"Treatise on the Differences of the Ages of Man's Life." The latter is a curious and philofophical performance; but the value of it is diminished by its partaking too much of that uncouthnefs of language which was generally prevalent. Cuff had in his mafter a fuperior model of English style, But Cuff had habituated himself to write like a fcholar, while the earl managed his pen with the freedom of a man of the world. Cuff's Latin letters to John Hotman exhibit diftinguished marks of genius and learning.-Sir Walter Raleigh was the author of fome mifcellaneous pieces in queen Elizabeth's time; but we refer our principal character of him to the next reign.-To the names already given may be added that of fir Geoffrey Fenton, fecretary of ftate in the kingdom of Ireland. If we had adverted to him in his proper place, he would have been ranked as a tranflator, for he chiefly figured in that capacity. His principal works were Golden Epiftles," gathered from Latin, French, and Italian authors; and a tranflation of "The History of the Wars of Italy, by Francis Guicci

ardini, in twenty Books." This tranflation was undoubtedly a very valuable prefent to the public, as Guicciardini is a masterly hiftorian, and the hiftorical information communicated by him is highly important. Sir Geoffrey Fenton had a flowing ftyle, which reflects credit on his judg ment and taste.

From the mifcellaneous we país on to the noble authors, feveral of whofe productions come under the head of mifcellanies. Having before amply confidered lord Buckhurst as a poet, nothing remains to be faid of him in this place, excepting that fome of his letters have been preferved in collections of flate papers. It is, likewife, as a poet, that we are to introduce Edward Vere, feventeenth earl of Ox ford. Several of his poems are printed in a noted collection of the day, entitled, "The Paradife of dainty Devices." Mr. Walpole, upon the authority of Anthony Wood, fays that the earl was an admired poet, and reckoned the beft writer of comedy in his time. As, however, it is acknowledged that the very names of all his plays are

loft,

loft, we must be permitted to doubt whether they ever exifted. The accurate and diligent editors of the Riogra phia Dramatica have found no place for Edward Vere. -William Poulett, marquis of Winchester, was no otherwife diftinguished than as having printed a volume of Effays, which feem to have been little more than a compilation. In a former Number, we celebrated Robert Dudley, earl of Effex, as excelling in English compofition. This character he juftified in feveral pieces written by him, not from the ambition of appearing in the world as an author, but from the neceffity of reciting his own actions, or vindicating his own conduct. His productions of this kind are drawn up with dignity and spirit, and the letters of his, which are fcattered through various collections, imprefs a high opinion of his talents.-The great ftatefiman, William Cecil, lord Burleigh, who began and maintained his career as a writer in the preceding reigns, continued it in the prefent. The pieces which public or private occafions called out from him were full of gravity, wifdom, and fentiment. If his Letters and Difpatches be taken into the account (and they are continually increafing by new publications), he must be regarded as a voluminous author.-Henry Howard, earl of Northampton, and a younger fon of the famous earl of Surrey, was faid to have been the learnedeft among the nobility, and the moft noble among the learned. If the last circumftance was defigned to convey any encomium upon him as a man, nothing could be more unjust; for his perfonal character was abominable and odious. That he had abilities, is unquestionable, and his learning may be acknowledged. But the proofs which he gave of it were of no great confequence. His "Defenfative against the Poison of fuppofed Prophecies," contains fome curious matter. He wrote "An Apology for the Government of Women," which has never found its way to the prefs. Devotion, alfo, employed his pen, though his conduct was fo contrary to whatever deferves the name of religion.-To the lift of noble authors, may be added the names of the lord chancellor Hatton, who drew up a Treatife in the way of his profeffion; and

of

of Henry Cary, firft lord Falkland, a family devoted to literature through four generations. This lord wrote "The "Hiftory of the most unfortunate Prince King Edward "the Second; with choice political Obfervations on him "and his unhappy Favourites." It was not publifhed till after his decease.

We come now to an object of great confequence in the history of knowledge during this reign; and that is, the ftate of female literature. Here we must begin with her majefty herself, the illuftrious queen Elizabeth; and in fo doing we pay not a compliment to her rank, but her merit. She was truly and fubflantially learned, having ftudied the beft ancient as well as modern authors, and being an uncommon miftrefs of the Greek and Roman tongues. The confinement and perfecutions of her youth afforded fcope for the acquifition of eminent intellectual attainments; and Roger Afcham was one of her preceptors. How well fkilled he was in the Greek language, was manifeft from her writing a Comment on Plato, and from her tranflating into Latin a Dialogue of Xenophon, two Orations of liocrates, and a Play of Euripides. Into English fhe tranflated Plutarch de Curiofitate. Her Verfions from Latin authors into her own tongue were Boethius's Confolation of Philofophy, Salluft's Jugurthine War, and part of Horace's Art of Poetry. With her general learning, queen Elizabeth united an uncommon readinefs in fpeaking the Latin language; a talent which fome very good fcholars do not poffeis; though it was more frequent in that age than it is in the prefent. This talent fhe difplayed in three Orations; one delivered in the univerfity of Cambridge, and two in the univerfity of Oxford. An extraordinary inftance of her ability in this way was exhibited in a rapid piece of eloquence with which the interrupted an infolur ambaffador Trom Poland. "Having ended her

oration, fh, on-like, rifing," fay the hiftorians, “ daunted toe naapert orator no lefs with her stately port " and najodic deprtare, thon with the tartness of her princely checks; and turning to the train of her attend

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ants, faid, God's death! my Lords, I have been forced this "day to fcoure up my old Latin that hath long lain rufting" By her contemporaries Elizabeth has been highly extolled for her poetry; but this must be fet down to the flattery of the age. However, fhe had a capacity for Latin verfification. We leave it to the more copious narrator, to take notice of her tranflations from the French, her prayers and meditations, her fpeeches in parliament, and her letters; which laft are difperfed, in vaft numbers, through a variety of collections.

The beautiful, the unfortunate, and the imprudent Mary queen of Scots has been ranked as an author, and fhe is entitled to the character. With her great rival Elizabeth, indeed, the makes but a feeble comparifon, having been far inferior to her in deep learning. She rather excelled in thofe lighter parts of literature that were fashionable in the court wherein fhe had been educated. To the Greek tongue fhe was probably an entire ftranger; but that he was acquainted with the Latin, was apparent from her writing poems in that language, as well as in the French and, the Scotch. She compofed, alfo, a "Confolation of "her long Imprifonment, and royal Advice to her Son." Many of her Letters occur in public libraries, and are frequently finding their way to the prefs, in confequence of the minute attention to hiftorical information which is now fo generally prevalent. As to the famous Letters to James carl of Bothwell, which have been fo much the fubject of controverfy and debate, it is no part of the prefent narrative to enquire into their authenticity.

Quitting fuch high rank, we introduce the name of Elizabeth Jane Wefton. She had, it is faid, great natural talents, which were much improved by a polite education. Many languages were understood by her, and fhe was particularly intelligent in the Latin tongue; in which the wrote feveral things both in profe and verfe with very good fuccefs. Such was the cftimation in which her performances were held, that he was taken notice of by fome of the most learned foreigners of the time, and was honoured with their correfpondence. The praises they beftowed up

on

on her were copious, and even Scaliger was one of her encomiafts. As her life was principally fpent abroad, the was more known to the learned upon the continent than to her own countrymen. However, her fame extended to England; for Mr. Evelyn gave her a place in his Catalogue of Learned Women; Mr. Philips has introduced her among his Female Poets; and Mr. Farnaby has ranked her, in the poetical line, with fir Thomas More, Alabaster, and other names of eminence. It was Latin poetry to which Mrs. Wefton chiefly devoted herself. We apprehend that part of the applaufes which have been lavished upon her may be imputed to the good nature and perfonal refpect of het contemporaries, and to the ready acquiefcence of fucceeding writers.

Mary Sidney, countess of Pembroke, and the beloved fifter of the matchlefs (as he is often called) fir Philip Sidney, has a claim to be here remembered. Having the advantages of the best education, fhe acquired fuch accomplishments of mind as to make an honourable appearance among the literati of the time, and to draw from them ample teftimonies of her merit. Two works, which were publifhed by her, were only tranflations; one being “ A Difcourfe of Life and Death;" and the other, "The Tragedie of Antonie." Lady Pembroke was not only learned herself, but appears to have been a patronefs of letters.

But among the women of this period who were devoted to the ftudy of literature, the principal place feems to be due to the four daughters of fir Anthony Cooke. Thefe ladies deferve to be fomewhat particularly infifted upon; and the rather, as we fhall hence be enabled the more exacty to appreciate the kinds and degrees of knowledge which then prevailed in the female world. The eldest of fir Anthony Cooke's daughters was Mildred, who, being put under the tuition of Mr. Laurence, an eminent Grecian, fully answered the care and pains that were taken in her education. In due time fhe became excellently acquainted with the Greek and Latin tongues, and efpecially with the former. This appeared in a letter which the wrote to the univerfity of Cambridge, in that language.