Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Patrick, Simon (d.1613)
PATRICK, SIMON (d. 1613), translator, matriculated as a pensioner at Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 21 May 1561, and was a member at Elizabeth's visitation in August 1564. His grandson, Simon Patrick (1626–1707) [q. v.], bishop of Ely, describes him in his autobiography as ‘a gentleman of good quality,’ in possession of ‘an estate of between four and five hundred pounds a year,’ who, being ‘a person of religion and learning,’ travelled ‘in his younger days,’ and ‘translated two books in the beginning of the last century out of the french tongue, of which he was a perfect master.’ His estate was at Caistor, Lincolnshire, where, in 1587, he lost his first wife, Mary, and in 1601 his second wife, Dorothea; his third survived him. He was the father of fifteen children, of whom Henry was the father of the bishop and of John Patrick [q. v.] His will, in the prerogative court of Canterbury, is dated 12 Sept. 1613. Patrick published: 1. ‘The Estate of the Church, with the discourse of times, from the Apostles untill this present: Also of the lives of all the Emperours, Popes of Rome, and Turkes: As also of the kings of France, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French,’ London, 1602, 4to. The dedication to Sir William Wray of Glentworth, Lincolnshire, is dated 1564. The book is a translation of Jean Crespin's ‘État de l'Eglise dès le temps des apôtres jusqu'à 1560,’ &c. 2. ‘A discourse upon the meanes of wel governing and maintaining in good peace, a kingdome, or other principalitie. Divided into three parts, namely, The Counsell, the Religion, and the Policie, which a Prince ought to hold and follow. Against Nicholas Machiavell the Florentine. Translated into English by Simon Patericke,’ London, 1602 and 1608, fol. This is dedicated, August 1577, to ‘the most famous yong gentlemen, Francis Hastings and Edward Bacon.’ It is entered in the ‘Stationers' Register’ to Adam Islip, 9 Nov. 1602. It is a translation of Innocent Gentillet's ‘Discours sur les moyens de bien gouverner,’ &c., originally published in Latin in 1571, and translated into French in 1576.
[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. ii. 496; Bishop Patrick's Works, ed. Taylor, vol. i. p. cxxix, vol. ix. p. 107; Biographie Universelle, 1856 xvi. 196, 1852 ix. 478.]