Owen Feltham Owen Feltham ( 1602 ? - 68 ) was a religious writer , author of a book entitled Resolves , Divine , Moral , and Political ( circa 1620 ) , containing 146 short essays . It had great popularity in its day . Though sometimes stiff and affected in style , it contains many sound , if not original or brilliant , reflections , and occasional felicities of expression . Feltham was for a time in the household of the Earl of Thomond as chaplain or sec. , and published ( 1652 ) , Brief Character of the Low Countries . This article incorporates public domain text from : Cousin , John William ( 1910 ) . A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature . London , J.M. Dent & sons ; New York , E.P. Dutton . Categories : A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature | 1602 births | 1668 deaths | British essayists 