John Harington the Elder

John Harington the Elder, father of the translator Sir John Harington, was a courtier who was imprisoned in the Tower under Queen Mary for carrying messages to the princess Elizabeth, and was rewarded by her after her accession. Gilfillan, who spells the name Harrington, gives his dates as 1534 to 1582.

He is credited with a handful of amatory verses. Gilfillan prints two of them: a sonnet on Isabella Markham and verses on a stony-hearted maiden.