history of Hesse, and one called, De Originibus Germanicis. (Biog. Univ.) AYRTON, (Edmund, 1734-May 23, 1808,) an English composer, born at Ripon, in Yorkshire. He was originally intended for the church, but showing an early predilection for music, he was placed with Dr. Nares, the organist of the cathedral at York. At an early age he was elected organist, auditor, and rector-chori of the collegiate church o Southwell, in Nottinghamshire. In 1764, he quitted that place upon being appointed gentleman of the Chapel Royal; shortly after which he was installed vicar-choral of St. Paul's cathedral, and subsequently became one of the lay clerks of Westminster Abbey. In 1780, he was promoted, by bishop Lowth, upon the resignation of Dr. Nares, to the office of master of the children of the Royal Chapels. In 1784, the university of Cambridge conferred upon him the degree of Doctor in Music; and some time afterwards he was admitted ad eundem, in the university of Oxford. He was one of the assistant directors at the Commemoration of Handel, and filled the same situation at each succeeding performance. In 1805 he relinquished his appointment of master of the children, having been allowed for many years to execute the duties of all his other appointments by deputy. He was buried in the cloisters of Westminster abbey. He is considered to have been an excellent musician, of which his compositions for the church bear indubitable evidence. (Dict. of Mus.)

AYSCOUGH, (George Edward,) was the son of Dr. Ayscough, who was tutor to the first lord Lyttleton, and married his sister. He was a lieutenant in the foot-guards. He published a tragedy and a volume of travels, and edited the first lord Lyttleton's works. He died in 1779. He, and his cousin, the second lord Lyttleton, were equally notorious for their profligacy. (Nichol's Bowyer, vol. iii. p. 80. London Mag. 1766, p. 532. Doddridge's Letters, p. 321.)

AYSCOUGH, (Samuel, F. S. A.) a clergyman and assistant librarian of the British Museum. Of his early life and difficulties there is an interesting account by Mr. John Nichols, in the ninth volume of the Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century. In the year 1785, he was appointed to his office in the Museum, and in the same year entered into holy orders. The public are indebted to him for several very useful

indexes and catalogues; of which, those most deserving notice are, a Catalogue of the MSS. in the British Museum, which were collected by Sir Hans Sloane, and Dr. Thomas Birch, together with other MSS. deposited in the Museum, and not belonging to any of the great collections; an Index to the first fiftysix yearly volumes of the Gentleman's Magazine; a Concordance to the Plays of Shakspeare. These have all been printed. He prepared also a Catalogue of 16,000 deeds and other ancient documents, in the British Museum, and assisted in the preparation of the Catalogue of the Printed Books. His father was a tradesman at Nottingham, where the early years of his life were spent. In the church he had a little occasional duty in London, and in the year before his death, lord Eldon gave him the vicarage of Cudham, in Kent. He died at his apartments in the British Museum, October 30, 1804, at the age of fifty-eight.

AYSCUE, or AYSCOUGH, (Sir George,) a British admiral, renowned in the naval annals of his time. He was descended from an ancient family settled at South Kelsey, in Lincolnshire. His father was attached to the court of Charles the First, and served that illfated prince in the capacity of gentleman of the privy chamber. Entering at an early age the naval service of his sovereign, his peculiar quickness in the acquirement of nautical knowledge, added to the influence his father possessed at court, contributed much to his professional advancement. Out of com pliment to his respected parent, who, it would seem, had been held in high estimation by his royal master, George, the subject of the present memoir, as also Edward, his elder brother, received the honour of knighthood. Still, strange as it may appear, both brothers, upon the breaking out of the civil war, adhered to the parliament. An official appointment was bestowed on Sir Edward, who acted as one of the parliamentary commissioners+ employed in 1646, to treat with the Scots army; and Sir George was empowered by the usurping authorities, to retain command of the same ship he had held under the royal commission.

Possibly the canting and hypocritical

Ascough, commonly written Ayscue. Is it possible that Sir Edward Ascough offi ciated in this capacity, when the Scotch concluding a bargain with the English commissioners for a sum powerless prince? of money, delivered over the person of their

exhortations of the puritan party, working upon the pliant sensibilities or timid apprehensions of the senior knight, induced Sir Edward to renounce his allegiance and forsake his sovereign: but in Sir George, whose after deeds afford such ample proof of the full possession of all those open, straight-forward, and disinterested attributes which adorn the character of the British seaman, it does carry with it something like a contradiction in his noble nature, that he ever could have brought himself to desert the cause and colours of his king; for the English mariner holds it to be a crime of the deepest die, to refuse succour to a distressed or defenceless friend.

In 1648, when a feeling of discontent pervaded a considerable portion of the force afloat, and the crews of seventeen ships composing the fleet in the Downs, dismissing their newly-appointed parliamentary commanders, declared for the king, and set sail for Holland, purposely to receive and protect the sons of their persecuted sovereign, † Ayscue, intent upon securing his ship for the parliament, slipped from his moorings and ran

* Vide Memoir of Sir Thomas Allen.

+"Being supplied with provisions by the king's friends in Kent, the royal squadron proceeded to the Brill, and delivered it to the duke of York, whom the king had appointed high admiral of England. The prince of Wales, who had retired to Paris, where he resided with his mother, was no sooner informed of the incident, than he repaired to Helvoetsluys, and going on board the fleet, was received with loud acclamations. He sent his brother to the Hague, and set sail for England, in order to join and head the Scottish army, when it should enter that kingdom. Arriving at Yarmouth, the inhabitants refused him admittance, whereupon he directed his course to the river Thames, and took several rich vessels belonging to London, which were afterwards restored. Meanwhile the

earl of Warwick was despatched with a squadron in quest of the prince, and anchored his ships so near him in the river, that an engagement was thought inevitable. The prince of Wales was eager for battle, and had actually weighed in order to attack the earl; but the wind falling, and afterwards blowing full in his teeth, he could not exeeute his resolution. Warwick was reinforced, and the royal squadron being in want of provisions, young Charles was compelled to return to Helvoetsluys, whither the parliament fleet followed

him." (Clarendon.) The earl of Warwick, immediately on his arrival off the coast of Holland, sent to the States, insisting that they should oblige the ships which had revolted from the parliament of England, and taken refuge in their ports, to put to sea. This demand embarrassed the States, as they were not willing to break with the parliament, neither did they choose to expose the revolted fleet to the resentment of their pursuers: they at length determined not to comply with the English admiral's demand, and ordered all their naval force to sea, to prevent an engagement between the two squadrons. Warwick, finding that his menaces were of no avail, quitted the Dutch coast, and returned home. The command of the royal squadron, now reduced to fourteen ships, was given to prince Rupert, with which he carried on a piratical war, and after some time successfully cruizing

This

unmolested into the Thames.‡ move, at so critical a juncture, was deemed " an important service," and to mark the pleasure of the parliament, and the "confidence entertained of his fidelity," Sir George was at once despatched to the coast of Holland to watch the motions of his late associates.

Although the parliament became possessed of a formidable force, and though there was no lack of seamen in the fleet, still they were in want of officers to command them; most of the old naval and sea-bred commanders preferring to remain in exile, rather than serve under the new government. Hence the deficiency of seamen in command afloat; and the singular, though as the event proved, happy substitution of colonels of cavalry, and other military chiefs, to fight our fleets, and struggle for maritime supremacy. But unaided by nautical council, valour alone could not have worked such wonders on the waters. Ayscough, and subsequently Allen, with a few other seamen serving afloat, lent to their military superiors their practical experience, and in the business of battle, carried into effect every evolution and practised movement necessary to meet the skill and tactics of the foe. How else could men, ignorant of the common management and " working of a ship," have contended with an enemy, whose fleet was composed of practical seamen, competent to provide for the contingencies incidental to sea fight?

In 1649, Ayscue was declared admiral of the Irish seas, and directed to relieve Dublin, which, according to Whitlock, was a thing of the utmost consequence.' This, he very successfully performed, as also many other services, which induced them to continue him in that office for another year, in which time he did all, and even more than they expected; for which they honoured him with their

in the Channel, he retired into the port of Kingsale."

Eluding the vigilance of Blake, he departed this port, reached the Tagus in safety, then sailed for the West Indies, where his brother Maurice was shipwrecked in a hurricane. With his small remaining force, prince Rupert committed depredations on the commerce of Spain; and at length he proceeded to France, where he sold his prizes, together with the ships that remained of his fleet. We have thus early placed this note, because we are desirous to correct the erroneous statement which appears upon this subiect, in a work recently published.

In recording this notable achievement, Charnock says, "True to his trust, Sir George brought off his ship, the Lion, into the Thames." To a power usurping the authority of the throne, we see not the applicability of the expression, "true to

his trust.'

thanks, and assured him they would retain a suitable sense of what he had done in support of the English and protestant interest in that kingdom. In the beginning of the year 1651, he was sent, in conjunction with Blake, to reduce the Scilly Islands, which were garrisoned for Charles the Second, by a very considerable force, under Sir John Greenville. The joint commanders had but a small body of troops on board; and Sir John Greenville had a considerable force in the island of St. Mary, commanded by some of the best officers in the late king's army; so that if things had been decided by the sword, the dispute must have been both bloody and doubtful. Sir John, taking into account both his military and political position, deemed it prudent to enter into a treaty with general Blake and admiral Ayscue, who used him very honourably, and gave him fair conditions; after which Blake returned to England, and Ayscue prepared a squadron destined for the West Indies, in order to reduce such of the settlements as had declared for the king. The parliament, when they first heard of the reduction of Scilly, were extremely well pleased, as indeed with good reason, since privateers from St. Mary's did so much mischief, that scarcely any trade could be carried on with tolerable security; but when the conditions were known, some of the parliamentary leaders changed their opinions, and gave Blake to understand, that he and his colleague had been too forward; so that it was doubtful whether the parliament would ratify this agreement. Blake said, that if they had given Sir John Greenville good conditions, they had not done it without good reason; that in the first place, it saved the effusion of English blood; and next, that there was a strong squadron of Dutch ships at no great distance, the commander of which had offered Sir John 100,000l. to put these islands into his hands; that if the parliament did not approve of his conduct, he should be sorry for it, and would take care to prevent a mistake of that sort for the future, by laying down his commission, as he was confident Sir George Ayscue would likewise do. Upon this there was no more said of the articles, which were very punctually and honourably complied with, and Sir George received orders to sail immediately to the West Indies, for the express purpose of reducing the island of Barbadoes."

• Lansdown's Prose Works.

He arrived at Carlisle Bay (Barbadoes) on the 16th of October, 1651. The force of Ayscue was indeed inconsiderable, compared with that on the island. The governor, Francis Lord Willoughby, of Parham, was a man of sound sense, well beloved, and had assembled a body of nearly 5000 men to oppose him. In spite of the many difficulties which presented themselves, Ayscue determined to do his utmost to reduce the island; and how well he succeeded, will be seen by the following account of general Ludlow. "Sir George," says the general, "opened a passage into the harbour," (quere bay,) "by firing some great shot, and then seized upon twelve of their ships without opposition; the next day he sent a summons to the lord Willoughby to submit to the authority of the parliament of England; but he, (the governor,) not acknowledging any such power, declared his resolution to keep the island for the king's service. But the news of the defeat of the Scots and their king at Worcester, being brought to Sir George Ayscue, together with an intercepted letter from the lady Willoughby, containing the same account, he summoned him a second time, and accompanied his summons with the lady's letter, to assure him of the truth of that report. But the lord Willoughby relying on his numbers, and the fewness of those that were sent to reduce him, being in all but fifteen sail, returned an answer of the like substance with the former. Whereupon Sir George Ayscue sent two hundred men on shore, commanded by captain Morrice, to attack a quarter of the enemy's that lay by the harbour, which they executed successfully, by taking the fort, and about forty prisoners, with four pieces of cannon, which they nailed up, (spiked,) and returned on board again.

"At this time," continues Ludlow, "the Virginia fleet arriving at Barbadoes, it was thought fit to send a third summons to the lord Willoughby; but finding that neither this, nor the declaration sent by the commissioners of parliament to the same purpose, produced any effect, Sir George Ayscue landed 700 men from his own, and the Virginia fleet, giving the command of them to the same captain Morrice, who fell upon 1300 of the enemy's foot, and three troops of their horse, and beat them from their works, killing many of their men, and taking about 100 prisoners, with all their arms.

The loss on our side was inconsiderable, few of ours being killed, and not above thirty wounded. Yet these successes were not sufficient to accomplish the work, there being above 5000 horse and foot in the island, and the Virginia fleet preparing to depart for want of provisions.

"In this conjuncture, colonel Mudiford, who commanded a regiment in the island, by ineans of a friend that he had in the fleet, made his terms, and declared for the parliament. Many of his friends, following his example, did the like, and in conjunction with him encamped under the protection of Ayscue. Upon this most part of the island were inclined to join us; but the lord Willoughby prevented them, by placing guards on all the avenues to our camp, and designed to charge our men with his body of horse, wherein he was much superior to them, had not a cannon-ball, that was fired at random, beat open the door of a room where he and his council of war were sitting, which, taking off the head of the sentinel who was placed at the door, so alarmed them all, that he changed his design, and retreated to a place two miles distant from the harbour, (anchorage.) Our party, consisting of 2000 foot, and 100 horse, advancing towards him, he desired to treat; which being accepted, colonel Mudiford, colonel Collyton, Mr. Searl, and captain Pack, were appointed commissioners by sir George Ayscue; and by the lord Willoughby, sir Richard Pierce, Mr. Charles Pym, colonel Ellis, and major Byam.

By this treaty "it was concluded, that the islands of Nevis, Antigua, and St. Christopher's, should be surrendered to the parliament of England; that the lord Willoughby, colonel Walroud, and others, should be restored to their estates; and that the inhabitants of the said isles should be maintained in the quiet enjoyment of what they possessed, on condition they attempted nothing to the prejudice of the Commonwealth." (Ludlow's Memoirs.)

For these conditions, it was supposed, Ayscue was never forgiven by his masters at home. † While he lay at Barbadoes, he sent a few ships, under captain Dennis, to reduce Virginia, which with some trouble he effected. Sir

By another authority we collect, that colonel Allen, and between thirty and forty men were killed.

Whitlock. Heath's Chronicles. Manley's History of the Rebellion.

George likewise subdued the Leeward Islands; and having thus thoroughly fulfilled his commission, he returned to Europe, when he found the Dutch war had already broken out. Such was the posture of naval affairs, and such the exigencies of the state, that foul, and out of condition as his ships were, he put to sea shortly after his arrival in England. During this cruize he fell in with the St. Ubes fleet, consisting of forty sail, out of which he took, burnt, and destroyed, thirty. Having returned from this successful cruize, Van Tromp, the Dutch admiral, receiving intelligence of Sir George being in the Downs with a small squadron, meditated his total destruction. To this end he detached a considerable force, both to the southward and northward, to prevent his escape, and then prepared to attack Ayscue with no less than forty ships. But such were the preparations made by the British admiral both afloat and ashore, that Van Tromp, upon viewing his position, thought proper to decline the attempt, and sailed northward in search of Blake.

66

Sir George, being reinforced, pro-. ceeded to the southward, and when in the vicinity of Plymouth, fell in with the Dutch fleet under De Ruyter, convoying a fleet of merchant ships outward bound. An action immediately took place, and ended, as all authorities admit, only with the night. The result of the battle, as well as the forces of the two contending fleets, are variously related by different historians. It is stated in the Life of De Ruyter, which, as Charnock observes, was intended as a panegyric, and published immediately after his decease," that De Ruyter's squadron consisted of fifty men-of-war; and advice of their arrival (the Dutch) off the back of the Isle of Wight, being brought to the pretended parliament of England, sir George Ayscue, who then commanded a fleet of forty men-of-war in the west, was ordered to stretch over the channel to hinder, or, at least, dispute their passage. Accordingly, on the 6th of August, 1652, the two fleets came in sight, and about four in the afternoon, to blows, and here continued a sharp fight, bravely maintained on both sides, till, separated by night, both lay by.

Clarendon, Rapin, Whitlocke, and Lediard, all vary in their several versions

We here agree with Charnock, "Historians are not very clear in their accounts, whether this event took place at this time, or after his return from the Downs."

of this drawn battle. Amidst so many different accounts, some of them almost contradictory to each other, and others fraught with fiction, and palpable absurdity," ," it becomes impossible to develop the truth. It may, however, be fairly inferred, that as the superiority in point of force was on the side of the Dutch, so was the loss also in the same proportion; notwithstanding, the gallantry and tactics of the brave De Ruyter enabled him to effect his grand object, and carry off his convoy in safety.

The spirit and ability exhibited by sir George in this action, were not, as it has been well observed, "sufficient to preserve to him the confidence of his new masters." They were, as already stated, offended at his lenity to sir John Greenville at Scilly, and to lord Willoughby at Barbadoes. These furious republicans would be content with nothing short of unconditional submission from a royalist. Generosity to a vanquished opponent was with them a crime of the blackest dye. They therefore thought proper to dismiss Ayscue from his command under the shallow, though common democratical pretence, that he had not been so victorious as he ought to have been. Yet, notwithstanding the spleen they certainly bore his generous conduct, they possessed not courage enough to gratify their malice to the full extent of their wishes, but were pleased to grant him as a douceur, or palliative to his dismission, a pension of 300l. a year in Ireland, and the sum of 300l. in money. From this time, says Charnock, sir George continued to live privately, not taking any command at home, during the protectorate. One of Cromwell's last projects was, that of prevailing on Ascough to go over to Sweden to command the fleet of Charles Gustavus, who had ever been in the strictest alliance with him, and was now threatened by the Danes and Dutch. But, owing to the delays at home, the fleet sent under the command of vice - admiral Goodson was prevented by the ice from entering the Baltic. Sir George proceeded to Sweden by land; and, as he was received, so he continued to live in the highest estimation and favour with the king to the time of his death, which happened early in the year 1660. Returning to England soon after the restoration, he was ap

• Charnock.

At this period Oliver died; the project was, however, pursued by his successor, Richard.

pointed commissioner of the navy, and on the commencement of the Dutch war in 1664, rear-admiral of the blue. In that station, he served in the memorable battle of the 3d of June, having hoisted his flag on board the Henry; and on the duke of York's quitting the fleet, was promoted to be vice-admiral of the red under the earl of Sandwich, who carried the standard, as admiral of the fleet. He subsequently attained the rank of admiral of the blue, and served in that capacity in the battle with the Dutch, which began on the 1st of June, 1666. During the first two days of the action, sir George, as he ever did when contending with the enemy, "behaved with the utmost gallantry; but, unfortunately, on the third, while endeavouring to form a junction with prince Rupert, and his squadron, who was hastening to the assistance of the English fleet, then hard pressed by the Dutch, he struck on the Galloper Shoal, when, after a considerable time defending his ship with the utmost bravery against a host of enemies, he was at length compelled-his men refusing to fight longer-to surrender; and the Dutch being unable to get their conquest off, set her on fire, previously removing her crew. The Dutch, insulting those whom they had conquered, paraded their captive through their whole country, and afterwards shut him up in the castle of Louvestein. When he returned to England, he was received in the most gracious manner by the king,§ and most affectionately by the people. But after the misfortune he had met with, declining going to sea any more, he continued, concludes Charnock, "to live privately, and in so great a degree, that it is not with any certainty known at what time he died."

AYTA, (Van Zuichem Viglius d',) a lawyer of Holland, was born in Friesland in 1507, and studied at the university of Louvaine. In 1544, and in subsequent years, he was employed by Charles V. on several important missions and embassies. He died in 1577. He wrote some works on the civil law. (Biog. Univ.)

AYUB BEN HABID, the successor of Abdelaris in the viceregal government of Spain, was the nephew of Musa. His family was hateful to the khalifs,

100 guns, the heaviest and largest ship in the whole His flag was then flying in the Royal Prince of

fleet.

§ Ayscough was not released from his confinement till the end of October, 1667. He arrived in London, and was introduced to the king on the 12th of November following.