FULLER.--More quaint and eccentric than the writers just mentioned, but a rare representative of his age, stands Thomas Fuller. He was born in 1608; at the early age of twelve, he entered Cambridge, and, after completing his education, took orders. In 1631, he was appointed prebendary of Salisbury. Thence he removed to London in 1641, when the civil war was about to open. When the king left London, in 1642, Fuller preached a sermon in his favor, to the great indignation of the opposite party. Soon after, he was appointed to a chaplaincy in the royal army, and not only preached to the soldiers, but urged them forward in battle. In 1646 he returned to London, where he was permitted to preach, under _surveillance_, however. He seems to have succeeded in keeping out of trouble until the Restoration, when he was restored to his prebend. He did not enjoy it long, as he died in the next year, 1661. His writings are very numerous, and some of them are still read. Among these are _Good Thoughts in Bad Times, Good Thoughts in Worse Times_, and _Mixt Contemplations in Better Times_. The _bad_ and _worse_ times mark the progress of the civil war: the _better_ times he finds in the Restoration. One of his most valuable works is _The Church History of Britain, from the birth of Christ to 1648_, in 11 books. Criticized as it has been for its puns and quibbles and its occasional caricatures, it contains rare descriptions and very vivid stories of the important ecclesiastical eras in England. Another book containing important information is his _History of the Worthies of England_, a posthumous work, published by his son the year after his death. It contains accounts of eminent Englishmen in different countries; and while there are many errors which he would perhaps have corrected, it is full of odd and interesting information not to be found collated in any other book. Representing and chronicling the age as he does, he has perhaps more individuality than any writer of his time, and this gives a special interest to his works.