Stephen Hawes

, or Hawys originally descended, as it seems, from the Hawes of Hawes in the Bushes in the County of Suffolk; was instructed in all such Literature as this University could at that time afford, but whether he took a Degree, we have no Register to shew it. Afterwards in his Travels through England, Scotland, and France; visiting the receptacles of good Letters, did much advance the Foundation of Literature that he had laid in this place; so that after his return, he being esteemed a compleat Gentleman, a Master of several Languages, especially of the French, and above all, for his most excellent vein in Poetry; he was received into the Court of King Henry 7. who being a great encourager of Learning, and a judicious understander of Men, was by him made (n)(n) Jo [•] . Baleus ut supra, cent. 8. num. 58. where ’tis said that the King called St. Hawes ab interiori camera ad secretum cubiculum. at length one of the Grooms of his Chamber, and highly esteemed by him for his facetions discourse, and prodigious memory; which last did evidently appear in this, that he could repeat by heart most of our English Poets; especially Jo. Lydgate a Monk of Bury, whom he made equal in some respects, with Geff. Chaucer. He hath transmitted to Posterity several Books in English, some of which are in Verse, and somein Prose, as,

The pastime of pleasure; or, the History of Graund Amour, and la bel Pucell, containing the knowledge of the seven Sciences, and the course of Man’s Life in this World. Lond. 1555. quart. Written in English Verse, and finished by the Author 21. Henry 7. Dom. 150 5/6. About which time it was first of all, I suppose, made publick. It is adorned with Wooden Cuts to make the Reader understand the Story the better, and Printed in an old English Character. But such is the fate of Poetry, that this Book which in the time of Henry 7. and 8. was taken into the Hands of all ingenious Men, is now thought but Worthy of a Ballad-mongers Stall. He hath also written (1) The Exemplar of Vertue. (2) Delight of the Soul. (3) Consolation of Lovers. (4) The Chrystalline Temple, &c. one or more of which were written in Latin. Claruit 1506. This Author was in great value among ingenious Men, in the latter end of Henry 7. but when he died I know not as yet.