or BEKE, a word which imports a small stream of water issuing from some burn or spring. Hence Holl-becks, little brooks in the rough and wild mountains about Richmond near Lancashire, so called on account of their ghafliness and depth.

Beck is chiefly used among us in the composition of names of places originally situated on rivulets: hence Walbeck, Bournebeck, &c. The Germans use bech in the same manner.

David, an eminent portrait painter, was born at Arnhem in Guelderland in 1621, and became a disciple of Vandyck; from whom he acquired a fine manner of penciling, and that sweet style of colouring which is peculiar to that great master and to all the disciples trained up under his direction. He possessed besides, that freedom of hand, and readiness, or rather rapidity of execution, for which Vandyck was so remarkably famous; and King Charles I. when he observed the expeditious manner of Beck's painting, was so exceedingly surprised, that he told Beck, it was his opinion, he could paint if he was riding post. He was appointed portrait-painter and chamberlain to Queen Christina of Sweden; and by her recommendation, most of the illustrious persons in Europe sat to him for their pictures. He was agreeable, handsome, and polite, and lived in the highest favour with his royal mistress: but, having an earnest desire to visit his friends in Holland, and leaving the court of Sweden much against the queen's inclination, she apprehended that he intended never to return; and, as he died soon after at the Hague, it was suspected that he was poisoned. This happened in 1656, when he was aged only 35 years. A very singular adventure happened to this painter as he travelled through Germany, which seems not unworthy of being recited. He was suddenly and violently taken ill at the inn where he lodged, and was laid out as a corpse, seeming to all appearance quite dead. His valets expressed the strongest marks of grief for the loss of their master, and while they sat beside his bed, they drank very freely, by way of consolation. At last one of them, who grew much intoxicated, said to his companions, Our master was fond of his glass while he was alive, and out of gratitude let us give him a glass now he is dead. As the rest of the servants assented to the proposal, he raised up the head of his master, and endeavoured to pour some of the liquor into his mouth. By the fragrance of the wine, or probably by a small quantity that imperceptibly got down his throat, Beck opened his eyes; and the servant being excessively drunk, and forgetting that his master was considered as dead, compelled him to swallow what wine remained in the glass. The painter gradually revived, and by proper management and care recovered perfectly, and escaped a premature interment. How highly the works of this master were esteemed, may appear from the many marks of distinction and honour which were shown him; for he received from different princes, as an acknowledgment of his singular merit, nine gold chains, and several medals of gold, of a very large size.