Whetstone, George

(?1544-?1587)

   Probably born in London, he spent what money he had on the traditional wine, women and song, joined the Army in 1572, was commissioned to an English regiment and saw distinguished service in the war with Holland against Spain. In Holland he made the acquaintance of George Gascoigne and Thomas Churchyard (see entries), whose life experiences resembled his own. On his return to England, like his two friends, he turned to literature. In 1576 he collected his varied literary efforts into a volume which he entitled the Rocke of Regard, a vast poetical work divided into four parts (1) The Castle of Delight, described the wretched end of wanton and dissolute living; (2) The Garden of Extravagance, describing the many sweet flowers (or rather fancies) of honest love; (3) The Arbour of Virtue, where slander is highly punished, and virtuous ladies and gentlewomen worthily commended; (4) The Orchard of Repentance, describing the miseries that follow gambling and quarrelling and the fall of wasteful living. In 1585 he returned to the army in Holland and was present at the Battle of Zutphen in 1586. In 1578 he wrote Promos and Cassandra, a play in rhymed verse.

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition, 1.1. English Poetry: Author Search (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.html). Whetstone's Rock of Regard. George Whetstone. Collier Reprints, ?1870.