George Gascoigne

an Esquire and an Essex Man born, had his education in both the Universities, chiefly, as I conceive, in Cambridge; whence being translated to Greys Inn to study the municipal Law, made less progress in that profession than in Logick, which was but little, for having a rambling and unfixed head he left that place, went to various Cities in Holland, and became a Soldier of note, which he afterwards professed as much, or more, as learning, and therefore made him to take this motto Tam Marti quam Mercurio. From thence he went into France to visit the fashions of the royal Court there, where he fell in love with a Scottish Dame. At length being weary of those vanities, and his rambles in other Countries, he returned into England, and retiring to Greys Inn again, was esteemed by all ingenious Men there, to be a Person of breeding, eloquent, and witty, the most passionate among them to bewail and bemoan by his dexterous Pen the perplexities of love, and the best of his time for his activity in advancing the stage part. Afterwards receeding to his patrimony at Walthamstow in the Forest, within the Province of Essex, (at which place if I mistake not he was born) he published several matters, among which are these that follow.

Flowers—Poems so called. The first of which is entit. The anatomie of a Lover. The second The arraignment of a Lover. The third The passion of a Lover; and the last is, The Lover encouraged by former examples, determineth to make virtue of necessity. Several of these Poems are contained in those made by him called The Devises.

The delectable historie of sundry adventures passed by Dan Barthelmew of Bathe—This is written in verse.

The Reporter, or the Reporters conclusion—This is also a Poem.

Fruits of War, written upon this Theame, Dulce bellum inexpertis.—Began to be written at Delft in Holland.

Hearbs—Poems so called. In which are several translations as I shall tell you anon, and several copies of verses that are in The Devises.

Weedes—Poems so called, with several things intermix’d in prose.

The Divises—These are also Poems; among which are various copies of verses made by our Author on certain Theams given by several Gentlemen, among which are Francis and Anthony Kynwelmersh, Essexians and noted Poets of their times, (the former having had several Poems printed in a Book entit. The paradise of dainty Devises. Lond. 1578) Alex. Nevill of Cambridge, Richard Courtop, &c.

The steele Glass. A Satyre. Lond. 1576. qu. Before which is the Authors picture in armour, with a ruff and a large beard. On his right hand hangs a musquet and bandileers, on his left stands books and inkhorn, and under him is written Tam Marti quam Mercurio. Among several commendatory verses set before it, Walt. Rawley of the Middle Temple hath one.

The complaynt of Phylomene. An Elegie. Lond. 1576. qu. This Elegy was begun in Apr. 1562, continued in Apr. 1575, and finished the 3 day of the same month 1576.

Discourse of the adventures of Mr. F. J. (Freeman Jones)—Written mostly in prose, about 1572.

Glass of government. A tragical comedie so entit. because therein are handled as well the rewardes of virtue, as also the punishment for vice. Lond. 1575. qu. Written partly in rhime, but mostly in prose.

Princelie pleasures at Kenilworth castle—A mask written in verse and prose. ’Tis a relation of the entertainment of Qu. Elizabeth given to her there by Robert Earl of Leycester, 9. 10. 11. &c. of July 1575.

Certaine notes of instruction concerning the making of verse or rime in English—This is written in prose. He also translated from Italian into English (1) The suppeses, a Comedy. Originally written by Aristo. This Com. was set out by Gascoigne, and publickly acted at Greys Inn, in 1566. ’Tis among his Poems called Hearbes (2) The pleasant fable of Ferdinando Jeronimi and Leonora de Valesco. Transl. from the riding tales of Bartello. ’Tis among Gascoignes Poems called Weedes: And from Greek into English, Jocasta, a Tragedie; written by Euripides. This also was set out by Gascoigne and publickly acted in Greys Inn, 1566. In this translation the said Gascoigne had the assistance of Francis Kynwelmersh before mention’d, who translated about half of it. The Epilogue was written by an ingenious Gentleman of the said Inn called Christoph. Yelverton, afterwards an eminent Counsellour, a Knight and a Judge, who dying at Easton Maudit in Northamptonshire 1607 left behind him several Sons, of whom Henry was the eldest, afterwards a Knight and a Judge also, as I shall tell you elsewhere. This Trag is among Gascoignes Poems called Hearbes. All which poems and translations being gathered together, were printed in an English character in two vol. in qu. One of which was printed at London about 1577, and the other there (after the Authors death) an. 1587, at which time it was usher’d into the world by various copies of verses written by the Poets of that time. As for the Author of them, he made his last exit, or yielded to nature, in his middle age, at his house in Walthamstow before-mention’d, in Octob. or Nov. in Fifteen hundred seventy and eight, 1578 and was buried, as I suppose, in the Church there. I find another George Gascoigne Esq. but later in time than the former, of whom, I know nothing, only but that he was of the Middle Temple, and that he dyed about 1619.