is education in Westminster-school, under
Dr. Busby, and was removed from thence to Christ's-Church in Oxford, in
Michaelmas term, 1681, when at the age of eighteen. He studied the civil
law, and practiced it at Doctor's Commons, with very great reputation;
but the natural gaiety of his temper, and the love of company, betrayed
him into those pleasures, which were incompatible with his profession.

Our author, by the reputation of his abilities obtained a patron in
the earl of Pembroke, who upon his being appointed lord Lieutenant of
Ireland, press'd him to go over to that kingdom.

Upon Dr. King's arrival in Ireland, his excellency appointed him judge
advocate, sole commissioner of the prizes, and record keeper. There, he
was well received, and countenanced by persons of the most distinguished
rank, and could he have changed his disposition with the climate, had
then an opportunity of making his fortune; but so far was he from
improving this occasion to the purposes of his interest, that he
returned back to England, with no other treasure, than a few merry
Poems, and humorous Essays. He was naturally of a courteous behaviour,
and very obliging: His conversation was chearful, and his wit pleasant
and entertaining. But at length he chiefly subsisted on his fellowship
in Christ-Church College: Before this time, he had published his most
ingenious Poem, called the Art of Cookery, in imitation of Horace's
Art of Poetry, with some Letters to Dr. Lister and others; occasioned
principally by the title of a book, published by the Dr. being the works
of Apicius Coelius, concerning the soups and sauces of the ancients,
with an extract of the greatest curiosities contained in that book.
Amongst his Letters, is one upon the Denti Scalps, or Tooth-picks of the
Antients: Another contains an imitation of Horace: Epist. 5. Book I.
being his invitation of Torquatus to supper. And a third, contains
remarks on lord Grimston's play, called the Lawyer's Fortune; or Love in
a Hollow-Tree.

At his leisure hours he wrote likewise, The Art of Love, an imitation of
Ovid, De Arte Amandi. To which he prefixed an account of Ovid. In
the latter part of his life, about the year 1711, he published an
Historical Account of the Heathen Gods, and Heroes, for the use
of Westminster, and other schools; for the better and more easy
understanding of the Classics. Besides these performances, we likewise
find three numbers of a project, entitled, the Transac