The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
As our Author loved and admired the ladies, it is somewhat
extraordinary, that he died a batchelor; for in all that courtly age,
he could not find one on whom to confer the valuable prize of his
heart. As he was himself a learned man, and possessed a variety of
knowledge, so he patronized many necessitous candidates for fame, but
particularly Camden, whom he caused by his interest to be made King
at Arms. He was likewise very liberal to Mr. Speed the celebrated
chronologer: finding him a man of extensive knowledge, and his
occupation and circumstances mean, so that his genius was depressed by
poverty, he enabled him to prosecute his studies, and pursue the bent
of his genius without being obliged to drudge at a manual employment
for his bread. Speed in his description of Warwickshire writes thus
of lord Brook, "Whose merit (says he) towards me I do acknowledge, in
setting my hand free from the daily employments of a manual trade,
and giving it full liberty thus to express the inclination of mind,
himself being the procurer of my present estate." He passed thro' life
in a calm of prosperity and honour, beloved by his equals, reverenced
by his inferiors, and a favourite at court; but when he was about
seventy years of age, this life of undisturbed tranquility, was
sacrificed to the resentment of a villain, and a catastrophe of the
most tragical kind closed the days of this worthy man.
One Haywood, who had been many years in his service, and had behaved
with fidelity and honour, expostulated with him freely (while they
were alone) for his not having received a due reward for his services.
His lordship enraged at his presumption, and giving way to his
passion, reprimanded him very severely for his insolence; for which
the villain being now wrought up to the highest degree of fury, took
an opportunity to stab him with his dagger through the back into the
vitals, of which wound he instantly died, September 30, 1628.
The murderer then struck with remorse, horror and despair, and all the
natural attendants of his guilt, retired to his chamber, and having
secured the door, fell upon the same weapon with which he had
assassinated his master, and anticipated on himself the justice
reserved for the hand of an executioner. Lord Brooke was interred in
Warwickshire, under a monument of black and white marble[1], whereon
he is stiled, Servant to Queen Elizabeth, Counsellor to King James,
and friend to Sir Philip Sidney.
His works are chiefly these, viz.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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