Samuel Rowlands facts for kids

Samuel Rowlands was an English writer who lived a long time ago, from about 1573 to 1630. He wrote many short books and poems. These writings showed the funny and sometimes silly parts of everyday life for regular people in his time. He might not have been famous back then, but his work helps us understand how popular stories and social life in London changed. He spent his whole life in London. For many years, he worked with booksellers like William White and George Loftus. They helped publish his interesting pamphlets.

About Samuel Rowlands

Samuel Rowlands was a writer who focused on the everyday lives of people in London. His works give us a peek into what life was like for ordinary citizens. He wrote about their habits, their jokes, and their problems.

His Early Writings

Samuel Rowlands wrote many different kinds of books and poems. Here are some of his early works:

• The Betraying of Christ (1598) was a religious poem.
• The Letting of Humour's Blood in the Head-vaine (1600) was a collection of short, witty poems and satires. Satires are writings that make fun of people's mistakes.
• A Mery Meetinge, or tis Mery when Knaves mete (1600) was another humorous work. These two books were ordered to be destroyed by the authorities. But they were later published again under new names: Humors Ordinarie and The Knave of Clubbes.
• Greene's Ghost haunting Conie-Catchers (1602) was a story about tricksters. Rowlands pretended he had found and edited it from another writer's papers. However, much of it was taken from books that were already printed.
• Tis Merrie when Gossips meete (1602) was a play-like conversation. It featured a Widow, a Wife, a Maid, and a Vintner (someone who sells wine).
• Looke to it; for Ile stabbe ye (1604) was a poem where Death talks about bad rulers and other wrongdoers he will destroy.
• Hell's broke loose (1605) told the story of a historical figure named John of Leyden. In the same year, he also wrote A Theatre of Divine Recreation, which was a collection of poems based on the Old Testament. This book does not exist anymore. He also published a collection of short, witty poems called Humor's Antique Faces.
• A Terrible Battle between ... Time and Death (1606) was another poem.
• Democritus, or Doctor Merry-man his Medicines against Melancholy humors (1607) was a book about cheering people up. It was later reprinted with changes as Doctor Merrie-man, and Diogenes Lent home. In this story, the ancient city of Athens is actually London.
• The Famous History of Guy, Earl of Warwick (1607) was a long adventure story. It was written quickly and is not considered one of his best works.
• Humors Looking Glasse (1608) was another book exploring different kinds of humor.
• Some people think he wrote Martin Mark-all, Beadle of Bridewell (1608 or 1610). This book was about criminals and included a lot of information about famous highway robbers. It also had the most complete list of thieves' secret language up to that time. However, this book is usually thought to have been written by Samuel Rid.

Later Books and Poems

Some of his later works include Sir Thomas Overbury; or the Poysoned Knights Complaint, and The Melancholic Knight (1615). This work might have been inspired by a popular play of the time. His last funny story, Good Newes and Bad Newes, came out in 1622. In 1628, he published a religious book of stories and poems. It was called Heaven's Glory, Seeke it: Earts vanitie, Flye it: Hells Horror, Fere it.

We do not know anything about Samuel Rowlands after 1628. A famous writer named Edmund Gosse described Rowlands as a "small, non-political Daniel Defoe." Daniel Defoe was another famous English writer. Gosse said that Rowlands was a poet with talent, but perhaps not a true genius. He also noted that Rowlands only wrote when he needed money. A poem by Rowlands called The Bride (1617) was reprinted in the USA in 1905.

See also

• National poetry
• English poetry