(Henry), the unfortunate secretary of the unfortunate earl of Essex, was born at Hinton St George in Somersetshire, about the year 1560, of a genteel family, who were possessed of considerable estates in that county. In 1576, he was entered at Trinity college, Oxford; where he soon acquired considerable reputation as a Grecian, and disputant. He obtained a fellowship in the above-mentioned college; but was afterwards expelled for speaking disrespectfully of the founder*. He was, however, soon after admitted of Merton college; of which, in 1586, he was elected probationer, and, in 1588, fellow. In this year he took the degree of master of arts. Some time after, he was elected Greek professor, and, in 1594, proctor of the university.

When he left Oxford is uncertain; nor are we better informed as to the means of his introduction to the earl of Essex. When that nobleman was made lord lieutenant of Ireland, Mr Cuff was appointed his secretary, and continued intimately connected with his lordship until his confinement in the tower; and he is generally supposed to have advised those violent measures which ended in their mutual destruction. The earl indeed confessed as much before his execution, and charged him, to his face, with being the author of all his misfortunes. Mr Cuff was tried for high treason, convicted, and executed at Tyburn on the 30th of March 1601. Lord Bacon, Sir Henry Wotton, and Camden, speak of him in very harsh terms. He was certainly a man of learning and abilities.

He wrote two books; the one intitled, The Differences of the Ages of Man's Life; the other, De Rebus Gestis in Sancto Concilio Niceno. The first was published after his death; the second is still in manuscript.