Abraham Hartwell (the elder) facts for kids

Abraham Hartwell the elder was an English poet who wrote in Latin. He was active around the year 1565.

For the younger, see Abraham Hartwell

Life of Abraham Hartwell

Abraham Hartwell was born in 1542 or 1543. He went to Eton College for his early education. Later, he became a student at King's College, Cambridge, on August 25, 1559. He then became a fellow (a senior member of the college) on August 26, 1562. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1563 and his master's degree (M.A.) in 1567. He left his fellowship in 1567.

A Defender of Protestantism

During Hartwell's time, there was a big debate about religion in England. A Portuguese bishop named Jerónimo Osório da Fonseca wrote a letter. In this letter, he asked Queen Elizabeth to bring back Catholicism to England. Richard Shacklock translated this letter into English.

Abraham Hartwell was a Protestant. He decided to respond to this. He translated a Latin reply written by Walter Haddon into English. Hartwell described himself as "an Englishe man borne" and a loyal subject of the Queen. He criticized Shacklock for not understanding English customs.

A Distinguished Poet

A poet named Thomas Newton wrote some Latin lines in 1589. These lines were for Abraham Hartwell the younger. In these lines, Newton mentioned the elder Abraham Hartwell. He called him a famous poet who had recently passed away.

Abraham Hartwell's Writings

Abraham Hartwell wrote several important works. Most of his writings were in Latin.

• Regina Literata (meaning 'The Literate Queen') was published in London in 1565. This long poem describes Queen Elizabeth's visit to Cambridge University in 1564. It includes over 1,500 lines of poetry. The book also has letters to the reader and to Walter Haddon. Some parts of this poem were later printed in another book by Gabriel Harvey.

• A Sight of the Portugall Pearle was a translation. It was Walter Haddon's answer to Bishop Osorio's letter. Hartwell translated it from Latin into English. This book included a letter "To Mayster Shacklock," who had translated Osorio's original letter. It also had a preface dated May 27, 1565.

• Hartwell also wrote nearly a hundred lines of poetry in memory of Paul Fagius. These were published in a collection of university verses in 1560. They honored Fagius and another scholar, Bucer.

• He wrote some short poems that were added to a book called G. Haddoni … Lucubrationes in 1567.

• Hartwell also contributed nearly sixty lines of poetry to the second edition of John Foxe's famous book, Acts and Monuments, published in 1570. This book tells the stories of Christian martyrs.