CRASHAW, RICHARD, an English poet, the eon of the Rev, William Crsehaw, a divine of some note in his day, was born in London, but in what, year is uncertain. In early life he was placed, through the kindness of Sir Henry Yelverton and Sir Randolph Crew, upon the foundation at the Charterbouse, whence, in March 1032, he went to Pembroke-hall In Cambridge, and took the degree of B.A. in 1633. He afterwards went to Peterhouse, of which ho was a fellow In 1037, and became M.A. in 1638.
In 1034 he published a volume of Latin poems, mostly devotional, in which the celebrated line is fono4 upon the miracle at Cana in Galilee, which has been ascribed to other and greater poets than Crashaw " htympha padlea Deem Irtdit, et erubnit." "The modest water saw its God, and blushed." A second edition of his Latin poems was published at Cambridge, Svcs, 1670.
At what time Crashaw was admitted into holy orders is uncertain. Wood says he took degrees at Oxford in 1641 ; about which time be seems to have become a popular preacher, full of energy and enthusiaqm. His degrees however do not appear in the public register. In 1644, when the parliamentary army expelled those members of that uni versity who refused to take the covenant, Crashaw was among the number; and being unable to contemplate with resignation or indiffe rence the ruins of the church establishment, he went over to France, where his sufferings and their peculiar influence on his mind prepared him to embrace the Roman Catholic religion. In 1046 the poet
Cowley found Crashaw in France In great distress, and introduced him to the patronage of Charles I.'a queen, who gave him letters of recommendation to Italy : there he became secretary to one of the cardinals at Rome, and was made a canon in the church of Loretto, where he died of a fever, soon after his promotion, about the year 1650. Ms ' Steps to the Temple, Sacred Poems, with other Delights of the Nuns,' was published in 12mo, 1646; a second edition, 1648; and a third, also called second iu the title, 8vo,1670. Popo occasionally borrowed thoughts from Crashaw, but improved them. Crashaw resembled Herbert in his turn of mind, and possessed equal fancy and genius. In 1652 a posthumous volume of his poems was published at Paris, accompanied with vignettes by Messager, entitled Carmen Deo noatro, to decet Hyinnus—Sacred Poems, collected, corrected, augmented, most humbly presented to my Lady the Countease of Denbigh, by her most devoted servant R.C., in hearty acknowledge ment of his immortal] obligation to her goodness and charity,' 8vo. An edition of his English Poems, selected from the two volumes, was published In 12mo, London, 1785.