_George Buchanan_, 1506-1581: celebrated as a Latin writer, an historian, a poet, and an ecclesiastical polemic. He wrote a _History of Scotland_, a Latin version of the Psalms, and a satire called _Chamæleon_. He was a man of profound learning and indomitable courage; and when told, just before his death, that the king was incensed at his treatise _De Jure Regni_, he answered that he was not concerned at that, for he was "going to a place where there were few kings."
Thomas Sackville, Earl Dorset, Lord Buckhurst, 1536-1608: author, or rather originator of "The Mirror for Magistrates," showing by illustrious, unfortunate examples, the vanity and transitory character of human success. Of Sackville and his portion of the Mirror for Magistrates, Craik says they "must be considered as forming the connecting link between the Canterbury Tales and the Fairy Queen."
_Samuel Daniel_, 1562-1619: an historian and a poet. His chief work is "The Historie of the Civile Warres between the Houses of York and Lancaster," "a production," says Drake, "which reflects great credit on the age in which it was written." This work is in poetical form; and, besides it, he wrote many poems and plays, and numerous sonnets.
Michael Drayton, 1563-1631: a versatile writer, most favorably known through his _Polyolbion_, a poem in thirty books, containing a detailed description of the topography of England, in Alexandrine verses. His _Barons' Wars_ describe the civil commotions during the reign of Edward II.
Sir John Davies, 1570-1626: author of _Nosce Teipsum_ and _The Orchestra_. The former is commended by Hallam; and another critic calls it "the best poem, except Spenser's Faery Queen, in Queen Elizabeth's, or even, in James VI.'s time."
John Donne, 1573-1631: a famous preacher, Dean of St. Paul's: considered at the head of the metaphysical school of poets: author of _Pseudo-Martyr_, _Polydoron_, and numerous sermons. He wrote seven _satires_, which are valuable, but his style is harsh, and his ideas far-fetched.
Joseph Hall, 1574-1656: an eminent divine, author of six books of _satires_, of which he called the first three _toothless_, and the others _biting_ satires. These are valuable as presenting truthful pictures of the manners and morals of the age and of the defects in contemporary literature.