Sir Godfrey, privy counsellor and secretary in Ireland during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and King James I. is well known for his translation of Guicciardini's History of the Wars of Italy, dedicated to Queen Elizabeth in 1579. He died at Dublin in 1608; after having married his daughter to Mr Boyle, afterward the great earl of Cork.

Elijah, descended from an ancient family, was born at Shelton near Newcastle, but in what year is uncertain. He was the youngest of 12 children, and was intended for the ministry; but embracing principles contrary to the government, while at Cambridge, he became disqualified for entering into holy orders. After he quitted the university, he was secretary to the earl of Orrery; but seems to have spent the most of his life amongst his friends and relations, and used to pay an annual visit to his elder brother who enjoyed an estate of 1000l. a year. He was a man of great tenderness and humanity, enjoyed the fairest reputation, and was much esteemed by Mr Pope; who, when he died in 1730, paid him the tribute of a very elegant epitaph. He published a volume of poems in the year 1717; and in 1723 was acted his tragedy of Mariamne, built upon her story collected from Josephus in the third volume of the Spectator.