Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cranley, Thomas (fl.1635)
CRANLEY, THOMAS (fl. 1635), poet, was the author of ‘Amanda, or the Reformed Whore, and other Poems, composed and made by Thomas Cranley, gent., now a prisoner in the King's Bench,’ 1635, 4to, dedicated ‘To the worshipfull his worthy friend and brother-in-law, Thomas Gilbourne, Esquire.’ In 1639 the work was reissued under the title of ‘The Converted Courtezan, or the Reformed Whore.’ It is valuable for the vivid description that it gives of the town-life of the time; nor is the verse ill-written. ‘Venus and Adonis’ is mentioned as one of Amanda's books in her unregenerate days. Cranley was a friend of George Wither, who in ‘Abuses Stript and Whipt’ addressed a copy of verses ‘To his deare friend Thomas Cranley.’ The complimentary verses prefixed to Wither's satire, subscribed ‘Thy deare Friend Th. C.,’ were probably written by Cranley. A reprint of ‘Amanda’ was issued (for private circulation) by Frederic Ouvry, in 1869.
[Corser's Collectanea Anglo-Poetica; Collier's Bibl. Cat.]