d many substantial marks of
favour in the shape of donatives; and it was at the express command of this
monarch that he wrote his historical poem entitled _The Victorious Reigne
of Edward III._ From disgust, however, at the appointment of D'Avenant to
the Laureateship, on the death of Jonson in 1637,--a post to which,
according to what he considered to be his own superior deserts[3], he was
himself justly entitled,--"May fell from his duty, and all his former
friends," and became an active agent in promoting the designs of the
so-called popular leaders. Through the interest of Cromwell, he was
nominated Secretary to the Parliament, in which capacity he wrote a History
of its transactions, a work which was published in 1647. This performance,
which is highly commended by Granger, rendered its author extremely
obnoxious to the royal party, who exercised all their powers of pen to
disparage both the book and its compiler. He is represented by Clarendon,
for instance, "as prostituting himself to the vile office of celebrating
the infamous acts of those who were in rebellion against the king; which he
did so meanly, that he seemed to all men to have lost his wits, when he
left his honesty." Anthony a Wood's account[4] of these matters, and of May
himself, is that

"He was graciously countenanced by K. Charles I. and his royal consort;
but he, finding not that preferment from either which he expected, grew
discontented, sided with the Presbyterians, and, upon the {280} turn of
the times, became a debauchee _ad omnia_; entertained ill principles as
to religion, spoke often very slightly of the Trinity, kept beastly and
atheistical company, of whom Thos. Challoner, the regicide, was one,
and endeavoured to his power to asperse and invalidate the king and his
cause."

His acquaintance with Challoner is also alluded to by Aubrey who says[5],
"that his translation of Lucan's excellent poem, made him in love with the
republique." Aubrey adds, he was--

"A handsome man, debauched, and lodged in the little square by Cannon
Row, as you go through the alley."

Clarendon concludes his notice of May by observing that--

"Shortly after the publication of his parliamentary history he died,
miserable and neglected, and deserves to be forgotten."

The fact is, he was found dead in his bed in Nov. 1650; but that he was
"neglected" is not altogether correct. At any rate, he was honoured with