Poet-Laureate of the City of London, was concerned in writing fourteen plays,—“Sir John Oldcastle,” 1600; “The Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington,” 1601, &c.; trans. “Amadis de Gaul,” “Palmerin of England,” and other romances, and pub. a number of political and poetical pieces. Among the best-known of the latter are: 1. “Banquet of Daintie Conceits,” 1588, 4to…. 2. “The Fountayne of Fame,” 1580, 4to. 3. “Pain of Pleasure,” 1586, 4to.
An earnest traueller in this arte, and in whose name I have seene very excellent workes, among which surely, the most exquisite vaine of a witty poeticall heade is shewed in the sweete sobs of “Sheepheardes and Nymphes:” a worke well worthy to be viewed, and to bee esteemed as very rare Poetrie.
Of the versions of honest Anthony, one of the most indefatigable translators of romance in the reign of Elizabeth, not much can be said either in point of style or fidelity. Labouring for those who possessed an eager and indiscriminating appetite for the marvellous, he was not greatly solictitous about the preservation of the manners and costume of his original, but rather strove to accommodate his authors to the taste of the majority of his readers. To enumerate the various romances which he attempted to naturalise, would be tedious and unprofitable.
There is nothing in Munday’s compositions above the tamest mediocrity, and he is worth mentioning only as a specimen of the literary journeyman of the time.
Munday was in his versatility an epitome of his age. Ready to turn his hand to any occupation, he was a man of letters little more than a compiler, destitute of originality or style; yet, apart from such names as Shakespeare and Marlowe, there are few Elizabethan writers who occupied a greater share of public attention, or contributed more largely to popular information and amusement.
An obscure and fertile literary hack, reeling out volume after volume of ordinary verse and yet more ordinary prose, yet reaching once or twice a rare level, which shall preserve his name from oblivion.
