Henry, the unfortunate secretary of the unfortunate Earl of Essex, was born at Hinton St George, Somersetshire, about 1560, and descended of a respectable family, who were possessed of considerable estates in that county. In 1576 he was entered of Trinity College, Oxford, where he soon acquired considerable reputation as a Greek scholar and disputant. He also obtained a fellowship in Trinity; but was subsequently expelled for speaking disrespectfully of the founder. He was, however, soon afterwards admitted of Merton College, of which, in 1586, he was elected probationer, and in 1588 fellow. Some time afterwards he was elected professor of Greek, and in 1594 appointed proctor of the university. It is uncertain when he left Oxford; nor do we know the occasion of his introduction to the Earl of Essex. When that nobleman, however, was made lord-lieutenant of Ireland, Cuff was appointed his secretary, and is generally supposed to have advised those violent measures which ended in their mutual destruction. Having been implicated by the confessions of his master, he was tried for high treason, convicted, and executed at Tyburn March 30, 1601. Cuff was the author of two books: the one entitled The Difference of the Ages of Man's Life; the other De Rebus Gestis in Sancto Concilio Niceno. The first was published after his death, but the second is still in manuscript.

Cuirass (French, cuirasse), armour for the breast or back. It is commonly applied to a piece of defensive armour made of well-hammered iron plate, used to cover the