THOMAS CHURCHYARD.
Thomas Churchyard was born in the Town of Shrewsbury, as himself doth affirm in his Book made in Verse of the Worthiness of Wales, taking Shropshire within the compass, (to use his own Expression) Wales the Park, and the Marches the Pale thereof. He was one equally addicted to Arts and Arms, serving under that renowned Captain Sir William Drury, in a rode he made into Scotland, as also under several other Commanders beyond Sea, as he declares in his Tragical Discourse of the Unhappy Mans Life, saying,
Full thirty years both Court and Wars I tryde,
And still I sought acquaintance with the best,
And served the State, and did such hap abide
As might befal, and Fortune sent the rest,
When Drum did sound, I was a Soldier prest
To Sea or Land, as Princes quarrel stood,
And for the same full oft I lost my blood.
But it seems he got little by the Wars but blows, as he declares himself a little after.