Like to the grass that's newly sprung, ROBERT DEVEREUX, EARL OF ESSEX Was born in 1567; and, having been found guilty on a trial for high treason, closed his life on the scaffold in 1601. The political character of this inconsiderate and presumptuous, but honest and heroic favourite of Queen Elizabeth, has no connection with this work: but as he was the generous patron of literature, and the unceasing object of poetical adulation, the reader will perhaps be glad to see a specimen of his own attainment in the art which he encouraged others to cultivate. The following " Verses, made by the earl of Essex in his trouble," were extracted from a MS. in the British Museum, Bibl. Reg. 17. B. L. For an account of his other works, vide the Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors. SONNET. THE HE ways on earth have paths and turnings known; The ways on sea are gone by needle's light; The birds of th' air the nearest way have flown; And under earth the moles do cast aright. A way more hard than these I needs must take, Where none can teach, nor no man can direct; Where no man's good for me example makes; But all men's faults do teach her to suspect. Her thoughts and mine such disproportion have, All strength of love is infinite in me; 362 ROBERT DEVEREUX, EARL OF ESSEX. She useth the advantage time and fortune gave Signed R. E. E. SIR HENRY WOTTON. Born at Bocton-Hall, Kent, in 1568, received his education at Winchester school, whence he was removed in 1584 to New College, and soon after to Queen's College, Oxford. He was early distinguished by the acuteness of his mind, and by versatility of talent. After having completed an academical education, he spent nine years in travelling; during which he formed an acquaintance with all the most learned men in Europe, and acquired a considerable reputation by his proficiency in the fine arts. On his return to England, his accomplishments recommended him to the friendship of the earl of Essex, with whom he remained as secretary till his fall, when he retired to Florence, and remained there till the death of Queen Elizabeth. Having been employed by the great duke of Tuscany in an embassy into Scotland, for the purpose of communicating to King James the account of a conspiracy against him which the great duke had discovered, he received the honour of knighthood, and enjoyed the confidence of that monarch during the whole of his reign. For the particulars of his very curious life, great part of which he passed in foreign embassies, and other scenes of political activity; and which he terminated in 1639, (after entering into holy orders,) in the situation of Provost of Eton; the reader is referred to the circumstantial biography of Izaac Walton, or to the summary contained in the New Biographical Dictionary. The following specimens are all extracted from Reliquiæ Wottonianæ, first printed in 1651, and three times afterwards. On his Mistress the Queen of Bohemia. You meaner beauties of the night, You curious chanters of the wood, That warble forth dame Nature's lays, Thinking your voices understood By your weak accents! what's your praise When Philomel her voice shall raise ? You violets that first appear, By your pure purple mantles known, As if the spring were all your own! So, when my mistress shall be seen |