Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 16.djvu/258

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Durell
251
D'Urfey

editions down to 1703. In all previous Latin prayer-books we have publicarum not communium.

In 1668 Durel was installed prebendary of Durham with a rich donative. In February 1669–70, by virtue of the chancellor's letters, he was created D.D. He published in 1669 his great work in vindication of the English church against schismatics, entitled ‘Sanctæ Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ … Vindiciæ,’ London, 4to, pp. cxiv and 538. It was dedicated to Charles II, and a second issue was printed in 1672 as ‘Hist. Rituum Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ.’ The presbyterians retorted by ‘Bonasus Vapulans, or some Castigations given to Mr. John Durell,’ &c., by W. B., London, 12mo, republished in 1679 as ‘The Nonconformists Vindicated,’ &c., London, 8vo, and another work, attributed to Du Moulin, ‘Patronus Bonæ Fidei,’ &c., London, 1672, 8vo. In 1677 Durel, according to the Ashmolean MSS., was made sworn registrar of the Garter, and in the same year he was appointed dean of Windsor and consequently of Wolverhampton. The great living of Witney, Oxfordshire, was soon afterwards granted him by the king, his chief recommendation to royal favour being that ‘he was not only a good scholar but a perfect courtier, skilful in the arts of getting into the favour of great men.’

In his ‘View of the Government’ (p. 14) Durel mentions an intention to collect the liturgies of all the protestant churches, but nothing more is known of the matter. He died 8 June 1683, and is buried in the north aisle adjoining Windsor Chapel choir.

[Durel's Works; Wood's Athenæ (Bliss), iv. 87, 372; Fasti, pp. 236, 317; Falle's Jersey, p. 83; Kennett's Register, pp. 407, 494; Baxter's Life, bk. i. pt. ii. p. 334; Ashmole's Berkshire, iii. 279; Calendar State Papers, Dom. Ser. 1660–1661 p. 529, 1661–2 pp. 124, 508, 536, 1663–4 pp. 447, 452; Caldwell's History of Conferences, 1840; Marshall's Latin Prayer Book of Charles II, 1882; Edinburgh Review, cxl. 427; Blackwood's Magazine, xviii. 573, lxxxix. 20; Christian Observer, lxxvii. 545, 595; Contemporary Review, vii. 401, xviii. 267; British Quarterly Review, xlvii. 70.]

J. W.-G.


DURELL, DAVID (1728–1775), divine, was a native of Jersey, where he was born in 1728. He took the degree of M.A. 20 June 1753 as a member of Pembroke College, Oxford, and afterwards became fellow, and eventually in 1757 principal, of Hertford College. He became B.D. 23 April 1760, and D.D. 14 Jan. 1764. The only ecclesiastical preferments he held were the vicarage of Ticehurst in Sussex and a prebend in Canterbury Cathedral, to which he was appointed 27 Jan. 1767. Considerable extracts from his works, which it is not thought worth while to insert here, may be seen in the second edition of Kippis's ‘Biographia Britannica.’ From one of these it appears that he was an ardent advocate for a new translation of the Bible which should be an improvement on the authorised version of 1611. He had lent money for the building of the Oxford market, the interest of which, amounting to 20l. a year, he appointed half to be given to the principal of Hertford College, and the other half to the two senior fellows, with the condition that if there should be but one senior fellow, he should receive one-third of the sum and the principal two-thirds. He served the office of vice-chancellor of the university of Oxford in 1765–6 and 1767, and in the beginning of 1767 was appointed to a prebendal stall in Canterbury. He died 19 Oct. 1775, aged 47. He published the following works:

  1. ‘The Hebrew Text of the Parallel Prophecies of Jacob and Moses relating to the Twelve Tribes, with a Translation and Notes and the various Lectures of near forty MSS. To which are added: (1) The Samaritan-Arabic Version of those Passages, and part of another Arabic Version made from the Samaritan Text, neither of which have been before printed; (2) A Map of the Land of Promise; (3) An Appendix containing Four Dissertations on points connected with the Subjects of these Prophecies,’ Oxford, 1763, 4to.
  2. ‘Critical Remarks on the Books of Job, Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles,’ Oxford, 1772, 4to. Both works were reviewed critically in the ‘Monthly Review,’ vols. xlvii. and xxx. respectively.

[Wood's Hist. and Antiq. of Oxford (Gutch), 1786, 4to, and Appendix, 1790; Cat. of Oxford, Graduates; Monthly Review.]

N. P.


D'URFEY, THOMAS (1653–1723), poet and dramatist, generally known as ‘Tom Durfey,’ was born at Exeter in 1653. The date usually given, 1649, appears to be erroneous. He was of Huguenot descent, and maintained his protestantism to his last hour. His grandfather quitted La Rochelle before the siege ended in 1628, bringing his son with him, and settled in Exeter, where D'Urfey's father married Frances, a gentlewoman of Huntingdonshire, of the family of the Marmions, and thus connected with Shackerley Marmion the dramatist. Tom's uncle was Honoré D'Urfé, author of the romance of ‘Astrée,’ so much admired by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, a relationship which is proudly referred to in D'Urfey's own writings. He had been intended for the law, but says: ‘My good or ill stars ordained me to be a knight-errant in the fairy