Thomas Drant facts for kids

Thomas Drant (born around 1540, died 1578) was an English clergyman and a poet. He was known for his work on prosody, which is the study of how poetry is structured, including its rhythm and rhyme. Important writers like Sir Philip Sidney and Edmund Spenser knew about his work. He was part of a smart group of thinkers at court called the 'Areopagus', which included Sidney, Edward Dyer, Gabriel Harvey, and Daniel Rogers.

Drant translated the Roman poet Horace into English. He took some creative freedom with Horace's poems because they were not religious. He even said that translating Horace was harder than translating Homer! Drant's translation was the first complete English version of Horace's Satires, which are poems that make fun of human weaknesses.

Thomas Drant's Life Story

Early Life and Education

Thomas Drant was born in Hagworthingham, a village in Lincolnshire, England. His father was also named Thomas Drant. He went to St John's College, Cambridge, starting in March 1558. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1561 and became a fellow (a kind of academic staff member) at his college in March 1561. He completed his master's degree (M.A.) in 1564.

When Queen Elizabeth I visited Cambridge University in August 1564, Thomas Drant wrote poems in English, Latin, and Greek to present to her. He also gave a public speech in 1565 about a religious topic, which was later printed in one of his books.

Career as a Clergyman

Drant became a chaplain (a religious advisor) to Edmund Grindal, who was a very important church leader. Grindal helped him get a job as a divinity reader (someone who teaches about religion) at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

In 1569, he earned another degree (B.D.). Thanks to Grindal, he was given a special church position called a prebend in St. Paul's. In January 1570, he preached a sermon at Windsor Castle before the royal court. In this sermon, he strongly criticized people for dressing too fancy. He also spoke about the Queen's kindness towards rebels and Catholics in the north of England.

He received several other church positions in early 1570, including a prebend in Chichester, a rectory (a church parish) in Slinfold, and the role of Archdeacon of Lewes.

Later Years and Sermons

In April 1570, Drant preached a sermon in London where he spoke against the bad behavior of the city's people. He gave another sermon at the same place in April 1572. He also had some disagreements with William Overton, another church official, whom he criticized in his sermons.

Thomas Drant is believed to have died around April 17, 1578, because his position as Archdeacon of Lewes became empty around that time.

Thomas Drant's Writings

Thomas Drant was a busy writer and translator. Here are some of his important works:

• Impii cuiusdem Epigrammatis qvod edidit Richardus Shacklockus . . . Apomaxis (1565): This book was written in both Latin and English, and it argued against the ideas of Richard Shacklock.
• A Medicinable Morall, that is, the two Bookes of Horace his Satyres Englyshed (1566): This book contained his English translation of Horace's Satires. It also included his translation of the Wailings of the Prophet Jeremiah into English poetry, along with other short poems. Some copies of this book were dedicated to Lady Bacon and Lady Cicell, who were sisters and supporters of learning. The book also included the English and Latin poems he gave to Queen Elizabeth in 1564.
• Horace his arte of Poetrie, epistles, and Satyrs, Englished (1567): Another translation of Horace's works, dedicated to the Earl of Ormonde.
• Greg. Nazianzen his Epigrams and Spiritual Sentences (1568): A translation of works by Gregory Nazianzen, an early Christian writer.
• Two Sermons preached (around 1570): This book contained two of his sermons, one preached in London and the other at Windsor Castle.
• A fruitful and necessary Sermon specially concernyng almes geving (around 1572): A sermon he preached about giving to charity.
• In Solomonis regis Ecclesiastem . . . paraphrasis poetica (1572): A poetic interpretation of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes, dedicated to Sir Thomas Heneage.
• Thomse Drantae Angli Advordingamii Praesul. Ejusdem Sylva (published after 1576): This book contained Latin poems dedicated to important figures like Queen Elizabeth, Edmund Grindal, and Matthew Parker. It also included poems praising Drant written by James Sandford in several languages.

Drant also wrote short poems that appeared at the beginning of books by other authors, such as John Foxe's famous Acts and Monuments (1570) and Robert Peterson's Galateo (1576).

Some of his works were never published, including a translation of the first five books of Homer's Iliad, a translation of the Psalms, and a book called Book of Solomons Prouerbs, Epigrames, and Sentences spirituall.