MAY, THOMAS, an English historian and poet, 1595-1650; b. Sussex, Eng., of an ancient family; educated at Cambridge; repaired to London, became a member of Gray's Inn, and was admitted to the bar. He published the tragedies of Antigom and Agrippina, a comedy entitled The Heir, and other works. Some of his poems were published by special command of Charles I., with whom he was a favorite. Abandoning the court he became a republican. He was secretary to Cromwell during the civil war, and employed to write its history. This was published originally in Latin, and translated into English in 1650. He published two poems on the reigns of IIenry II. and Edward III. He translated into English verse Selected Epigrams of Martial, Virgil's Georgics, and Lucan's Pharsalia, to the last of which he wrote a continuation in English and Latin. His History of the English Parliament, begun Nov., 1640, was edited by Baron Maseres, and translated into French by Guizot. He was buried in Westminster abbey, but soon after the restoration his body was disinterred and thrown into a pit in the adjoining St. 3Iargaret's churchyard. A monument which had been erected over his grave was demol ished.
MAY, Sir Tnomas ERSKINE, b. England, 1815; educated at Bedford school, became assistant librarian of the house of commons in 1831, and entered the bar in • 1838. In 18-44 lie published a treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proce,edings, and Usages of Parlia— ment, which has become a standard authority on parliamentary law. In 1846 he was made examiner of petitions for private bills, and the next year he was appointed taxing master to the house of commons, of which he became clerk in 1871. In 1849, he pub lished in pamphlet Renwrks and Saggestions with cr, Vie!) to Facilitate the .D'espata Public Business in Parliament; in 1850, another pamphlet, On the Con-solidation of de Election Law,s, and in 1861-63, The Constitutional History of England sinc,e the Accession of' George 1760-1860. This work is supplementary to liallam's, and brings the consti tutional history of England down to the present generation. It is a sound and trust worthy book, without special brilliancy. Sir Thomas published, in 1877, Dem,ocracy Ettrope--a History; and be has contributed to the Edinburgh Review and the Law _Maga zine.