RYMER, THOMAS (1641-1713)

—Archæologist and critic, ed. at Camb., became a barrister at Gray's Inn. He pub. in 1678 Tragedies of the last Age Considered , in which he pa ed judgments, very unfavourable, upon their authors, including Shakespeare. He was of much more use as the collector of English treaties, which he pub. under the title of Fæder a , in 20 vols., the last 5 of which were ed. after his death by R. Sanders on ( q.v. ). R. also pub. poems and a play, Edgar . He held the office of historiographer to William III. His learning and industry have received the recognition of many subsequent historians. ST. JOHN, H., ( see BOLINGBROKE ).