He also wrote "The reign of king Henry the Second," and "The victorious reign of Edward the Third,"[409] both in English verse; and translated, besides Lucan, the "Georgics" of Virgil, the "Epigrams" of Martial, the "Icon Animorum" by Barclay, and the verses in the "Argenis" of the same author. He likewise was the author of "The History of the Parliament of England, which began November 3, 1640, with a short and necessary view of some precedent years." Folio. 1647.[410] The following inscription[411] was made upon him by one of the Cavalier party, which he had abused-- Adsta, Viator, et Poetam legas Lucani interpretem, Quem ita feliciter Anglicanum fecerat, Ut Mayus simul et Lucanus videretur, Et sane credas Metempsuchosin: Nam uterque ingratus Principis sui Proditor; Hic Neronis Tyranni, ille Caroli Regum optimi, At fata planè diversa; Lucanum enim ante obitum poenitentem legis, Mayus vero repentina morte occubuit, Ne forsan poeniteret. Parliamentia Rebellis tam pertinax adstipulator, Ut Musarum, quas olim religiose coluerat, Sacrilegus Hostis evaserit: Attamen fingendi artem non penitus amisit, Nam gesta eorum scripsit et typis mandavit In prosâ mendax Poeta. Inter tot Heroas Poetarum, Nobiliumque, Quod tam indigni sepeliantur Cineres, Videntur fiere Marmora. Nec tamen mirere cum hic Rebelles posuisse, Qui tot sacras Ædes, et Dei delubra, Equis fecere Stabula. [A MS. note in one of the former editions says: "This comedy is full of most palpable imitations of Shakespeare and others, but it is very pleasingly, and even elegantly, written in many parts."] FOOTNOTES: [405] "Thomas May, father of the poet, purchased Mayfield Place, in Sussex (formerly an archiepiscopal palace, and afterwards the seat of the Greshams), of Henry Neville, of Billingbere, Berks, in 1597. He was knighted at Greenwich, July 3, 1603, and died 1616. He was father to Thomas May, the celebrated poet and historian, by whom Mayfield was aliened from the family in 1617: his mother, Joan May, and cousin, Richard May, of Islington, gent. joining with him in the conveyance to John Baker, Esq., whose descendants have ever since enjoyed it."--Nichols's "Leicestershire," iii. 156, note.--_Gilchrist._] [406] Life, edit. 1759, p. 35.] [407] Some writers suppose he was disgusted that Sir William Davenant was appointed to succeed Ben Jonson as poet laureate, in the year 1637.] [408] He was appointed to the post of Historiographer by the Parliament.]