ALLESTRY, RICHARD, D. D. was born at Upping ton, in Shropshire, A. D. 1619 ; and in the course of his life, was distinguished by his zeal and activity in the service of Charles 1., as well as his attachment to the calmer pursuits of philosophy and literature. Having received a part of his education at the grammar-school of Coventry, he was removed to Christ-church, Oxford, where he continued for some time under the tuition of Busby, afterwards the celebrated master of Westminster school. Ilis diligent application to study, and the ob vious tendency of his political principles, which he never scrupled to declare, sufficiently account. for his rapid promotion in the university and in the church. He had no sooner taken his degree as a bachelor of arts, than he was chosen moderator in philosophy : and after the re storation of Charles II. he was appointed one of the canons of Christ-church, created a doctor in divinity, made a chaplain to the king, regius professor, of theolo gy, and finally provost of Eton college, A. D. 1665. But in the earlier part of his life, the course of his studif s was interrupted by the unhappy differences which took place between Charles 1. and the people of England ; and he was called to military serlice by the hostile oc currences of the times, while he was prompted to it by the natural warmth of his disposition. Accordingly he laid aside the gown in the year 1641 ; and joining with other students from Oxford, whose prim iples were simi lar to his own, he entered the royal army. In this he w occupation, he gave eminent proofs of his courage and zeal. Ile was permitted, however, in consequence of a suspension of hostilities, and the friendship of Sir John Biron, to return to his literary pursuits. Of these in deed he had never lost sight ; for it is recorded of him, that be often appeared with a musket in the one hand, and a book in the other ; relieving the fatigue of mili tary duty with the consolations of philosophy, and at tending to the improvenint of his mind in the intervals of more active exertion. After his return to Oxford, the parliamentary forces entered the city and attempted to plunder the colleges. They seized ninny valuable arti cles, and locked them in an apartment of the deanery, with a view to remove them \slum they should leave the town ; but Allestry, having procured the key of the apartment, found means to convey them to another place, so that the republicans searched for them without effect. About this time a fatal disease visited the garrison of Oxford, and Allestry very narrowly escaped with his life. Full of zeal, however, he joined the students who,
had volunteered in the service of the king, being con tented with the rank of a private soldier ; and when the republican arms at length prevailed, he still adhered to his principles, though his activity was repressed by the influence of the ascendent power. Ile was expelled from his college by the parliamentary visitants on account of his attachment to royalty : a late, which Locke, in another cause, and for an attachment of a different nature, after wards experienced. (Fo..t 's Hist, of James II. .lppend.) In his retirement, Allestry found an asylum in the house of Francis Newport, a gentleman of Shropshire, in whose family he officiated as chaplain ; tilt, quitting Newport, lie was received by Sir Anthony' Cope, of Ox fordshire, in the same capacity. Ilis talents and fidelity, however, being generally known, he was employed in concerting measures for the restoration of Charles II. As he was returning from an interview with the king, he was seized at Dover, and committed a prisoner to Lambeth-house.: but in a few weeks, and at the instance of the earl of Shaftesbury, he obtained his release. Im mediately after his enlargement, he proposed to visit his friend Dr Hammond in Worcestershire ; and ap proaching the place where lie lived, he discovered his funeral procession, at the appearance of which lie re tired in much distress. Hammond left hint his books, which were given to hint because the testator knew, " that in his hands they would be useful weapons for the defence of the cause which he had so vigorously sup ported." In the subsequent life of Allestry, there is nothing very remarkable. After the government was settled in favour of the king, he basked for a while in the sunshine of preferment, and died in 1681, loaded with honours, and in the full possession of plenty and ease. He was zealous and faithful in his political attachments : in literature, he was conspicuous athong others who were themselves not much distinguished for their intellectual attainments ; but he was by no means entitled to the ex travagant and unqualified praise which his biographers, with inconsiderate profuseness, have heaped upon him. The utmost that can be said of his Forty Sermons is, " that they do not discredit the author." Ile was a mu nificent benefactor to Eton college, to which lie be queathed his library ; and he introduced some arrange ments among the fellowships, which are said to have been very advantageous. Allestry's Sermons, Life, Pref.
Biog. B•itan, .1rt. .111estry. (h)