(Marchmont), an English satirical writer, was born at Burford Oxon, about the month of August 1620. His father died in 1621; but the following year his mother was again married to one Christopher Glynn, vicar and schoolmaster of Burford; who perceiving his son-in-law's pregnancy of parts and genius, took him under his own tuition, and at the age of 14 sent him to All Souls College, Oxon. Here he was made one of the choristers, and continued till 1637, when, having taken the degree of A.B., which made it inconvenient to continue in that office, he went to St Mary's Hall till he became an usher in Merchant Taylor's school, London. About the beginning of the civil wars, he became clerk to an attorney at Gray's Inn, where, writing a good court hand, he obtained a decent subsistence. Not long after this, he began a weekly paper, under the title of Mercurius Britannicus, on the side of the parliament; it commenced about the middle of August 1643, coming out on Mondays, in one sheet, and continued till the end of 1646. It procured him popularity, and being an active man he was distinguished by the title of Capt. Nedham of Gray's Inn. Of these mercuries (for there were a number of them published on both sides of the great question which then divided the nation), it is well observed by Johnson, that they taught many to talk whom they could not teach to judge. Nedham's was, indeed, addressed as much to the passions as the reason; and, by telling every man that he was equal to his king, he flattered vulgar pride, that his licentious opinions were received as the dictates of an oracle. About this time he studied physic, and in 1645 began to practise; by which, and his political writings, he supported a genteel figure. But, for some scorn and affront put upon him, he suddenly left his party, and obtaining the favour of a royalist, was introduced into the king's presence at Hampton-court in 1647, and asking pardon upon his knees readily obtained it; so that being admitted to the king's favour, he wrote soon after another paper, entitled Mercurius Pragmaticus; which being equally witty with the former, as satirical against the Presbyterians, and full of loyalty, made him known and admired by the wits of that side. However, being narrowly sought after, he left London, and for a time lay concealed at the house of Dr Peter Heylin, at Mintler-Lovell, near Burford, till at length being discovered, he was imprisoned in Newgate, and in danger of his life. Lenthall, the speaker of the House of Commons, who knew him and his relations, relations well, and Bradshaw, president of the high-court of justice, treated him favourably, and not only got his pardon, but with promise of rewards and places persuaded him to change his side once more for the independents, who then were the uppermost party.

In this temper he published a third weekly paper, called *Mercurius Politicus*, which came out every Wednesday, in two sheets 4to, commencing with the 9th of June 1649, and ending with the 6th of June 1650, which being Thursday, he began again with number 1 from Thursday June 6, to Thursday June 13, 1650, beginning, "Why should not the commonwealth have 'a fool, as well as the king had, &c.'" This paper, which contained many discourses against monarchy, and in behalf of a free state, especially those that were published before Cromwell was made protector, was carried on without any interruption till about the middle of April 1660, when, as several times before, it was prohibited by an order of the council of state.

Upon the return of Charles II, our author lay hid, till, by virtue of some money well placed, he obtained his pardon under the great seal; after which he exercised the faculty of physic among the Dissenters, which brought him in a considerable benefit till his death, which happened suddenly in 1678. Wood, who knew him, tells us that he was a person endowed with quick natural parts, was a good humanist, poet, and boon driller; and, had he been constant to his calculating principles, would have been beloved and admired by all; but being mercenary, and preferring his interest to his conscience, friendship, and love to his prince, was much hated by the royal party to the last. In short, there was no depending on this scurrilous ill-natured author. He followed whenever interest or passion led, and remains a notorious instance of the danger of brilliant parts, of which he certainly was possessed, without judgment or integrity to control them. Wood, who in his Athen. Oxon. quoted above, gives a very copious account of him, says:

"At length this most factious, mutable, and railing author, Mr. Needham, died suddenly, in the house of one Kidder, in D'Eurcux-court near Temple-bar, London, in 1678, and was buried near the entrance of the chancel of the church of St Clement Danes."