155
MEAD.
Richard Mead was born at Stepney, near London, on the 11th of August, 1673. His father, Matthew Mead, a name still eminent amongst divines, had been one of the two ministers of that parish, but had been ejected for non-conformity, in the second year after the restoration of Charles the Second. This circumstance did not prevent him from continuing to preach there before a numerous congregation of dissenters, until his demise in 1699. His fortune was considerable, and he bestowed a liberal education on a progeny of thirteen children, of whom Richard was the eleventh. A private tutor was maintained in his house until the violent measures of 1683 scattered this little seminary abroad. King Charles was resolved to wreak his revenge on those whom he could not make proselytes to his principles, or to his want of principle; the aged minister of Stepney was accordingly accused of being privy to some designs against the government, and, as a non-conformist could not trust to the consciousness of innocence, he committed the chance of safety to flight. Having placed Richard at a good school, he departed for Holland. The boy distinguished himself early by his attainments in the Greek and Latin languages, and was sent to complete his studies at Utrecht, at the age of sixteen. The
