Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 36.djvu/174

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
Markham
168
Markham

tentments' (1611, 11th edit, enlarged 1675), the second book of which, 'The English Huswife,' treating of domestic subjects, was often issued separately; 'The Pleasures of Princes' (1615 4to, 1635), containing discourses on the arts of angling and breeding fighting-cocks (often issued with the 'English Husbandman'); 'Hunger's Prevention, or the whole Art of Fowling by Water and Land' (1621); and 'The Arte of Archerie' (1634). A very small 12mo volume, without date, is called 'The Young Sportsman's Instructor' in angling, fowling, hawking, and hunting; it was reprinted in 1829. Markham also brought out a new edition of Juliana Berners's 'Book of St. Albans,' under the title of 'The Gentleman's Academie, or the Booke of S. Albans,' London (for Humfrey Lownes), 1595, 4to; the third and last part, 'The Booke of Armorie,' has a new title-page.

In the interests of agriculture Markham edited Barnabe Googe's translation of 'The Art of Husbandry,' by Heresbach, in 1614 (another edit. 1631), and 'The Country Farm ' in 1616, a revision of Richard Surflet's translation (1600) of Liebault and Estienne's 'Maison Rustique,' with additions from French, Spanish, and Italian authors. Very similar treatises were the 'English Husbandman,' 3 pts. 1613-15 (4to), 1635 (part 3 is a reissue of 'The Pleasures of Princes'; 'Cheap and Good Husbandry,' 1614, 13th edit. 1676; 'A Farewell to Husbandry, or the Inriching of . . . Barren . . . Grounds' (1620, 10th edit. 1676); 'The Country House Wife's Garden,' 1623, 4to; 'The Way to get Wealth,' reprints of earlier tracts, with a chapter on gardening by William Lawson (1625, 14th edit. 1683); ' The whole Arte of Husbandry in four bookes' (1631); and the 'Inrichment of the Weald of Kent' (1625, five editions).

Four books may be referred to the results of Markham's military life, namely, 'Honour in his Perfection, or a Treatise in Commendation of . . . Henry, Earle of Oxenford, Henry, Earle of Southampton, Robert, Earle of Essex, and . . . Robert Bartue, Lord Willoughby of Eresby' (1624); 'The Souldier's Accidence, or an Introduction into Military Discipline' (1625); 'The Sovldier's Grammar' (1626-7, 1639, in two parts); and 'The Soldier's Exercise, in three books' (1639, 3rd edit. 1641). Markham's 'Vox Militis,' 1625, is a reissue of Barnaby Rich's 'Alarum to England.'

Several books, whose authors wrote under the initials J. M., G. M., or I. M., have been doubtfully assigned to Jervis, Gervase, or Iervis Markham. Among these is 'A Health to the Gentlemanly Profession of Servingmen, or the Serving Man's Comfort,' London (by W. W.), 1598, 4to. 'The Epistle to the Gentle Reader' is here signed J. M., but the writer describes the work as ' being primogeniti—the first batch of my baking;' and as Markham had published much before 1598, it seems unlikely that this book should be by him (Collier, Bibl. Cat. ii. 328-9). 'Conceyted Letters, newly layde open: or a most excellent bundle of new wit, wherin is knit up together all the perfections or arte of Episteling,' 1618, 4to, 1622, 1638, has a preface signed 'I. M.,' and may well be by Markham.

Markham married a daughter of J. Gelsthorp, but no children are recorded. He was buried at St. Giles's, Cripplegate, on 3 Feb. 1636-7. A portrait of him was engraved by T. Cross.

Markham has been confused, among others by Hume in his 'History of England,' with a very distant connection, Gervase Markham of Dunham, Nottinghamshire, perhaps son of John Markham of King's Walden, Bedfordshire (MS. Harl. 2109, f. 52), whose disreputable quarrels gave him an evil notoriety, in 1597 he had a quarrel with Sir John Holles, and on 27 Nov. 1616 was fined 500l. in the Star-chamber for sending a challenge to Lord Darcy. He died in 1636, and lies buried under a fine monument in Laneham Church.

[Brydges's Censura Literaria, passim; Langbaine's Dramatic Poets; Brydges's Restituta, ii. 469; Hunter's Chorus Vatum (MS. Addit. 24491, f. 245); Heay's Biog. Chronicle of the English Drama; Bakers Biog. Dram.; Lowndes's Bibl. Manual (Bohn); Brit. Mus. Cat.; Dr. Grosart's Memoir in his edition of Gervase's two sacred poems.]

MARKHAM, Sir GRIFFIN (1564?–1644?), soldier and conspirator, born about 1564, was the eldest of the twelve sons of Thomas Markham of Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, and Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire, by Mary, the heiress of Ryce Griffin of Braybrooke and Dingley, Northamptonshire. He was a first cousin of Robert Markham of Cottam, the father of Francis and Gervase, who are separately noticed. Sir Griffin's father was high steward of Mansfield and standard-bearer to Queen Elizabeth's band of gentlemen pensioners. Some of his brothers gave great trouble to their father by becoming recusants. Robert, the second, went over to Rome in 1592.

Griffin served as a volunteer under Sir Francis Vere in the Netherlands, and he was at the siege of Groningen in 1594. He was afterwards with the Earl of Essex before Rouen, when he received the honour of