Munday, Anthony

(1553-1633)

   At the end of his apprenticeship to a London stationer around 1573, he spent some time at the English seminary in Rome, entertained by the rector who had been a friend of his father. Back in London he was an actor and wrote some plays, among them John a Kent and John a Cumber (?1595). He translated Balladine of England (1588) and Amadis of Gaul (?1590). His time at the English College in Rome provided material for The English Romayne Lyfe (1582). His many ballads were often satirized by Samuel Johnson. He died in London and was buried in the Church of St. Stephen, Coleman Street, within the City of London. Some of his other publications: The Mirrour of Mutabilitie, 1579. To All Curteous and Freendly Readers, 1579. The paine of pleasure, 1580. The true reporte of the prosperous successe, 1581. A Banqvet of Daintie Conceits, 1588. Poems from Englands Helicon, 1600. Zelavto, The Fovntaine of Fame, 1689. Some of his poems: "Jf euer Cæsar Had Such Gallant Fame," "The Sheepheards Sunne," "The Wood-mans Walke," "Who Wayeth Well Each Point of This Discourse."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. English Poetry: Author Search. Chadwyck-Healey Ltd., 1995 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.html). Songs from the British Drama. Edward Bliss Reed, ed. Yale University Press, 1925. The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The New Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250-1950. Helen Gardner, ed. Oxford University Press, 1972. The Oxford Book of Sixteenth Century Verse. E.K. Chambers, ed. Oxford University Press, 1932. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. 6th edition. Margaret Drabble, ed. Oxford University Press, 2000.