Fulke Greville, 1st Baron
Brooke
born October 3, 1554, Beauchamp Court,
Warwickshire, England
died September 30, 1628, Warwick
English writer who, on his tomb, styled
himself “Servant to Q. Eliz., councellor to King
James, and friend to Sir Philip Sidney,” but who
is best remembered as a powerful philosophical
poet and exponent of a plain style of writing.
Greville’s Life of the Renowned Sir Philip
Sidney (1652) is a valuable commentary on
Elizabethan politics. His sonnet collection
Caelica (first printed 1633) differed in tone
from most Elizabethan cycles, its treatment
being realistic and ironic. His mind was
melancholy and Calvinistic, emphasizing the
“wearisome condition of humanity,” torn between
this world and God’s commands. His tragedies on
Oriental themes traced the political results of
this division, and his verse treatises showed
how statesmen can best keep order in a naughty
world. His poem “Humane Learning” was skeptical
about the instruments and aims of earthly
knowledge and, in stressing practical
improvements, probably owed something to his
friend Francis Bacon. Greville was a favourite
of Queen Elizabeth.
After matriculating at the University of
Cambridge in 1568, he was given a post in the
Court of the Welsh Marches in 1576 but the next
year went on an embassy to Europe—the first of
several diplomatic missions—and later visited
the Low Countries, Ireland, and France. Grants
of land and minor offices enriched him, and in
1598 he became treasurer of the navy.
By alienating the influential Sir Robert
Cecil, he forfeited immediate promotion to high
office at James I’s accession but was made a
Knight of the Bath. He later restored Warwick
Castle (bestowed on him in 1605 by James) and
wrote verse treatises and plays. His tact and
business ability were finally rewarded: he was
made chancellor of the Exchequer in 1614 and a
baron in 1621.
Works definitely by Greville are Certaine
learned and elegant workes (1633) and Remains
(1670). The tragedy Mustapha was printed
(probably piratically) in 1609, and some songs
were set to music.
He never married but was “a constant courtier
of the ladies.” He died of stab wounds inflicted
by a disgruntled manservant.
