Giles Fletcher, the Elder

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Giles Fletcher, the Elder (c. 1548 - 1611) was an English poet and diplomat, member of the English Parliament.

In Giles Fletcher's early life he lived in Cranbrook before entering Eton College about 1561. From there, Fletcher continued his education at King's College and was made a fellow in the academic year 1569-70. Studying greek and poetry, Fltecher contributed to the translation of several of Demosthenes' orations. On March 22, 1572, Fletcher became a lecturure in King's and held this position until March the following year, until he became a lecturer in Greek, a position which he held until Michaelmas term 1579. Continually rising within the academia, Fletcher rose to dean of arts, the highest position he was to attain at Kings in 1580-81. However, this would not last long, for he decided to marry, forcing him to give up his fellowship. On January 16, in his fathers church, he married Joan Sheafe. Returning to Cambridge later, he received his Doctor of Civil Law degree. After attaining his law degree, the family settled back in Cranbrook, where once again the family was united. On April 8, 1582, Giles and Joan's first child, Phineas, was baptized. During the same year, Giles was made chancellor of the diocese of Sussex and in may the mayor. In 1584, Fletcher was elected to the parliament which began on November 23, from Winchelsea, one of the Cinque Ports. It was at this point that the Fletchers would permaneatly call London home. During his stint in Parliament, Fletcher served on three committees. In 1588 he was an ambassador to Russia to reestablish the treaty with tsar Feodor I of Russia. Fletcher published a treatise, Of the Russe Common Wealth (1591). The treaty to be reestablished was primarily concerning the English trade, but before he depart she made him a Master of Requests. The account of Russia Fletcher portrayed gives a vivid desription into the Russian world pre-1600. He is best known for his sonnet Licia. He is the father of the poet of Giles Fletcher the younger, although the two have commonly been confused as the other.

[edit] "Of the Russe Common Wealth"

The account consists of the following chapters.

Geographical
- Of the length and bredth of the countrey of Russia, with the names of the shires.
- Of the soile and climate.
- Of the natiue commodities of the countrey.
Political (State and Church)
- Of the constitution or state of the Russe Common wealth.
- Of their Parliaments, and maner of holding them,
- Of the Russe Nobilitie and meanes whereby it is kept in an vnder proportion agreeable to that state.
- Of the maner of gouerning their prouinces of shires
- Of the Emperours priuie counsell.
- Of the Emperors customs and their reuenues, with the practises for the increase of them.
- Of the Russe communaltie and their condition.
- Of their publike iustice and maner of proceeding therein.
- Of the Emperors forces for his warres, with the chiefe officers, and their salarie or pay.
- Of their maner of mustering, armour, and prouision for victuall.
- Of their ordering, marching, charging, and their martiall discipline.
- Of their colonies and policie in maintaining their purchases by conquest.
- Of their borderers with whom they haue most to doe in warre and peace.
- Of their church officers and degrees.
- Of their liturgie or forme of Church seruice.
- Of their maner of administering the Sacraments.
- Of the doctrine of the Russe church.
- Of the maner of solemnizing their marriages.
- Of the other ceremonies of the Russe church.
Social
- Of the Emperors household officers, and order of his house.
- Of the priuate behauiour and maner of the Russe people.

[edit] References

Of the Russe Common Wealth. Or, Maner of gouernement of the Russe emperour, (commonly called the Emperour of Moskouia) with the manners, and fashions of the people of that countrey, London (1591), facsimile reprint (1966)