FULKE, Lord Brook, of Beauchamp's Court in Warwickshire, a poet and miscellaneous writer, was born in the year 1554, and descended from the noble families of Beauchamps of Powick and Willoughby de Brook. In company with his cousin Sir Philip Sidney, he began his education at a school in Shrewsbury; thence he went to Oxford, where he remained for some time a gentleman commoner, and then removed to Trinity-college in Cambridge. Having left the university, he visited foreign courts, and thus added to his knowledge of the ancient languages a perfect knowledge of the modern. On his return to England he was introduced to Queen Elizabeth by his uncle Robert Greville, at that time in her majesty's service; and by means of Sir Henry Sidney, lord president of Wales, was nominated to some lucrative employments in that principality.

In the year 1581, when the French commissioners who came to treat about the queen's marriage with the duke of Anjou were sumptuously entertained with tilts and tournaments, Mr Greville, who was one of the challengers, "so signalized himself, as to 'win the reputation of a most valiant knight.'" He continued a constant attendant at court, and a favourite with the queen to the end of her reign; during which he obtained the office of treasurer of marine caules, also a grant of the manor of Wedgnock, and likewise the honour of knighthood. In this reign he was several times elected member for the county of Warwick; and from the journals of the house seems to have been a man of business, as his name frequently appears in committees.

On the accession of King James I. he was installed knight of the Bath; and soon after obtained a grant of the runous cattle of Warwick, which he repaired at a considerable expence, and where he probably resided during the former part of this reign: but in the year 1614, the twelfth of James I. he was made under-treasurer, and chancellor of the exchequer, one of the privy council, and gentleman of the bed-chamber; and in 1622, was raised to the dignity of a baron by the title of Lord Brook of Beauchamp's Court. He was also privy-counsellor to King Charles I. in the beginning of whose reign he founded a history-lecture in Cambridge.

Having thus attained the age of 74, through a life of continued prosperity, universally admired as a gentleman and a scholar, he fell by the hand of an assassin, one of his own domestics, who immediately stabbed himself with the same weapon with which he had murdered his master. This fellow's name was Haywood; and the cause is said to have been a severe reprimand for his presumption in upbraiding his master for not providing for him after his death. It seems he had been witness to Lord Brook's will, and knew the contents. Some say he stabbed him with a knife in the back, others with a sword. This affair happened at Brook-house in Holborne.—Lord Brook was buried with great pomp in St Mary's church at Warwick, in his own vault, over which he had erected a monument of black and white marble, ordering at his death the following inscription to be engraved upon the tomb: "Fulke Greville, servant to Queen Elizabeth, counsellor to King James, and friend to Sir Philip Sidney. Trophaeum Peccati." He wrote several works both in verse and prose; among which are, 1. Two tragedies, Alaham and Mutapha. 2. A Treatise of Human Learning, &c. in verse, folio. 3. The Life of Sir Philip Sidney. 4. An inquisition upon Fame and Honour, in 86 stanzas. 6. Cecilia, a collection of 109 songs. 7. His Remains, consisting of political and philosophical poems.