John Dickenson
Encyclopedia
John Dickenson was an English author, known as a romance-writer. He was a follower in the school of John Lyly
and Robert Greene. He worked for a time in the Low Countries
, and Germany. Employed by George Gilpin
and Ralph Winwood
, he may have been a spy, and certainly was an agent of the government on the ground at the time of the War of the Jülich succession
of 1610. He was employed on further missions, in Poland and Scandinavia.
According to recent scholarship, Dickenson translated from French Louis Leroy's edition of Aristotle's Politics in 1598, as Aristotles Politiques.
John Lyly
John Lyly was an English writer, best known for his books Euphues,The Anatomy of Wit and Euphues and His England. Lyly's linguistic style, originating in his first books, is known as Euphuism.-Biography:John Lyly was born in Kent, England, in 1553/1554...
and Robert Greene. He worked for a time in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, and Germany. Employed by George Gilpin
George Gilpin
-Life:George Gilpin is sometimes called the Elder, to distinguish him from the eldest son of his elder brother. He was was the second son of Edwin Gilpin of Kentmere, Westmoreland, by Margaret, daughter of Thomas Layton of Dalemain, Cumberland, and elder brother of Bernard Gilpin.In 1553 George...
and Ralph Winwood
Ralph Winwood
Sir Ralph Winwood was an English diplomat and politician.-Life:He was born at Aynhoe in Northamptonshire and educated at St John's College, Oxford....
, he may have been a spy, and certainly was an agent of the government on the ground at the time of the War of the Jülich succession
War of the Jülich Succession
The War of the Jülich Succession was a conflict that began in 1609 and ended in 1614 with the signing of the Treaty of Xanten.-Background:...
of 1610. He was employed on further missions, in Poland and Scandinavia.
Works
He was the author of:- ‘Deorum Consessus, siue Apollinis ac Mineruæ querela,’ &c., 1591.
- ‘Arisbas, Euphues amidst his Slumbers, or Cupids Journey to Hell,’ &c., 1594, dedicated ‘To the right worshipfull Maister Edward Dyer, Esquire.’
- ‘Greene in Conceipt. New raised from his graue to Write the Tragique Historie of Faire Valeria of London,’ &c., 1598, with a woodcut on the title-page representing Robert Greene in his shroud, writing at a table.
- ‘The Shepheardes Complaint; a passionate Eclogue, written in English Hexameters: Wherevnto are annexed other Conceits,’ &c., n. d. (circ. 1594). Three short poems from this work are included in England's Helicon, 1600.
- ‘Specvlum Tragicvm, Regvm, Principvm & Magnatvm superioris sæculi celebriorum ruinas exitusque calamitosos breviter complectens,’ &c., Delft, 1601, reprinted in 1602, 1603, and 1605.
- ‘Miscellanea ex Historiis Anglicanis concinnata,’ &c., Leyden, 1606.
According to recent scholarship, Dickenson translated from French Louis Leroy's edition of Aristotle's Politics in 1598, as Aristotles Politiques.