FANSHAWE, Sir RICHARD (1608-66). An English diplomat and author, born in Hertfo•d shire. He entered Jesus College, Cambridge. and in 1626 began the study of law in the Inner Temple. He spent several years in travel upon the Continent, and in 1635 he began his diplo matic career, accompanying Lord Aston, the Eng lish Ambassador, to Spain as his secretary. He was a zealous Royalist, and joined the army of Charles I. early in the Civil War. In 1648 he became treasurer of the navy under Prince Rupert, and afterwards joined Prince Charles in Holland. His early service in Madrid procured him the position of special envoy to the King of Spain in 1650, for the purpose of obtaining pecuniary aid for the royal cause, but his mission was unsuccessful. He followed Prince Charles to Scotland as his secretary, and was with him at the battle of 'Worcester (September 3, 1651), where he was taken prisoner. He was released on parole and remained in England until 1658, when he again joined Charles 1Lon the Continent, returning with him at the Restoration. In 1662 he was made Minister to Portugal, and in 1663 was transferred to Madrid, but was recalled in 1666. Ile never left Madrid, as he was taken
ill and (Hell a few days after turning over his position to his successor, Lord Sandwich.
The literary work of Fanshawe consists largely of translations and poetry. Probably his best known work is The Pastor Pith) (1647), a trans lation from the Italian of Onarini. His other writings include a translation in Spenserian stanzas of Vergil's /•icid, book iv.; a transla tion of the Odes of Morale (1652) ; The Lusiad (1665), an historical poem, translated from the Portuguese of Camocns; La l'ida Pastors (1658), a translation into Latin verse of Fletcher's l'aith ful Shepherdess; and Querer per solo querer (1671), a dramatic romance in three acts, from the Spanish. He was the author of some original English poems of considerable merit, which have never been published together. His Letters were collected and published in 1702. Consult the Memoir by his wife (London, 1829).