George Turbervile

(de turbida villa) a younger Son of Nich. Turbervile of Whitchurch in Dorsetshire, Son of Hen. Turb. of the said place, and he the fifth Son of Joh. Turbervile of Bere Regis (a right ancient and gentile Family) in Dorsetshire, was born at Whit [••] urch before-mentioned, educated in W [•] keham’s School near to Winchester, became perpet [••] Fellow of New Coll. 1561. left it before he was graduated the year following, and went to one of the Inns of Court, where he was much admired for his excellencies in the art of Poetry. Afterwards being esteemed a Person fit for business, as having a good and ready command of his Pen, he was entertained by Tho. Randolph Esq; to be his Secretary, when he received commission from Queen Elizabeth to go Embassador to the Emperour of Russia. After our author’s arrival at that place, he did at spare hours exercise his muse, and wrote, Poems describing the places and manners of the country and people of Russia, an. 1568.—Written to Edw. Dancie, Edm. Spencer, &c. at London. See in the Voyages of R. Hakeluyt, printed 1598. vol. 1. p. 384, 385, &c. After his return he was esteemed a most accomplished Gentleman, and his company was much sought after and desired by all ingenious men; especially upon his publication of his Labours, entit.

Epitaphs, Epigrams, Songs, and Sonnets. Lond. 1570. oct. Some, if not most, of which were published a little before that time. This Book was the same, as I conceive, which was printed with additions, under his name, in oct. An. 1587. with this Title, Tragical Tales, Epitaphs, and Sonnets, &c. He also translated in English, The Eglogues of John Bapt. Fiera Mantuan. Lond. 1594. Which Eglogues Turbervile turned in English Verse, and added an argument to every Eglogue: Also about the same time, he translated into English Verse, and set out, The Heroical Epistles of the learned Poet, Pub. Ovid. Naso: with Aul. Sabinus Answers to certain of the same. Printed in oct. twice as it seems, one edition whereof came out at Lond. 1600. The said Eglogues were afterwards translated by another hand; but not without the help of that translation of Turbervile, though not acknowledged. The person that performed it was Tho. Harvey, who writes himself Gent. But whether the same Tho. Harvey who was Master of Arts, the first Master of Kington School in Herefordshire, (founded 1620.) and the author of The Synagogue, in imitation of divine Herbert, I know not. As for George Turbervile he lived and was in great esteem among ingenious men,Clar. 1594. in fifteen hundred ninety and four, (36. Reg. Elizab.) but when he dyed I cannot yet learn. I find one George Turbervile to be author of (1) Essays politick and moral. Printed 1608. in oct. (2) The noble art of Venery, or hunting and hawking. Printed with figures in 1611. in qu. &c. Whether George Turbervile before-mentioned was the author of the said two books, or another of both his names, who was a Dorsetshire man born, and a Commoner of Glouc. Hall, An. 1581. aged 18. or a third G. Turbervile who was born in the said County, and became a Student in Magd. Hall 1595. aged 17. I cannot justly tell you, unless I could see and peruse the said two books, of which I am as yet totally ignorant.