Thomas Churchyard

Thomas Churchyard (?1520-1604) was an English poet and miscellaneous writer.

Thomas Churchard (?1520-1604), The Firste Parte of Churcheyardes Chippes (1575). Scolar Press, 1973. Courtesy Amazon.com.

Life

Overview

Churchyard began life as a page to the earl of Surrey, and subsequently passed through many vicissitudes as a soldier in Scotland, Ireland, France, and the Low Countries. He was latterly a hanger-on at Court, and had a pension of eighteenpence a day from Queen Elizabeth, which was not, however, regularly paid. He commenced his literary career when Edward VI was on the throne, and he continued writing until after the accession of James I. He wrote innumerable pamphlets and broadsides, and some poems, of which the best are Shore's Wife (1563), The Worthiness of Wales (1587, republished by the Spenser Society 1871), and Churchyard's Chips (1575), an autobiographical piece.

Youth and education

Churchyard was born at Shrewsbury about 1520, the son of a farmer.

He received a good education, and, having speedily dissipated at court the money with which his father provided him, he entered the household of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, whose memory he fondly cherished throughout his long life.

There he remained for 4 years, learning something of the art of poetry from his patron; some of the poems he contributed later (1557) to Songes and Sonettes may well date from this early period.

Military career

Churchyard was early trained to arms, and for many years he was actively engaged both at home and abroad in military service. In 1541 he began his career as a soldier of fortune, being, he said, “pressed into the service.” He fought his way through nearly every campaign in Scotland and the Low Countries for 30 years. He served under the emperor Charles V. in Flanders in 1542, returning to England after the peace of Crépy (1544).

In a poem entitled "A tragicall discours of the vnhappie mans life" (printed in The Firste part of Churchyardes Chippes, 1575), he gives a long account of his adventures. His earliest campaign was served under Sir William Drury in Scotland, where he was taken prisoner, but by his fair words induced his captors to treat him well. Afterwards he went to Ireland, where by his military exploits he gained "of money right good stoer."

From Ireland he crossed to England in the hope of obtaining preferment at court, but meeting with no success, he served as a volunteer, originally in the Low Countries, and afterwards in France. He was more than once taken prisoner, endured much hardship, and gained little reward. For some time he was a prisoner in Paris, whence he escaped (by breaking his parole, it would seem), and made his way to Ragland in Monmouthshire. Afterwards, for 8 years, he served under Lord Grey, and was present at the siege of Leith in 1660.

Then, having rested awhile at court, he proceeded to Antwerp, where he assisted in suppressing some domestic disturbances, and made himself so unpopular with the malcontents that he narrowly escaped assassination, and was glad to make his way to Paris in the disguise of a priest. From Paris he set out for St. Quentin, and passed through some surprising adventures on the road. Later he went to Guernsey, and afterwards repaired once more to the court in the hope of finding preferment.

He constantly complains of his poverty and his many disappointments. Feeling the need of sympathy and encouragement he chose "from countrie soile a sober wife;" but his marriage served only to heighten his afflictions. He was indefatigable in issuing tracts and broadsides: they attracted little notice at the time of publication, and are now exceedingly scarce. The following broadsides are preserved in the Britwell collection: 1. 'The Lamentacion of Freyndshyp,' n.d. 2. 'A greatter thanks for Churchyardes welcome home,' n.d. 3. 'A Farewell cauld Churcheyeards round,' n.d. 4. 'The Epitaphe of the Honorable Earle of Pembroke, 1570 (reprinted in Churchyard's Chance, 1580).

Literary career

Churchyard's earliest extant production is a poetical tract of 3 leaves, 4to, without title-page, headed A myrrour for man where in he shall see the miserable state of thys worlde, which the colophon shows to have been printed in the reign of Edward VI. At this early date he had a controversy with a person named Camel, against whom he directed some satirical broadsides (Lemon, Catalogue of Printed Broadsides in Soc. of Antiq. pp. 7–10), which were collected, with Camel's rejoinders, in 1660, under the title of The Contention betwyxte Churchyeard and Camell upon David Dycers Drame ... Newlye Imprinted, 4to, 28 leaves; 2nd ed. 1566.

In Churchyards Challenge, 1603, there is a list of "The Books that I can call to memorie alreadie Printed," in which he informs us that The Legend of Shore's Wife, originally printed in the 1563 edition of Baldwin's Myrroure for Magistrates, was written in the days of Edward VI (before 1553).

From the same source we learn that in Queen Mary's reign (1553-1558) he wrote a book (now unknown) "called a New-yeares gift to all England, which booke treated of rebellion," and that he was the author of "Many things in the Booke of Songs and Sonets" (i.e. Tottell's Miscellany, 1557).

In 1575 Churchyard published a voluminous collection of pieces, in prose and verse, under the title of The Firste Parte of Churchyardes Chippes, contayning twelve severall Labours, &c., 4to, with a dedication to "Maister Christofor Hatton, Esquier." In the dedicatory epistle he quaintly explains why he had given such an odd title to his book:

And for that from my head, hand, and penne, can floe no farre fatched eloquence nor sweete sprinklyng speaches (seasoned with spiced termes) I call my workes Churchyardes Chips, the basnes whereof can beguild [sic] no man with better opinion then the substance it selfe doth import.

The dedication is followed by a poetical address "To the dispisers of other mens workes that shoes nothing of their owne," in which he threatens that when his chips have "maed a blaes" he will bring "a bigger ... to make you worldlings smiel." One of the poems gives a description of the siege of Leith, at which the author was present.

In 1578 appeared A Lamentable and Pitifull Description of the wofull Warres in Flaunders, 4to, with a dedicatory epistle to Sir Francis Walsingham. It was followed by The Miserie of Flaunders, Calamitie of Fraunce, &c. (1579), 4to, and A generall rehearsall of Warres, &c. (1579), 4to. The latter work, which is dedicated to Sir Christopher Hatton, in an epistle dated 15 October 1579, has the running title "Churchyardes Choise." It contains a general review of the exploits of English soldiers and sailors from the reign of Henry VIII to the early days of Elizabeth; moral discourses, poems, &c.

In celebration of Elizabeth's progress of 1578, Churchyard published A Disco vrse of the Queenes Maiesties entertainement in Suffolk and Norfolk . . . Whereynto is adioyned a Commendation of Sir Humfrey Gilberts ventrous ioumey (1579), 4to. Some copies of this tract contain "A welcome home" to Martin Frobisher, whose exploits Churchyard had recounted in an interesting tract entitled A Prayse and Reporte of Maister Martyne Froboishers Voyage to Meta Incognita, 1578, 12mo.

In 1580 Churchyard published the following pieces : 1. 'A Plaine or most True Report of a dangerous seruice stoutely attempted and manfully brought to passe by English men, Scottes men, Wallons and other worthy soldiers, for the takynjj of Macklin on the Sodaine, a strong Citee in Flaunders,' 8vo. 2. 'A warning to the wise . . . Written of the late earthquake chanced in London and other places, tne 6th of April, 1580,' 8vo. 3. 'The Services of Sir William Drury, Lord Justice of Irelande in 1578 and 1579,' 4to. 4. 'A pleasaunte Laborinth called Churchyardes Chance,' 4to. 5. 'A light Bondell of liuly discourses called Churchyardes Charge,' 4to, dedicated to the Earl of Surrey, grandson of Churchyard's earliest patron. 6. 'Ovid de Tristibus,' reprinted for the Roxburghe Club in 1810.

In 1588 appeared A Sparke of Friendship and Warme Goodwill, 4to, dedicated to Sir Walter Raleigh; in 1592 A Handefvl of Gladsome Verses giuen to the Queenes Maiesty at Woedstocke, 4to ; and in 1593 A Pleasant Conceite penned in verse . . . presented on New-yeeres day last, to the Queen's Maiestie at Hampton Courte, 4to. The Pleasant Conceite was presented to the queen in gratitude for a pension that she had bestowed upon the old poet. At the close of the tract there is a laudatory notice of Thomas Nashe, with some reflections on Nashe's opponent Gabriel Harvey. There had been a quarrel, of which the particulars are unknown, between Nashe and Churchyard, and in his Foure Letters, 1592 (Gabriel Harvey, Works, ed. Grosart, i. 199), Harvey says that Nashe, "in the ruffe of his freshest iollity, was faine to cry M. Churchyard a mercy in printe." Nashe, in Ins Foure Letters confuted, 1593 (Nashe, Worhtf ed. Grosart, ii. 252-3), after acknowledging that he had done Churchyard an "unadvised indammagement," adds that the quarrel had been "deep buried in the grave of oblivion," and that he was a sincere admirer of Churchyard's "aged Muse that may well be grandmother to our grandeloquentest poets at this present." This handsome apology, coupled with a highly complimentary notice of Shore's Wife, gave Churchyard the liveliest satisfaction.

The collection issued in 1593 under the title of Churchyard's Challenge, 4to, contains a number of pieces in prose and verse, some printed for the 1st time, and others reprinted from earlier collections. In the address "To the worthiest sorte of People that gently can reade and justly can juoge," Churchyard announced that his next work will be The last booke of the Worthines of Wales, and that his last work, which is to be styled his 'Ultimum Vale,' will consist of "twelve long tales for Christmas, dedicated to twelve honorable lords," but the promise was not fulfilled. The Challenge contains an enlanped copy of Shore's Wife, dedicated to "Lady Mount Eagle and Compton." From the dedicatory epistle we learn that some malicious persons had spread the report that this poem was not written by Churchyard. The libellous statement caused great annoyance to the old poet, who declared that if he had been a younger man he would have challenged his detractors to open combat.

In 1594 appeared a revised edition of The Mirror and Manners of Men, 4to (written in the days of Edward VI), with a dedication to Sir Robert Cecil. It was followed in 1595 by A Mvsicall Consort of Heauenly harmonie . . . called Chvrchyards Charitie, 4to. Appended to the chief poem is "A Praise of Poetrie," in which mention is made of Surrey, Spenser, Daniel, Barnes, and Sidney. In Colin Clout Spenser had referred to Churchyard under the name of Old Palaemon "that sung so long untill quite hoarse he grew," a passage to which Churchyard makes particular allusion in "A Praise of Poetrie."

In 1596 Churchyard published 3 poetical tracts: 1. 'The Honor of the Lawe, 4to. 2. 'A Sad and Solemne Funerall of the Right Honorable Sir Francis Knowles, Knight,' 4to. 3. 'A pleasant Discourse of Court and Wars,' 4to, in which he again refers to Spenser's mention of him in Colin Clout.

A wished Reformation of wicked Rebellion, 4to, which contains a spirited attack on the Jesuits, was published in 1598, and The Fortvnate Farewell to the most forward and noble Earlc of Essex, 4to, in 1599. In The Fortvnate Farewell Churchyard expresses his gratitude to the old Duke of Somerset for a favour rendered in the time of Edward VI, when the poet, for publishing some verses that bad given offence,</344> was arrested and brought before the privy council.

Towards the close of his life Churchyard found a patron in Dr. {afterwards Sir) Julius Caesar, to whom, in 1602, he dedicated The Wonders of the Ayre, the Trembling of the Earth, and the Warnings of the World before the Judgement Day, 4to, acknowledging in the dedicatory epistle that he was indebted to his patron "for the little that I live upon and am likely to die withall." In 1603 he also published A. Psean Triumphall: Upon the King's publick entry from the Tower of London to Westminster, 4to.

His 2 last productions appeared in the year of his deatn, 1604: 1. A blessed Balme to search and salve Sedition, 4to, relating to the execution of Watson and Clarke in November 1603. 2. Churchyard's Good Will. Sad and heavy verses in the nature of sn Epitaph for the losse of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Good Will is free from those eccentricities of spelling and punctualtion which Churchyard adopted in many of his writings.

He was buried at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on 4 April 1604.

Writing

Poetry

Churchyard's poetic merits are not of a high order. He is at his best when he is recounting his own struggles and misfortunes; he then writes with pathos, and shows occasional glimpses of poetic power.

Shore's Wife was the most popular of Churchyard's poems, and the best; it was reprinted with additions in his Challenge. Shore's Wife is a smoothly written copy of verses, but it has been absurdly overrated.

The most valuable of Churchyard's works is The Worthines of Wales, 1587, 4to, a long chorographical poem full of historical and antiquarian interest; it was reprinted in 1776, and a facsimile edition was issued in 1871 by the Spenser Society.

Fuller observes that "he may run abreast with any of that age writing in the beginning of that reign." Drayton in his "Epistle to Henry Reynolds" couples him with George Oascoigue, and remarks :

        Had they

Liv'd bat a little longer, they had seene

Their workes before them to have buried beene.

Churchyard lived quite long enough to see the greater part of his multifarious writings consigned to oblivion.

Miscellaneous

In addition to the works already mentioned Churchyard published the following pieces : 1. 'An Epitaph upon the Death of Kyng Edward,' 15 six-line stanzas. 2. 'The Fantasies of a troubled mannes head' (1566), single sheet, preserved in the Huth collection. 3. 'A Discourse of Rebellion,' 1570, 8vo, 4 leaves, in verse. 4. 'The most true Reporte of James Fitz Morrice and others, the like Offenders,' n. d., 8vo, with a reprint of the preceding piece. 5. 'A Scourge for Rebels,' 1584, 4to, 11 leaves. 6. 'The Epitaph of Sir Philip Sidney' (1587), which was formerly preserved in the Bodleian, but now reposes in the libranr of some unknown collector. 7. 'A Feast full of sad cheere/ 1592, 4to, 10 leaves. 8. 'A true Discourse Historicall of the succeeding Govemours in the Netherlands . . . Translated and collected by T. C[hurchyard], Esquire, and Ric. Ro[binson], out of the Reverend E. M[eteranus] ... his fifteene bookes Historiaæ Belgicæ,' &c., 1602, 4 to.

In his ' Challenge,' 1593, he mentions that he had made translations from Virgil and Du Bartas ; also that he had written 'A book of a sumptuous shew in Shrovetide by Sir Walter Rawley, Sir Robert Carey, M. Chidley, and Mr. Arthur Gorge,' which book (he assures us) 'was in as good verse as ever I made;' and that he was the author of 'an infinite number' of 'songes and sonets giuen where they cannot be recovered, nor purchase any favour where they are craned. From the dedicatory epistle to the 'Wonders of the Ayre,' 1602, we learn that he translated a part of Pliny, but put aside his translation when he heard that 'a great learned doctor called doctor Holland' had translated the whole. An unpublished work of Churchyard, entitled 'The School of War,' is preserved in MS. Cotton. Calig. B. 5, art. 74. To 'The Mirrour for Magistrates ' of 1587 Churchyard contributed 'The Story of Thomas Wolsey,' and in that edition he is credited with the authorship of 'The Tragedy of Thomas Mowbray,' a poem assigned in the 'Myrrour' of 1659 to Sir T. Chaloner.

Commendatory verses by Churchyard are prefixed to : 1. Skelton's 'Workes,' 1568. 2. Huloet's 'Dictionarie,' 1572. 3. Jones's 'Bathes of Bathes Ayde,' 1572. 4. Lloyd's ' Pilgrimage of Princes,' 1574. 5. Bedingfield's ' Cardanne's Comforte,' 1576. 6. Bamabe Riche's 'Alarmeto England,' 1578. 7. Lowe's 'Whole Course of Chirurgerie,' 1597. ' The 'Censure of a loyal subject,' 1587, by G[eorge] W[hetstone], and ' Giacomo di Grassi, his true Art of Defence, &c., Englished by J. G., Gent.,' 1594, were edited by Churchyard. In Chalmers's introduction to 'Churchyard's Chips concerning Scotland,' 1817, is printed (from Lansd. MS. xi. 56) a letter of Churchyard to Sir Robert Cecil, dated from Bath, and relating to the papists in that neighbourhood. Tanner assigns to Churchyard ' Wonders of Wiltshire and the Earthquake of Kent,' 1580, 8vo.

The following pieces were entered in the Stationers' Registers, but are not known to have been published : 1. 'The Comendation of Musyke,' 1562. 2. 'A ballet intituled admonition agaynste dice playe,' 1566-7. 3. 'A book of Master Churchyardes Doinge,'&c., 1603-4. The Spenser Society threatened to issue a complete collection of Churchyard's works, but 'The Worthines of Wales,' 1871, is the only piece that has yet appeared. Select works of Churchyard have been reprinted in Nichols's 'Progresses of Queen Elizabeth,' 'The Harleian Miscellany,' Alexander Boswell's 'Frondes Caducæ,' and Collier's 'English Poetical Miscellanies.'

Recognition

In 1593 Churchyard received a small pension from the Queen.

Publications

Thomas Churchard (?1520-1604), The Worthines of Wales(1587). Forgotten Books. Courtesy ABE Books.

Poetry

The Epitaphe of the Earle of Pembroke. London: Wylliam Grffith, 1570.

• A Myrrour for Man. London: T. Raynald, for Robert Toye, 1552.
• The epitaph of Sir Phillip Sidney. London: George Robinson, for Thomas Cadman, 1587.
• The Worthines of Wales: A poem. London: G. Robinson, for Thomas Cadman, 1587; London: Thomas Evans, 1776.
• A handfull of Gladsome Verses: Given to the Queenes Majesty at Woodstocke. Oxford, UK: Ioseph Barnes, Printer to the Vniuersitie, 1592.
• A Pleasant Conceite Presented to the Queenes Majestie. London: Roger Warde, 1593.
• The Miror of Man; and, Manners of men. London: Arnold Hatfield for W. Holme, 1594.
• The Wonders of the Ayre, the Trembling of the Earth. London: Thomas Dawson, 1602.
• Sorrowful verses on [the] death of Queene Elizabeth. London: 1603.
• Churchyards Good Will: An epitaph for the Abp of Canterbury. London: Simon Stafford, 1604.
• "The Tragedy of Cardinal Wolsey," in George Cavendish, The Life of Wolsey. London: Routledge, 1885..

Non-fiction

• The Surrejoindre vnto Camels reioindre. London: Rycharde Lant, 1552.
• A Replicacion to Camels Obiection. London: Rycharde Lant, 1552.
• A Playn and Fynall Confutacion: Of cammells corlyke oblatracion. London: Wyllyam Gryffyth, 1552.
• The contention betwyxte Churchyeard and Camell, vpon Dauid Dycers dreame (with Thomas Camel, and others). London: Owen Rogers, for Mychell Loblee, 1560.
• A Farewell; cauld Churcheyeards rounde. London: Edwarde Russell, 1566.
• A Greater Thanks; for Churchyardes welcome home. London: Alexander Lacy, for Arthour Pepwel, 1566.
• Churchyardes Lamentacion of Freyndshyp. London: Thomas Colwell, for Nicolas Wyer, 1566.
• Come bring in Maye with me: a discourse of rebellion. London: Wylliam Griffith, 1570.
• The Whole Order: How Queen Elizabeth was received into the City of Bristol. 1575.
• A prayse of maister M. Forboishers voyage to Meta Incognita. London: Andrew Maunsell, 1578; Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1922.
• A Discourse of the Queenes Majesties Entertainement in Suffolk and Norffolk. London: Henrie Bynneman, 1578.
• A Lamentable Description of the Wofull Warres in Flaunders. Henry Bynneman, for Ralph Newberie, 1578.

The miserie of Flaunders, calamitie of Fraunce, misfortune of Portugal. 1579.

• The Moste True Reporte of James Fitz Morrice Death. London: Felix Kingston, for Edward VVhite, 1579.
• A Generall Rehearsall of Warres. Lonon: Edward Whyte, 1579.
• A Warning for the Wise of the Late Earthquake. London: Iohn Allde, and Nicholas Lyng, 1580.
• A Pleasant Labyrinth called Churchyards Chance. London: Ihon Kyngston, 1580.
• A Plaine Report of the Takying of Macklin. London: Felix Kingston, for Ihon Perin, 1580.
• A Scourge for Rebels. London: Thomas Dawson, for Thomas Cadman, 1584.

A sparke of friendship. 1588.

• A Feast Full of Sad Cheere. London: [John Charlewood?], for William Holme, 1592.
• A musicall consort called Churchyards charitie: a praise of poetrie out of Sir Phillip Sidney. London: Ar. Hatfield, for William Holme, 1595; Alexander Bowell, 1819.
• The Honor of the Lawe. London: Ar. Hatfield, for William Holme, 1596.
• A sad funerall of Sir F. Knowles. London: Ar. Hatfield, for William Holme, 1596; London: Longman, 1815.
• A pleasant discourse of Court and wars called his cherrishing: a commendation of those that serve prince and countrie. London: Ar. Hatfield, for William Holme, 1596.
• A wished reformation of wicked rebellion. London: Thomas Este, 1598.
• The Fortunate Farewel to the Earle of Essex. London: Edm. Bollifant, for William Wood, 1599.

A true discourse of the Governours in the Netherlands and the civill warres there. London: Felix Kingston] for Matthew Lownes, 1602.

• Churchyard's Chips (edited by George Chalmers). London: 1817.

Collected editions

• The Firste Parte of Churcheyardes Chippes. London: Thomas Marsh, 1575.

Translated

• Ovid, The Thre First Bookes of 'De tristibus' Translated. London: Thomas Marsh, 1580.
• Giacomi di Grassi, True Arte of Defence Englished. London: [G. Shaw?], for I. Iaggard, 1594.

Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.

See also

• List of British poets
• Piers Plowman Tradition

References

•  Bullen, Arthur Henry (1887) "Churchyard, Thomas" in Stephen, Leslie Dictionary of National Biography 10 London: Smith, Elder, pp. 343-346 
• Thomas Churchyard, Churchyard's Chips concerning Scotland. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=eXYuAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false. . London: Constable, 1817.
• Bernard M. Ward, The Seventeenth Earl of Oxford, 1550–1604: From contemporary documents. London: John Murray, 1928, 29–30.

External links

Poems

• "A Newe Kind of a Sonnet"
• "A Praise of Poetrie"
• Thomas Churchyard at Poetry Nook (3 poems)

Books

• Thomas Churchyard at Amazon.com

About

• Thomas Churchyard in the Encyclopædia Britannica
• Thomas Churchyard(1525 ca.-1604) at English Poetry, 1579-1830
• Churchyard, Thomas in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain, the Dictionary of National Biography (edited by Leslie Stephen & Sidney Lee). London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900. Original article is at: Churchyard, Thomas