or GREATHED, ROBERT, a learned and famous bishop of Lincoln, was born at Stow in Lincolnshire, or (according to others) at Stradbrook in Suffolk, in the latter part of the twelfth century. His parents were so poor, that when a boy he was reduced to do the meanest offices, and even to beg his bread; till the mayor of Lincoln, struck with his appearance and the quickness of his answers to certain questions, took him into his family, and put him to school. Here his ardent love of learning, and admirable capacity for acquiring it, soon appeared, and procured him many patrons, by whose assistance he was enabled to prosecute his studies, first at Cambridge, afterwards at Oxford, and at last at Paris. In these three famous seats of learning, he spent many years in the most indefatigable pursuit of knowledge, and became one of the best and most universal scholars of the age. He was a great master not only of the French and Latin, but also of the Greek and Hebrew languages, which was a very rare accomplishment in those times. We are assured by Roger Bacon, who was intimately acquainted with him, that he spent much of his time for almost forty years in the study of geometry, astronomy, optics, and other branches of physical and mathematical learning, in all which he very much excelled. Theology was his favourite study, in which he read lectures at Oxford with great applause. In the meantime, he obtained several preferments in the church, and was at length elected and consecrated bishop of Lincoln, A.D. 1235. In this station he soon became very famous, by the purity of his manners, the popularity of his preaching, the vigour of his discipline, and the boldness with which he reproved the vices and opposed the arbitrary mandates of the court of Rome; of this last it may be proper to give one example. Pope Innocent IV. had granted to one of his own nephews named Frederick, who was but a child, a provision to the first canon's place in the church of Lincoln that should become vacant; and sent a bull to the archbishop of Canterbury, and Innocent, then papal legate in England, commanding them to see the provision made effectual; which they transmitted to the bishop Grouthead of Lincoln. But that brave and virtuous prelate boldly refused to obey this unreasonable mandate, and sent an answer to the papal bull containing the following severe reproaches against his holiness for abusing his power: "If we except the sins of Lucifer and Antichrist, there neither is nor can be a greater crime, nor any thing more contrary to the doctrine of the gospel, or more odious and abominable in the sight of Jesus Christ, than to ruin and destroy the souls of men, by depriving them of the spiritual aid and ministry of their pastors. This crime is committed by those who command the benefices intended for the support of able pastors, to be bestowed on those who are incapable of performing the duties of the pastoral office. It is impossible therefore that the holy apostolic see, which received its authority from the Lord Jesus Christ, for edification, and not for destruction, can be guilty of such a crime, or any thing approaching to such a crime, so hateful to God and so hurtful to men. For this would be a most manifest corruption and abuse of its authority, which would forfeit all its glory, and plunge it into the pains of hell." Upon hearing this letter, his holiness became frantic with rage, poured forth a torrent of abuse against the good bishop, and threatened to make him an object of terror and astonishment to the whole world. "How dare (said he) this old, deaf, doating fool, disobey my commands? Is not his master the king of England my subject, or rather my slave? Cannot he cast him into prison, and crush him in a moment?" But the cardinals by degrees brought the pope to think more calmly, and to take no notice of this letter. "Let us not (said they) raise a tumult in the church without necessity, and precipitate that revolt and separation from us, which we know must one day take place." Remarkable words, when we reflect when and by whom they were spoken! The bishop did not long survive this noble stand against the gross corruptions and tyranny of the church of Rome; for he fell sick at his castle of Bugden that same year; and when he became sensible that his death was drawing near, he called his clergy into his apartment, and made a long discourse to them, to prove that the reigning pope Innocent IV. was Antichrist. With this exertion his strength and spirits were so much exhausted, that he expired soon after, October 9, 1235. A contemporary historian, who was perfectly well acquainted with him, hath drawn his character in the following manner. "He was a free and bold reprimander of the pope and the king; an admonisher of the prelates; a corrector of the monks; an instructor of the clergy; a supporter of the studious; a censurer of the incontinent; a scourge and terror to the court of Rome; a diligent searcher of the scripture; and a frequent preacher to the people. At his table he was hospitable, polite, and cheerful. In the church he was contrite, devout, and solemn; and in performing all the duties of his office he was venerable, active, and indefatigable." The illustrious Roger Bacon, who was most capable, and had the best opportunities of forming a true judgment of the extent of his learning, by perusing his works, and by frequently conversing with him, hath given this honourable testimony in his favour. "Robert Grouthead bishop..." Growth, the gradual increase of bulk and stature that takes place in animals or vegetables, to a certain period.—The increase of bulk in such bodies as have no life, owing to fermentations excited in their substance, or to other causes, is called Expansion, Swelling, &c.

The growth of animals, nay even of the human species, is subject to great variations. A remarkable instance in the last was observed in France in the year 1729. At this time the Academy of Sciences examined a boy who was then only seven years old, and who measured four feet eight inches and four lines high without his shoes. His mother observed the signs of puberty on him at two years old, which continued to increase very quick, and soon arrived at the usual standard. At four years old he was able to lift and toss the common bundles of hay in stables into the horses racks; and at six years old could lift as much as a sturdy fellow of twenty. But though he thus increased in bodily strength, his understanding was no greater than is usual with children of his age, and their play-things were also his favourite amusements.

Another boy, a native of the hamlet of Bouzanquet, in the diocese of Alais, though of a strong constitution, appeared to be knit and stiff in his joints till he was about four years and a half old. During this time nothing farther was remarkable of him than an extraordinary appetite, which was satisfied no otherwise than by giving him plenty of the common aliments of the inhabitants of the country, consisting of rye-bread, chesnuts, bacon, and water; but his limbs soon becoming supple and pliable, and his body beginning to expand itself, he grew up in so extraordinary a manner, that at the age of five years he measured four feet three inches; some months after, he was four feet eleven inches; and at six, five feet, and bulky in proportion. His growth was so rapid, that one might fancy he saw him grow: every month his clothes required to be made longer and wider; and what was still very extraordinary in his growth, it was not preceded by any sickness, nor accompanied with any pain in the groin or elsewhere. At the age of five years his voice changed, his beard began to appear, and at six he had as much as a man of thirty; in short, all the unquestionable marks of puberty were visible in him. It was not doubted in the country but this child was, at five years old, or five and a half, in a condition of begetting other children; which induced the rector of the parish to recommend to his mother that she would keep him from too familiar a conversation with children of the other sex. Though his wit was riper than is commonly observable at the age of five or six years, yet its progress was not in proportion to that of his body. His air and manner still retained something childish, though by his bulk and stature he resembled a complete man, which at first sight produced a very singular contrast. His voice was strong and manly, and his great strength rendered him already fit for the labours of the country. At the age of five years, he could carry to a good distance three measures of rye, weighing 84 pounds; when turned of six, he could lift up easily on his shoulders and carry loads of 150 pounds weight a good way off: and these exercises were exhibited by him as often as the curious engaged him thereto by some liberality. Such beginnings made people think that he would soon shoot up into a giant. A mountebank was already soliciting his parents for him, and flattering them with hopes of putting him in a way of making a great fortune. But all these hopes suddenly vanished. His legs became crooked, his body shrunk, his strength diminished, his voice grew sensibly weaker, and he at last sunk into a total imbecility.

In the Paris Memoirs also there is an account of a girl who had her menses at three months of age. When four years old, she was four feet six inches in height, and had her limbs well proportioned to that height, her breasts large and plump, and the parts of generation like those of a girl of eighteen; so that there is no doubt but that she was marriageable at that time, and capable of being a mother of children. These things are more singular and marvellous in the northern than in the southern climates, where the females come sooner to maturity. In some places of the East Indies, the girls have children at nine years of age.

Many other instances of extraordinary growth might be brought, but the particulars are not remarkably different from those already related.—It is at first sight astonishing that children of such early and prodigious growth do not become giants; but when we consider, that the signs of puberty appear so much sooner than they ought, it seems evident that the whole is only a more than usually rapid expansion of the parts, as in hot climates; and accordingly it is observed, that such children, instead of becoming giants, always decay and die apparently of old age, long before the natural term of human life.