Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/111

Rh and again in 1600, 12mo. A letter written to her by the archbishop on the occasion, and which is preserved by Ballard, is highly to her honour. That her literary reputation extended beyond her own country, is evident, from the famous Theodore Beza's dedication of his Meditations to her.

In Birch's Memoirs of the reign of queen Elizabeth, lady Bacon's name frequently occurs; and we there meet with some of her letters at full length, and with extracts from others, which fully justify the following character given of her by the historian now mentioned. "She frequently introduces Greek as well as Latin into her letters, sometimes with a view of secresy, but, more commonly, from the custom of that age, wherein such an intermixture of languages had less the air of pedantry and affectation than it would have in the present. She was very strict in the duties of piety, and inclined to the principles of the puritans, to whom her husband had not been thought unfavourable: but her temper seems to have been severe and peevish, especially in the latter years of her life, when it was probably affected by her ill health. Her advice and remonstrances to her elder son Anthony, were generally delivered in a style of authority, and in terms of reproach, which rendered them less acceptable and effectual than otherwise they might have been."

She survived her husband, and was living in 1591. It is probable she died about the beginning of the reign of king James I. at Gorhambury, near St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, and lies buried in St. Michael's church there, but without any monument or inscription to her memory. Female Worthies; New Ann. Register. BALLON,