Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Merbury, Charles
MERBURY or MARBURY, CHARLES (fl. 1581), author, is described by Strype as the son of a dependent ‘on the Duchess of Suffolk and the Duke of Suffolk.’ The patrons of the father, who are said to have continued a revenue and pension to the son, were probably Richard Bertie [q. v.] and his wife Catharine, whose first husband was Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolk (d. 1545). There were no other persons who could claim any connection with the title of Duke or Duchess of Suffolk in Elizabeth's reign. Merbury graduated B.A. at Oxford on 18 March 1569–70, and speaks of studying under ‘Master Humfrey,’ apparently a reference to Laurence Humphrey [q. v.], president of Magdalen College. In 1571 he entered Gray's Inn, but soon afterwards left England for a long sojourn in Italy, and acquired perfect familiarity with the language. He was a friend of Henry Unton, and on returning home obtained a post in the household of the lord chamberlain, the Earl of Sussex. He was thus often about the court. In 1581 he published a defence of absolute government, which was licensed, after it had been carefully read and approved in manuscript by Thomas Norton (1532–1584) [q. v.] It was entitled: ‘A briefe Discourse of Royall Monarchie, as of the best Common Weale: wherein the subiect may beholde the Sacred Majestie of the Princes most Royall Estate: written by Charles Merbury, Gentleman, in duetifull Reuerence of Her Majesties Most Princely Highnesse: Whereunto is added by the same Pen a Collection of Italian Prouerbes in Benefite of such as are studious of that Language,’ London, 1581, 4to (by Thomas Vautrollier). A dedication in Italian to Queen Elizabeth is followed by a commendatory address to ‘the vertuous reader,’ by Henry Unton.
In 1582–3 Merbury was employed on official business in France, probably as a spy. In April and August 1582 he corresponded with Walsingham from Paris and Orleans, and complained of robbery by pirates (Cal. State Papers, Dom. Add. 1580–1625, pp. 56–72). In Nov. 1583 he was at La Rochelle, and sent Anthony Bacon [q. v.] an account of current gossip there. In December he wrote to Bacon from Poitiers (Birch, Memoirs of Elizabeth, i. 42–4).
[Foster's Alumni Oxon.; Strype's Annals, iii. i. 104–5.]