Not unhappily chosen is the epithet “The Squibbing MIDDLETON,” for he almost always fails to impress us fully by his great powers. He warms not, he enlightens not, with steady glow, but gives us fireworks instead of stars or altar-burnings. We except from this rebuke his “Faire Quarrel,” 1622, which shows a much firmer grasp and purpose, fascinating us the while we read. Perhaps, with added knowledge of him will come higher esteem. Of THOMAS HEYWOOD the portrait is complete, every word developing a feature: his fertility, his choice of subjects, and rubicund appearance. Nor is the humourous sadness, of the figure shewn by the aged THOMAS CHURCHYARD, less touching because it is dashed in with burlesque. “Poverty and Poetry his Tomb doth enclose” (_Camden’s Remains_). His writings extend from the time of Edward VI. to early in the reign of James I. (he died in 1604); some of the poems in _Tottel’s Miscellany_, 1557, were claimed by him, but are not identified, and J. P. Collier thought him not unlikely to have partly edited the work, His “Tragedie of Shore’s Wife,” (best edit. 1698), in the _Mirror for Magistrates_, surpasses most of his other poems; yet are there biographical details in _Churchyard’s Chips_, 1575, that reward our perusal. Gascoigne and several other poets added _Tam Marti quàm Mercurio_ after their names; but Churchyard could boast thus with more truth as a Soldier. He says:— _Full thirty yeers, both Court and Warres I tryed,_ _And still I sought acquaintaunce with the best,_ _And served the Staet, and did such hap abyed_ _As might befall, and Fortune sent the rest:_ _When drom did sound, a souldier was I prest,_ _To sea or lande, as Princes quarrell stoed,_ _And for the saem, full oft I lost my blood._ But, throughout, misfortune dogged him:— _... To serve my torn [~i.e., turn~] in service of the Queen:_ _But God he knoes, my gayn was small, I ween,_ _For though I did my credit still encreace,_ _I got no welth, by warres, ne yet by peace._ (C.’s Chips: _A Tragicall Discourse of the unhappy man’s Life_; verses 9, 26.) Of THOMAS DEKKER, or Decker (about 1575-1638), “_A priest in Apollo’s Temple, many yeares_,” with his “Old Fortunatus,” both parts of his “Honest Whore,” his “Satiromastix,” and “Gull’s Hornbook,” &c.,—which take us back to all the mirth and squabbling of the day—we need add no word but praise. We believe that a valuable clue is afforded by the allusion in our text to the pamphlet “Dekker his Dreame,” 1620, (reprinted by J. O. Halliwell, 1860.) We may be certain that “The Time-Poets” was not written earlier than 1620, or any later than 1636 (or probably than 1632), and before Jonson’s death. Page 7. “_Rounce, Robble, Hobble, he that writ so big._”