Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

XXVI.GEORGE GASCOIGNE.A.D. 1576.George Gascoigne was the eldest son of Sir John Gascoigneof Cardington in Bedfordshire, and was born about 1525. Hewas educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and afterwardsentered at Gray's Inn as a law-student ; but after some timespent in ftileness and extravagance, he embarked for Holland,and servea as a soldier under William, Prince of Orange. Hereturned to England in 1573, and nominally resumed the studyof law, but spent much of his time in writing verses. In July,i575» '^ve find him at Kenilworth, reciting verses before QiieenElizabeth, and writingan account of the pageantries with whichshe was there entertained. He died at Stamford, Oct. 7, 1577.A complete collection of his poems has very lately been printed byW. C. Hazlitt, for the ' Roxburghe Library.' His best poem iscertainly ' The Steel Glas,' lately reprinted (with a few others)by Mr. Arber, and from which I give extracts. The Steel Glasis,in fact, a mirror, in which the poet sees a reflection of variousestates of men, whom he describes with severe exactness andsome fine satirical touches. Our extracts refer to the Gentlemen,the Merchants, the Priests, and the Ploughmen ; with anEpilogue upon Women. The poem was commenced in April,1575, and printed in April, 1576. It was dedicated to his patron,Arthur, Lord Gray of Wilton, whom he frequently addresses as*my lord ' in the poem.