CHURCHYARD, THOMAS

born c. 1520, , Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Eng. died 1604, London English writer who won brief fame through his occasional verse, pamphlets on wartime experiences, pageants for Queen Elizabeth I, and historical and antiquarian worksall reflecting aspects of a crowded career. His works have never been completely printed, and copies are rare. Churchyard's earliest work was A Myrrour for Man (about 1552), reflections on the estate of man. His prolific output included The Legend of Shore's Wife, his most popular poem, and The Worthiness of Wales (1587), in prose and verse. After serving in the household of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, Churchyard became a mercenary, for 30 years fighting in almost every campaign in Scotland, Ireland, the Low Countries, and France under various banners. Later, at court, he devised pageants for Queen Elizabeth's progresses to Bristol (1574) and Norwich (1578), but a passage in his Generall rehearsall of warres (1579) offended Elizabeth, and Churchyard fled to Scotland. He was restored to favour about 1584 and received a small pension in 1593.