Christopher Middleton (d. 1628)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Christopher Middleton (1560? – 1628) was an English poet and translator.


Life

The ''
Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
'' gives tentative information. He may be identical with the Christopher Middleton of
Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...
who matriculated from
Brasenose College, Oxford Brasenose College (BNC) is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It began as Brasenose Hall in the 13th century, before being founded as a college in 1509. The l ...
, 12 December 1580, aged 20. A clergyman of the same name, who graduated B.D. from St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1619, was rector of Aston-le-Walls,
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshi ...
, from 1612 till his death there in 1628.


Works

Middleton was the author of: *''A Short Introduction for to Learn to Swimme, gathered out of Master Digbies Booke of the Art of Swimming, and translated into English for the better instruction of those who understand not the Latin tongue, by Christopher Middleton,'' 1595, 4to. This was illustrated with woodcuts of persons swimming, and was a translation of the ''De Arte Natandi libri duo'', 1587, of
Everard Digby Sir Everard Digby (c. 1578 – 30 January 1606) was a member of the group of provincial members of the English nobility who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Although he was raised in an Anglican household and married a Protestant, Di ...
. *''The Historie of Heaven: containing the Poetical Fictions of all the Starres in the Firmament, gathered from amongst all the Poets and Astronomers, by Chrystopher Middleton. Printed for him 1596''. *''The Famous Historie of Chinon of England, with his Strange Adventures for the love of Celestina, daughter to Lewis, King of France; with the worthy Atchivement of Sir Lancelot du Lake, and Sir Tristram du Lions for faire Laura, daughter to Cadar, Earle of Cornewall, being all Knights of King Arthur's Round Table. By Chr. Middleton. At London, printed by John Danter for Cuthbert Burbie'', 1597. *''The Legend of Humphrey, Duke of Glocester, by Chr. Middleton. London, printed by E. A. for
Nicholas Ling Nicholas Ling (fl.1570–1607) was a London publisher, bookseller, and editor who published several important Elizabethan works, including the first and second quartos of Shakespeare's ''Hamlet''. Ling was the son of John Lynge, a parchment m ...
'', 1600. The author dedicates this poem to Sir Jarvis Clifton. It is preceded by a Latin hexastichon by Robert Allott, a sonnet by
Michael Drayton Michael Drayton ( – ) was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era, continuing to write through the reign of James I and into the reign of Charles I. Many of his works consisted of historical poetry. He was also the fir ...
, and two short poems by
John Weever John Weever (1576–1632) was an English antiquary and poet. He is best known for his ''Epigrammes in the Oldest Cut, and Newest Fashion'' (1599), containing epigrams on Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and other poets of his day, and for his ''Ancient ...
. The poem, consisting of 184 six-line stanzas, is written on the plan of the poems in the ''Mirror for Magistrates''.


Further reading

*John Simons, ''Christopher Middleton and Elizabethan medievalism'', pp. 43–60 in Utz, Richard J., 1961-; Shippey, Tom A. (ed.), ''Medievalism in the modern world : essays in honour of Leslie J. Workman '' (1998).


Notes


References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, Christopher 17th-century English poets 17th-century English male writers 1560s births 1628 deaths 16th-century English poets 16th-century English male writers 16th-century English translators 17th-century English translators English male poets