Francis Kynaston
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Kynaston or Kinaston (1587–1642) was an English courtier and poet, noted for his translation of Geoffrey Chaucer
's Troilus and Criseyde
into Latin
verse (as rime royal, Amorum Troili et Creseidae Libri Quinque, 1639); he also made a Latin translation of Henryson's The Testament of Cresseid
.
, Shropshire
, eldest son of Sir Edward Kinaston, by Isabel, daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagenall. His father was High Sheriff of Shropshire
in 1599. On 11 December 1601 Francis matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. from St Mary Hall
on 14 June 1604, M.A. at Oxford on 11 November 1611. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn
in 1611. On leaving the university in 1613, he married Margaret, daughter of Sir Humphry Lee, bart., by whom he had one son, Edward Kynaston
, c.1613 - 1656. He was knighted by James I at Theobalds on 21 December 1618, was M.P. for Shropshire
in 1621–2, was taxor of Cambridge University in 1623, and was proctor there in 1634. He became esquire of the body to Charles I on his accession.
At court Kinaston was the centre of a literary coterie. In 1635 he founded an academy of learning
, called the Musæum Minervæ, for which he obtained a license under the great seal, a grant of arms, and a common seal; Charles also contributed from the treasury. On 27 February 1636 Prince Charles, the Duke of York, and others visited the museum, and a masque
by Kinaston, entitled Corona Minervæ, was performed in their presence. In July of the same year Sir George Peckham bequeathed money to the institution.
Shortly after this, Kynaston was preoccupied with a certain ‘hanging furnace,’ recommended by him to the lords of the admiralty for ships of war. Kinaston died in 1642, and was buried at Oteley. The museum appears to have perished with the death of its founder. Its site was marked by Kynaston's Alley, Bedfordbury.
and Dudley Digges
(Oxford, 1635). Kinaston also contributed to the Musæ Aulicæ by Arthur Johnston, a rendering in English verse of Johnston's Latin poems, London, 1635, and was author of an heroic romance in verse, Leoline and Sydanis, containing some of the legendary history of Wales and Anglesey, published with Cynthiades: Sonnets to his Mistresse (technically not precisely of the sonnet
form) addressed by Kinaston to his mistress under the name of Cynthia (London, 1642).
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
's Troilus and Criseyde
Troilus and Criseyde
Troilus and Criseyde is a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer which re-tells in Middle English the tragic story of the lovers Troilus and Criseyde set against a backdrop of war in the Siege of Troy. It was composed using rime royale and probably completed during the mid 1380s. Many Chaucer scholars regard it...
into Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
verse (as rime royal, Amorum Troili et Creseidae Libri Quinque, 1639); he also made a Latin translation of Henryson's The Testament of Cresseid
The Testament of Cresseid
The Testament of Cresseid is a narrative poem written by the Scottish makar Robert Henryson. It imagines a tragic fate for Cressida in the medieval story of Troilus and Criseyde which was left untold in Geoffrey Chaucer's version. The poem also features graphically-realised portraits of the...
.
Life
He was born at Oteley, near EllesmereEllesmere, Shropshire
Ellesmere is a small market town near Oswestry in north Shropshire, England, notable for its proximity to a number of prominent lakes, the Meres.-History:...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, eldest son of Sir Edward Kinaston, by Isabel, daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagenall. His father was High Sheriff of Shropshire
High Sheriff of Shropshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1599. On 11 December 1601 Francis matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. from St Mary Hall
St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall was an academic hall of the University of Oxford associated with Oriel College since 1326, but which functioned independently from 1545 to 1902.- History :...
on 14 June 1604, M.A. at Oxford on 11 November 1611. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1611. On leaving the university in 1613, he married Margaret, daughter of Sir Humphry Lee, bart., by whom he had one son, Edward Kynaston
Edward Kynaston
Edward Kynaston was an English actor, one of the last Restoration "boy players," young male actors who played women's roles.-Career:...
, c.1613 - 1656. He was knighted by James I at Theobalds on 21 December 1618, was M.P. for Shropshire
Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Shropshire is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Knights...
in 1621–2, was taxor of Cambridge University in 1623, and was proctor there in 1634. He became esquire of the body to Charles I on his accession.
At court Kinaston was the centre of a literary coterie. In 1635 he founded an academy of learning
Proposals for an English Academy
During the early part of the 17th century, and persisting in some form into the early 18th century, there were a number of proposals for an English Academy: some form of learned institution, conceived as having royal backing and a leading role in the intellectual life of the nation...
, called the Musæum Minervæ, for which he obtained a license under the great seal, a grant of arms, and a common seal; Charles also contributed from the treasury. On 27 February 1636 Prince Charles, the Duke of York, and others visited the museum, and a masque
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
by Kinaston, entitled Corona Minervæ, was performed in their presence. In July of the same year Sir George Peckham bequeathed money to the institution.
Shortly after this, Kynaston was preoccupied with a certain ‘hanging furnace,’ recommended by him to the lords of the admiralty for ships of war. Kinaston died in 1642, and was buried at Oteley. The museum appears to have perished with the death of its founder. Its site was marked by Kynaston's Alley, Bedfordbury.
Works
Kinaston published a translation of Chaucer's ‘Troilus and Cressida,’ with a commentary, prefaced by fifteen short poems by Oxford writers, including William StrodeWilliam Strode (poet)
William Strode was an English poet. He was born in Devon, the only son of Philip Strode, and educated at Westminster School and Christ Church College, Oxford. Strode took holy orders and became a proctor of Oxford University. He began writing English and Latin verse at an early age; his first...
and Dudley Digges
Dudley Digges
Sir Dudley Digges , of Chilham Castle, Kent , was a Member of Parliament, elected to the Parliament of 1614 and that of 1621, and also a "Virginia adventurer," an investor who ventured his capital in the Virginia Company of London...
(Oxford, 1635). Kinaston also contributed to the Musæ Aulicæ by Arthur Johnston, a rendering in English verse of Johnston's Latin poems, London, 1635, and was author of an heroic romance in verse, Leoline and Sydanis, containing some of the legendary history of Wales and Anglesey, published with Cynthiades: Sonnets to his Mistresse (technically not precisely of the sonnet
Sonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
form) addressed by Kinaston to his mistress under the name of Cynthia (London, 1642).
Further reading
- G. H. Turnbull, Samuel Hartlib's connection with Sir Francis Kynaston's 'Musaeum Minervae' . Notes and Queries, 197 (1952), 33-7. Publisher: Oxford University Press. ISSN 00293970.
- Cesare Cuttica, Sir Francis Kynaston: The importance of the ‘Nation’ for a 17th-century English royalist, History of European Ideas, Volume 32, Issue 2, June 2006, Pages 139-161.