Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 34.djvu/70

 victim of scandalous reports—a possible reference to rumours of his conversion to Roman Catholicism. The second, a romance of the Euphues pattern, was called 'A Margarite of America,' London (John Busbie), 1596, 4to. In the dedication to Lady Russell,' our English Sappho,' dated 4 May, Lodge explains that it was penned in the Straits of Magellan, the sole justification for the title. Verse is very freely interspersed throughout, and one piece,' With Ganymede now joins the shining sun,' is the earliest known example in English of a sestina. The third volume was 'Wits Miserie and Worlds Madnesse; discouering the Deuils Incarnat of this Age.' It is dedicated to Nicholas Hare, 'from my house at Low Laiton,' 15 Nov. 1596, and is a denunciation of various vices, lavishly illustrated from classical authors. Some brief criticism of his friends Spenser, Drayton, Daniel, and Nashe (p. 57) does justice to his literary taste. Chalmers argued, not quite satisfactorily, that the omission of all mention of Shakespeare led the latter to ridicule the work by placing quotations from it (p. 46) in the mouth of Falstaff (cf. Merry Wives, v. 5: ' Let the sky rain potatoes,' et seq;, Supplemental Apology, p. 319). Collier suggested that in the same year (1596) Lodge produced a religious tract called 'Prosopopœia, containing the teares of … Marie, the Mother of God.' The dedication to the Countess of Derby is signed in some copies L. T., in others T. L. Internal evidence perhaps supports Lodge's claim. The tone is that of a pious catholic, and Lodge is known to have become a catholic in middle life. But Mr. Laing's suggestion that L. T. is the correct signature, and possibly stands for Laurence Twine, is worthy of consideration.

After 1596 Lodge sought new occupation, as well as change of religion. Abandoning the profession of literature, he began the study of medicine, and according to Wood graduated as a doctor of medicine at Avignon in 1600. After taking the degree he practised in London, and on 25 Oct. 1602 was incorporated M.D. at Oxford. In the same year he is said to have produced 'Paradoxes against Common Opinion debated in form of Declamations in place of publique censure, onelie to exercise young wittes in difficult matters' (, Bibl. Coll.) It is better known that he published in 1602 a very laborious volume (licensed as early as 26 June 1598)(, iii. 119): 'The Famous and Memorable Workes of Josephus, a man of much Honour and Learning among the Jewes. Faithfully translated out of the Latin and French by Tho. Lodge, Doctor in Physicke.' It is dedicated to the Earl of Nottingham. Next year, when the plague was raging in London, Lodge dedicated to the lord mayor and aldermen of the city 'A Treatise of the Plague: containing the Nature, Signes, and Accidents of the same, with the certaine and absolute cure of the Feuers, Botches, and Carbuncles that raigne in these times. And above all things most singular Experiments and Preservatives in the same, gathered by the Observation of divers worthy Travailers, and selected out of the writings of the best learned Phisitians in this age. By Thomas Lodge, Doctor in Phisicke,' London, printed for Edward White and N. L., 1603,4to. Soon afterwards Lodge seems to have fallen under suspicion as a Roman catholic and fled the country. A letter addressed 9 March 1605-6 by one W. Jenison to 'Mr. Thomas Lodge, Doctor in Physicke,' suggests that Lodge at the time was out of England, in order to escape persecution as a recusant, and that his wife remained in London to protect his interests (Cal. State Papers, Dom., 1603-10, p. 298;, Memoir). On 17 Jan. 1610 he wrote thanking Sir Thomas Edmondes [q. v.], the English ambassador in Paris, for having enabled him to return home in peace and quietness (MS. Addit. 4164, No. 52; Miscellaneous Pieces, pp. 28-9). He prospered as a physician, but is said to have been chiefly patronised by coreligionists. In 1609 Heywood, in his 'Troia Britannica,' mentions him in a list of the chief physicians of the day, and he similarly figures in a satiric poem on London doctors of 1620 (, Inedited Poetical Miscellanies, notes, sig. ). In 1612 he set up a monument in the church of Rolleston, Nottinghamshire, to the memory of a younger brother, Nicholas, lord of that manor. Nicholas had left by will two gold bracelets to the doctor's wife. In 1614 he gave another proof of his industry by issuing 'The Workes, both Morrall and Natural, of Lucius Annæus Seneca, translated by T. Lodge, D. of Phis., London, printed by William Stansby,' fol., dedicated in Latin to Lord-chancellor Ellesmere. A letter dated 1618, in which he prescribes for the weak eyes of a patient, Sir Stephen Powle, is extant in the Bodleian Library (Tanner MS. clxix. 19).

Lodge probably continued till his death a frequent visitor to the continent. On 10 Jan. 1616 a passport was granted him and Henry Sewell, gent., to travel 'into the Archduke's country to recover such debts as are due unto them there, taking with him two servants, and to return agayne within five months.' On his return he seems to have been distracted by pecuniary difficulties. Proceedings for an unpaid debt were taken against 'Dr. T. Lodge'