BROWN (William), an English poet of the 17th century, was descended from a good family, and born at Tavistock in Devonshire in the year 1590. After he had passed through the grammar school, he was sent to Exeter college in the university of Oxford, in the beginning of the reign of James I. and became tutor to Robert Dormer, who was afterwards earl of Carnarvon, and killed at Newbury battle, September 20th 1643. He is styled in the public register of the university, "a man well skilled in all kinds of polite literature and useful arts;" vir omni humana literatura et bonarum artium cognitione instructus. After he had left the college with his pupil, he was taken into the family of William earl of Pembroke, who had a great respect for him; and he made his fortune so well, that he purchased an estate. His poetical works procured him a very great reputation. They are as follow. 1. Britannia's Pastorals. The first part was published at London, 1613, in folio; and ushered into the world with several copies of verses made by his ingenious and learned friends John Selden, Michael Drayton, Christopher Cook, &c. The second part was printed at London in 1616, and recommended by various copies of verses written by John Glanville who afterwards became eminent in the profession of the law, and others. These two parts were reprinted in two vols 8vo, 1625. 2. The shepherd's pipe, in seven eclogues; London, 1614, in 8vo. 3. An elegy on the never-enough bewailed death of prince Henry, eldest son of king James I. Mr Wood tells us, that it is probable, our author wrote several other poems which he had not seen. It is uncertain when he died.