(Richard, D.D.) an eminent divine, born at Uppington in Shropshire in March 1619, was educated in the grammar-school at Coventry, and afterwards at Christ-church in Oxford. His parts, which were extraordinary, were improved by a no less extraordinary industry. He took up arms for king Charles I., and was sometimes seen with his musket in one hand and his book in the other. He was very active in the service of king Charles II. before his restoration, and was employed by the royalists in transacting business with that prince during his exile; but was at last seized at Dover by a party of soldiers, and committed prisoner to Lambeth-house, where he was confined five or eight weeks; but soon after the restoration he was made canon of Christ-church, created doctor of divinity, and appointed chaplain in ordinary to the king, and regius professor of divinity. In 1665 he was appointed provost of Eton college, where he raised the school, which he found in a low condition, to an uncommon pitch of reputation. The west side of the outward quadrangle of that college was built from the ground at his expense. The excellent Dr Hammond, who was his intimate friend, left him his valuable library, which he himself afterwards bequeathed to his successors in the divinity-chair. He was eminent for his piety, benevolence, and integrity; for the sincerity of his friendship, and his disinterested temper. He wrote several books; and a collection of his sermons were printed after his decease by Dr Fell bishop of Oxford. He died August 28, 1680.

(Jacob), an English poet of the last century. He was the son of James Allestry, a bookseller of London who was ruined by the great fire in 1666. Jacob was educated at Westminster school, entered at Christ-church Oxford in the a.c.-term 1671 at the age of 18, and was elected student in 1672. He took the degree in arts; was music-reader in 1679, and terce filius in 1681; both which offices he executed with great applause, being esteemed a good philologist and poet. He had a chief hand in the verses and pastorals spoken in the theatre at Oxford May 21, 1681, by Mr William Savile second son of the marquis of Halifax, and George Cholmondeley second son of Robert viscount Kells (both of Christ-church), before James duke of York, his duchess, and the lady Anne; which verses and pastorals were afterwards printed in the "Examen Poeticum." He died October 15, 1686, and was buried in St Thomas's church-yard.