Thomas Howell (

fl. ''Floruit'' (; abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for "they flourished") denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indicatin ...

1568), was an English poet. Howell was probably a native of

Dunster Dunster is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, within the north-eastern boundary of Exmoor National Park. It lies on the Bristol Channel southeast of Minehead and northwest of Taunton. At the 2011 Census, it had a population ...

in Somerset. He published in 1568 "The Arbor of Amitie, wherein is comprised pleasant Poems and pretie Poesies, set foorth by Thomas Howell, Gentleman", 8vo, 51 leaves (

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...

), with a dedicatory epistle to

Lady Ann Talbot The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...

. Howell appears to have been employed at this time in the household of the Earl of Shrewsbury. "New Sonnets and Pretty Pamphlets … Newly augmented, corrected, and amended", 4to, was licensed for publication in 1567-8. An imperfect, undated copy, supposed to be unique, is preserved in the Capell collection (

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge ...

); it is dedicated "To his approved Freinde, Maister Henry Lassels, Gentilman". Several poems are addressed to John Keeper (a Somerset man), and some of Keeper's poems are included among "Newe Sonets". Howell's latest work was "H. His Deuises, for his owne exercise, and his Friends pleasure. Vincit qui patitur", 1581, 4to, 51 leaves, preserved among Malone's books in the Bodleian Library. It appears from the dedicatory epistle that he was now in the service of the Countess of Pembroke (Mary Sidney), and that the poems were written at Wilton House "". Howell's works have been reprinted in Dr. Grosart's "Occasional Issues".

References

16th-century English poets People from West Somerset (district) Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown English male poets {{England-poet-stub