HOWARD, SIR ROBERT (1626-1698).--Dramatist, _s._ of the Earl of Berkshire, and brother-in-law of Dryden. On the outbreak of the Civil War he was of the King's party, and was imprisoned during the Commonwealth. After the Restoration, however, he was in favour with the Court, and held many important posts. He wrote some plays, of which the best was _The Committee_, and collaborated with Dryden in _The Indian Queen_. He was at odds with him, however, on the question of rhyme, the use of which he wrote against in very indifferent blank verse. HOWE, JOHN (1630-1705).--Puritan divine, _b._ at Loughborough, of which his _f._ was curate, studied at Camb., and became, in 1652, minister of Great Torrington, Devonshire, where he was famous for the unusual length of his sermons and prayers. In 1657 Oliver Cromwell made him his resident chaplain at Whitehall, a position which he retained under Richard C., so long as the latter held the office of Protector. On the Restoration H. returned to Great Torrington, from which, however, he was ejected in 1662. Thereafter he wandered from place to place, preaching in secret until 1671, when he went to Ireland as chaplain to Lord Massareene, and in 1675 he became minister of a dissenting congregation in London. In 1685 he travelled with Lord Wharton on the Continent, but returned in 1687 to London, where he _d._ in 1705. H. was the author of many excellent works of practical divinity, among which are _The Living Temple_, _Inquiry into the Doctrine of the Trinity_, and _The Divine Presence_. The substance of his writings is better than their style, which is involved and extremely diffuse, and evinces much vigour of mind. H. is described as of a fine presence and dignified manners. HOWELL, JAMES (1594?-1666).--Miscellaneous writer, _s._ of a clergyman at Abernant, Caermarthenshire, was at Oxf. and spent the greater part of his earlier life travelling in various Continental countries, including the Low Countries, France, Spain, and Italy, on various matters of business, during which he became versed in many languages, and amassed stores of information and observations on men and manners. He was a keen Royalist, and was on this account imprisoned in the Fleet, 1643-51. He wrote a large number of books, including _Dodona's Grove_, a political allegory, _Instructions for Foreign Travel_ (1642), _England's Tears for the Present Wars_, _A Trance, or News from Hell_, and above all, _Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ, Familiar Letters_, chiefly written in the Fleet to imaginary correspondents, but no doubt based upon notes of his own travels. It is one of the most interesting and entertaining books in the language.