Morris Kyffin facts for kids

Morris Kyffin (born around 1555 – died January 2, 1598) was a talented Welsh writer and soldier. He was the brother of another poet, Edward Kyffin. Morris was also a student and friend of the famous scholar and advisor, Doctor John Dee.

Kyffin was part of a special group of writers and thinkers. This group included important people like Sir John Harington (writer) (who was the Queen's Godson), Edmund Spenser, and William Camden. They all shared ideas and worked on their writings together.

Who Was Morris Kyffin?

Morris Kyffin lived a long time ago, in the 1500s. He was known for two main things: his writing and his work as a soldier. He was a very busy person who contributed to both literature and the military during his time.

His Life and Friends

Morris Kyffin was born in Wales around 1555. His brother, Edward Kyffin, was also a poet. This shows that writing talent ran in their family!

One of Morris's interesting connections was with Doctor John Dee. Dee was a very smart person who advised Queen Elizabeth I. He was interested in many subjects, including science, mathematics, and even magic. Morris Kyffin was not only Dee's student but also his friend.

Kyffin was also part of a "literary circle." This means he was friends with and worked alongside other important writers of his time. These friends included:

• Sir John Harington (writer), who was Queen Elizabeth I's godson.
• Edmund Spenser, a very famous poet known for his long poem The Faerie Queene.
• William Camden, a historian who wrote important books about England.

Being part of this group meant Kyffin was connected to some of the most influential minds in England.

His Important Writings

Morris Kyffin wrote several important works during his life. He was known for his poems and for translating a famous play into English.

Kyffin wrote two special poems called "dedicatory poems." These poems were like introductions or tributes placed at the beginning of books written by his friend, Sir Lewis Lewknor.

• The first poem appeared in Lewknor's book The Resolved Gentleman in 1593.
• The second was in Lewknor's translation of a book by Gasparo Contarini called De magistratibus et republica Venetorum, which came out in 1599.

One line from his dedicatory poem to Lewknor was: Lewkenor, whom arms and letters have made known, In this work hath the fruits of either shown. This line means that Lewknor was famous for both his military skills ("arms") and his writing ("letters").

The Blessedness of Britayne

Kyffin's most famous poem is called The Blessedness of Britayne. It was published in 1587. This poem likely celebrated the good things about Britain during that time.

Translating Ancient Plays

Another very important work by Kyffin was his translation of a play. In 1588, he created the first English translation of a comedy called Andria. This play was originally written by an ancient Roman playwright named Terence. Translating such a play made it possible for more English speakers to enjoy and learn from classical Roman literature.

His Military and Government Roles

Besides being a writer, Morris Kyffin also had important jobs in the military and government. This shows he was a person of many talents.

In 1588, the same year his play translation came out, he was given a job as a "surveyor of the muster rolls" for the English army. This was in the Low Countries, which is an area that includes modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. A surveyor of muster rolls would have been responsible for checking and keeping records of soldiers.

Later, in 1592, Kyffin became the "vice-treasurer" of the 'old bands' in Normandy. This means he helped manage money for a group of soldiers in that part of France. These roles show that he was trusted with important administrative tasks in the army.