16 Jan. 1588 (cf. ch. vii). He left the law, and probably served in Essex's expedition of 1591 to France. He first appeared as a poet,
anonymously, in the appendix to Sidney's Astrophel and Stella (1591), and has left several books of songs written as airs for music, often of his own composition, as well as a collection of Latin epigrams and Observations in the Art of English Poesie (1602). I do not know whether he can be the 'Campnies' who performed at the Gray's Inn mask of Shrovetide 1595 at Court (cf. s.v. Gesta Grayorum), but one of the two hymns in that mask, A Hymn in Praise of Neptune is assigned to him by Francis Davison, Poetical Rhapsody (1602), sig. K 8, and it is possible that the second hymn, beginning 'Shadows before the shining sun do vanish', which Davison does not himself appear to claim, may also be his. By 1607 he had taken the degree of M.D., probably abroad, and he practised as a physician. Through Sir Thomas Monson he was entangled, although in no very blameworthy capacity, in the Somerset scandals of 1613-15. On 1 March 1620 he died, probably of the plague, naming as his legatee Philip Rosseter, with whom he had written A Booke of Airs in 1601. Campion is not traceable as a writer for the stage, although his connexion with Monson and Rosseter would have made it not surprising to find him concerned with the Queen's Revels syndicate of 1610. But his contribution to the Gesta Grayorum foreshadowed his place, second only to Jonson's, who wrote a Discourse of Poesie (Laing, 1), now lost, against him, in the mask-poetry of the Jacobean period. In addition to his acknowledged masks he may also be responsible for part or all of the Gray's Inn Mountebanks Mask of 1618, printed by Nichols, Eliz. iii. 320, as a second part of the Gesta Grayorum, and by Bullen, Marston, iii. 417, although the ascription to Marston is extremely improbable.
Collections 1828. J. Nichols. Progresses [&c.] of James the First, ii. 105, 554, 630, 707. [The four masks.] 1889. A. H. Bullen, Works of T. C. [English and Latin.] 1903. A. H. Bullen, Works of T. C. [English only.] 1907. P. Vivian, Poetical Works (in English) of T. C. (Muses' Library). 1909. P. Vivian, C.'s Works. Dissertation.—T. MacDonagh, T. C. and the Art of English Poetry (1913).
Lord Hay's Mask. 6 Jan. 1607
S. R. 1607, Jan. 26 (Gwyn). 'A booke called the discription of A maske presented before the Kings maiestie at Whitehall on Twelf-*night last in honour of the Lord Haies and his bryde Daughter and heire to the right honorable the Lord Denny, their mariage havinge ben at Court the same day solemnised.' John Browne (Arber, iii. 337).
1607. The discription of a Maske, Presented before the Kinges Maiestie at White-Hall, on Twelfth Night last, in honour of the Lord Hayes, and his Bride, Daughter and Heire to the Honourable
