Nicholas Breton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nicholas Breton
Born	1545
Died	1626 (aged 80–81)
Nationality	English
Occupation	poet, novelist

Nicholas Breton (also spelled Britton or Brittaine) was an English writer who lived a long time ago, from around 1545 to 1625 or 1626. He was a talented poet and prose writer during a special time in England called the English Renaissance. This was a period when art, literature, and science really blossomed!

Life of Nicholas Breton

Nicholas Breton came from an old family in Layer Breton, a place in Essex, England. His father, William Breton, was a rich merchant in London. Sadly, his father passed away in 1559. Nicholas's mother, Elizabeth (whose maiden name was Bacon), then married another poet named George Gascoigne. Nicholas was likely born in London, in a house on Red Cross Street.

We don't have official records of him attending a university. However, a diary from 1583 mentions that he was in Antwerp and had "once of Oriel College" in Oxford. He might have been the poet who visited the court of James VI of Scotland in 1588 and received a gift of £160 Scots.

In 1593, Nicholas Breton married Ann Sutton, and they had a family. People believe he died shortly after his last known work, Fantastickes, was published in 1626.

Nicholas found a supporter in Mary, countess of Pembroke, who was a very important lady. He wrote many works honoring her until about 1601. Some letters in his book A Poste with a Packet of Mad Letters (published in 1603) might tell us a bit about his own life. One letter talks about facing many difficulties, like being wounded, sick, or in debt.

Nicholas Breton's Works

Breton was a very busy writer who created many different kinds of works. He was popular during his own time, but people mostly forgot about him later. His writings include religious poems, poems about country life (called pastoral poems), and various prose stories.

His religious poems show he was a very devoted and serious person. His lyrics, which are like songs, are pure and fresh. His stories, even though they have some fancy ideas, are pleasant to read and are not rude or offensive. Some people thought he might have been a Roman Catholic because of how he wrote about the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene. However, his other writings clearly show he was a strong Anglican (part of the Church of England).

Breton wasn't very good at writing satire (which makes fun of things). His best work is found in his pastoral poetry. His book Passionate Shepheard (from 1604) is full of happy, outdoor feelings. One famous poem from this book is "Who can live in heart so glad / As the merrie country lad." Another well-known poem by Breton is the lullaby, "Come little babe, come silly soule."

The original printed copies of most of Breton's books are very rare and valuable today.

About Fantastickes

Breton was very good at observing country life. You can see this in his prose story Wits Trenckrnour, which is a conversation between a scholar and someone who fishes. It also appears in his book Fantastickes. This book is a series of short prose pictures that describe the months, Christian holidays, and different times of the day. It gives us a lot of information about how people lived back then.

In 1942, an American composer named Bernard Herrmann used parts of Fantastickes to create a piece of music for singers and an orchestra. He called it The Fantasticks. He later recorded it with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. Herrmann's music ends in May, celebrating the arrival of spring.

Breton's Verse (Poetry)

Here are some of Nicholas Breton's poetical works:

• The Workes of a Young Wit (1577)
• A Floorish upon Fancie (1577)
• The Pilgrimage to Paradise (1592)
• The Countess of Penbrook's Passion (a handwritten poem, first printed in 1853) [1]
• Pasquil's Fooles cappe (1600)
• Pasquil's Mistresse (1600)
• Pasquil's Passe and Passeth Not (1600)
• Melancholike Humours (1600)
• Marie Magdalen's Love: a Solemne Passion of the Soules Love (1595) – the second part of this work is definitely by Breton.
• A Divine Poem, including "The Ravisht Soul" and "The Blessed Weeper" (1601)
• An Excellent Poem, upon the Longing of a Blessed heart (1601)
• The Soules Heavenly Exercise (1601)
• The Soules Harmony (1602)
• Olde Madcappe newe Gaily mawfrey (1602)
• The Mother's Blessing (1602)
• A True Description of Unthankfulnesse (1602)
• The Passionate Shepheard (1604)
• The Souies Immortail Crowne (1605)
• The Honour of Valour (1605)
• An Invective against Treason; I would and I would not (1614)
• Bryton's Bowre of Delights (1591)
• The Arbor of Amorous Devises (1594)
• He also contributed to England's Helicon (1600) and other poetry collections.

Breton's Prose (Stories and Essays)

Here are some of Nicholas Breton's prose works:

• Auspicante Jehoua
• Wit's Trenchmour (1597)
• The Wil of Wit (1599)
• Strange Fortunes of Two Excellent Princes
• Crossing of Proverbs
• Figure of Foure
• Wonders Worth Hearing
• A Poste with a Packet of Mad Letters (1602–6)
• A Dialogue of Pithe
• Grimello's Fortunes (1603)
• [A Mad World My Masters, Mistake Me Not; Or] A Merrie Dialogue Betwixt the Taker and Mistaker (1603)
• Olde Man's Lesson
• I Pray You be Not Angrie
• A Murmurer
• Divine Considerations
• Wit's Private Wealth
• Characters upon Essaies
• Good and Bad
• Strange News out of Divers Countries (1622)
• Fantasticks
• Courtier and Countryman
• Character of Queen Elizabeth
• Mary Magdalen's Lamentations (1604) and The Passion of a Discontented Mind (1601) are sometimes mistakenly thought to be by Breton.
• Ourania by N. B. (1606), which is about Sir Philip Sidney.