DUDLEY, Sir Robert, as he was called in England, and, as he was styled abroad, earl of Warwick and duke of Northumberland, was the son of Robert above mentioned, by the lady Douglas Sheffield; and was born at Sheen in Surrey in 1573, where he was carefully concealed, to prevent the queen's knowledge of the earl's engagement with his mother. He studied at Oxford; when his father dying, left him the bulk of his estate. He was at this time one of the finest gentleman in England: and having a particular turn to navigation, fitted out a small squadron at his own expence, with which he sailed to the river Oroonoque, and took and destroyed nine sail of Spanish ships. In 1595, he attended the earl of Essex, and the lord high admiral of England, in their expedition against the Spaniards; when, for his gallant behaviour at the taking of Cadiz, he received the honour of knighthood. He now endeavoured to prove the legitimacy of his birth, in order to be entitled to his hereditary honours. But being overpowered by the interest of the countess dowager of Leicester, he applied for a license to travel; and being well received at the court of Florence, resolved to continue there, notwithstanding his receiving a letter of recall; on which his whole estate was seized by King James I. and vested in the crown. He discovered at the court of Cosmo II. great duke of Tuscany, those great abilities for which he had been admired in England, and was at length made chamberlain to his serene highness's consort. He there contrived several methods of improving shipping; introduced new manufactures; and by other services obtained so high a reputation, that at the desire of the archduchess, the emperor Ferdinand, in 1620, created him a duke of the holy Roman empire. He afterwards drained a vast tract of morass between Pisa and the sea; and raised Leghorn, which was then a mean, pitiful place, into a large and beautiful town, improving the haven by a mole, which rendered it both safe
Duel. and commodious; and having engaged his highness to declare it a free port, he by his influence and correspondence, drew many English merchants to settle and set up houses there, which was of very great service to his native country, as well as to the Spaniards. He was also the patron of learned men, and held a high place himself in the republic of letters. His most celebrated work is his Del Arcano del Mare, in two volumes folio.