George Gascoigne

George Gascoigne (c. 1525 in Cardington, Bedfordshire, † October 7, 1577 in Bernack in Stamford, Lincolnshire ) was an English poet.

Gascoigne studied law at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. He was probably first member of the Middle Temple, is documented its membership in Gray's Inn from 1555th From 1557 to 1559 he was a member of the House for Bedford. He first lived in difficult economic circumstances, at times he even had to be imprisoned because of his debts. Only after he had married a wealthy widow, his financial situation stabilized.

In the beginning of the Eighty Years' War Gascoigne hired as a mercenary in the Netherlands, which were then supported by England. He was a great admirer of William I, who campaigned several times for him personally. During the evacuation of Valkenburg he was captured, from which he was dismissed in 1574 to England. About his experiences Gascoigne wrote two reports, which were published.

Most of his poems and Masquen was published in the following years until his death in 1577.

Works

• The Arraignment of a Lover
• A Strange Passion of a Lover
• Supposes, English comedy in blank verse
• A Hundredth Sundrie Flowres (GW Pigman (Editor) ). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.
• The Complete Works of George Gascoigne ( Cambridge English Classics; John W. Cunliffe (Editor) ). Greenwood Press 1969.