led before by others pains,
As often thou hast wanted brains.

In the year 1618 this author died at Middleburgh in Zealand, aged 55
years, and had the following epitaph made on him by his great admirer
John Vicars beforementioned, but we do not find that it was put upon
his tomb-stone.

Here lies (death's too rich prize) the corpse interr'd
Of Joshua Sylvester Du Bartas Pier;
A man of arts best parts, to God, man, dear;
In foremost rank of poets best preferr'd.

[Footnote 1: Athenae Oxon. p. 594.]

[Footnote 2: Winstanley, Lives of the Poets, p. 109.]

* * * * *

SAMUEL DANIEL

Was the son of a music master, and born near Taunton in Somersetshire,
in the year 1562. In 1579 he was admitted a commoner in Magdalen Hall
in Oxford, where he remained about three years, and by the assistance
of an excellent tutor, made a very great proficiency in academical
learning; but his genius inclining him more to studies of a gayer and
softer kind, he quitted the University, and applied himself to history
and poetry. His own merit, added to the recommendation of his brother
in law, (John Florio, so well known for his Italian Dictionary)
procured him the patronage of Queen Anne, the consort of King James I.
who was pleased to confer on him the honour of being one of the Grooms
of the Privy-Chamber, which enabled him to rent a house near London,
where privately he composed many of his dramatic pieces. He was tutor
to Lady Ann Clifford, and on the death of the great Spenser, he was
appointed Poet Laureat to Queen Elizabeth. Towards the end of his life
he retired to a farm which he had at Beckington near Philips Norton
in Somersetshire, where after some time spent in the service of the
Muses, and in religious contemplation, he died in the year 1619. He
left no issue by his wife Justina, to whom he was married several
years. Wood says, that in the wall over his grave there is this
inscription;

Here lies expecting the second coming of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the dead body
of Samuel Daniel esquire, that excellent poet
and historian, who was tutor to Lady Ann
Clifford in her youth, she that was daughter
and heir to George Clifford earl of Cumberland;
who in gratitude to him erected this monument
to his memory a long time after, when she was
Countess Dowager of Pembroke, Dorset and
Montgomery. He died in October, Anno 1619.

Mr. Daniel's poetical works,