TAYLOR, JOHN (1580-1653). An English writer, styled by himself the 'King's water poet.' He was horn at Gloucester. After studying there at the grammar-school, he was apprenticed to a London waterman. Pressed into the navy. he served under Essex at Cadiz (1596), and, accord ing to his own statements, he made many voy ages in the Queen's ships. Retiring from the navy with a lame leg, he became a famous water man on the Thames. He frequently superin tended the river pageants. As trade waned, ow ing largely to the fashion for coaches, he began writing doggerel, which attracted great attention and secured him the patronage of men of letters. He also made many tours, which furnished him with material for amusing sketches. On the outbreak of the Civil War (1642) he went to Oxford, where he opened a public house. Re turning to London (1645) , he took the Crown Tavern in Long Acre. There he died. Though Taylor cannot be taken seriously as a poet, his work is interesting as a picture of contemporary manners. Of his separate publications, number
ing about 150, may be mentioned the Penniless Pilgrimage (1618), an account of a trip to Scot land; Laugh and Be Fat (1613), a burlesque of Thomas Coryate's Odcombian Banquet; Praise of Hempseed (1620) , an account of a voyage from London to Queensborough, in Kent, in a brown paper boat; and Travels in Germanic (1617). In 1630 Taylor brought out an edition of his writ ings under the title, the Works of John Tay lor, the Water l'ort, being 63 in number. This folio was reprinted by the Spenser Society (three parts. London, 1S68-69). Other pamphlets not contained in the edition of 1630 were also re printed by the same society (five parts, 1870-78). For a selection consult his Early Prose and Poet ical Works (London. 1888).