FANSHAWE, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR RICHARD, was the youngest son of Sir H. Fanshawe, and was born in 1608 at Ware Park, in the county of Hertford. He became a fellow-commoner of Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1623, and removed to the Inner Temple in 1626. On the death of his mother, who had long survived his father, he betook himself to travel, and visited France and Spain. He was subsequently appointed secretary to the embassy at Madrid, and was left resident there till 1633. After his return, and on the breaking out of the civil war, he declared himself a royalist, and attended the court at Oxford, where he received the degree of Doctor of Civil Law. He followed the Prince of Wales to the islands of Scilly and Jersey in the capacity of secretary, and in 1648 became treasurer to the navy under Prince Rupert. At the battle of 'Worcester he was taken prisoner; but being released, he repaired to Charles II. at Breda, and was by him appointed his master of requests and Latin secretary. He returned to England with Charles, represented Cambridge in 1661, and was employed in negociating Charles's marriage with Catherine.
He was sent as ambassador to Philip IV. of Spain in 1661, and died at Madrid in 1666, leaving a widow and five children. His body was sent home embalmed.
Notwithstanding the active life of Fanshawc, he found leisure to attend to literature, and produced several works, the most celebrated of which is a translation of Guarini's 'Pastor Fido.' The parts of this work written in heroic measure are harsh and ill-managed, but the lighter lyric passages are playful and often melodious, and some of the more sublime choruses are sonorous and majestic. This book is not very easily. procured. It was published in 1664, and is adorned with a curious portrait of Gnarini. Besides the 4 Pastor Fido' the volume contains some translations from Virgil and Martial; some short original pieces in verse; and a 'Short Discourse of the loog Civil Wars of Rome' in prose.