1585.

Nov. 7.

1586. May. July.

August.

Proposed to join Sir Francis Drake in his second expedition.

Elizabeth, his only child, was born.

Is supposed to have been named as one of the competitors for the crown of Poland, but he is said to have declined the dignity. Constituted a Privy Councillor.

Was appointed Governor of Flushing.

Promoted to the office of General of the Horse

by his uncle the earl of Leicester.

Lost his father, Sir Henry Sydney, K. G.
Took the town of Axell, in Flanders.

His mother, Lady Mary Sydney, sister of
Robert Earl of Leicester, died.

Sept. 22. Was mortally wounded at the battle of Zut

Oct. 17.

Nov. 5.

1587. Feb. 16.

phen.

Died at Arnheim, æt. 32.

His body arrived in London.

Was buried with great pomp at St. Paul's.

Sir Philip Sydney's contributions to the RHAPSODY consist only of Two Pastorals upon his meeting with his Two worthy friends and fellow Poets, Sir Edward Dyer and Sir Fulke Greville, p. 29 to 35.

SIR EDWARD DYER.

NOTWITHSTANDING that neither this individual nor FULKE GREVILLE, afterwards Lord Brooke, were contributors to the RHAPSODY, yet, as they are alluded to in it, and were the intimate friends of Sir Philip Sydney, between whom he ordered by his will that his books should be divided, the following particulars may be thought acceptable; especially as many of the circumstances relating to Dyer have not before been noticed. The highly curious letters from him to his patrons and associates, one of which is peculiarly deserving of attention, because it is presumed to afford most important information on Queen Elizabeth's moral character, are believed to be for the first time printed.

Sir EDWARD DYER was the son of Sir Thomas Dyer, of Somersetshire, Knt. the representative of an ancient family in that county, by his second wife, the daughter of Lord Poynings.* He is considered by Anthony Wood to have been admitted either of Baliol

* Harl. MSS. 1141. The Original Heralds' Visitation of Somersetshire in 1623. But Sir Edward's mother was, it is more probable, the daughter of one of the bastard brothers of the Thomas Lord Poynings, who died without issue, 18th May, 1545, and who was the only person at that time to whom the title of peerage could be applied.

College, or of Broadgate Hall, Oxford; but, like his fellow poet Daniel, he left the university without a degree, and travelled on the Continent. On his return, he is supposed to have become attached to the court, and afterwards became known by the productions of his Muse. The earliest proof we possess of his deriving any benefit from his attendance upon his sovereign, was in the eighth year of her reign, 1566, when he obtained a licence to pardon and dispense with tanning of leather contrary to the statute of the 5th Eliz., and to license any man to be a tanner.*

In 1571, he wrote the following letter to Mr. Smith, from which it is evident that he was in some way connected with Lord Leicester; and, as will be stated hereafter, there is little doubt that he possessed very considerable influence over the mind of that nobleman.

"To my very Friend Mr. John Smith, Esquire, at his Lodgings by Bridewell.

SIR,

"My L. of Leicester hath, since her Majesty's coming hither, moved her concerning you. His L. hath let her know what account hath been made of you abroad, and your worthiness (in his opinion) thereof. He willed her highness to consider thereof, and how that your friends might find just cause to persuade you (that if her Majesty did not entertain, encourage, and grace you accordingly) to repair whither your reputation hath been most advanced, again: which, if her Majesty should

* Lodge's Illustrations of British History.

suffer it, would not only be a cooling to men's desires to learn to serve their prince and country, but her Majesty should lack him perhaps in need, and be thought abroad in the world careless of men given to virtue.

"Her Majesty hath made very gracious and wise answer, pretending a full disposition to do you good, and taking nothing away from the good opinion my L. set forth, but rather allowed my L. his motion.

"So that my L. his advice is, that you repair to the Court, and bad me write so unto you, with this, that he lacketh nothing but some particular matter wherein he might deal for your good with her Majesty, which, if you will but seek out, you shall not need to sue. Thus I have done his good L. commandments, and, as your assured friend, do wish you to join with him herein; and when you come to the Court, I will bestow an advertisement on you for you to deal in if you like thereof. "From the Court, the 2nd of August, 1571.

"Your friend,

"EDW. DYER." *

In the ensuing year, his friend Sir Christopher Hatton, the Vice-Chamberlain, incurred the Queen's displeasure; and of the deep interest taken in the subject by Dyer, the subjoined letter of advice exhibits undoubted proof. It is not, however, from that circumstance that this valuable letter derives its claim to attention, but from the extraordinary allusions it contains to Queen Elizabeth.

SIR,

TO SIR CHRISTOPHER HATTON.

"AFTER my departure from you, thinking upon your case as my dear friend, I thought good to lay before you mine opi

* Lansdowne MSS. 13, f. 40. Original.

nion in writing somewhat more at large than at my last con

good will, for you need no But one that standeth by that is much more skilful,

ference I did speak. And I do it of counsel of mine, I know right well. shall see more in the game than one whose mind is too earnestly occupied. I will not recite the argument, or put the case as it were, for it needeth not, but go to the reasons, such as they be.

"First of all, you must consider with whom you have to deal, and what we be towards her; who, though she do descend very much in her sex as a woman, yet we may not forget her place, and the nature of it, as our Sovereign. Now if a man, of secret cause known to himself, might in common reason challenge it, yet, if the Queen mislike thereof, the world followeth the sway of her inclination. And never fall they in consideration of reason, as between private persons they do. And if it be after that rate for the most part in causes that may be justified, then much more will it be so in causes not to be avouched: a thing to be had in regard; for it is not good for any man straightly to weigh a general disallowance of her doings.

"That the Queen will mislike of such a course, this is my reason. She will imagine that you go about to imprison her fancy, and to wrap her grace within your disposition; and that will breed despite and hatred in her towards you. And so you may be cast forth to the malice of every envious person, flatterer, and enemy of yours, out of which you shall never recover yourself clearly, neither your friends, so long as they shew themselves your friends.

"But if you will make a proof par ver vramo as the Spanish phrase is, to see how the Queen and he will yield to it, and it prosper, go through withal; if not, to change your course suddenly into another more agreeable to her Majesty, I can like indifferently of that. But then you must observe this, that it be upon a by-occasion, for else it were not convenient, for divers reasons that you cannot but think upon.

"But the best and soundest way in mine opinion is, to put on