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thou art come out of Greece, to blaze thy vice in England, a place too honest for thee, and thou too dishonest for any place.

Lilly appears to have been an author much in fashion in his day. Edward Blount, the editor of six of his Comedies, speaks of those plays as "written by the only rare poet of that time, the witty, comical, facetiouslyquick, and unparalleled John Lilly, master of arts." In his epistle also to the reader, after observing that the poet, "was heard, graced, and rewarded by queen Elizabeth," he says, that those plays were published "to prevent oblivion from trampling upon such a son of the Muses, as they called their darling." And then proceeds to assert that the nation was indebted to our author for a new English, which he taught them in his Euphues; that all the ladies of that time were his scholars; she who spoke not Euphueism being as little regarded at court, as if she could not speak French. It is remarkable, that this assertion is confirmed in Ben Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour;" in which, Fallace,

wife of Deliro, a proud mincing lady, dotes upon Fastidius Brisk, a spruce affected courtier. The gallant being thrown into the counter, is there visited by Fallace; who concludes the expressions of her fondness in these words: "O master Brisk (as it is in Euphues) hard is the choice when one is compelled, either by silence to die with grief, or by speaking, to live with shame." Upon this passage, we have the following note by Mr. Whalley. Euphues is the title of a Romance, wrote by one Lilly, that was in the highest vogue at this time, The court ladies had all the phrases by heart, The language is extremely affected, and like the specimen here quoted, consists chiefly of antitheses in the thought and expression,"

66

CECIL (WILLIAM),

BARON of Burghley, Burleigh, or Burly, was born at Bourn in Lincolnshire, in 1520. After being initiated in grammar learning at the grammar schools of Grantham and Stamford, he was removed, in 1535, to St. John's College, Cambridge; and in 1541, entered at Gray's Inn as student of the law. There he distinguished himself by his application; the fruit of which was an intimate acquaintance with the constitution of his country.

On his introduction at court, his first promotion was to the office of Custos Brevium, in the beginning of the reign of Edward VI. In 1547, he was appointed master of requests; and the year after, obtained the post of secretary,which he enjoyed twice in Edward's reign. He was knighted and sworn of the privy council in 1551. In the reign of Mary he lost his

office, for refusing to change his religion; but on the accession of Elizabeth, was again sworn privy counsellor and secretary of state, which offices he retained till his death.

He obtained also in 1561 the office of master of the wards. In 1571 the queen created him baron of Burleigh; the year following, knight of the garter; and about three months after, raised him to the office of lord high treasurer. He had the additional honour of being chancellor of the university of Cambridge. He died in 1598, at the age of 77.

Lord Burleigh, as Mr. Walpole has observed, " is one of those great names, better known in the annals of his country, than those in the republic of letters."

His works consist chiefly of letters and state papers.

1. When (as sir William Cecil) he accompanied the duke of Somerset on his expedition. into Scotland, he kept a "Diary," which was afterwards published by William Patten, under the title of " Diarium Expeditionis Scotica, Lond. 1541, 12 mo." and which furnished materials for an account of that war. This is probably the reason why he is classed by Holinshed among the English historians.

VOL. II.

2. "The first Paper or Memorial of Sir W. Cecil, anno primo Eliz." This is merely a paper of memorandums, and has been printed in Somers's Tracts.

3. "A Speech in Parliament, 1592;" first published by Strype in his Annals, and since inserted in the parliamentary history, vol. 4, p. 356–363.

4. "Lord Burleigh's Precepts or Directions for the well ordering and carriage of a Man's Life," 1837.

These Precepts were addressed to his son Robert Cecil; and furnish perhaps the most carious specimen that could be selected of hist manner as a writer, of his personal character, and in some sort of the character of the age in which he lived. The extract is taken from Peck's Desiderata Curiosa, vol. 1. p. 47-49; edit. 1779.

Son Robert,

The virtuous inclinations of thy matchless mother, by whose tender and godly care thy infancy was governed; together with thy education under so zealous and excellent a tutor; puts me in rather assu→ rance than hope, that thou art not ignorant of that summum bonum, which is only able to make thee

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