Editions:  of Toxophilus, Arber; Schoolmaster, Arber, also Mayer (1883); English works, Bennet (1767), with life by Dr. Johnson; whole works, Giles (1864-5).

ASGILL, JOHN (1659-1738).—­Eccentric writer, student at the Middle Temple, 1686, and called to the Bar 1692.  In 1699 he pub. in an unlucky hour a pamphlet to prove that death was not obligatory upon Christians, which, much to his surprise, aroused the public wrath and led to his expulsion from the Irish and English House of Commons successively.  A. thereafter fell on evil days, and passed the rest of his life between the Fleet and the King’s Bench, where, strange to say, his zeal as a pamphleteer continued unabated.  He d. in 1738.

ASHMOLE, ELIAS (1617-1692).—­Antiquary, was ed. at Lichfield, and became a solicitor in 1638.  On the breaking out of the Civil War he sided with the royalists; went to Oxford and studied science, including astrology.  The result of his studies in this region of mystery was his Theatrum Chymicum Britannicum, which gained him great repute and the friendship of John Selden.  His last astrological treatise was The Way to Bliss, which dealt with the subject of “the philosopher’s stone.”  He also wrote various works on antiquarian subjects, and a History of the Order of the Garter.  A. held various posts under government, and presented to the University of Oxford a valuable collection of curiosities now known as the Ashmolean Museum.  He also bequeathed his library to the University.  His wife was a dau. of Sir W. Dugdale, the antiquary.

ASSER (d. 909?).—­Chronicler, a monk of St. David’s, afterwards Bishop of Sherborne, was the friend, helper, and biographer of AElfred.  In addition to his life of AElfred he wrote a chronicle of England from 849 to 887.

ATHERSTONE, EDWIN (1788-1872).—­Poet and novelist.  His works, which were planned on an imposing scale, attracted some temporary attention and applause, but are now forgotten.  His chief poem, The Fall of Nineveh, consisting of thirty books, appeared at intervals from 1828 to 1868.  He also produced two novels, The Sea Kings in England and The Handwriting on the Wall.

ATTERBURY, FRANCIS (1662-1732).—­Controversialist and preacher, was b. near Newport Pagnel, Bucks, and ed. at Westminster School and Oxford.  He became the leading protagonist on the High Church side in the ecclesiastical controversies of his time, and is believed to have been the chief author of the famous defence of Dr. Sacheverell in 1712.  He also wrote most of Boyle’s Examination of Dr. Bentley’s Dissertations on the Epistles of Phalaris, and pub. sermons, which, with his letters to Swift, Pope, and other friends, constitute the foundation of his literary reputation.  During the reign of the Tories he enjoyed much preferment, having been successively Canon of Exeter, Dean of Christ Church, Dean of Westminster, and Bishop of Rochester.  His Jacobite principles, however, and his participation in various plots got him into trouble, and in 1722 he was confined in the Tower, deprived of all his offices, and ultimately banished.  He d. at Paris, Feb. 15, 1732, and was buried privately in Westminster Abbey.