Bentivoglio, Guido, 1577

Italian diplomat, cardinal, and historian. Notable works include Relazioni in tempo delle sue nunziature (1629) and Della guerra di Fiandra (1632-9). Posthumous collections of his letters include a four volume set edited by Luigi de Steffani titled La Nunziatura di Francia del cardinale Guido Bentivoglio (1863-70).

Belisarius, ca. 505-565

Renown Roman general. His noteworthy accomplishments included conquering the piratical Carthaginian Vandals. The story of him having been blinded and reduced to beggary by Justinian is probably apocryphal, but it is featured in the 1765 novel by Marmontel, which Barbauld read.