Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hudson, Thomas (fl.1610)
HUDSON, THOMAS (fl. 1610), poet, was probably a native of the north of England. His name stands first in the list of 'violaris' in the service of James VI in 1567: 'Mekill [i.e. probably, big] Thomas Hudsone, Robert Hudsone [q. v.], James Hudsone, William Hudsone, and William Fullartoun their servand.' The Hudsons in all likelihood were brothers. All their names reappear in 'The Estait of the King's Hous' for 1584 and 1590, with particulars as to salary and liveries. Thomas Hudson was also installed master of the Chapel Royal 5 June 1586, his appointment being ratified by two acts of parliament dated respectively 1587 and 1592.
Hudson's chief work is 'The Historie of Judith in forme of a Poeme: penned in French by the noble poet, G. Salust, Lord of Bartas: Englished by Tho. Hudson,' Edinburgh, 1584. The work was probably suggested by the king, to whom Hudson dedicates it, and who supplied a commendatory sonnet. It runs fluently, and the number of verses is limited to that of the original text. Hudson's version was reissued in London in 1608, with the later editions of Joshua Sylvester's 'Du Bartas,' and again in 1613, alone. Drummond of Hawthornden much preferred Sylvester's rendering to Hudson's. Hudson is one of the contributors to 'England's Parnassus,' 1600, and Ritson and Irving are agreed in identifying him with the 'T. H.' who contributed a sonnet to James VI's 'Essays of a Prentise,' Edinburgh, 1585. In 'The Return from Parnassus' (played at Cambridge in 1606), Hudson and Henry Lock, or Lok, are advised to let their 'books lie in some old nooks amongst old boots and shoes,' to avoid the satirist's censure. Hawkins hastily infers (Origin of the English Drama, ii. 214) that Hudson and Lok were the Bavius and Mævius of their age. Hudson's efforts are never contemptible, and Sir John Harrington (in his notes to Orlando Furioso, bk. xxxv.) characterises the 'Judith' as written in 'verie good and sweet English verse.'
[Authorities in text; Addit. MS. 24488, p.411; Ritson's Bibl. Poet.; Irving's Lives of Scotish Poets and Hist. of Scotish Poetry; Drummond's Conversations with Jonson (Shakespeare Soc.),p.51.]