Fracois de Quevedo de Villegas, a Spanish gentleman, and knight of the order of Saint James, was born in 1570, at Villa Nueva de l’Infantado; and not at Madrid, as has been asserted by Moreri, and repeated after him in the Historical Dictionary of Lyons. He was lord of Juan Abbate, in the province of La Mancha, an estate of which he bore the title. After having visited Italy, France, and all Spain, and rendered the most signal services to the Spanish ministry, he took up his residence at Madrid.

During his stay at court, he devoted himself to study and composition: being considered the most polished writer of his time, and one who united in himself the greatest versatility of talent. The taste of Quevedo naturally inclined him to fictitious composition. Endowed with keen perceptions, a vivid imagination, and rapidity of invention, he is not indebted to the drudgery of research, and other men’s thoughts for his immortal productions: depending solely upon his own resources, he was emphatically an original writer.

The author of the Spanish Library, expresses himself of Quevedo, in the following terms: “He knew how to reconcile the gravest studies with pleasantries and wit. His style is embellished with the ornaments of an adroitly managed application: he has so much finesse, such an immense fund of invention, of ideas as novel as ingenious—so much soft and delicate irony: he understands so well, whether in verse or prose, how to sketch with facility a pleasant or ridiculous subject, that among gay writers there is not one comparable to him. Nervous and sublime in heroic poetry, graceful in lyric verse, full of wit and gaiety in his sportive works, his genius illuminates the weakest subjects.”

His poetical effusions have been very much sought after. Nicholas Antonio, an excellent critic, says, also, that in the higher walks of poetry, he has force and sublimity. His luxuriant imagination carried him alternately to both sacred and profane verse. He wrote divers religious treatises, and many essays extremely amusing, besides translations in verse and prose. He published, among other works, the Spanish Panassus, and the novel known by the name of the Sharper.

His works have been published in four volumes folio, and in eleven volumes octavo. They comprise, under the title of Dreams or Visions, divers works of his, published at different times, in various places, and with different titles.

Quevedo, in his old age, was very infirm; and, at an advanced period of his life, was imprisoned by order of Count d’Olivarez, for a libel upon his administration, in which situation he remained till the death of the minister. He died at Villa Nueva de l’Infantado, the place of his birth, on the eighth day of September, 1645.