Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hughes, Thomas (fl.1587)
HUGHES, THOMAS (fl. 1587), dramatist, a native of Cheshire, was matriculated at Queens' College, Cambridge, in November 1571, proceeded B.A. 1575-6, and on 8 Sept. 1576 was elected a fellow of his college under a royal mandate. On leaving Cambridge he became a member of Gray's Inn. He had the chief share in the authorship of `The Misfortunes of Arthur, reduced into Tragical Notes by T. H.,' a play performed before Queen Elizabeth at Greenwich on 8 Feb. 1587-8, by members of Gray's Inn, and printed with the general title of `Certaine Devises and Shewes presented to her Majestie by the Gentlemen of Grayes-Inne at her Highnesse Court in Greenwich,' &c., Robert Robinson, 1587, b.l., 8vo (Brit. Museum and Duke of Devonshire's Library). This play was reprinted in Collier's supplement to `Dodsley,' and is included in Mr. Hazlitt's edition of Dodsley's collection. It is one of the earliest plays in which blank verse was employed, and Francis Bacon helped to arrange the dumb-shows.
[Cooper's Athenæ Cantabr. ii. 24,543; Baker's Biog. Dram. 1812, iii. 46-7; Dodsley's Old Plays, ed Hazlitt, iv. 251, &c.]