BOYLE, THE HON. ROBERT (1627-1691).--Natural Philosopher and chemist, 7th _s._ of the 1st Earl of Cork, was _b._ at Lismore, Co. Waterford, and _ed._ at Eton and by private tutors, after which he pursued his studies on the Continent. On his return to England he devoted himself to the study of science, especially natural philosophy and chemistry. He was one of the founders of the Royal Society, and, by his experiments and observations added to existing knowledge, especially in regard to pneumatics. He at the same time devoted much study to theology; so much indeed that he was strongly urged by Lord Clarendon to enter the Church. Thinking, however, that he could serve the cause of religion better as a layman, he declined this advice. As a director of the East India Co. he did much for the propagation of Christianity in the East, and for the dissemination of the Bible. He also founded the "Boyle Lectures" in defence of Christianity. He declined the offer of a peerage. B. was a man of great intellectual acuteness, and remarkable for his conversational powers. Among his writings are _Origin of Forms and Qualities_, _Experiments touching Colour_, _Hydrostatical Paradoxes_, and _Observations on Cold_; in theology, _Seraphic Love_. His complete works were _pub._ in 5 vols. in 1744. BRADLEY, EDWARD (1827-1889).--Novelist, was a clergyman. He wrote under the name of "Cuthbert Bede" a few novels and tales, _Fairy Fables_ (1858), _Glencraggan_ (1861), _Fotheringhay_ (1885), etc.; but his most popular book was _Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman_, which had great vogue. BRADWARDINE, THOMAS (1290?-1349).--Theologian, was at Oxf., where he became Prof. of Divinity and Chancellor, and afterwards Chaplain to Edward III., whom he attended in his French wars. He was twice elected Archbishop of Canterbury by the monks, and on the second occasion accepted, but _d._ of the plague within 40 days. He wrote on geometry, but his great work was _De Causa Dei_ (on the Cause of God against Pelagius), in which he treated theology mathematically, and which earned for him from the Pope the title of the Profound Doctor. BRAITHWAITE, or BRATHWAITE, RICHARD (1588-1673).--Poet, _b._ near Kendal, and _ed._ at Oxf., is believed to have served with the Royalist army in the Civil War. He was the author of many works of very unequal merit, of which the best known is _Drunken Barnaby's Four Journeys_, which records his pilgrimages through England in rhymed Latin (said by Southey to be the best of modern times), and doggerel English verse. _The English Gentleman_ (1631) and _English Gentlewoman_ are in a much more decorous strain. Other works are _The Golden Fleece_ (1611) (poems), _The Poet's Willow_, _A Strappado for the Devil_ (a satire), and _Art Asleepe, Husband?_