY, Rev. Philip, a clergyman of the county Cavan in Ireland. He lived in the beginning of the eighteenth century, and was a man of great wit, a good scholar, and particularly versed in the language of his country. He composed several poems, and translated some English works into the Irish language.—J. F. W.
BRAGANZA, the dukes of, took their title from Braganza, the chief town of the Portuguese province of Traz-os-Montes. The following are the more remarkable of these princes:—Alfonso, illegitimate son of John I., king of Portugal, created duke of Braganza in 1442 during the minority of Alfonso V. His brother, Peter, duke of Coimbra, regent of the kingdom, led by his arts into a quarrel with the young king, fell by the hand of his sovereign in 1449. Died in 1461.—Ferdinand II., third duke, decapitated as a traitor in 1483 by his brother-in-law. King John II.—James, fourth duke, eldest son of the preceding, was restored to the dukedom by King Emmanuel; and, as a further proof of his sovereign's favour, in 1489 nominated his successor.—J. S., G.
BRAGANZA, John I. and John IV. of. See John.
BRAHAM, John, the celebrated singer, was born in London of Jewish parents in 1774. He was left an orphan at an early age, and in such humble circumstances that it is said he sold pencils about the streets. However, he was still very young when he became the pupil of Leoni, an Italian singer of celebrity; and his first appearance on the public stage was at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, April 21, 1787, for the benefit of his master. In the bill it is announced—"At the end of Act i., 'The Soldier Tired of War's Alarms,' by Master Braham, being his first appearance on any stage." When the well-known John Palmer opened the Royalty theatre, at the close of the same year. Master Braham formed part of his corps, and performed in a burletta composed by John Carter, the author of "Oh, Nanny!" "Stand to your Guns," &c., and entitled "the Birthday, or the Arcadian Conquest." The locale of his debut was not the most favourable to rising musical talent: neither the titled patron nor the accomplished virtuoso frequented the ultima Thule of Wellclose Square. Nevertheless the fame of the wonderful boy who was singing at the Royalty, the astonishing pupil of Leoni, spread itself even into the western regions, and drew many gentle auditors from their usual routine to the humbler scenes of his surprising efforts. About the period when young Brahams voice broke, his master Leoni was compelled, through pecuniary embarrassment, to quit England, and leave the young
