[or Osborn]. Eminent English writer in the 17th century. He was educated in a private manner; and at ripe years frequented the court, and was master of the horse to William, earl of Pembroke. Upon the breaking out of the civil wars, he adhered to the parliament party, and had several public employments conferred upon him. In the latter part of his life be lived at Oxford, in order to print several books, and to look after his son, for whom, by the favour of the parliament, he procured a fellowship in All-souls college. His Advice to a son, so soon as it was published, being complained of to Dr. John Tenant, vice chancellor of Oxford, as of irreligious tendency, there was a proposal made to have it publicly burnt; but that taking no effect, it was ordered that no bookseller or others should sell it, which only made it sell the faster. He wrote also Historical Memoirs of the reigns of queen Elizabeth and king James I.; a Discourse on the greatness and corruption of the church of Rome; a Discourse upon Machiavel, &c. He died in 1659.
