FENTON, SIR GEOFFREY

FENTON, SIR GEOFFREY, an eminent writer and statesman during the reigns of Elizabeth and James I., was brother to Edward Fenton, the navigator, who accompanied Sir Martin Frobisher in his expeditions, and was afterwards sent out independently to endeavour to discover a north-west passage. The time of Sir Geoffrey's birth is uncertain, but he appears to have received a liberal education, and certainly gave many proofs of his acquaintance with ancient and modern learning, particularly of his knowledge of the French, Spanish, and Italian languages. He is best known, however, for his translation of the History of the Wars of Italy by Guicciardini, which he dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. But this was his last work, as is proved by the date of the dedication (7th January 1579) just mentioned. He had previously published, 1. Certain Tragic Discourses, written out of French and Latin, 1567, in 4to; 2. An Account of a dispute at Paris, between two Doctors of the Sorbonne and two Ministers of God's Word, 1571; 3. An Epistle, or Godly Admonition, sent to the Pastors of the Flemish Church at Antwerp, exhorting them to concord with other Ministers; translated from the original of Antonio de Carro, 1578; 4. Golden Epistles, containing variety of Discourses, both moral, philosophical, and divine, gathered as well out of the remainder of Guevara's works, as other authors, Latin, French, and Italian, 1577. The familiar epistles of Guevara had been published in English by Edward Fellowes, in 1574; but Fenton's collection consists of pieces not contained in that publication, and, like his translation of Guicciardini, has risen in public estimation since the language and literature of the Elizabethan age have been more generally studied. In the capacity of queen's counsellor or secretary, Fenton served for a considerable time in Ireland, where his conduct appears to have given great satisfaction to his royal mistress, and whence he was frequently sent for to be consulted respecting Irish affairs. Nor does the confidence which his sovereign had in his judgment and understanding appear to have been

misplaced. Maintained in office by her favour alone, he repaid her kindness by communicating salutary truths, and recommending wise and liberal measures. To his honour be it stated, he took every opportunity of impressing on the mind of the queen the important truth, that the Irish were to be governed only by a strict observance of the rules of justice, and that the safety and glory of her government in that island depended on her subjects enjoying the protection of equal laws. How much misery, and suffering, and humiliation, might have been spared to Ireland, if succeeding counsellors and secretaries in that country had been capable of appreciating the enlightened policy so strongly recommended by Fenton! In 1603 Sir Geoffrey married his only daughter to Mr Boyle, afterwards Earl of Cork, and died at his house in Dublin on the 19th October 1606. (A.)