BRAMSTON, JAMES (_c._ 1694-1744).--Satirist, _ed._ at Westminster School and Oxf., took orders and was latterly Vicar of Hastings. His poems are _The Art of Politics_ (1729), in imitation of Horace, and _The Man of Taste_ (1733), in imitation of Pope. He also parodied Phillips's _Splendid Shilling_ in _The Crooked Sixpence_. His verses have some liveliness. BRAY, ANNA ELIZA (1790-1883).--Novelist, _dau._ of Mr. J. Kempe, was married first to C.A. Stothard, _s._ of the famous R.A., and himself an artist, and secondly to the Rev. E.A. Bray. She wrote about a dozen novels, chiefly historical, and _The Borders of the Tamar and Tavy_ (1836), an account of the traditions and superstitions of the neighbourhood of Tavistock in the form of letters to Southey, of whom she was a great friend. This is probably the most valuable of her writings. Among her works are _Branded_, _Good St. Louis and his Times_, _Trelawney_, and _White Hoods_. BRETON, NICHOLAS (1545-1626).--Poet and novelist. Little is known of his life. He was the _s._ of William B., a London merchant, was perhaps at Oxf., and was a rather prolific author of considerable versatility and gift. Among his poetical works are _A Floorish upon Fancie, Pasquil's Mad-cappe_ (1626), _The Soul's Heavenly Exercise_, and _The Passionate Shepherd_. In prose he wrote _Wit's Trenchmour_, _The Wil of Wit_ (1599), _A Mad World, my Masters_, _Adventures of Two Excellent Princes_, _Grimello's Fortunes_ (1604), _Strange News out of Divers Countries_ (1622), etc. His mother married E. Gascoigne, the poet (_q.v._). His lyrics are pure and fresh, and his romances, though full of conceits, are pleasant reading, remarkably free from grossness.