When he married is not on record, or in what circumstances
he lived: But it is very probable, his father
took care to support him in a manner suitable to his
own quality, and his son’s extraordinary merit,
he being always stiled Edward Fairfax, Esq; of Newhall
in Fuystone, in the forest of Knaresborough. The
year in which he died is likewise uncertain, and the
last account we hear of him is, that he was living
in 1631, which shews, that he was then pretty well
advanced in years, and as I suppose gave occasion to
the many mistakes that have been made as to the time
of his writing. Besides the translation of Godfrey
of Bulloigne, Mr. Fairfax wrote the history of Edward
the Black Prince, and certain eclogues, which Mrs.
Cooper tells us are yet in manuscript, tho’
(says she) “by the indulgence of the family,
from whom I had likewise the honour of these memoirs,
I am permitted to oblige the world with a specimen
of their beauties.” He wrote also a book
called, Daemonologie, in which he shews a great deal
of ancient reading and knowledge; it is still in manuscript,
and in the beginning he gives this character of himself[2].
“I am in religion neither a fantastic Puritan,
nor superstitious Papist, but so settled in conscience,
that I have the sure ground of God’s word to
warrant all I believe, and the commendable ordinances
of our English Church, to approve all I practise;
In which course I live a faithful Christian, and an
obedient, and so teach my family.” The eclogues
already mentioned are twelve in number, all of them
written after the accession of King James to the throne
of England, on important subjects, relating to the
manners, characters, and incidents of the times he
lived in: they are pointed with many fine strokes
of satire, dignified with noble instructions of morality,
and policy, to those of the highest rank, and some
modest hints to Majesty itself. The learning
contained in these eclogues is so various and extensive,
lhat according to the opinion of his son, who has
written long annotations on each, no man’s reading
besides his own was sufficient to explain his references
effectually. As his translation of Tasso is in
every body’s hand, we shall take the specimen
from the fourth eclogue, called Eglon and Alexis,
as I find it in Mrs. Cooper’s collection.
Eglon and Alexis.
Whilst on the rough, and heath-strew’d
wilderness
His tender flocks the rasps, and bramble
crop,
Poor shepherd Eglon, full of sad distress!
By the small stream, fat on a mole-hill
top:
Crowned with a wreath of Heban branches
broke:
Whom good Alexis found, and thus bespoke.
Alexis.
My friend, what means this silent lamentation?
Why on this field of mirth, this realm
of smiles
Doth the fierce war of grief make such
invasion?
Witty Timanthes[3] had he seen, e’re
whiles,
What face of woe thy cheek of sadness
bears,
He had not curtained Agamemnon’s