Abraham Fraunce facts for kids
Abraham Fraunce (c. 1558/1560 – c. 1592/1593) was an English poet who lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his writings on poetry, logic, and law.
Life of Abraham Fraunce
Abraham Fraunce was born in Shropshire, England, sometime between 1558 and 1560. He went to Shrewsbury School in 1571. Later, in 1576, he began studying at St John's College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow (a kind of academic position) in 1580 or 1581.
While at Cambridge, he likely wrote a Latin play called Victoria. This play was dedicated to Sir Philip Sidney, a famous poet and soldier who became Fraunce's supporter. Fraunce finished his studies and earned his M.A. degree in 1583.
After college, he studied law and became a barrister (a type of lawyer) at Gray's Inn in 1588. He then worked as a lawyer in the courts of the Welsh marches, which was an area along the border between England and Wales.
After Sir Philip Sidney died, Fraunce found a new supporter in Sidney's sister, Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke. She was also a well-known writer and patron of the arts. Fraunce's last known work was published in 1592. For a long time, people thought he lived until 1633, but newer research suggests he probably died in 1592 or 1593.
Works of Abraham Fraunce
Abraham Fraunce wrote several interesting books and poems. Here are some of his main works:
- The Lamentations of Amintas for the death of Phyllis (1587): This was an English version of a Latin poem by his friend, Thomas Watson. Fraunce wrote it using a special kind of poetry called hexameters.
- The Lawiers Logike (1585): This book explained the rules of logic using examples from common law, which is the legal system used in England.
- The Arcadian Rhetorike (1588): This book was about rhetoric, which is the art of speaking or writing effectively. It is special because it mentions the famous poet Edmund Spenser and even quotes from his epic poem The Faerie Queene before it was fully published.
- The Countess of Pembroke's Yvychurch (1591/2): This work included a translation of an Italian play called Aminta by Torquato Tasso. It also had a collection of short stories.
- The Countess of Pembroke's Emanuell (1591): This poem was about the birth and suffering of Christ, also written in hexameters.
- Victoria, a Latin Comedy (written before or in 1583): This play was a translation of an Italian comedy. It wasn't published until 1906.
Fraunce was known for writing his poems in "classical metres," which means he followed the rhythm and structure of ancient Greek and Roman poetry. His friend Gabriel Harvey supported this style, and even the writer Thomas Nashe spoke highly of "sweete Master Fraunce."
