May, Thomas, 1595–1650, English author, b. Sussex, grad. Cambridge, 1612. Besides writing several tragedies on classical subjects, he wrote two comedies, The Heir (1620) and The Old Couple (c.1620). He made translations of Lucan's Pharsalia (1626–27) and Vergil's Georgics (1628) and wrote two historical poems on the reigns of Henry II (1633) and Edward III (1635). An ardent Puritan, he was secretary to the Long Parliament and wrote an objective History of the Parliament of England (1650).
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