VERE, Edward de, 17TH EARL OF OXFORD, English wit and poet: b. England, 2 April 1550; d. Newington, Middlesex, 24 June 1604. He was educated at C,ambridge, and at 12 suc ceeded to the earldom . with its hereditary dignities, inclucling that of lord great chamber lain of England. He becanie prominent at the court of Elizabeth when still a boy, took his seat in the House of Lords in 1571, and was subsequently a noted figure in court circles. His wit and poetical gifts made him a favorite with Elizabeth, who showered him with atten tions; he was famous for his wild extravagance which evennially dissipated his patrimony; and as his years increased he became more than ever eccentric, while his temper, never con trolled, acquired a violence whidi endangered even his favor with the queen. As lord high chamberlain he presided at the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1586, and at that of the Earl of Arundel in 1589. He was the author of several popular comedies which have been lost, and his poetry displays much lyric beauty. Of the latter some 23 pieces have been proved as his work, though most of it has perished with his comedies. His extant verse was collected and printed by Grosart in (Miscellanies of the Fuller Worthies Library' (1872).
VERN, .Snt Francis, English soldier, grand son of the 15th Earl of Oxford: b. Crepping Hall, Essex, 1560; London, 28 Aug. 1609. He entered the army in early youth, served under the Earl of Leicester in the Netherlands in 1585, and in 1588 his conduct at the defense of Bergen-op-Zoom won for him the honor of knighthood. He prepared the way for the cap ture of Zutphen in 1591, was engaged in the talcing of Nimeguen in that year, and in. 1592 relieved Prince Maurice at Koevorden. He remained in the Netherlands- until 1595, and in 1596 he led the expedition against Cadiz. He was again ordered to Holland in 1597, engaged with Prince Maurice at Turnhout, and in 1598 was appointed governor of Brill and general of the forces in the Netherlands. At the battle of Niewport in 1600 he performed service which turned the tide of tattle in favor of Maurice, but was severely wounded and compelled to re tire from the field. In 1601-02 he defended Ostend with signal success though against great odds, and in 1606 returned to England, where he was appointed governor of Portsmouth and of the island of Portsea.