This learned person, Son and Brother to two ingenious Poets, himself the third, not second to either, was son to _Giles Fletcher_, Doctor in Law, and Embassadour from Queen _Elizabeth_ to _Theodor Juanowick_ Duke of _Muscovia_; who though a Tyranick Prince, whose will was his Law, yet setled with him very good Terms for our Merchants trading thither. He was also brother to two worthy Poets, _viz._ _George Fletcher_, the Author of a Poem, entituled, _Christs Victory and Triumph over and after Death_; and _Giles Fletcher_, who wrote a worthy Poem, entituled, _Christs Victory_, made by him being but Batchelor of Arts, discovering the piety of a Saint, and divinity of a Doctor. This our _Phineus Fletcher_ was Fellow of _Kings Colledge_ in _Cambridge_, and in Poetick fame exceeded his two Brothers, in that never enough to be celebrated Poem, entituled, _The Purple Island_, of which to give my Reader a taste (who perhaps hath never seen the Book) I shall here add two Stanza's of it. Thrice happy was the worlds first infancy, Nor knowing yet, nor curious ill to know: Joy without grief, love without jealousie: None felt hard labour, or the sweating Plough: The willing earth brought tribute to her King: _Bacchus_ unborn lay hidden in the cling Of big swollen Grapes; their drink was every silver spring. And in another place, speaking of the vanity of ambitious Covetousness. Vain men, too fondly wise, who plough the Seas, With dangerous pains another earth to find: Adding new Worlds to th'old, and scorning ease, The earths vast limits daily more unbind! The aged World, though now it falling shows, And hasts to set, yet still in dying grows, Whole lives are spent to win, what one Deaths hour must lose. Besides this _Purple Island_, he wrote divers _Piscatorie Eclogues_, and other _Poetical Miscelanies_, also a Piscatory Comedy called _Sicelides_, which was acted at _Kings-Colledge_ in _Cambridge_. * * * * * Mr. _GEORGE HERBERT_. This divine Poet and person was a younger brother of the Noble Family of the _Herberts_ of _Montgomery_, whose florid wit, obliging humour in conversation, fluent Elocution, and great proficiency in the Arts, gained him that reputation at _Oxford_, where he spent his more youthful Age, that he was chosen University Orator, a place which required one of able parts to Mannage it; at last, taking upon him Holy Orders, not without special Encouragement from the King, who took notice of his extraordinary Parts, he was made Parson of _Bemmerton_ near _Salisbury_, where he led a Seraphick life, converting his Studies altogether to serious and Divine Subjects; which in time produced those his so generally known and approved Poems entituled, _The Temple_. Whose Vocal notes tun'd to a heavenly Lyre, Both learned and unlearned all admire. I shall only add out of his Book an Anagram, which he made on the name of the Virgin _Mary_. M A R Y. A R M Y.