Chapter Fletcher to Ford of F by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Fletcher to Ford

Fletcher, Andrew (1655-1716).—Scottish statesman and political writer, son of Sir Robert Fletcher of Saltoun, East Lothian, to which estate he succeeded at an early age. He was educated under the care of Bishop Burnet, who was then minister of Saltoun. Being firmly opposed to the arbitrary measures of the Duke of York, afterwards James II., he went to Holland, where he joined Monmouth, whom he accompanied on his ill-starred expedition. Happening to kill, in a quarrel, one Dare, another of the Duke’s followers, he fled to the Continent, travelled in Spain and Hungary, and fought against the Turks. After the Revolution he returned to Scotland, and took an active part in political affairs. He opposed the Union, fearing the loss of Scottish independence, and advocated federation rather than incorporation. He introduced various improvements in agriculture. His principal writings are Discourse of Government (1698), Two Discourses concerning the Affairs of Scotland (1698), Conversation concerning a right Regulation of Government for the Common Good of Mankind (1703), in which occurs his well-known saying, “Give me the making of the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.”

Fletcher, Giles, and Phineas (1588?-1623) (1582-1650).—Poets, were the sons of Giles Fletcher, himself a minor poet, and Envoy to Russia. Phineas, the elder, was educated at Eton and Cambridge, and entered the Church, becoming Rector of Hilgay, Norfolk. He wrote The Purple Island (1633), a poem in 10 books, giving an elaborate allegorical description of the body and mind of man, which, though tedious and fanciful, contains some fine passages, recalling the harmonious sweetness of Spenser, whose disciple the poet was. He was also the author of Piscatory Dialogues. GILES, the younger, was also educated at Cambridge, and, like his brother, became a country parson, being Rector of Alderton. His poem, Christ’s Victory and Triumph (1610), which, though it contains passages rising to sublimity, is now almost unknown except to students of English literature, is said to have influenced Milton.

Both brothers, but especially Giles, had a genuine poetic gift, but alike in the allegorical treatment of their subjects and the metre they adopted, they followed a style which was passing away, and thus missed popularity. They were cousins of John Fletcher, the dramatist.

Florence of Worcester (died 1118).—Chronicler, was a monk of Worcester. His work is founded upon that of Marianus, an Irish chronicler, supplemented by additions taken from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Bede’s Lives of the Saints, and Asser’s Life of Alfred. After his death it was brought down to 1295.

Florio, John (1553?-1625).—Translator, son of an Italian preacher, exiled for his Protestantism, but who appears to have lost credit owing to misconduct, born in London, was, about 1576, a private tutor of languages at Oxford In 1581 he was admitted a member of Magdalen Coll., and teacher of French and Italian. Patronised by various noblemen, he became in 1603 reader in Italian to Anne of Denmark, Queen of James I. He published First Fruites (1578), Second Fruites (1591), consisting of Italian and English Dialogues, and his great Italian dictionary entitled A World of Wonder, in 1598. His chief contribution to pure literature is his famous translation of The Essays of Montaigne, in stately if somewhat stiff Elizabethan English.

Fonblanque, Albany William (1793-1872).—Journalist and political writer, was of Huguenot descent, the son of a Commissioner in Bankruptcy. He was bred to the law, but deserted it for journalism, in which he took a high place. He wrote much for The Times, and Westminster Review, and subsequently became editor and proprietor of the Examiner. His best articles were republished as England under Seven Administrations (1837). He also wrote How we are Governed. In 1847 he was appointed Statistical secretray to the Board of Trade.

Foote, Samuel (1720-1777).—Actor and dramatist, born at Truro of a good family, and educated at Oxford, succeeded by his extravagance and folly in running through two fortunes. To repair his finances he turned to the stage, and began with tragedy, in which he failed. He then took to comedy, and the mimetic representation of living characters, for which his extraordinary comic powers highly qualified him. He also became a prolific author of dramatic pieces. He wrote 20 plays, and claimed to have added 16 original characters to the stage. Several of his pieces, owing to the offence they gave to persons of importance, were suppressed, but were usually revived in a slightly modified form. His conversation was