Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ayres, Philip
AYRES, PHILIP (1638–1712), the author of numerous books and pamphlets, flourished in the latter part of the seventeenth century; was born at Cottingham, and educated at Westminster, and St. John's College, Oxford. He became tutor in the family of Montagu Garrard Drake, of Agmondesham, Bucks, and lived in the family till his death, 1 Dec. 1712. His chief work is his 'lyric Poems made in imitation of the Italians,' 1687, a not uninteresting collection of original pieces and translations. One copy of verses is addressed to 'his honoured friend' John Dryden. The following is a list of Ayres's works in chronological order: 1. 'A short Account of the Life and Death of Pope Alexander VII, by P. A. Gent.,' 1667. 2. 'Pax Redux, or the Christian Reconciler. Done out of the French by P. A.,' 1670. 3. 'The Fortunate Fool, written in Spanish by A. G. de Salas Barbadillo. Translated by Philip Ayres, Gent.,' 1670. 4. 'Count Nadasdy's Hungarian Rebellion, translated by P. A. Gent.,' 1672. 5. 'The Count of Gabalis,' 1680, from the French of the Abbe de Montfaucon de Villars. 6. 'Emblemata Amatoria. Emblems of Love. In four languages, Lat., Engl., Ital., Fr.,' 1683. 7. 'The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Earth. Sharp and others in the South Sea, &c.,' 1684. 8. 'Vox Clamantis, or an Essay for the Honour, Happiness and Prosperity of the English Gentry,' 1684. 9. 'Mythologia Ethica, or Three Centuries of Æsopian Fables in English,' 1689. 10. 'The Revengeful Mistress, being an Amorous Adventure of an English Gentleman in Spain,' 1696.
[Corser's Collectanea, i. 104-108; British Museum Catalogue; Rawlinson MSS. i. 197.]