Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/300

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Munday
294
Munday

knights and aldermen. This edition contains some four hundred pages of original matter; but in value it is greatly surpassed by the edition of 1633, ‘completely finished by the study and labour of A. M. H[umphry] D[yson]’ and others, and published four months after Munday's death (for a valuable digest of the additions made by Munday and his coadjutors, see the note by Bolton Corney in Collier's edition of John a Kent and John a Cumber, p. lxxi).

Munday died in 1633, and was buried on 10 Aug. in that year in the church of St. Stephen, Coleman Street. His monument, with a long inscription, was destroyed in 1666, but the inscription was printed in full in the 1633 edition of Stow's ‘Survay’ (p. 869). The names of Munday's children, together with the dates of their christenings, are given in the register of St. Giles, Cripplegate: Elizabeth, 28 June 1584; Roase, 17 Oct. 1585 (buried 19 Jan. 1586); Priscilla, 9 Jan. 1587; Richard, 27 Jan. 1588, perhaps Richard Munday the painter-stainer, whose heraldic labours are recorded in the Catalogue of the Harleian MSS. (1529-77); Anne, 5 Sept. 1589.

Manday was in his versatility an epitome of his age. Ready to turn his hand to any occupation, he was as a man of letters little more than a compiler, destitute of originality or style; yet, apart from such names as Shakespeare and Marlowe, there are few Elizabethan writers who occupied a greater share of public attention, or contributed more largely to popular information and amusement.

Apart from his plays which have already been enumerated, Munday's writings may be classified under three headings: (I) Translations of Romances; (II) City Pageants; (III) Miscellaneous Writings. To most of his works Munday affixes his name in full, though in some cases he uses the pseudonym Lazarus Piot, or L. P. A great number bear his motto, ‘Honos alit artes;’ a few another motto, ‘Patere aut abstine.’

I. Romances:

1. ‘The famous, pleasant, and variable Historie of Palladino of England. Discoursing of honourable Adventures of Knightly Deedes, of Armes and Chivalrie; interlaced likewise with the Love of sundrie noble Personages, &c. Translated out of French by A. M. London: printed by Edward Allde for John Perin,’ 1588, 4to (see Bridgewater Cat. 4to, 1837, p. 203; now in Mr. Christy Miller's library at Britwell). 2. ‘Palmerin d'Oliva.’ Translated by A. M. John Charlwood, 1588, 4to (ib. p. 204; 1637, Brit. Mus.). 3. ‘The famous History of Palmendos, Son to the most renowned Palmerin d'Oliva, Emperour of Constantinople, and the Heroic Queen of Tharsus,’ Charlwood, 1589, 4to; 1653, 4to Brit. Mus. 4. ‘Gerileon of England. The second part of his most excellent, delectable morall and sweet contrived Historie . . . Written in French by Estrienne de Maisonneufue, Bordelois, and translated into English by A. M.,’ 1592, fol. (Britwell). 5. ‘Amadis de Gaule, the first Book translated by Anthony Munday,’ 1595, 4to. A copy of this work was entered at Stationers' Hall as early as January 1588-9, but no perfect copy of this date is known. The copies at the British Museum and at Britwell both want title-pages. Parts of this famous romance had been translated before, but Munday was the first to present the first book of it to English readers. 6. ‘The Second Booke of Amadis de Gaule, containing the Description, Wonders, and Conquest of the Forme-Island. The Triumphs and Troubles of Amadis, his manifold Victories obtained, and sundry Services done for King Lisuart, &c. . . . Englished by L[azarus] P[iot], London, for C. Burbie,’ 1595, 4to (see Notes and Queries, I, iv. 85). The first and second books were also reissued with the addition of the third and fourth in 1619, fol. 7. ‘The second part of the honourable Historie of Palmerin d'Oliva . . . translated by A. M.,’ 1597, 4to (Britwell). 8. ‘Palmerin of England,’ translated from the French, 1602. This translation, which is described by Southey as the ‘Grub Street Patriarch's worst piece of work,’ was entered 13 Feb. 1581, but no perfect copy earlier than 1602 is known. It contains verses by Dekker, Webster, and others, and seems to have been the work of Munday in part only. There are five editions in the Museum dated 1602, 1609, 1616, 1639, and 1664 respectively. A copy at Britwell assigned to 1596 is very imperfect. 9. ‘The famous and renowned Historie of Primaleon of Greece, Sonne to the great and mighty Prince Palmerin d'Oliva, Emperor of Constantinople . . . Translated out of French and Italian into English by A. M.,’ London, 1619, 8vo (Brit. Mus.) This is the first edition extant, but the work was commenced in 1589, and a complete version published in 1595.

II. Pageants:

1. ‘The Triumphs of reunited Britania, performed at the Cost and Charges of the Right Worshipful Company of the Merchant Taylors, in honor of Sir Leonard Holliday,’ 29 Oct. 1605, London, 4to.; reprinted in Nichols's ‘Progresses of James I,’ i. 564-76. 2. ‘Camp-bell, or the Ironmongers Faire Field,’ at the installation of Sir Thomas Campbell, 29 Oct. 1609,