Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/380

 344 A C PI A M. years, during whuh time he contracted a great friendihip with all the men of letters in that country. When he was at the court of Germany, he applied himfelf to the fludy of politics; nor (iocs he feem to have been a contemptible poli- tician, by the tradt which he wrote concerning Germany and the affairs of Charles V. [F ]. He was not only of great fer- vice to the ambaffadoi in his public concerns, but alfb afiifted him in his private ftucies, wherein he read Herodotus, Sopho- cles, Euripides, and Demofthenes three days in the week with him ; the reft of his time he employed in writing the bid. p. jo. letters which fir Richard font to England. While he was thus engaged, his friends procured him the port of Latin fe- cretary to king Edward, for which he was particularly obliged to fir William Cecil, fccretary of ftate. But he did not long enjoy this honour, being recalled on account of the king's, death, whereby he loft his place, together with his penfion, and all expectation of any farther favour at court. Some time after, however, his friend lord Paget having recom- mended him to Stephen Gardiner, bifhopof Winchefter, and lord high chancellor, he was appointed Latin fecretary to queen Mary [cj. He was aifo well known to, and in greac efteem with cardinal Pole, who, though himfelf a great maf- ter of the Latin tongue, yec fometimes preferred Mr. Afcham's pen to his own, particularly in transiting into Latin the fpeech he had fpoken in Engl'fh to the parliament, as legate from the pope; which tranflation was fent to his holinefs by Ibid. p. 24-the cardinal. Onthefirft of June, 1554, Mr. Afcham was married to Mrs Margaret Howe, with whom he had a confi- derable fortune. Upon the death of queen Miry, he was much regarded by queen Elizabeth, who made him her fccre- [r]. The title of tl^is treatife runs rarely be found within the fame com- thu" : <( A Reportand Difcouric, writ- pafs in our own, or perhaps in any ten by Roper Afcham, of the Affairs other modern language. Jt -is the and State of Germany and the Empe- fcarctft ami leaft known of all our au- roiu Charles his Court, duryng certain thur's writings. yeares, while the fjid Ro^er was [c j He tells Slurmius (Epift. ii. lib. here:" at London, p:ir.ted by John I.) that .ill he had enjoyed under Henry Daye, dwelling over Alderfgate, cum VJ]i. and Edward VJ. vvas reftored to jiatia et privilegio reg : a: msjeftatis per him, with feverai n'-w advantages. He xiccennium. This treatife is written observes that the bifhop of Winchefter in form of a letter, addrelTed to J< hn had fhewn him the utmoft civility, fo Afl'cy, in anfwer to one <;f his, which that he could not well determine whc- is prefixed. It gives the cleareft and ther the lord Page: had been readier in mod diOin& account of the motives recommending him, or the bi/hop in which led to one ot the Created events advancing him ; that fome perfons in- T 'tiat age, viz. the emperor's refgna- <!<"ed had endeavoured to flop the courfe lion } and contains Inch a number of of his favours to him, on account of re,^ ir : r>ns fails, with fuch natural and 1'gion, but had failed in the attempt. pertinent reafooings ur-on them, as ca.n