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Waldrors, Francis Godolphin
THE
LITERARY MUSEUM;
OR,
A SELECTION OF
SCARCE OLD TRACTS:
VIZ.
1. The right Renoumyde Ladies, tranflated from
Boccace.
2. A delicate Diet for dainty-mouthed Droonkardes,
by Gascoyne.
3. Poems of Spenfer, not in any Edition.
4. Peacham's Period of Mourning, in Six Vifions.
5. Specimen of a New Edition of Ben Jonfon.
6. Ceremonies uſed for healing the King's Evil, con-
fecrating Cramp Rings, &c.
7. On Lydgate's Travelling into France.
8. The New Arcadia, by Belcher.
9. Downe's Rofcius Anglicus; or, Theatrical Hif-
tory, &c. &c.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE EDITOR.
1792.
PRICE SIX SHILLINGS, BOARDS.
Lilus
nyth
SPICO
SKV
te to -01-
To J. P. KEMBLE, Eſq.
DEAR SIR,
HAVING made my acknowledgments, in
their reſpective places, to the feveral Gen-
tlemen who favoured me with materials for the
following Miſcellany, yourſelf excepted, I take
the liberty now to thank you for the uſe of
HEYWOOD'S King Edward the Fourth, from your
very curious collection; and, as you are gene-
rally known to unite the elegant Antiquary
with the accompliſhed Actor, to infcribe to
you this Volume; adapted, I prefume, to the
taſte of both thoſe characters.
I am,
Dear Sir,
Your moſt obedient fervant,
Jan. 2, 1792.
a
F. G. WALDRON.
·
ADVERTISEMENT,
ANTI
NTIQUITY, like every other quality that at
tracts the notice of mankind, has undoubtedly vota
ries that reverence it, not from reafon, but from
prejudice. Some feem to admire indifcriminately
whatever has been long preferved, without confi
dering that time has fometimes co-operated with
chance.'
Johnson's Preface to Shakspeare.
This remark may be moſt pertinently applied to
Literary Rarities, and their Amateurs; many fuch cu-
riofities being unthought-of and unknown, "except
to antiquaries, and collectors of books; are fought
[only] becauſe they are ſcarce, and would not have
been ſcarce, had they been much eſteemed,'
??
Ibid.
1
( 6 )
However juſt this obfervation may in general be,
fome fcarce books, in print or MS. may, for their
own intrinfic merit, or from fome adventitious cir-
cumſtance, be excepted from the common obloquy;
and the fearchers after them not claffed with thofe,
who buy books merely becauſe they were printed
with Black Letter, or in the Fifteenth Century.
Time, unrefifted by chance, has configned works
which would now be thought ineftimable to, it is
feared, irretrievable oblivion; and chance, counter-
acting the operation of time, has preferved, and un-
expectedly restored, invaluable rarities.
It is not meant to be fuggefted, that this collection
contains many, if any, fuch very prizeable articles;
fince, what is moft fcarce may not be thought very
good, and what is undeniably excellent, not eſteem-
ed fufficiently rare.
1
Should the matter in fome of the elder pieces be
found unworthy of regard, the antique words, phrafes,
and mere orthography, may affift the critical reader
of Shakspeare, and other early writers; whofe lan-
guage has become obfolete, whoſe text has been de-
praved, and whofe allufions are forgotten; in afcer-
taining meanings, correcting errors, and illuftrating
obfcurities:
Particular reafons having deferred the publication
of the intended New and Improved Edition of BEN
JONSON; and the learned Editor thereof, P. WHAL-
LEY, L. L.B. being lately deceaſed, the public is
teſpectfully informed, that the Work is entirely com-
pleted, has been purchaſed by, and is in poffeffion
of the Compiler of this Mifcellany; and, as foon as
the neceffary arrangements can be made, will be put
to
}
( 7 )
to prefs, with every improvement that may in the
mean time be fuggefted: Communications for
which purpoſe will be thankfully received, and care-
fully attended to, by the Proprietor of the Copy-
right,
FRANCIS GODOLPHIN WALDRON,
January 2, 1792,
N. B. The purchaſers of the firft four numbers of
The Literary Muſeum, &c. may have the Additions now
firſt publiſhed to complete the Volume, feparately,
price One Shilling; and a few Odd Numbers may alfo
be had by thoſe who want to perfect their fets, at Ons
Shilling each.
CON-
CONTENT S.
1
ń
A DEDICATION,
ear s
Н
"Henry Par-
care, Knyght, Lorde Morley," to King Henry 8th. of
John Bocaffe, his booke intitlede in the latyne tunge De pre-
elaris mulieribus; that is to fay in Englyfhe, Of the Ryght Re-
Houmyde Ladyes ;" with a tranflation of the Preface thereto; and
a Specimen of the Work; from an ancient manuſcript, in the pof-
feffion of the Editor, and an Introduction from "A DEFENCE OF
THE FEMALE SEX." containing, together, 16 pages.
This tranflation was unknown to Mr. Walpole. See his
Royal and Noble Authors,” Second Edit. Vol. I. p. 92.
An uncommonly-rare Tract, by George Gascoigne, Efq. called,
* A DELICATE DIET FOR DAINTIE-MOUTHDE DROONKARDES,'
printed 1576; of which only one copy, in the poffeffion of George
Steevens, Efq. is fuppofed to be extant.
A fmall collection of difperfed Poems, by SPENSER; not in
añy Edition of his Works.
Peacham's Period of Mourning, diſpoſed into Six Vifions; from
the 4to Edition, 1613.
A Specimen (containing 64 pages) of a propofed New Edition
of The Works of BEN JONSON.
The Ceremonies uſed for Healing the King's Evil; from the Edi-
tion of 1686, and for Confecrating Cramp Rings; from a MS. in the
poffeffion of the Editor.
"Onne mie Maifter LYDGATE, his travellynge yuto Fraunce."
A Poem, written three hundred and fixty years fince. Com-
municated by B. N. of Nottingham.
"The New Arcadia ;" a Poem. By W. Beltcher.
A Dramatic Piece, called, THE KING IN THE COUNTRY;
faken from Heywood's " King Edward the Fourth."
Occafional Effufions, on His MAJESTY's Illneſs, and Happy Re-
Eovery*. By the Editor.
Downes's Scarce Theatrical Hiftory, called RoscIUS ANGLICA-
NUS; with Additions, by the late Mr. Thomas Davies, and the
prefent Editor: and an Original Letter, by Garrick, in extenua-
tion of faults pointed out to him in his own acting.
> The reader is requeſted to obſerve that the lines on his Majeſty's illneſs
and recovery, however they may chance to be placed in this volume, fhould
be read in the following order.
"By Winter's chilling breath, &c."
"Prais'd be our God, &c."
"When Phœbus fets, &c."
"Nature in Tears, &c."
1
$
"De Preclaris Mulieribus,
That is to fay in Englyfhe,
Of The Ryghte Renoumyde Ladyes."
Tranflated from "BocASSE,
AND
Dedicated to KING HENRY VIIL
BY
"HENRY PARCARE, Knight, Lord Morley."
From a Manufcript on Vellum,
Which appears to have been the Preſentation-Copy to
that Monarch.
LONDON,
Printed for the EDITOR, and Sold at No. 62, Great Wild-
Street, near Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; by Meff. EGERTON,
Whitehall; Meff. Cox and PHILLIPSON, James-Street,
Covent-Garden; R. RYAN, No. 351, Oxford-Street ;
H. D. SYMONDS, No. 20. Pater-Nofter-Row; and
W. RICHARDSON, under the Royal-Exchange. 1789.
[ Entered at Stationers Hall.]
}
INTRODUCTION,
FROM
"An Effay in Defence of the Female Sex."
Written by a Lady, and Publiſhed in 8vo. 1696.
Shall not enter into any difpute, whether men, or women
I be generally en into any
e, learned,
or we met
be generally more ingenious, or learned; that point muſt
be given up to the advantages men have over us by their
education, freedom of converfe, and variety of buſineſs and
company. But when any compariſon is made between
them, great allowances muſt be made for the diſparity of
thoſe circumſtances. Neither fhall I conteft about the pre-
eminence of our virtues; I know there are too many vi-
cious, and I hope there are a great many virtuous of both
fexes. Yet this I may fay, that whatever vices are found
amongst us, have in general both their fource, and encou-
ragement from them.
The queſtion I ſhall at preſent handle is, whether the time
an ingenious gentleman fpends in the company of women,
may juftly be faid to be mifemployed, cr not? I put the
queſtion in general terms; becaufe whoever holds the af-
firmative muſt maintain it fo, or the fex is no way concerned
to oppofe him. On the other fide I fhall not maintain the ne-
gative, but with ſome reſtrictions and limitations; becauſe.
I will not be bound to juftifie thoſe women, whofe vices and
ill conduct expoſe them defervedly to the cenfure of the
other fex, as well as of their own. The queſtion being thus
ftated, let us confider the end and purpoſes, for which con-
verſation was at firſt inſtituted, and is yet deſirable; and then
we ſhall fee, whether they may not all be found in the com-
pany of women. Thefe ends, I take it, are the fame with
thofe we aim at in all our other actions, in general only two,
profit or pleaſure. Theſe are divided into thofe of the mind,
and thofe of the body. Of the latter I fhall take no further
}
a 2
notice,
iv.
INTRODUCTION.
$
**
notice, as having no relation to the prefent fubject; but fhall
confine myſelf wholly to the mind, the profit of which is the
improvement of the underſtanding; and the pleaſure is the
diverfion, and relaxation of its cares and paffions. Now
if either of theſe ends be attainable by the fociety of women,
I have gained my point. However, I hope to make it-ap-
pear, that they are not only both to be met with in the
converſation of women, but one of them more generally, and
in greater meaſure than in men's.
Our company is generally by our adverfaries reprefented
as unprofitable and irkſome to men of fenfe, and by fome of
the moſt vehement ſticklers againſt us, as criminal. Thefe
imputations as they are unjuft, eſpecially the latter, fo they
favour ſtrongly of the malice, arrogance, and fottifhneſs of
thofe, that moſt frequently urge them; who are commonly
either conceited fops, whofe fuccefs in their pretences to the
favour of our fex has been no greater than their merit, and,
fallen very far fhort of their vanity and prefumption, or a
fort of morofe ill-bred, unthinking fellows, who appear to
be men only by their habit and beards, and are fcarce dif-
tinguiſhable from brutes but by their figure and riſibility.
But I fhall wave theſe reflections at prefent, however juft,
and come cloſer to our argument. If women are not quali-
fied for the converfation of ingenious men, or, to go yet fur-
ther, their friendhip, it muſt be becaufe they want fome
one condition, or more, neceffarily requifite to either. The
neceffary conditions of thefe are fenfe, and good nature, to
which muſt be added, for friendship, fidelity and integrity.
Now if any of theſe be wanting to our fex, it muſt be either
becauſe nature has not been fo liberal as to beftow them upon
us; or becauſe due care has not been taken to cultivate thofe
gifts to a competent meaſure in us.
The firſt of theſe cauſes is that, which is moft generally
urged againſt us, whether it be in raillery, or fpight.
might eaſily cut this part of the controverfy fhort by an
irrefragable argument, which is, that the exprefs intent, and,
reafon for which woman was created, was to be a companion
and help meet to man; and that confequently thofe, that
dený
1
INTRODUCTION.
4
deny them to be fo, muft argue a miſtake in providence,
and think themſelves wifer than their creator. But theſe
gentlemen are generally fuch paffionate admirers of them-
felves, and have fuch a profound value and reverence for
their own parts, that they are ready at any time to facrifice
their religion to the reputation of their wit, and rather than
lofe their point, deny the truth of the hiftory. There are
others, that though they allow the ftory, yet affirm, that the
propagation, and continuance of mankind, was the only
feafon for which we were made; as if the wiſdom that firſt
made man, could not without trouble have continued that
fpecies by the fame or any other method, had not this been
moſt conducive to his happineſs, which was the gracious and
only end of his creation. But theſe fuperficial gentlemen
wear their underſtandings like their clothes, always fet and
formal, and would no more talk than drefs out of faſhion;
beaux that, rather than any part of their outward figure
ſhould be damaged, would wipe the dirt off their ſhoes with
their handkercher, and that value themſelves infinitely more
upon modiſh, nonfenfe, than upon the beſt fenſe againſt the
fashion. But fince I do not intend to make this a religious,
argument, I fhall leave all further confiderations of this na-
ture to the divines, whofe more inmediate bufinefs and
tudy it is to affert the wifdom of providence in the order,
and diſtribution of this world, againſt all that ſhall oppoſe it.
To proceed therefore, if we be naturally defective, the
defect muſt be either in foul or body. In the foul it can't be,
if what I have heard. fome learned men maintain, be true,
that all fouls are equal, and alike, and that confequently
there is no fuch diſtinction, as male and female fouls; that
there are no innate ideas, but that all the notions we have,
are derived from our external fenfes, either immediately, or
by reflection, Thefe metaphyfical fpeculations, I must own
require much more learning and a ftronger head, than I can
pretend to be miftrefs of, to be confidered as they ought:
Yet fo bold I may be, as to undertake the defence of thefs
opinions, when any of our jingling opponents think fit to
refute them.
•
a 3
Neither
1
vi.
INTRODUCTI O N.
Neither can it be in the body, (if I may credit the report
of learned phyficians) for there is no difference in the or-
ganization of thofe parts, which have any relation to, or in-
fluence over the minds; but the brain, and all other parts
(which I am not anatomift enough to name) are contrived as
well for the plentiful conveyance of fpirits, which are held to
be the immediate inftruments of fenfation, in women, as
men. I ſee therefore no natural impediment in the ftruc-
ture of our bodies; nor does experience, or obſervation
argue any: We uſe all our natural faculties as well as men,
nay and our rational too, deducting only for the advantages
before mentioned.
Let us appeal yet further to experience, and obferve
thoſe creatures that deviate leaft from fimple nature, and fee
if we can find any difference in fenfe, or underſtanding be-
tween males and females. In theſe we may fee nature
plaineſt, who lie under no conſtraint of cuſtom or laws, but
thoſe of paffion or appetite, which are natures, and know no
difference of education, nor receive any byafs by prejudice.
We fee great diftance in degrees of underſtanding, wit,
cunning, and docility, (call them what you pleaſe) between
the ſeveral ſpecies of brutes. An ape, a dog, a fox, are by
daily obfervation found to be more docile, and more fubtle
than an ox, a fwine, or a fheep. But a fhe ape is as full of,
and as ready at imitation as a he; a bitch will learn as many
tricks in as fhort a time as a dog; a female fox has as many
wiles as a male. A thouſand inftances of this kind might
be produced; but I think thefe are fo plain, that to inſtance
more were a fuperfluous labour; I fhall only once more take
notice, that in brutes and other animals there is no difference
betwixt male and female in point of fagacity, notwithſtanding
there is the fame diftinction of fexes, that is between men
and women. I have read, that fome philofophers have held
brutes to be no more than meer machines, a fort of divine
clockwork, that act only by the force of nice unfeen fprings
without fenfation, and cry out without feeling pain, eat
without hunger, drink without thirſt, fawn upon their keep-
ers without feeing them, hunt hares without fmelling, &c.
Here
1
INTRO DUCT I O N.
vii.
Here is cover for our antagoniſts againſt the laft argument fo
thick, that there is no beating them out.
For my part, I
ſhall not envy them their refuge, let them lie like the wild
Iriſh ſecure within their boggs; the field is at leaſt ours, fo
long as they keep to their faftneffes. I fhall only add that
if the learnedeft he of them all can convince me of the truth
of this opinion, he will very much ſtagger my faith; for hi-
therto I have been able to obferve no difference between our
knowledge and theirs, but a gradual one; and depend upon
revelation alone, that our fouls are immortal, and theirs not.
But if an argument from brutes and other animals fhall
not be allowed as conclufive, (though I can't ſee why ſuch an
inference ſhould not be valid, fince the parity of reaſon is the
fame on both fides in this cafe,) I fhall defire thofe, that
hold againſt us to obferve the country people, I mean the
inferior fort of them, fuch as not having ſtocks to follow huf-
bandry upon their own ſcore, fubfift upon their daily labour.
For amongſt theſe, though not fo equal as that of brutes, yet
the condition of the two fexes is more level, than amongſt
gentlemen, city traders, or rich yeomen. Examine them in
their feveral bufineffes, and their capacities will appear
equal; but talk to them of things indifferent, and out of the
road of their conftant employment, and the ballance will fall
on our fide, the women will be found the more ready and
polite. Let us look a little further, and view our fex in a
ftate of more improvement, amongst our neighbours the
Dutch. There we ſhall find them managing not only the
domeftick affairs of the family, but making, and receiving all
payments as well great as fmall, keeping the books, bal-
lancing the accounts, and doing all the bufinefs, even the
niceſt of merchants, with as much dexterity and exactnefs
as their, or our men can do. And I have often hear'd fome
of our confiderable merchants blame the conduct of our
country-men in this point; that they breed our women fo
ignorant of bufinefs; whereas were they taught arithmetick,
and other arts which require not much bodily ftrength, they
might fupply the places of abundance of lufty men now em-
ployed in fedentary bufinefs; which would be a mighty profit
to
VIE
to the nation by fending thoſe men to employments, where
Hands and ſtrength are more required. Befide that it might,
prevent the ruin of many families, which is often occafioned
by the death of merchants in full buſineſs; and leaving their
accounts perplexed, and embroiled to a widow and orphans,
who underſtand nothing of the hufband or father's bufinefs,
occafions the rending and oftentimes the utter confounding
a fair eftate; which might be prevented, did the wife but un-
derſtand Merchants accounts, and were made acquainted'
with the books.
Y
t
J
And
I have yet another argument from nature, which is, that the
very make and temper of our bodies fhew that we were ne-
ver defigned for fatigue; and the vivacity of our wits, and
readineſs of our invention (which are confeffèd even by our
adverfaries) demonftrate that we were chiefly intended for
thought and the exercife of the mind. Whereas on the con-
trary it is apparent from the ftrength and fize of their limbs,
the vigour and hardinefs of their conftitutions, that men were
purpoſely framed and contrived for action and labour.
herein the wifdom and contrivance of providence is abun-
dantly manifeſted; for as the one fex is fortified with courage
and ability to undergo the neceffary drudgery of providing
materials for the fuftenance of life in both; fo the other is fur-
niſhed with ingenuity and prudence for the orderly ma-
nagement and diftribution of it, 'for the relief and comfort of
a family; and is over and above enriched with a peculiar
tendernefs and care requifité to the cherishing their poor
helpleſs offspring. I know our oppofers uſually mifcall our
quicknefs of thought, fancy and flaſh, and chriften their own
heaviness by the fpecious names of judgment and folidity;
but it is eafie to retort upon them the reproachful ones of
dulneſs and ſtupidity with more juſtice. I ſhall purſue this
point no further, but continue firm in my perfuafion, that
nature has not been fo niggardly to us, as our adverfaries
would infinuate, till I fee better caufe to the contrary, than I
have hitherto at any time done. Yet I am ready to yield to
conviction, whoever offers it; which I don't fuddenly
expect.
DEDICATION.
}
S
ཀྱིན་ཞེས་ཀྱ
DEDICATION.
To the mofte high, mofte puyfaunte, mofte exellent and
mofte chryſten Kynge, my mofte redoubtede fove-
reygne lorde Henry theighte by the grace of Gode of
Englonde, Fraunce & Irelonde Kynge, Defender of
the Feythe, & in erthe undre Gode, fuppreme heede
of the Churche of Englonde and Irelonde. Your
mofte humble fubjecte Henry Farcare, Knyght,
lorde Morley defyreth thys Newe Yere with infynyte
of yeres to your Imperiall Maiefte, helthe honoure
and vyctory.
N the tyme the hoole worlde was obediente to the Ro-
maynes, mofte victoriouſe and graciouſe fovereigne Lorde,
not onely by armes they were renoumede above all other
naciónes, but alſo in eloquens and goode lernynge, as it ap-
perethe by thyes oratours and poetes in the greate Auguftus
days; that is to faye, Varro, Tullius Cicero, Virgill, Orace
and Ovyde, with divers others. And all thoughe that thofe
that enfuyde froine oone Empoure to another were exellently
-lernede,as bothe the Plynys, Marciall, Quyntilian & Claudian,
and fuche other; yet why it was fo, that the; coulde never
attayne to thes afore reherfyde, neither in profe nor yet in
verfe, is to me a greate wonder. For as muche as they fawe
the workes, of the other, whiche as my reafone gevythe me
fhoulde have rather caufede theym to have bene in fcience
above theym then inferiours to theym. For why, if one that
gothe about to buylde a palace, if he fe another whiche
lykethe hym well, it fhal Ee noo greate naftrie, if he fpse a
faulte in his examplar to amende it in his worke. And why
thys fhulde not be, truely I can geve noo reafone to the
contrary; for fo it was that evere as the greate Empre
of Rome decayde in deedes of armes, fo dyd it in learenynge.
B
In
>
ii.
DEDICATION.
In fo muche, that whether it were by the traynge nationes,
that they were mynglede with all, or otherwife, at the lafte
theimſelfs that accomptyde all other nationes barbaroufe,
oonely the Greakes excepte, by the ſpace of fex or ſevene hun-
drithe yeres were as barbaroufe as the beft. Thys contyn-
uynge fo longe a time, that in proceffe aboute the yere of
our lorde God a thouſand foure hundrith, in the tiine of the
flowre and honoure of prynces, kynge Edwarde the thyrde of
that name, holdynge by ryghte the feptre of thys imperiall
realme, as your Grace nowe dothe, there fprange in Italy
three excellente clerkes. The fyrft was Dante, for hys
greate learnvnge in hys mother tunge, furnamyde dyvyne
Dante.. Surely not withoutę caufe. For it is manyfeft, that
it was true whiche was graven on hys tumbe, that hys ma-
ternal eloquens touchede fo nghe the pryke, that it femyde
a myracle of nature. And for becauſe that one ſhuld not
thynk I do feyne, I fhall fett the wordes in the Italiane tunge,
whiche is thys.
Dante alegra fon minerva obfcura.
De arte & de intelligentia nel au ingenio.
Le elegantia matna aiofe al fcengo.
Que fe tient pour miracol de natura.
The next unto thys Dante was Frauncis Petrak, that not
onely in the latyne tunge, but alfo in fwete ryme is fo ex-
temyde, that unto thy's prefent tyme, unnethe is ther any
noble Prynce in Italy, nor Gentle man withoute havynge in
hys handes hys Sonnettes & hys Try humphes & his othér
Rymes. And he wrote alfo in the latyne tunge certeyn
Eglogys in verfvs, and another booke namede Affrica, & of
the Remedyes of bothe Fortunes, with dyvers Epiſtles and
other Workes whiche I over paffe.
The laſt of thies three, moft gratioufe fovereigne Lorde,
was John Bocas of Certaldo, whiche in lyke wyfe as the
tother twayne Dante and Petraccha were mofte exellent in the
vulgare ryme, fo thy's Bocas was above all others in profe,
as it appery the by hys hundrith tayles, and many other
notable
DEDICATI O N.
iii.
notable workes. Nor he was noo leffe elegaunte in the profe
of his oune tunge, then he was in the latyne tunge, wherin as
Petrak dvd write clerkly certeyn volumés' in the latyne
tunge, fo dyd this clerke. And firft of the Fall of Prynces, of
the Geonelogye of the Goddes. And emonge other, thys
Booke namede De Prèclaris Mulieribus. That is of the Ryght
Renomyde Ladies. Whiche fayde booke as in the ende he
wrytethe, he dyd dedicate the fame to quene Jane in hys
tyme quène of Naples. A prynceffe enduede with all ver-
tues wyfdome and goodenes. And for as muche, as that I
thoughte, howe that your hyghnes of youre accuſtomede
mekenes and pryncely herte woulde not diſdayn it, fo dyd I
imagyne, that if by chaunce it fhulde cum to the handes of
the ryght renomyde and mofte honorable Ladyes of your
Highnes mofte try humphaunte courte, that it ſhulde be well
acceptyde to theym to fe and reede the merveloufe vertue of
theyr oune ſexe to the laude perpetuall of theym. And
albeit as Bocas wrytethe in hys proheme, he menglysfheth
fum not verey chafte emongfte the goode, yet hys honefte
excufe declarethe that he dyd it to a goode entent, that all
Ladyes and Gentlewomen feynge the glorye of the goode
may be fteryde to folowe thevm, and feynge the vyce of
fum to flee theym. Whiche faide worke, my mofte noble and
gratióufe fovereyne Lorde, as farras it gothe, I have drawne into
our maternall tonge,to prefente the fame unto your imperiall
Dignyte this newe yeares day. Praynge to Chryfte Jhefu
to feche that right chriften hande of yours to batell
agaynfte your auncyente Ennemyes, that they may knowe,
that he whiche is the wav and the truethe helpy the vour Ex-
ellencye in your truethe. So that they may fall and youe to
ryfe in honour victory and fame, above all kynges that is
hathe bene or fhal be.' Amen.
B 2
PREFACE.
TH
PREFACE.
HE p.eface of thexellent clerc John Bocaffe, of his
booke intitlede in the Latyne tunge, De Preclaris Muli-
eribus, that is to fay in Englyfhe, Of the Ryghte Renoumyde
Ladyes. Wherin he dothe excuſe hymfelf why emongſte
theym that were mofte vertuoufe and honorable women, he
dothe often put in theym that were vicyouſe.
There be of the olde auncyent wryters, and alſo of late of
right famouſe clerkes, that have brevely wrytten the lyffes of
the illuftrioufe noble men. Emonge others the ryght exellent
poete Frauncys Petrark my maiſter hathe endyted and ga-
threde theyre actes in a compendiouſe volume, and well
worthy, for to thentent that they myghte be above others
by theyr notable and hardy acts. They not oonely put to
thyr ftudy, but alſo their fubftaunce & their bloode, when
the oportuny te of tyme femyde theim fo for to do, to noone
other entente, but to deferve therby of theyr poſteryte a
name and fame for ever. Surely, I have not a litle mervelyde
of theym that have thus wrytten, why they have not fom-
what touchede the glorioufe actes of women, when it is
evydente, that dyvers and fundry of theym have doone ryghte
notable thynges. And if men by theyr ftrength and other
worthy ways have deſervede to have fuch prayfe and com-
mendation, how muche more ought thoſe women to be
prayſede becauſe that they be naturally weike and feble, and
theyr wyttes not fo quycke as mens wyttes be, if they have
doone fuche famous actes, whiche fhulde be harde for men
to do. And for that entente, they fhulde not be defraudyde
therof, it came into my mynde that of thoſe that have de-
ſervyde prayſe to put theym in oone volume, not oonely
theym that by vertue have deſervede it,but alſo thoſe that by
expreffe ande knowne evyll doynge be ſpoken of unto thys
day. Nor I wyll not that the Reder fhall thynke it [in] con-
gruente that I do compare Medea and Sempronia with
Lucres and Sulpicia, all thoughe I have mynglede theym
with
PR
IFAC E.
with thies mofte chayfte wyfes. My mynde is nothynge
that ways. Nor agayne-not fo ftrayte, that I wolde touche
noone other but fuche, and in a larger fenfe, with the patiens
of the gentle reder to put theym with the other. For why,
emonge the Scipions, and the Catons, and the Fabrycians,
moîte noble vertuoufe men, is numbrede wyle & crafty
Hanyball, falfe and trayteroufe Jugurta, the blody and
tyranoufe Scilla & Marryus, and the covetouſe Craffus. And
other whiche I do not well call to mynde that I have
redde of. But I have thus fett theis together to thys entente,
that in lokynge and redynge of the goode, it may ftere the
reders to goodenes; and to theym that be evyll to gyve
theym a bytte, whereby they may withdrawe theymfelfs
frome fo evyll condiciones and ways. And I have ſo ratyde
this my worke that it femythe I have fumwhat hydde of the
evyll of theym, and emonge the hyſtoryes, and in fum place
put in fum thynges joyoufe and pleafaunte, not withoute
gevynge fum fharpe prycke to theym, to counfeill theim to
Aye frome vyce. So that I doo hoope, that with thys com-
myxtion fum utylyte and profyte ſhall cum of the fame. And
for becauſe that men fhulde not ymagyne that I fhulde but
touche fuch to brevely for theym that knowe not well the
hyſtoryes, I have drawne theyr lyfes oute in a lengthe, nott
doubtynge but to pleafe aswell the men, as the women
thereby.
3
I wyll not alfo forgete to tell youe, that emonge all thies
women whiche were but panymes (our fyrfte mother Eve fett
afyde) I havynge intencion to wryte the exellent glory that
the noble women in tyme paffyd have obteyned, it femethe
to me that it is not incongruente to begynne at the commune
mother of us all.
"De
ड
"De Preclaris Mulieribus,
}
That is to fay in Englyfhe,
;
Of The Ryghte Renoumyde Ladyes."
}
t
The FYRST CHAPITRE.
Of EvE our Fyrfte Mother.
1
VE than that mofte auncyent mother, as fhe was the
fyrſt of all women, fo is the decorate with woundres
exellent prayfys. For fhe was not as other be brought forthe
into this lacrymable vale of myfery in whiche we be borne
in to labour and to payne, nor fo formyd, nor as we fhulde
ſay ſhapyn with that hammar, nor cryinge and bewaylynge
hyr cumynge into the worlde as the maner of all that be
borne is, but after that forte that never fyns happned any to
be fo creatyd as ſhe was. For when that mofte wifeſt and beſt
worke maiſter had creatyd ADAM of the flyme of. the earth
with his propre hande, and in the felde whiche after was
callede Damafcene, had tranflatyd hym into the gardyn of
delycys, bryngynge hym unto a pleaſaunte and ſoft flepe, the
craft onely to hym knowne of hym that flept, he brought
hyr forth
rype of
age, as well gladde of that mery place the
was in, as alfo of the fight of hyr huſbonde, immortal and
lady and quene of all thynges, and of hyr wakynge huſbonde
felowe and make, and by hym namede EvE.
1
What
DE PRECLARIS MULIERIBUS.
What more bryghtnes happned to any that ever was borne.
And befydes this we may right well immagyne that of beauty
fhe was incomporable. And albeit this gyft exellent of
beautie by age or by fum fodeyn fever in mydle age gothe
foone away, yett for as muche as emongfte women, this is
accomptyd for a mofte exellent gyft, and many of theim
emongſte women have therby, by theýr unwyfe iudgement
obteyned fame everlaftynge, as in thofe that folowe fhall to
youe appere, yet thys woman as well by this beauty as by
hyr wondrefull begynnynge paffed theim all. And thus
thee made cytézyn of paradyfe whyle fhe ther had with hyr
huſbonde ADAM the fruicyon of that pleafaunt place, the
ungracyoufe enemy to mankynde envyoufe of hyr joye, per-
fuadyde hyr, that in brekynge one thynge to hyre forboden,
the fhulde foone affende to hygher felicyte and glorye. To
whiche perfuafione, when fhee by greate lyghtnes more then
behovyde hyr for us, the gave credyte unto itt, with hyr
fweete flatterynge fuggeftion fhe drew hyr hufbonde to folowe
hyr way. And thus they bóthe taftynge of the tree of the
knowledge of goode and evyll, and eatynge of the fructe
forboden, they not onely theimfelfs, but all theyr poſteryte
depryvyde from refte, quyetnes and eternyte, into labour and
myferable deathe, and frome that delectable country into this
doloroufe worlde, full of brears, brembles and thornes.
For when that bryght light in whiche they went in was
goone from theym, and they clothyde was departyde from
theyr maker, and frome the place of delyte as outelaws ex-
pulfed into the vale of Ebron, it folowede that this exellent
woman with thies offenfes knowne over all, was the fyrſt (as
it is thought) that with hyr huſbonde founde the ways to
dygge and eare the earth. And beynge after experte of the
paynes of berynge of children, and of the forowes for the
death of hyr children and nevows, fufferynge as well heate as
colde, and ordeyned (at laft) to dye, with thies inconve-
niencys lyvyde unto an extreme age.
The
DE PRECLARIS MULIERIBUS.
;
The SECONDE CHAPITRE.
Of Semiramis the Quene of the Affyryens.
THE
HE famoufe Semiramis was the aunfyent quene of the
Affiryens,but of what kinred ſhe came of the longe tyme
hathe put it in oblivione. But befides thofe olde faynede
tales, the aunfyent historyens wryteth her to be the dough-
ter of Neptunus whiche was the fonne of Saturne, and by
the errour of the gentyles accompted to be God of the See.
And all thoughe it be not convenyent to be belevyde, yet it
is an argument that fhe was procreate of noble parentts.
This faide lady was maryede to the ryghte noble Ninus
kynge of the Airyens, and of hyr conceyvyde a fonne callede
Nynus. Nowe this Nynus havynge conquerede all Afya, ande
at the late the countrye of Bacherys addyd to his domynyone,
with the fhote of an arrowe was flayne, levynge behynde hym
hys wyfe but verey yonge, and his onely fonne Nynus afore
expreffyd. Thynkynge it unmeate to put the governauns of
the hoole Oryent to foo yonge and tendre a chylde of age,
fhe was of fo hyghe and noble a hert, that thofe countreys
that hyr ferfe hufbounde by armes hadde fubdued and coartyd
to ſerve, to take upon hyr to rule and governe theym all.
For as it were with a wyfe fubtyle womans craft fhe reteyned
to heyr the greate hofte of hyr greate bufbonde. Now the
was not muche unlyke to hyr yonge fonne, neither of face
nor yet of ftature, and to this theyr fpeche was not unly ke
the one of the tother, whiche beynge a greate fordery nge to
brynge to pale hyr purpoſe, ſhe adornynge as well hyr oune
heede as hyr fones with a bonet, as it were muchelyke to thoſe
that the greate prynces weere in theyr*folemne try humphes,
the Affyryens not beynge acuftomyde with fuche manner of
bonnetts, ſhe fo wroughte to thentent the novelte therof ſhuld
not be noo mervell that all the Affyriens fhuld were bonnetts
after that forte. And thus the wyfe of the fumtvme noble
Nynus. favnynge hyr bothe his wyfe and his chylde, with a
rervelɔufe diligence may nteyned the ky ngly dignyte and the
knyghtly
A DELICATE DIET,
for daintie mouthde
DROON KARDES.
Wherein the fowle a-
buſe of common Carowing,
and Quaffing with hartie
draughtes, is honeſtlie
admonished.
By GEORGE
Efquier.
GASCOYNE,
Tam Marti quam Mercurio.
Imprinted at Lon-
don by Richard Jhones.
Aug. 22. 1576.'
LONDO N,
Reprinted for the EDITOR, and Sold at No. 62, Great Wild-
Street, near Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; by Meff. EGERTON,
Whitehall; Meff. Cox and PHILLIPSON, James-Street,
Covent-Garden; R. RYAN, No. 351, Oxford-Sirect;
H. D. SYMONDS, No. 23, Pater-Nofter-Row; and
W. RICHARDSON, under the Royal-Exchange. 1789.
[ Gntezed at Stationers-Hall. ]
+
}
ADVERTISEMENT.
This tract has become fo extremely fcarce, that it is fuppofed
there is but one copy of the original edition remaining; which
is in the paffeffion of George Steevens, Efq. who kindly fa-
voured the prefent editor with the use of, and permiſſion to
reprint it.
For accounts of the Author, and his works, fee Hawkins's
Origin of the English Drama, 1773, Vol. 3; Reliques of
Ancient English Poetry, 1775, Vol. 2. page 138; Biogra-
phia Dramatica, 1782, Vol. 1, page 183; &c.
}
常
​CERNS CE AND CAN€€€€*>€€€€€
To the right Worſhipfull his fynguler good friend,
Lewes Dyve of Broomeham, in the Countie of
Bedforde, Efquyer, George Gascoigne wyfheth
continuance of Gods favour.
SYR,
YR, you maye poffibly condempne me of greate in-
gratitude, who (having combred the whole worlde with my
thryftleffe workes) have yet never remembred to preſent you
with any of them: And in deede your great friendſhippe
woulde rather challenge at my handes, the preheminence of
fuche pleaſures, togeather with the redoubling of greater
good wyll, as God ſhall pleaſe to enable mee.
But Syr, when my wanton (and worſe ſmelling) Poeſies,
prefumed fyrſt to peark abroade, they came forth fooner than
I wyfhed, and much before they deſerved to be lyked. So
that (as you maye fithens perceyve) I was more combred
with correction of them, then comforted in the conſtruc-
tions whereunto they were fubject. And too make amendes
for the loft time which I miſbeſtowed in wryting fo wan-
tonlie: I have of latter dayes ufed al my travaile in matters
both ſerious and Morall. I wrote firft a tragicall commedie
called The Glaffe of Government: and now this laſt ſpring, I
tranflated and collected a worthy peece of worke, called
The Droomme of Doomes daie, and dedicated the fame to my
Lord and Maifter: And I invented a Satyre, and an Ellegie,
called The Steele glaffe: and The complaint of Phylomene. Both
which I dedicated to your good Lord and myne, the Lorde
Greye of Wylton: Thefe works or Pamphlets, I efteeme both
Morall and Godly: whereof although I prefented you no
Coppies, yet am I not therein fo blamefull as unhappy.
Surely I muſt needes alledge that I had verie fewe Coppies
thereof my felfe: and yet of thofe fewe, I had one readie to
have fent you, the laſt time that my brother John Dyve was
in the Cittye.
But
+
iv.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE.
Т
But at the very inſtant of his departure, it was not redie:
So that I fayled thereby of my determynation, and remayne
at your curtefie for the acceptance of this juft excufe, where-
unto I hope the rather to perfuade you, by preſenting this
fmall pamphlet called, A delycate Diet for Droonkards, unto
your name and patronage, the which I beseech you to ac-
cept as a pawne and token of my contynuing good wyll, I
knowe you, and the world hath alwayes efteemed you, for a
paterne of Sobryetie, and one that doth zeloufly deteft the
beaftlie vyce of droonkenneffe: This fmall worke is there-
fore ſo much the meeter to bee dedicated unto you: I pre-
fent it, both for that reſpecte, and for mine owne difcharge:
and therewithall the Coppies of the workes before named: I
dyd often reveale*, but never prevayled, in the errande which
my brother John commytted to my follycytyng when wee
laft were together. I praye you accept my good wyll in all
things and foone after Mighelmas (by Gods leave) I wyll
fee you. The God of our Forefathers continue his mercye
and grace to us all, now and ever.
From my lodging in London,
the 10. of Auguft, 1576.
Your bounden and affured
GEORGE GASCOIGNE.
* Quere, travaile.
}
bee / {11}$59.
品茶
​A DELICATE DIET
FOR
DRONKAR DE S.
HYLES I travayled in Tranflation, and collection
W of my Droome of Doomesdaye; and was bufyed in fort-
ing of the fame (for I gathered the whole out of fundry Pam-
phlets :) I chaunced at paffage, to eſpye one ſhorte Epiſtle,
written againſt Dronkenneffe. And though the reſt of ſuch
Treatifes, as I founde in the fame Coppie, dyd carrye none
exprefs name of theyr feverall Aucthours: yet this Epyftle
was therein entytuled:
An Admonition of Saint AUGUSTINE
the Bishoppe,
for the efchewing of Droonkennelle.
Which Epiſtle, both for the credite of the Authour, and
for the tytles fake I thought good to perufe: fynding the
fame compendious, and eloquent, as the fame Authour dyd
commonlye wryte.
But when I had throughly confidered it, and therewithall
had fome confideration of the huge enormyties, and fhames
which daylie followe that finne: yea, when I had fullye ad-
viſed mee, howe commonlie it is nowe a dayes exerciſed
amongſte us: and how flylie it ſtealeth into this Realme
through continuall cuftome of cheering, and banquetting: I
thought it fhoulde not be unprofitable, nor any way unplea-
faunt (unleffe it be to fuch as cannot abyde to heare of ver-
tue, for feare leaft they might be afhamed of their vyce) to
adde fome Aucthoryties and examples for the more ſpeedy
extyrpation of this monftrous plant, lately crepte into the
pleafaunt Orchyardes of Englande.
And
A DELICATE DIET
And furely it is time (yea more then tyme) that we
fhoulde foreſee, and learne to avoyde, thoſe Mermaydes of
myſchiefe, which pype fo pleafantly in every Potte, *that men
be thereby allured to fayle into the Ilandes of all evyll. And
there (being juftly deprived of Gods grace,) are tranf-
fourmed into moft ougly fhapes of brute Beaſtes.
And leaft I feeme over fodainly to leape into my matter,
and over rafhly to rayle before good proofe of reproofe, let
mee ſet downe this for my generall propofition, That all
Droonkardes are Beaftes: yea, let mee not fhrinke to affyrme
that not onely, all common Droonkardes are Beaſts, but
even the wyfeſt councellour, the graveft Philofopher, the
cooningeft Artificer, the fkylfulleft wryter, and the moft
perfect of all fortes and Eſtates, if they chance at any time
to bee infected, and contamynate with this Beaſtly vice, ſhall
be, (in that dooing) very Beaftes alfo.
Mary, as there are on earth fundrye fortes of Beaftes, fo
feemeth it that this Sorcereffe (Drinke) doth alfo in her
transformed Crewes, obferve a wonderfull varyetie: For
ſome men delyghting in her onely for pleafire, and good
fellowſhip, (as they terme it) doo no furder exceede then
into a certaine jocunde myrth, and dallyaunce: and yet
therein alfo they chaunce moft commonly to geve no fmall
caufe of offence. Then, this forte of Droonkards, I can beft
compare unto Apes, whofe peevifhe propertie, is to bee de-
lyghted with everie fonde toye, and tryfle: and whoſe bufie
nature can feldome or never be exercyfed, without hurt or
dommage.
Another fort of men, ftepping a foote further, doo fall
unto brawlyng and quarrellyng: not unlyke to the Beares
and Boares of the Forreft, whofe chiefe delyght conſiſteth in
pertycular combat with theyr owne kind.
Another fort (of a more mallicious nature) wyll lye in
wayte (in theyr droonkenneffe) to entrap their companions
with fome difceypt. And fuch I accoumpt (for all theyr cun-
ning) transfourmed into Foxes, and wyly Wolves. What
ſhoulde I ſpeake of the Lecherous Droonkarde, who (lyke a
Goate) wyll fpare neyther Sex, Age, Kyndred, nor compa-
* Quere, Porte.
nion,
FOR
7
DROONKAR DE S.
*
nion, in the fylthy heate of his lewde concupyfcence. Or of
the prowde Droonkarde, whiche (Peacock like) doth jet in
every ſtreete: Neyther athamed to fhew his vyle vanytie, nor
yet never abaſhed, tyll hee fall downe in the channel, as the
Peacocks pride is abated when he looketh towardes his feete.
To conclude, they are all eyther hoggiſhly dronke, and
then lye vomitting and belching with great griefe, and
greater offence, or elſe they become Affes, and fluggiſhly
confume in fleepe, that Golden tyme which is lent us to uſe
and beftowe to the honour of God, and for our owne avayle.
So that, (as I fayde) I dare take in hande to defende this
propofition, that All Droonkards are Beaftes. And fince God
hath made none other fo notable difference between Man
and Beaſt, as that he hath endewed the one, and deprived
the other of reafon and underſtanding; I thought meete
both to tranſlate the forefayde Epiftle, and alſo ſomewhat
of myſelfe, to wryte as an Invectyve, againſt this fo per-
ryllous a Theefe, which fo robbeth and defpoyleth men of
the moſt precious Jewell and treafure whiche God beſtoweth
upon them. And to beginne with the Epiftle of S. Auguftine,
the wordes thereof are theſe.
ALTHOUGH, MY DEERLY BELOVED, I hope that you
through the grace of Chrift, wyll feare Droonkenneffe, as
you feare the pit of Hell: and that not only you wyl drinke
no more then is convenient, but alſo that you wyll not com-
pell or allure any other to drinke more then wyll ſuffiſe:
yet fhall you take in good part this councell of mine, be-
cauſe it can not be chofen, but that fome will be necligent,
and are not able to keepe themſelves fober. But you which
doo alwayes banquette foberlie, and temperately, take not
this as ſpoken to your reproche: for it is neceffarie that we
do fometimes rebuke dronkardes.
Then whereas (welbeloved brethren) Droonkenneffe is a
great evyll, and an odious fin unto God: yet is it fo
growen
in ufe, with many menne through the whole world: that
with fuch as wyll not underſtand Gods commaundements, it is
now taken to be no great finne: fo that they mock and
fcoffe in their banquettes, at fuche as can not beare. many
1
Cuppes,
A DELICATE DIET
Cuppes, and are not afhamed to bynde men by an envious
knotte of friendſhip that they fhall drink more then
behoveth.
But he which compelleth another map to make himſelfe
dronken by often bybbing: it were leffe evyll for that man,
if he ſhould wounde his fieſhe with the ſworde, then that he
kyll his foule by droonkenneffe: And becauſe our bodyes
are earthly, even as when there hath beene fome over greate
dafhe or glut of raine continuing long, the earth is foaked
and refolved in myre, fo that no tyllage can be made in the
fame: In lyke maner our fleſh being made droonken, can
neyther receive the fpirituall tyllage, nor yet the bread and
foode, which is neceffarie for the foule. And as all men doo
defyre to have fufficient and competent fhowres of rayne in
their fieldes and cloſes, ſo that they maye bee able both to
exerciſe tyllage, and to enioye the plentie of their fruites and
encreaſe: fo in this field they fhoulde drinke but fo much
as behoveth: leaft by exceffe and droonkennefs, the verie
earth of their body, (being as it were turned into a verie
Fenne and Quagmyre) may better ferve to breede Woormes
and Serpentes of vice and finne, then it fhoulde bee able to
bringe forth the fruits of charitie. For all Droonkardes are
even ſuch as Fennes and Mariſhes ſeem to be in al reſpects:
you are not ignoraunt (welbeloved) what groweth in Fens:
for whatſoever groweth therein, bringeth forth no fruite,
therein breede Serpentes and fundrie kinds of Worms,
which doo bring more horrour and dread, then encreafe of
victual: Even fuch are Dronkardes, being fyt for no profite,
or commoditie: for oftentimes in theyr droonkenneffe they
know neither themſelves, nor anv body elſe: neither can
they goe, ftande, nor fpeake any thing that pertayneth unto
reafon yea, oftentimes they are not afhamed to cramme up
their ftomacks, even to vomitting, and quaffe (out of al
meaſure) by Cuppes of affife and meaſure: then he which
can get the upperhande, defireth praife of his fowle and fil-
thye faulte. But they which delight therein, doe goe about
wonderfully to excufe themſelves, faving: I fhoulde uſe my
friend but uncurteouſly, if as often as I byd him to my houſe,
:
I
FOR DROON KARDES.
9
I gave him not as many Cuppes as hee would call for: But
let him be no friende of thine, which wyll make thee his
enemie, & which is enemie both to thee & to himſelfe
if thou make both thyfelf & another man droonken, thou
maiſt have that man thy frend for a tyme: but thou
fhalt have God for thy perpetual enemie.
Then confider wifely, whether it bee commaunded that
thou ſhouldeſt ſeparate thy fclfe from God, to ioyne in
league with a Droonkard.
And to conclude, do thou neither compel any man to
drink, nor binde any man by oathes to drinke: but leave it
unto his choyfe to drinke as much and as lytle as hee lyfteth:
that if he wyll needes make him felfe droonken, he maye
perifhe alone, and not both of you bee caft away. Let thofe
which bee incontinent and prodigall in bybbing, confider
with themfelves, if they be not to be iudged worſe then
brute Peaftes: for wheras brute Beaſtes wyll drinke no more
then that which fhall fuffife them, they wyl yet drink fowre
tymes more then behoveth: and that which might have
ſerved to refreſhe theyr bodies three or fowre dayes, with
reaſonable contentacion, they ftrive to fpend, and rather to
caſt it away in one daye: yea, woulde to God that onely
the drinke were caft away, & not they themſelves alſo ſhoulde
perifhe: But if we efchew this at any tyme, peradventure
the Droonkards are offended, and do murmure againſt us.
Well, though there want not fuch as wyll be fo offended at
us, yet by Gods grace there wyll be many which (hearing
this holefome counfell) fhal be delivered from this fo
grevòus an enormitie & finne and they alfo which are
moved & angrie with fuche as fpeake againſt their yoake-
fellowe, & lemmane droonkenneffe, and let them geve mee
leave to pronounce this fentence with open mouth: That
whofoever delighteth in droonkenneffe, And doeth not
earneſtlie repent and amende the fame, but doth remaine in
his droonkenneffe, without contrition and reformation, fhall
doubtles perifhe for ever and ever: for the holy ghoſt doeth
not lye by the holy Apoftle, faying: The Droonkardes fhall
not enheryte the kingdom of God: And therefore as many
C
as
10
A DELICATE DIET
as bee Droonkardes, fhall doo better, not to be offended
with you, but with themſelves: and let them with the
helpe of God, fhake them felves out of the dyrte of
dregges, or out of the fylthe of droonkenneffe, whiles there
is yet place and time to repent: and make al the haſte that
they can (by Gods helpe) to ryfe againe. For droonk-
enneffe even like unto hell whomefoever it over-
commeth, (unleffe worthy repentaunce do folow, and amend-
ment alſo beare it company,) it doeth fo ftoutlie challenge
them unto it felfe, that it fuffreth them not (at al) to re-
turne out of the darke pytte of hell, unto the light of Cha-
ritie, or fobrietie.
Wherefore (brethren) whyles I put you in minde of
thefe thinges, I doo abfolve and difcharge my felfe before
God: and whofoever contempneth to heare mee, and is
prone and prompte to bybbing, or wyll fweare & compel
other men at his banquets to drinke, fhal be guiltie at the
day of iudgement both for himſelfe, and for other men: Yea,
and (that which is more abhominable) fome of the Clergie
which ought to forbid this, doo them felves alfo conſtraine
many to drinke more then is expedient for them. Well, let
them begin to amend and correct them felves, and then let
them chaſtiſe others, that when they come before the Tri-
bunal feate of Chrift, they encurre not the danger of puniſh-
ment for other mens droonkenneffe, but rather that they
may deferve to attaine everlafting rewarde, whyles they
amende themſelves,and caufe* not to chaftife & correct others
alfo.
{
And this above al things I befeech you, and by the dread-
ful day of iudgment, I coniure you, that as often as you
banquette among your felves, you doo banishe and fpew out
of your Feafts and meryments, (even as it were the poyfon
of the Devyl himfelfe) that filthy cuftome, whereby three
and three doo ufe without all meaſure, to drinke eyther
againſt theyr wyls, or at the leaft without any appetite to
drinke: for that unhappy and mifchevous cuftome, doth yet
fmell of the fmoake of Paganifme: and whofoever uſeth it,
or fuffreth it eyther at his owne table, or any other company,
# Quere, ceaſe.
let
FOR DROONKARDES,
1
let him not doubt, but that he maketh him felfe a facrifice
to the Devyll, fynce therefore proceedeth that not only the
body is weakened, but alſo the Soule is thereby wounded and
flaine: Wherefore, I befeech God of his mercie, that he
vouchſafe to enfpire you with fuch grace, that this ſo ſhame-
full and lamentable an evyl and wickedneffe, maye become
ſuch an horrour unto you, as that you fuffer it never to be
committed, but that you convert that to helpe and refreſh
the poore, which fhoulde have bene caft away in fuper-
fluous droonkenneffe. And this by the helpe & grace of
qur Lorde Jefus Chrift, who with the Father and the holy
ghoſt, lyveth and raigneth God, world without ende. Amen.
Hytherto the words of S. Auguftine, in fuch fort as hee wrote
the fayde Epyftle: whereunto I meane nowe to adde this ſhort
Treatife following, to the fame ende and purpofe that the
fayde Auguftine dyd wryte the fame Epyftle: And yet doo
confeffe a trueth, It is commonlye feene, that as in all acti-
vities, or common fortes of exerciſes, wee ftraine curtfie, and
refraine to fhewe our cunning, immediatly after that any ex-
cellent man hath dealt in the fame before us: leaſt thereby
wee might fooner detect our owne weakneffe, then better &
amend the doings of others: (yet when Apelles was prefent,
meaner Painters woulde not preaſe to take penfyl in hande:
neither would Marfias wel vaunt of his gaine in commend-
ation, by ftriving to warble upon the Harpe, which Apollo
had erft layde afyde) fo it may feeme no leffe wonder, that
I being a fimple wryter generally, and perticularly (for Di-
vinitie) altogeather unfkylfull, woulde prefume to take pen
in hande, after fo holy a Father as Auguftine, fo profoundly
ftudied, and fo well adorned with fkyll to endight, both
pleaſantly, and pythily.
But for that my purpoſe and enterpriſe is not to contend
in cunning, but rather to conſent in doctrine, not to ſtrive in
curiofitie, but to agree in uniformitie, nor* to hunt for per-
ticular prayfes, but to labour for a generall profite, therfore I
am bold (in fo honeft a caufe) to doo my beft: Befeeching
theReader, neither to regard the unpleaſauntneffe of my Style,
nor the nakedneffe of my fimplicitie: but only to confider the
C2
* Quere, not.
ne-
12
A DELICATE DIET
neceffity of my reprehenfions, conftrained by the extremitie-
of this beaſtly vice, which Auguftine in his tyme dyd ſo
ſharply rebuke.
And furely if our common cuftome therein practifed, dyd
not much more exceede in the fuperlative degree, then the
ſhortneffe of this his Epiftle before rehearfed, doth minifter
occafion of further treatie, I coulde have bene better con-
tented to have kept fcilence, then thus to have fowed a
patche of Chamlette, in a garment of Satten: One comfort
(I muſt confeffe) I have conceyved, that I can fpeede no
worfe in this fmall travayle, then a number of learned &
Godly teachers have done before mee. Who calling and
crying dayly againſt this horrible, & beaftly cuftome, have
the deafe eare turned unto their fpirituall admonitions, and
are conftrayned (with great griefe of minde) to leave this
fwyniſhe forte of people, wallowing in the dyrt & myre of
their moſt execrable droonkenneffe. Such is the very nature
and property of finne generally (but of this finne eſpecially )
that where it once getteth the maiftry and upperhand by
continuall cuſtome, it hardneth the hart, blindeth the eyes,
amafeth the underſtanding, bewitcheth the fences, be-
noometh the members, dulleth the wyts, provoketh unto
beaftlyneffe; difcourageth from vertuous exercife, maketh
lovely to feeme lothfome, hafteneth crooked age, foftereth
infirmyties, defyleth the body openly, & woundeth the foule
unfeen..
This is that Circe, or Medea, which can Metamorphofe, &
transforme men into ougly miſhapen monfters, yea, the gal-
launteſt peeres, into fenceleffe Stocks, and mightieft Mo-
narkes into brute Beaftes. For was not Noah [ Genefis 9. 1
(even the chofen fervaunt of God) through this beaftly
vice, fo Metamorphofed, that he lay in his Tent uncovered,
and fhewed thereby the fecreets which fhame and nature for
byd us to difclofe? But what punishment fell uppon his
yongeft Sonnes pofteritie therefore? even a perpetual bond-
age & fervitude, and in lyke manner, what shoulde wee
accoumpt Loth and his Daughters [Genefis 19. ].but Beaſts,
who in theyr droonkenneffe, committed abhominable inceſt
in
FOR DROON KAR DE S.
In the fight of God? Or what prevayled unto Sampfon,
[Judges 16.] the marveilous force & ftrength wherewith
God had bleffed him, to overcome fo many enemies in bat-
tayle, (when wallowing in concupifcence, which is a cofen
to this lothfome vice) he bewrayed unto Dalyla the fecreets
of Gods miſteries, and fo became a mocking ſtocke unto his
enemies? of a mighty Champion, he became a mylkſop:
of a Giant a Gnat, and of a Patrone & defendor, a Babe &
a weakling, ready to crave defence of others: fuffering his
eyes to be plucked out of his head, and his body to be led
about as a common, ſkorne and paftime for the Philistines.
Holofernes, [ Judith 12, 13, 14. ] in all the pompe of his
pride, and in the very middeft of his huge boaft and armie,
(being brought droonk a bed) left his head in pawne with
thoſe whome he thought to have fubdued, & fo diſcomforted
his fouldiors by the foddaine terror of his death, that the
poore Cittizens of Bethulia, ( whofe people they earft deter-
mined to have devowred) could nowe boldly yffue out of
their walles, & put them to fhameful flight and flaughter:
O wonderful exchange, the ftoute Chaptaine which in his
owne blynde imaginacion, thought hymfelfe ftrong enough,
(with his hofte) to have fubdewed the whole world, was
(through the fhamefull defect of this beaftly vyce) con-
quered in the middeft of all his force by one weake womans
hande: I might rehearſe fundry famous examples out of
the holy fcripture, fufficient to terrifie and withdraw any
Chriſtian mind, from this horrible and beaftly abomination.
But as I have partly begonne with the beft & principal
authority, fo wyl I yet recite fome examples out of Heathen
Authors, who wrote of the ages paffed, and then conſc-
quently defcend unto our owne age prefent: in which this
enormity doth fo farre exceede that (if dead men might be
called againe) the Forefathers fhould not want fufficient
caufe to wonder at our impudencie, who having not the
cloked excufe of ignoraunce, and lacke of inftruction, which
the Heathen might (after a fort) aledge in defence of their
defects, are not afhamed to proceede, & to furpaffe all ages,
in fo lothfome and beaftly a tranfgreffion whereas in all
Morall
* Quere, hoaft.
14
A DELICATE DIET
Morall vertues, we can nevertheleffe be content to come
farre behind them.
Alexander the Macedonian, who by his valiaunce & prow-
effe, in lefſe then twelve yeeres, conquered & fubdued, Illiria,
now called Slavonia, the Cittie of Thebes, with the Terri-
tories and Countreyes adioyning: yea al Greece, Afia, Perfia,
and India, with the Eaft parts of the whole world: being
fetled in peaceable poffeffion of his dominions, gave him-
felfe over unto vanity & pleaſures, and at the laſt to exceffive
droonkenneffe: whereby hee became fo odious unto his
people generally, that they privily confpired his death, & ex-
ecuted the fame: So that they having refpect to the excel-
lencie of his finguler vertues, and therewithall. weying that
his overthrowe came chiefly by this deteftable vice; I
can not better terme him then a mighty man transfourmed
into a brute Beaſt.
Apitius not contented to diftemper his owne body conti-
nually with wine & delicate fare, and after much & great con-
fumption thereof, to find an hole in his bags, as bigge as five
hundreth fowre ſcore & three thoufand, fifty and fowre pounds
fterlings, did yet infect the whole City of Rome, with poifon
of the fame abomination: which in times paft had bene a
perfect Myrror of temperance to other Nations: but in the
ende he beaftly & moft ungodly, dyd wilfully drink poyfon,
and deftroyed himſelf, fearing left the remnant of his fub-
ſtaunce would not minifter fufficiently unto the plot forme or
foundation which he had layd in this abhominable bybbing,
banquetting, & quaffing, and what fhall I name this man,
but a beastly Metamorphofer, both of himſelf & of others?
Lucullus a famous Romane, both for learning and ſkyl in
Martial feats, after a nomber of great victories, & exceding
Fame got by temperaunce in iuftice, and pollitique govern-
ment, dyd geve him felfe over unto fuch an Epicures lyfe,
and foonke fo deepe into the gulfe of this odious enormity,
that in th' end he loft his wyts and memory, & with all his
fubftaunce was lyke a chylde, committed unto the charge &
direction of others; and was not this a playne Metamorphofis?
What
FOR DROON KAR DE S.
15
What ſhould I rehearſe the Hiftories of LuciusVerus, Marcus
Bibulus, Sergius, and fundry other Romaines? who wallowing
and delyghting in this beaftly vice, Metamorphofed them-
felves moſt monftrufly.
For we muſt not thinke that the auncient Poettes in theyr
moft famous works, dyd dyrectly meane as the lytterall text
of theyr Fables do import: but they dyd Clarkly in figures,
fet before us fundry tales, which (being wel marked) might
ferve as examples, to terrifie the pofteritie from falling into
fundry vanities, and peftilent mifgovernments: and therupon
they feigned that Medea, Circe, and fuch other coulde Meta-
morphofe & transforme men inte Beaftes, Byrdes, Plantes,
and Flowres: meaning thereby, that whofoever is fo blinded
in fenfuality, that forgetting his intellectuall reafons, & the
better part of his underſtanding, he follow the appetite and
concupifcence of nature, he fhal without doubt transforme
him felf, or be transformed from a man to a Beaſt, &c. For
what greater imperfection can we alledge in the moft brute
and favage Beafts, than to follow fenfuall appetyte, unto al
vaine apparaunce of delyghtes? Nay, rather we muſt con-
feffe that Beaſts doo by a natural enſtincte obſerve a certainę
mediocritie, in many thinges whiche doo by extremitie turne
into vice: The Beaſts and Cattell, with Fowles, Fishes, and
other fuch creatures, voyde of reafon : doo yet covet or defyre
the acte of generation, but onely at certaine times prefixed,
when nature doth thereunto kindle and provoke them. But
men who challenge a perfection above all other creatures, doo
beaſtly and more then beaftly,and abhominably delight there-
in, (naye, provoke & pamper the dayly exceffe therof) to
the weakning of their bodies, offending of their devout &
wel difpofed brethren, & high difpleafing of almighty God.
The Beaſts, &c. never or feldome do furcharge theyr fto-
macke with more meate then they maye welle diſgeſt, but
men doo cramme them felves with Cates, untyll they be con-
ftrained to vomitte: Beaftes, when they are ftirred or pro-
voked to wrath and angre, doo yet preſently paffe over the
mallice, without entent of revenge: But men can reteyne a
mallice, yeeres & ages: whereby the deſtruction of fundry
worthy famyllies hath enfued. And now to touch our pur-
pafe
1.6
A DELICATE DIET
}
poſe more perticularly: Beafts are fatisfied with drinking
once or twife a day at ordinary and accuſtomed howres, but
men are not ashamed to fyt bybbing, quaffing, and toffing of
pottes, whole daies and nyghtes: So that à iuft accoumpt of
their lýves being called, they maye feeme eyther borne to
do none other thing, or elfe to have fo guilty mifpent their
time, that the moſt brute and fenceles Beaftes, are able to ac-
cufe them of fundry huge enormities. By thefe and fundry
other reaſons, I thought not impertynent to name this deteft-
able vice of droonkenneffe, the Circe or Medea, which Meta-
morphofeth, & transfourmeth men into moft ougly and mon-
ſtrous ſhapes & proporcions: wherof I have brought foorth
fome examples out of holy fcriptures, and others fome out of
the Heathen Authors, which wrote the factes and govern-
mentes of the famous Romaines. But now if we confider our
own age (yea our owne Nation) the verye chiefe caufe which
made me prefume' to 'adde this final treatiſe, unto the Epiftle
of S. Auguftine, we fhal find by too true experience, that we
doo fo much exceede al thofe that have gone before us, that
if they might feeme as men transfoumed into Beaſts, we
fhal rather appeare as Beafts mifhapen & chaunged into
Devyls. And in this accufation, doo not onely fummon the
Germaines (who of auncient tyme have beene the continual
Wardens of the Droonkards fraternitye and corporation, )
but I would alfo cyte to appeare our newfangled Englyfhe
men, which thinke fkorne to leave any newe fafhion (fo
that it be evyll) untryed or unfollowed. For now a dayės
what Marchant, what Artificer, nay, what botcher, or
boongler, in any occupation, can be contented to envite his
friende to dynner, or fupper, unleffe he doo his beft, to geve
him a Cup of Magis (as they terme it) and beguile both the
Coffer of their ſtore; and the treaſure of theyr foule, with
counterfeyte names to cloake theyr beaftly inventions:
Wherin I note the vyce fo much the more daungerous, fince
they cannot denye, that they are dayly thereof both admo-
niſhed and reproved by fundry learned & godly Teacher's
and Preachers who painfully and zealously doo exhort
them from this Quaffing, Carrowfing, and toffing of Pots.
But
FOR DROONK ARDES,
17
1
But what amendment followeth in many of us? furely I
tŕemble to wryte it, and it greeveth mee fufficiently to thinke
theron, that in fteede of reformation, they ſcoffe and taunt
amongſt them ſelves, in theyr banquets, faying: Friendes
we are forbidden to Quaffe, or to Carowfe, and therfore let us
ufenone other drynking but a harty draught: And having thus (in
theyr owne frantike imaginations) cloaked theyr devylliſhe
& damnable intent, they proceede untyll this new founde
harty draught, bee found five tymes worſe then theyr former
Quaffing & Carowfing: O groffe blindneffe of harte: can
impudent men thinke fo to deceyve the almightye God,
which feeth the ſecreets of al harts? no furely, For hee which
dwelleth in heaven fhall laugh them to fcorne: yea, the Lorde fhall
vexe them in his fore difpleasure. [ Pfal. 2. ] Let us but con-
fider this one thing: in what civyll Realme or dominion,
where the people are taught and exercifed in the com-
mandementes and counfels of God (England onely ex-
cepted) fhall we ſee the unthriftye Artificer, or the labourer,
permitted to fyt bybbing and drinking of Wine in every
Taverne? or what woman (even amongſt the droonken Al-
maines) is fuffred to followe her Huſbande unto the Alehouſe
or Beerehouſe? But it were folly to ftand fo much upon
theſe meane perſonages, who for lacke of wytte or good
education, maye eaſily be enclyned to thinges undecent.
I would (for God) that our gentrie, and the better fort of our
people, were not fo much acquainted with Quaffing, Ca-
rowſing, and drinking of harty draughtes, at many mery con
ventions: would God that we learned not (by the foreleaders
before named) to charge and coniure each other unto the
pledge, by the name of fuch as we moſt honour and have in
eftimation: Befor your Maiftreffe and my beloved Wife, pledge
me this cupfull, &c.
Ah las, we Engliſhe men, can mocke & fcoffe at all
Countreyes for theyr defectes, but before they have many
times muſtred before us, we can learne by lytle and lytle to
exceede and paffe them al, in all that which (at firſt ſight)
we accoumpted both vyle and vyllanous: The Spaniſh cod-
peece on the bellye: the Itallyan wafte under the hanch bones:
D
the
18
A DELICATE DIET
}
the French Ruffes: the Polonian Hofe: the Dutch Jerkin:
and the Turkie Bonnet: all theſe at the firſt we defpifed, &
had in derifion. But immediatly (Mutate opinione) we doo
not onelye reteyne them, but we do fo farre exceede them:
that of a Spanish Codpeece, we make an Englifh footeball:
of an Itallyan waft, an English Petycoate: of a French ruffe,
an English Chytterling: of a Polonian Hofe, an English
bowgette: of a Dutch Jerken, an olde Engliſh Habergeone,
and of a Turkie bonnet, a Copentank for Caiphas: In lyke
manner we were woont (in tymes paft) to contempne and
condempne the Almaines and other of the low Countreyes, for
theyr beaſtly drinking and quaffing. But nowe a dayes (al-
though we uſe it not dayly lyke them, for it feemes that they
are naturally enclyned unto that vyce) yet,when we doo make
banquets and merymentes, as wee terme them, we furpaffe
them very farre: and ſmall difference is founde betwixt us
and them, but only that they (by a cuftome rooted amongſt
them, & become next Cofen to nature as beforefayd) doo
dayly wallow in a groffe maner of beaftlines, & we think to
cloake the filthineffe therof by a more honorable folemnitye,
& by the cleanly tytle of curtefie. The Almaines with their
fmal Reniſh wine are contented: or rather then faile a cup of
Beere may entreate them to ftoupe: But we muſt-have March
beere, dooble dooble* Beere, Dagger Ale, Bragget, Renifh
wine, White wine, 'French wine, Gafcoyne wine, Sack, Hol-
locke, Canaria wine, Vino greco: Vinum amabile, & al the
wines that may be gotten: Yea wine of it felfe is not fuf-
ficient, but Suger, Limons, & fundry fortes of Spices, muſt
be drowned therin. To minifter mater unto our vaine de-
lights & to beguile our felves with the baite which dronken-
neffe doth therein lay for us. And all this muſt be covered.
with the cleanlye name of curtefy, & friendly entertainment.
But geve mee leave (O Droonkards) to aſke you this
queftion, if by this curtefy, and friendly entertainement of
yours, a friend which is conftrayned thus to pledge you, doo
chance to furfeyte, & to fal thereby into fuch diftemper, that
he
*This duplication of the word dooble feems to have been only an error of
the prefs; but, that the tract might be faithfully reprinted, it is retained.
FOR
19
DROONKAR DES.
•
he dye thereof: what kind of curtefie fhall we then accoumpt
it? or what friendſhip can be found in fuch entertainment?
yea, if he efcape furfeyting or daunger of death, (which is
feldome avoyded in them that uſe drinking unmeaſurably)
yet if his former good fame & credyte be thereby fo much
touched, that his graveſt friends take iuft occafion to re-
prehend him, & to withdrawe theyr good wyls from him:
hall hee not have iuft caufe to condempne this curtefy as
counterfayt, and curfe this feyned friendship? At the leaft,
though his worldly friendes wynke, and temporall death
forbeare him a whyle, let him yet not thinke to efcape the
juft iudgement of God, who punisheth the abhomination
of iniquitie, unto the third & fowrth generation. And in
theſe three poynts, eſpecially have I confidred the enormity of
this finne: For that it weakeneth and endaungereth mans
body dayly, it impayreth his credite openly, and woundeth
his foule fecreetly. So that for mine owne perticular opinion,
I could wyshe that (Italian or Spaniard like) we dyd alto-
gether baniſhe from our banquets, the common curteſy of
drinking one to another at all: not that I would feeme there-
by to condempne it (of it felfe) if it be but temperately
ufed, but becauſe I finde that the pleafauntneffe of the drinke,
and the infirmity of our nature doo beget one draught upon
another, fo that beginning with curtefie, we ende with mad.
neffe and beaſtlyneffe. And well wrote hee which fayd, that
the firſt Cuppe quenched thyrft, the feconde' enduced
myrth, and rejoyfing in hart, the thyrd voluptuoufneffe, the
fowrth droonkenneffe, the fifth wrathfulneffe, the fyxt con-
tenciouſneffe, the feventh furioufnetfe, the eyght fluggiſh-
neſſe, and the nynth, extremitie of fyckneffe. But with us,
nyne draughts: yea, nyneteene draughts: nay, fomtime nine
& twenty doo not fuffice. And whereas the Forefathers gave
no further warrant, then for the fecond draught, and feemed
to thinke that (paffing further then that) concupifcence
ftraight waies crept in, we ar not abafhed to breake their
boundes, & make concupifcenfe but a tryfling fault in com-
pariſon of our beaftly exceffe. For fyrſt to ſpeake of fick-
neffe
ZO
A DELICATE DIET
neffe and infyrmities, what knoweth he which taketh the
Cup in hand to drink unto another, whether he have as much
delyght to pledge, as he hath to drinke unto him? or whe-
ther the conftitution of his body, wyll fo well awaye with ex-
ceffive drynking, as his owne wyll? then muſt it follow, that
if the Pledger be not of lyke difpofition, the Bryncher is
guyltie of alluring unto finne:
And if he were as forwardly difpofed as hee, yet at the
leaſt hee muſt bee guyltie in ftyrring him to continuaunce there-
of: In lyke manner, if the Pledger bee inwardlie ficke, or have
fome infyrmitie, whereby too much drinke (or drynking,
when nature doeth not defyre it) doo empayre his health,
and ſhorten his lyfe, then doeth the Bryncher feeme to bee
guyltie of his death: Yea, though he bee of a luftye dyſpo-
fition and conftitution of body, (confidering the fundrie
fickneffes which growe uppon furfeytes) the Bryncher doth
at the leaſt, put a naked Sworde in a mad mannes hande:
and is culpable both of his owne tranfgreffion, and of his fel-
lowes faulte: this is then one braunche of this droonken
curtefie.
But to ſpeake of empayring the credite both of himſelfe,
and his companion, what greater fhame can bee fhewed, then
to weaken reafon and underſtanding, which are the pryn-
cipall gyftes that we receyve of God? to leefe the power, to
guvde or governe our handes? feete? tongue? and other
members, whiche are lent us of God, to ferve him with
honour? to bleare our eyes? puffe up our face? and to
caft our heayre? which are the ornamentes of nature, to bee
ufed unto the glorye of our creatour? to buylde a kingdome
for luft and concupifcence? to chafe vertue from our com-
pany? to bewraye fecreetes? to become our enemies iefting
ftocke, and our friendes cauſe of lamentation? to ronne head-
long into every peryll, to begyn lyke Apes, & to ende lyke
Affes? to geve occafion of ftrife lyke wrathfull Boares, and
to yeelde unto the flaughter lyke weaklings and Calves?
To conclude, I knowe nothing that maye more impayre
mans credite, then of a reaſonable foule to become a brute
&
1
FOR DROON KARDE s.
1
& fenceles Beaft: and this is the fecond braunche of this
curtefie & friendfhip which we uſe in drynking and Quaff-
ing: Nowe finally to prove that it woundeth mans foule, is
-evident, in that almighty God hath as well by his Prophets,
as alfo by his Apoftles, fo often and fo manifoldly reproved
& forbydden the fame. And we muft fyrmely beleeve, that
whofoever doth wyttingly tranfgreffe the counfels or com-
mandements of almighty God, conteined in his holy word,
doth manifeſtly wound and hurt his own foule: in that he
doth aggrevate his original imperfections, & render himſelfe
more and more culpable of Gods iudgementes. For the
Prophet Efai in his fowrth Chap: hath theſe words: Wo be
unto them that ryfe up early to folow droonkenneſse: now this
word (Wo) in the holy Scriptures is commonly taken for a
greevous curfe and threatning: but the Prophet doth pro-
ceede more plainly, faying: In their feaftes are Harps and
Lutes, Tabrets, Pipes, & wine: but they regard not the Lord,
and confider not the operation of his bandes: therefore commeth
my folke unto captivity, becauſe they have none understanding
their glory is famished with hunger, and their multytude (or
plentye) dried up with thyrft: therfore gapeth hell (ſayth he)
and openeth hir mouth marvailous wyde, that their glory, mul-
titude, and wealth, with fuch as reioyce therein, may defcend
into it: And againe in his xxviii. Chapt. fpeaking of the
prowde Poteftates, he fayth; Wo bee unto the crowne of pryde,
even unto the droonken people of Ephraim, whofe great pompe is
as a flowre, &c. And fpeaking againſt falfe Judges and
Teachers, he fayth: They are out of the way, by reafon of wine,
yea, farre out of the waye, through strong drinke. And Salomon
in his Proverbs hath fundry paffages againſt this lothſome
vyce: as in the xx. Chap. he fayeth: Wine maketh a man
fcorneful; and ftrong drinke caufeth a man to be unquict: who fo
delighteth therein shall not be wyfe. And in the xxxi. Cha. hę
fayth.
O Lamuel, it is not for Kings, it is not for Kings (I faye)
to drinke wine, nor Princes ftrong drinke: leaft they by drink-
ing
12
A DELICATE DIET
ing forgette the Lawe, and pervert the iudgement of all poore.
mennes chyldren: The Prophete Amos in the fixt Chapter,
teproving the Princes of Ifraell, for wallowing in vayne de-
lyghtes, reckeneth up the abhomination of a Droonkard in
thefe words: They drinke wine in Bowles (fayth he) and an-
noynt themſelves with chiefe ayntmennts, but no man is forie
for the affliction of JOSEPH. Micheas alfo in his feconde
Chapter, taunting and reprooving the chyldiſhneffe, and ig-
noraunce of the people, fayth: If a man lye falfely, faying, I
wyll prophefie to thee of wine, and ftrong drinke, that were a
meete Prophet for this people.
And the Prophete Abacuc in his feconde Chapter, feemeth
to ioyne the prowde man and the Droonkard together,
where he fayeth: Yea in deede the prowde man, is as bee that
tranfgreffeth by wine, therefore fhall be not endure: becaufe bee
bath enlarged his defyre as the hell, and is as death: And in
the end of the fame Chapter he fayeth: Woo bee unto him
that geveth his neyghbour drinke: thou ioyneft thy rage, ànd
makeft him droonken alfo, that thou mayft fee theyr privities:
thou arte fylled with ſhame, for glorie: drinke thou alfe, and
bee made naked, the Cuppe of the Lordes right hande, fhall be
turned unto thee, and ſhamefull spewing ſhal be for thy glorie,
But to conclude this propofition, although I myght heere
alledge, very many other textes of holy Scriptures, which doo
expreffedly reprove this lothſome abhomination, I thinke it
fufficient to recyte the wordes of Paule, in the fixt Chapter
of his fyrſt Epiſtle to the Corinthians, where (amongfte fun-
drye other vyces) hee pronounceth playne fentence againſt
Droonkardes, faying: That they shall not inheryte the king-
dome of God: And in his fyfth Chapter to the Galathians,
and to the Ephefians, hee repeateth (in manner) the felfe
fame wordes. This is then the thyrde branche of the fruites
which grow by this beaftly vyce, even the wrath of God, and
loffe of the heavenly habitation. Nowe if thefe authorities,
examples, counfels, and commandements, feeme not fuf-
ficient to terrifye us from falling into this fwynifh and filthye
abho
FOR DROON KAR DES;
23
abhomination, I can doo no more, but praye unto God, that
fome better learned, and more eloquent then I, maye (by af-
fiftance of his holy ſpyrite) be made able to fet downe fuch
wholſome leffons for the avoyding thereof, that the exceffe
and cuſtome of the fame, maye generallye throughout all
Chriſtendome, and efpecially heere in England, be reformed.
And the plagues and puniſhmentes by him threatened and
pronounced (by his clemency and mercy) may be with-
drawne and remytted: So that in all cleaneffe and pureneffe
of hart, we maye praife his name: To whome with the
Sonne and the holy Ghoft, bee all dominion, power and
glory, nowe and for ever. So bee it.
FINI S.
The following Stanzas, fuppofed to have been written
by Gafcoigne, are taken from a Collection of Poems by
feveral perfons, intitled The Paradice of Daintye Devices,
Publiſhed by H. Dizle, 4to. 1592.
À DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD.
WHAT is this world? a net to fnare the foule,
maffe of finne, a defert of deceipt:
A moment's joy, an age of wretched dole,
A lure from grace, from fleſh a loathfome baite.
Unto the minde a canker worme of care,
Unfure, unjuft, in rendring man his fhare.
A place where pride ore-runnes the honeſt minde,
Where rich men joyne to rob the thriftleſs wretch:
Where bribing miftes doo blinde the judges eyen,
Where parafites the fatteft crummes doo catch.
Where good defertes which chalenge like reward,
Are over blowen with blaftes of light regarde.
•
And
1
1
X: 1
7
(24)
2.4):
And what is man, duft, flime, a puffé of winde,
Conceiv'd in finne, plafte in' the worlde with greefe :
Brought up with care, 'till care hath caught his minde,
And then till death vouchfafe him fome releefe,
Day, yea nor night, his care dooth take an end,
To gather goods for other men to ſpend.
Óh fooliſh man that art in office plaft,
Think whence thou camfte, and whither thou fhalt goe :
The hautye okes fmall windes have overcaſt,
When flender weedes in rougheft weather growe.
Even fo pale death oft fpares the wretched wight,
And woundeth you, who wallowe in delight.
You luftie youthes who nouriſh high defire,
Abafe your plumes which makes you look fo big:
The Collier's cut, the Courtier's fteed will tire,
Even fo the Clarke the Parfon's grave doth dig:
Whoſe hap fo is, yet here long life to winne,
Dooth heap God wot, but forrowe upon finne.
And to be ſhort, all fortes of men take heede,
The thunder boltes the loftie towers teare,
The lightning flash confumes the houfe of reede,
Yea more, in time all earthly things will weare,
Save only man, who as his earthly time is,
Shall live in woe, or els in endleſſe bliffe.
THE END.
5
DISPERSED POEMS,
By SPENSER;
NOT IN ANY EDITION OF HIS WORKS:
AND NOW FIRST COLLECTED,
1792.
"Loe here I let you fee my olde ufe of toying in
Rymes, turned into your artificial ftraightneffe of
Verfe, by this Tetrafticon. I befeech you tell me
your fancie, without parcialitie.
See yee the blindefoulded pretie God, that feathered Archer,
Of Lovers Miferies which maketh his bloodie Game?
Wote ye why, his Moother with a Veale hath coovered his
Face?
Truſt me, leaſt he my Loove happely chaunce to beholde.
Seeme they comparable to thoſe two, which I tranf-
lated
you ex tempore in bed, the laſt time we lay to-
gither in Weſtminſter?
That which I eate, did I joy, and that which I greedily
gorged,
As for thoſe many goodly matters leaft I for others.'
This, fubfcribed, as cuftomary with Spenfer, Im-
MERITO, is in the first of "Three Proper, and wittie
familiar Letters: lately paſſed betwene two Vniverfitie
men: [i. e. Edmund Spenfer and Gabriel Harvey]
touching the Earthquake in Aprill laſt, and our English
*A
refourmed
( 2 )
refourmed Verfifying.
With the Preface of a well
London, by H.
neere unto Bay-
willer to them both. Imprinted at
Bynneman, dwelling in Thames Streate,
nardes Caftell. Anno Domini. 1580. Cum gratia &
priviligio Regiæ Majeftatis."
4to. B. L.
"2
In Hughes's edition of Spenfer, 1715, the letter this
is extracted from is the fecond in "Letters between
Mr. Spenfer and Mr. Gabriel Harvey.
Vol. 6,
p. 1751; but the entire paffage, verfe and profe,
here printed, is omitted: indeed they are all abridged,
falfified, and mangled, in that edition, to a degree
not to be conceived, but by thofe who fhall compare
them with edition 1580,
"Iambicum Trimetrum,
Unhappie Verfe, the witneffe of my unhappie ftate,
Make thyfelfe fluttring wings of thy faft flying
Thought, and fly forth unto my Love, wherfoever fhe be:
Whether lying reaftleffe in heavy bedde, or elfe
Sitting fo cheerleffe at the cheerfull boorde, or elſe
Playing alone careleffe on hir heavenlie Virginals.
If in Bed, tell hir, that my eyes can take no refte:
If at Boorde, tell hir, that my mouth can eate no meate :
If at hir Virginals, tel hir, I can heare no mirth.
Afked why? fay: Waking Love ſuffereth no fleepe:
Say, that raging Love dothe appall the weake ftomacke;
Say, that lamenting Love marreth the Muficall,
Tell hir, that hir pleaſures were wonte to lull me aſleepe :
Tell hir, that hir beautie was wonte to feede mine eyes:
Tell hir, that hir ſweete Tongue was wonte to make me
mirth.
Nowe doe I nightly wafte, wanting my kindely refte:
Nowe doe I dayly ſtarve, wanting my lively foode:
Nowe doe I alwayes dye, wanting thy timely mirth.
And if I waſte, who will bewaile my heavy chaunce?
And if I ftarve, who will record my curfed end?
And IfI dye, who will faye; this was, Immerito ?”
This
( 3 )
(3
This is in the firft of "Two other very commendable
Letters, of the fame mens writing: both touching the fore
Said Artificiall Verfifying, and certain other Particulars:
More lately delivered unto the Printer. Imprinted at
London, by H. Bynneman, dwelling in Thames ftreate,
neere unto Baynardes Caftell. Anno Domini. 1580.
Cum gratia & privilegio Regiæ Majeftatis."
4to. B. L.
annexed to the other "Three." It is the firſt letter in
Hughes's collection, but the verſes here printed are
there omitted. In the original typography the U
and V are uſed indifferently for each other.
The following alfo, omitted by Hughes, occurs after
Deus illum aliquandò reducat. &c.
"Plura vellem per Charites, fed non licet per Mufas.
Vale, Vale plurimùm, Mi amabiliffime Harveie,
meo cordi, meorum omnium longè chariffime."
And the letter concludes thus.
"Per mare, per terras,
Vivus, mortuufq;
Tuus Immerito."
The "Iambicum Trimetrum" was reprinted with this
title, "An Elegie in Trimeter Iambicks." in "A Poeti-
cal Rapfodie," by Fra. Davifon. the firft edition of
which was, I believe, in 1602; fee Bibl. Pearfoniana,
No. 1868. the copy I fhall quote from is in the edi-
tion dated 1608; Mr. Warton has alfo reprinted it
in his "Obfervations on the Fairy Queen of Spenfer,'
1762, Vol. 2. P. 245, under the title of "Loves Em-
baffie, in an Iambicke Elegie," from the 4th. edition of
Davifon, printed in 1621; the date of the 3d. edition,
unleſs it be one of the abovementioned, I am unac-
quainted with.
""
In Davison the ſecond and third lines are thus, pro-
perly, divided.
Make thy felfe fluttring wings of thy faft flying thought,
And fly forth, &c.
* A 2
In
(4)
In line 8, for
my mouth can eate no meate:
Davifon reads,
my mouth can taſte no foode:
and in line 18, for
wanting thy timely mirth.
he reads.
wanting my timely mirth.
In the firſt line of Mr. Warton's copy the pronoun
my is wanting. The reft is correct, according to
Davifon.
"To the right worshipfull, my fingular good frend,
M. Gabriell Harvey, Doctor
of the Lawes.
Harvey, the happy above happieft men
I read that fitting like a Looker-on
Of this worldes Stage, doeft note with critique pen
The fharpe diflikes of each condition :
And as one careleſs of fufpition,
Ne fawneft for the favour of the great:
Ne feareft fooliſh reprehenfion
Of faulty men, which danger to thee threat.
But freely doeft, of what thee lift, entreat,
Like a great Lord of peereleffe liberty:
Lifting the Good up to high Honours ſeat,
And the Evill damning evermore to dy.
For Life, and Death is in thy doomefull writing:
So thy renowme lives ever by endighting.
Dublin: this xviij. of July: 1586.
Your devoted frend, during life,
Edmund Spencer.
This is at the end of "Foure Letters, and certaine
Sonnets, especially touching Robert Greene, and other par-
ties, by him abuſed: &c. impr. by I. Wolfe. 1592," 4to.
"To
( 5 )
"To W. Jones on his tranflation of a treatiſe on Nobility,
by Nenna. 1595-
Whofo will ſeek by right deſerts to 'attaine
Unto the type of true nobility
And not by painted fhews & titles vaine
Derived far from [buried] anceſtrie.
Behold them both in their true vifnomy
Here truly pourtray'd as they ought to be
And ftriving both for terms of dignity
To be advanced higheft in degree;
And when thou doſt with equal inſight ſee
The odds 'twixt both, of both then deem aright
And chufe the better of them both to thee,
But thanks to him that [well] deſerves behight
To Nenna firft that firft this work created
And next to Jones that truly it tranflated.
Edm, Spencer."
Thefe Verfes were printed from a Manufcript copy
of them; the editor having never met with the Book
they are, he imagines, prefixed to: the words buried
in the fourth line, and well in the antepenult, are not
in the MS. but have been fupplied to complete the
meaſure, in which Spenfer is rarely defective.
"Upon the Hiftorie of George Caftriot, alias Scanderbeg
king of the Epirots, tranſlated into Engliſh,
Wherefore doth vaine antiquitie fo vaunt,
Her ancient monuments of mightie peeres,
And old Heroes, which their world did daunt
With their great deedes and fild their childrens eares?
Who rapt with wonder of their famous praiſe,
Admire their ftatues, their Coloffoes great :
Their rich triumphal Arcks* which they did raiſe,
Their huge Pyramids †, which do heaven threat ‡,
Triumphant Arcks," Spenfer's Ruines of Rome. St. 7,
Lo
+ "Now flourishing with fanes, and proud pirâmides."
Drayton's Polyolbion. Song 13.
"And their ſky-threatning towres." Faerie Queene. 5. 10. 23.
"That with his talineffe feemd to feat the ſkye,” Idem. 1. 7. 8,
$
th
Ses
( 6 )
Lo one, whom later age hath brought to light,
Matchable to the greateſt of thoſe great:
Great both by name, and great in power and might,
And meriting a meere triumphant ſeate*.
The fcourge of Turkes, and plague of infidels,
Thy acts, ô Scanderbeg, this volume tels.
Ed. Spenfer.
{
This is prefixed to "The Hiftorie of George Caftriot,
Jurnamed Scanderbeg, King of Albanie, Containing his fa-
mous actes, his noble deedes of Armes, and memorable vic-
tories against the Turkes, for the Faith of Chrift. Com-
prifed in twelve Bookes: By Jaques de Lavardin, Lord
of Pleffis Bourrot, a Nobleman of France. Newly tranf-
lated out of French into English by Z. J. Gentleman.
London, imprinted for William Ponsonby, 1596." folio.
Theſe verſes on Scanderbeg were reprinted in the
Appendix to The Sad Shepherd, 8vo. 1783, P. 144;
and in Mr. Neve's "Curfory Remarks on ſome of the
ancient English Poets," 8vo. 1789, P. 24 feq. in which
latter work the following illuftrations of the word
meere are inferted.
*
a meere triumphant ſeate.] i. e. abſolute.
"I am a meere gentlewoman.'
things rank and grofs in nature
"Poffefs it meerely.”
Dekker's Satiromafilx.
Hamlet
The antique Babel, Empreffe of the Eaſt,
Upreard her buildinges to the threatned ſkie :
And Second Babell tyrant of the Weft,
Her ayry Towers upraiſed much more high.
But with the weight of their own furquedry,
They both are fallen †, that all the earth did feare,
See alfo Idem. 3. 9. 45. Ruines of Rome. St. 4. and Ruines of Time.
St. 60.
"Upreard her buildings to the threatned fkie."
fra.
Verfes to Lewkenor.
preaced to the Skie.”
Sackvile's Buckingham. St. 41.
"Ne proude high Towers that
† "With her own weight down preffed now the lies."
$
Ruines of Time. St. 11.
And
ว
( 7 )
And buried now in their own aſhes ly,
Yet fhewing by their heapes how great they were.
But in their place doth now a third appeare,
Fayre Venice, flower of the laſt worlds delight,
And next to them in beauty draweth neare,
But farre exceedes in policie of right.
Yet not fo fayre her buildinges to behold
As is Lewkenor's ftile that hath her beautie told.
Edw. Spencer.
This is prefixed to "The Commonwealth and Go-
vernment of Venice, Written by the Cardinall Gafpar
Contareno, and tranflated out of Italian into English, by
Lewes Lewkenor Efquire, London, imprinted by John
Windet for Edmund Mattes, and are to be fold at his
Shop, at the figne of the Hand and Plow in Fleetstreet.
1599." 4to.
Thefe verfes to Lewkenor have been reprinted in
Warton's Obfervations on the Fairy Queen, Vol. 2.
P. 246. and in the Appendix to The Sad Shepherd,
1783, P. 143.
"Certaine verfes of Mr. Edm. Spenfer's.
A tranflation made ex tempore by Mr. Edm. Spenfer upon this
diftich, written on a Booke belonging to the right honor-
able Richard Earle of Corke, &c.
Nulla dies percat, pereat pars nulla diei,
Ne tu fic pereas, ut periere dies.
Let no day paffe, paffe no part of the day,
Left thou doe paffe, as dayes do paffe away.
Verfes upon the faid Earles Lute.
Whilft vitall fapp did make me fpring,
And leafe and bough did flourish brave,
I then was dumb and could not fing,
Ne had the voice which now I have:
But when the axe my life did end,
The Mufes nine this voice did fend.
E. S."
The
( 8 )
The foregoing are annexed to "A View of the State
of Ireland, Written dialogue-wife betweene Eudoxus and
Irenæus, By Edmund Spenfer Efq. in the yeare 1596.
Dublin, Printed by the Society of Stationers.
M.DC.XXXIII." Folio.
"By SPENCER.
Phillis is both blithe and young;
Of Phillis is my Silver Song:
I love thilk Lafs, and in my Heart
She breeds full many a baleful Smart.
Kids, cracknels, with my earlieft Fruit,
I give to make her hear my Suit;
When Colin does approach o'erjoy'd,
My Hopes, alaſs! are all accoy'd.
Were I not born to love the Maid,
Yet he calls Miracles to her Aid.
When ftormy Stou'rs had drefs'd the year,
In fhivering Winters wrathful Chear :
Phillis, that lovely cruel wight,
Found me in a dreerie Plight;
And Snow-balls gently flung at me,
To wake me from my Lethargie.
Fire I ween there was ypent
In all thoſe frozen Balls fhe fent:
For, Ah! woe's me, I felt them burn,
And all my Soul to Flames I turn.
Ah! Phillis, if you'd quench my Fire,
Burn your felf with as fierce Defire.”
This is in " CHORUS POETARUM: or, Poems on
Several Occafions. By the Duke of Buckingham, the
late Lord Rochefter, Sir John Denham, Sir Geo.
Etheridge, Andrew Marvel, Efq. The famous Spencer,
Madam Behn, And feveral other Eminent Poets of
this Age. Never before Printed. London: Printed
for Benjamin Bragg, at the White-Hart, over againſt
Water-Lane in Fleet-ftreet, MDCLXIXIV." 8vo.
Dedicated to Sir Fleetwood Sheppard, by Charles
Gildon.
I do
(9)
I do not believe thefe lines to be Spenfer's; but,
finding them in print under his name, I thought it
improper to omit them: the date of the 'Mifcellany
they are in is evidently erroneous; but, from an
annexed advertiſement of "Mifcellaneous Letters &
Effays, &c. faid to be lately Publish'd, which Letters,
&c. are dated 1694, we may conclude it to be the
fame, or the following year.
The following is extracted, with corrections, from
the Appendix to "THE SAD SHEPHERD:" &c.
8vo. 1783, p. 144 feq.
To Peacham's MINERVA BRITANNA are prefixed
the following Stanzas, thus addreſſed.
TO MASTER HENRY PEACHAM.
A VISION UPON THIS HIS MINERVA.
Methought I faw in dead of filent night
A goodly Citie all to cinders turned,
Upon whofe ruines fate a Nymphe in white,
Rending her haire of wiery gold, who mourned
Or for the fall of that faire Citie burned,
Or fome deare Love, whofe death fo made her fad:
That fince no joye in worldly thing ſhe had.
This was that Genius of that auntient Troy,
In her owne aſhes buried long agoe:
So griev❜d to ſee that Britaine fhould enjoy
Her Pallas, whom fhe held and honour'd fo:
And now no litle memorie could fhow
L'o eternize her, fince fhe did infufe,
Her Enthean foule, into this Engliſh Muſe.
E. S.
Whether or not theſe initials mean Edmund Spenfer,
remains to be enquired into,
I have feen no other edition of this work of Peach-
am's but the one I tranſcribed thefe Stanzas from;
which is dated 1612: yet is there in it (p. 44.) this
expreffion, and marginal note;
*
"Then pardon Soveraigne.
* B
Regina Elizabetha.”
and
( 10 )
and Queen Elizabeth died March 24, 1603. If the
verfes be Spenfer's, the edition they are prefixed to
muſt either have been a good deal delayed in its pub-
lication, or it is a fecond one, with additions, fince he
read the work; for Peacham's firſt verſes therein are
addreffed, "To my dread Soveraigne James, King
of Great Britaine, &c." there are others to the Queen
(Anne), Princeſs Elizabeth, Henrie Prince of Wales,
and Charles, Duke of York (afterwards King Charles
J.), who was not fo created till about the year 1605,
or 1606; and Spenfer died, if we can depend on tra-
dition, in 1598, or, at lateſt, 1599. See his Life by
Hughes Birch, Church, and Upton.
It may be thought that thefe initials E. S. ftand for
Edward Sharpham, whofe Comedy of The Fleire was
entered on the Books of the Stationers' Company,
May 9, 1606; or that they may fignify Edmond Scory;
there being verfes prefixed to Drayton's Heroical
Epiftles, 1605, figned E. St. Gent. which, in the folio
edition, 1619, are fubfcribed Edmond Scory, Knight.
Peacham, in his Compleat Gentleman, 1622, p. 95, 6.
fpeaking of celebrated poets, particularizes M. Ed-
mund Spenfer; but mentions no other to whom the
initials E. S. could belong.
The infertion of this "Vifion," merely on account
of the fignature, may be thought an act of Superero-
gation; but, in one who has that veneration for Spen-
fer which I profeſs to have, and who would reſcue the
fmalleſt fragment of his writing from oblivion, it is no
more than duty and that the Stanzas in queſtion
were written by him, I think there is both external,
and, which is infinitely more fatisfactory, internal
evidence. In the first place the very title of the
verfes is fimilar to thofe of three of Spenfer's fmall
poems; viz.
:
"Vifions of the World's Vanitie."
"The Vifions of Bellay." and
"The Vifions of Petrarch."
which
( II )
66
which were publiſhed in a collection of fome of his
diſperſt" pieces, called COMPLAINTS, in 4to,
1591. Secondly, One of the entries mentioned by
Mr. Steevens, is a booke, called, The Second
Book of Songes or Ayres, of twoo, foure, and five
Partes, with Tribletures for the Lute or Orpherion,
with the Viol-de-gambo. Compofed by John Dow-
land, Batchelor of Mufick, and Lutanift unto the
moſt famous Chriftian the IVth. by the Grace of God,
king of Denmark, Norway, &c." The entry is
dated July 16, 1600.
The verfes in Peacham's Minerva, P. 74, (re-
printed in the Appendix to The Sad Shepherd) on the
neglect into which Dowland had fallen, muſt have
preceded his being raiſed above it, by his appoint-
ment to the king of Denmark's fervice, with whom
he went to Denmark, and there died: which brings
the matter in queftion fo near to Spenfer's time, that,
allowing for thoſe who complimented the Author of
the Minerva with verfes on it, to have read it in MS.
the preparing of above two hundred cuts; and other
neceffary or accidental delays before the publication;
(during which time the verfes on the Stuart family
might have been prudently added) it certainly muſt
be granted that it is poible for the VISION to have
been Spenfer's.
Thirdly, as to the probability, that, I conceive,
muſt depend on the internal evidence, i. e. the verſes
themſelves; and I think whoever fhall be pleafed to
compare this Vifion with Spenfer's RUINES OF TIME
(the firſt poem in the Collection called COMPLAINTS),
and with his FOWRE HYMNES, 4to. 1596, for the
conftruction of the ftanza in each, and the fimilarity
of thought and expreffion in the firſt fix ftanzas of the
former, will alfo grant that I have no flight reafons
for my fuppofition. To prevent the trouble of re-
ferring, the following parallels are brought into one
point of view.
fate
1
*
( 12 )
66
fate a Nymphe in white,
Rending her haire of wiery gold, who mourned.
"A Woman fitting forrowfullie wailing,
Rending her yeolow locks, like wyrie gold."
who mourned,
Vifion.
Ruines.
Or for the fall of, &c.
Or fome deare Love"
"Which did the loffe of fome dere love lament."
"That fince no joye in worldly thing fhe had."
"Ah! what delight (quoth fhe) in earthlie thing,
Or comfort can I wretched creature have?"
A
"This was that Genius of that auncient Troy"
"Or th' auncient Genius of that Citie brent"
"In her owne afhes buried long agoe"
"And have in mine owne bowels made my grave"
"And lye in mine owne aſhes.'
<<
Troy, that art now nought but an idle name,
And in thine afhes buried low doft lie."
Vifion.
Ruines.
Vifion.
Rúines.
Vifion.
Ruines.
Vision.
Ruines.
t
Faerie Qucene. 3. 9. 33.
To theſe may be added a line from the Verfes on
Lewkenor.
"And buried now in their own afhes lie."
I believe there needs no more on the ſubject, unleſs
it be to beg the reader's pardon for having faid fo
much about fourteen lines only; but, admitting that
they are Spenfer's (to apply an expreffion of Gar-
rick's, in a prologue on Shakspeare, to our great dra-
matift's beloved poet), I would lofe no drop of that im-
morial man!
F. G. W.
THE
PERIOD
O F
Mourning.
Difpofed into fixe VISIONS.
In Memorie of the late Prince.
TOGETHER
With Nuptiall Hymnes, in
Honour of this Happy Marriage
betweene the Great PRINCES,
FREDERICK
Count Palatine of the RHENE,
AND
The Most Excellent, and Aboundant Prefident
of all VIRTVE and GOODNES
ELIZABETH
onely Daughter to our Soueraigne,
his MAIESTIE.
Alſo the manner of the Solemnization of the Marriage at
White-Hall, on the 14. of February, being Sunday,
and St Valentines day.
By Henry Peacham, M of Arts.
LONDON
Printed by F. S. for Iohn Helme, and are to be fould in Saint
Dunftanes Churchyard in Fleetſtreet. 1613.
LONDON.
Reprinted for the EDITOR, and Sold at No. 62, Great Wild-
Street, near Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; by Meff. EGERTON,
Whitehall; Meff. Cox and PHILLIPSON, James-Street,
Covent-Garden; R. RYAN, No, 351, Oxford-Street;
H. D. SYMONDS, No. 20. Pater-Nofter-Row; and
W. RICHARDSON, under the Royal-Exchange. 1789.
1
[Entered at Stationers Hall. ]
6
1
1
1
S
To reprint the writings of Chaucer, Spenser, Shakspeare, ar
Milton, now entitles an editor to no other praiſe than that
which reſults from a careful collation of ancient copies, and
an intelligent illuftration of the text. To revive the almoſt-
forgotten lines of their minor contemporaries, as it is an ar-
duous, is (it is prefumed) not an immeritorious taſk; this
has been attempted in the preſent inftance, in con-
ſequence of an opinion, that the Poetry is, in many places,
far above mediocrity; and, with the claffical and hiſtorical
notes of the author, well worthy of prefervation.
The few trifling obſervations printed in Italics are by the
prefent editor.
1 -
1
}
t
To the Right Honourable and truely Noble-Minded,
SIR JOHN SWINNERTON, Knight, Lord
Maior of the Citie of London, SIR THOMAS
MIDDLETON, and SIR IOHN IOLLES,
ALDERMEN, his Brethren.
I
Right Honourable and Worthy Senators.
T was an auncient cuſtome, no whit difcommendable,
among the Ethiopian Princes, amid their Feafts and Royall
Banquets, to haue the head of a dead man laid in Earth,
preſented the first to the Table; in abundance of Mirth to
put them in minde of Mortalitie. Though I haue euer beene
a fworne enimie to Superftition, I ſeeme to imitate them thus
farre, who vnſeaſonably at the folemnitie of this Royall
Marriage, offer againe to view the Image of our dead deere
and neuer to be forgotten Prince, Henrie. Affection is liable
to none account, and this Sorrow, to found harts can neuer
come out of feaſon, yet thus much for myfelfe; My loue to
his excellent vertues, and perfon, to whom I was fo many
wayes engaged, drew, fome while fince thefe teares to their
head, which encountring with a contrary paffion of loy, for
the happy Marriage of his Moft-like Sifter the Princeffe my
moſt gracious Lady; like fire and water (ftriuing for prædo-
minancie) I was enforced to make both way euen to mine
owne preiudice. What I haue done, my Honourable Lord,
in regard of the fidelity the Citie hath euer borne to the
State, the true hartie loue you carry in your owne particulars
to his Maieftie, and the Progenie Royall, and laftly that you
are knowne out of your Noble and owne Naturall inclination
to goodnes, to fauour all Learning and Excellencie,
whereby beyond your prædeceffors you gaine a double Ho-
hour, I humbly offer vp to your Honourable protection:
expecting onely Time and Occafion wherein I may really
manifeſt how faſt I am tyed in Zeale and dutifull Affection
to fo worthy a Maior, and fo Honourable a Citie.
Your Honours
and Worſhips, truely deuoted
Henry Peacham.
#
Ad Avthorem, in Periodum eius, foelicefq; Frederici
Comitis Palatini Rhenenfis, et Elizabetha Sere-
niffimæ Principis Hymenæos.
F
Lebilibus mirâ quod nifces arte triumphos
Carminibus,
tuum:
Carminibus, miror iure Poema tuum :
In tanto dolor an lufus quis vate requirat?
Tam bene qui iungis gaudia cum lachrymis.
Mortuus HENRICVS vitam, plangente CAMONA,
Viua canente foror, ne moriatur habet.
Obftupui fateor fieri hæc contraria fomno
Credo equidem Mufam fed vigilâffe tuam
Vel tu bicipiti hæc cepifti infomnia Monte,
Fonte caballino, vel benè merfus eras.
A. S.
G
To the MUSE.
OE Mufe, that like Endimion did'ft but dreame
Of Golden dayes in thy Difpairefull Night;
And ftood'ſt like Tantale in a Siluér-ſtreame,
That fed thy longing with a falfe delight:
Ope thy dull eyes, and while that others weepe,
Say, what thou faw'ft, fince thou haft beene afleepe
And yet had'ſt beene, had not (Oh Brighteſt Faire)
Chaft Cynthia with her fauours wakened me,
And His deere Loue, whofe loffe I fhaddow here,
Enforc❜d a tafke of lateſt Pietie:
Elfe better farre, we had beene filent ftill;
And flept vnfeene vpon a peacefull Hill.
ཇུག་གི་ཚུལ་དེ་རུ་ཟེར་ནག་གི་སློབ་དེ་བྱས་དེ་བྱ་སྟེ་བྱབ་ཏེ་བྱ་ཟེར་བྱ་ཞེསཔ་ལེབྱས་ཏེ་བྱས་ནབ་བྱ་ཞེ་བྱ་ལུ་ཧེཝཱ
}
}
}
1
THE
PERIOD
Of Mourning.
I.
+
Vifion.
I
Saw (methought) from Cambers hilly fhore,
A goodly Arke, as euer eye beheld;
Whoſe Sayles were Silke, and Tackle twined Oare,
That feem'd reflected, gloriouſly to guild
The waue around, while thouſand colours faire,
Kept time aloft with euery little ayre.
She Archon hight, for that the had no Peere,
And could command the Ocean with her might:
In whom the Hopes of many thouſands were,
But chiefly of the Mufe, and Martiall ſprite :
}
Braue Man of warre fhe was, from Britaine bound,
For new diſcoueries all that might be found.
And going out, fhee did beguile the way,
With found of Trumpet, Shawmes, and Cornet fhrill,
That fil'd the fhore, and ſeem'd to charme the Sea;
(For windes were ceas'd, and waues were calme and ftil.)
Such peales of Thunder, then anone were fent,
As if he would haue torne the Firmament.
But
6
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
But fodainely the Day was ouercaft,
A tempeft hurles the billowe to the Skye,
That Cables brake, and hauing ſpent her Maſt
Shee fell on Rocks; herewith I heard a cry
Of dying men; who perifhed on the fhelues,
Saue fome, that knew to fwim, and faue themfelues.
Which when I faw, a ftreame of Teares I fhed,
And faid (O GOD) who did commit the finne,
That fuch a Treafure fhould be buried
In loweſt Graue, as it had neuer bin ?
A fraught wherein we fhared euery one,
And by whoſe loffe three Kingdomes are vndone.
II.
1
VISION.
1
}
I
Saw a Palme, of body tall and ftraight,
Vpon whoſe braunches Crownets did depend
But for the top, were kepta cumbrous waight
Of three more great: inovgh to force it bend,
(For little wot we managing of Realmes,
The howerly cares and charge of Diadems.)
And euery bough did bloome with fruitfull ftore,
Wherein all kindes of finging Birds did build,
Melodiouſly reioycing euermore
In his deere aide, by whom they were vpheld:
And hither oft, the fhepheard would repaire,
If heate did fcortch, or cloude accloie the Aire.
But at the roote, a fearefull Serpent lay,
(Whoſe many miſchiefes Time forbids me tell,)
That vndermin❜d the Body night and day,
That laft, it downe with hideous fragor fell,
To griefe of all; mine eye did neuer fee,
More hopefull Bloffomes, or a fairer Tree.
f
III.
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
III.
}
VISION.*
A
Wood there was, along the Stygian Lake,
Where Night, and euerlafting Horror dwell,
Herein a Caue, two hollow Rockes did make,
From whencea Brooke ás blacke as Lethe fell:
A common roade led thither, with deſcent
So fteepe, that none return'd that euer went.
It was an vncouth Dungeon, darke and wide,
Where liuing man nere was, or light had fhone,
Saue that a little glimmering I eſpi'de
From rotten ſtickes, that all about were throwne:
The Boxe and banefull Eugh-tree grew without,
All which a ſtinking ditch did moate about.
Within, there hung upon the ragged wals
Sculs, fhirtes of maile, whofe owners had been flaine
Eſcotcheons, Epitaphes of Funerals;
In bottles teares of friends, and Louers vaine:
Spades, Mattockes, models, boltes and barres for ftrength,
With bones of Giants of a wondrous length.
Beneath, all formes of Monuments were ſeene,
Whoſe ſuperſcriptions were through age defac'd,
And owners long agoe confumed cleane
But now as coffers were in order plac'd,
Wherein inditements lay, charmes, Dead-mens wills
Popes pardons, pleas, and Pothecaries bills.
In mid❜ft there fat a meagre wretch-alone,
That had in forrow both his ei'n outwept,
And was with pine become a Sceleton :
•
I afk'd him why that loathfome Caue he kept,
And what he was: my name (quoth he) is Death
Perplexed here, for Henries loffe of breath.
*This is much in Spenfer's manner.
HENRIE
8
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
HENRIE the good, the great, vnware I hit
With deadly dart before the timely day,
For at one neere him while I leuel'd it,
That fent more foules then I my felfe away,
Or feare, or fate the arrow did miſguide
That he efcap'd, and Nobleſt Henry di'd.
With that, he bade me to retire in haft,
For neuer any came fo neere his dore,
And liu'd: here-with mine eye aſide I caſt,
Where ſtood a glue-pot, Canes and quiuers ftore,
And on a ſhelfe, lay many ftinking weedes,
Wherewith, I gheffe, he poifon'd arrow heads.
1
By doubtfull tracks away through Brake and Breere,
I left the Wood, and light at laft did view,
When Death I heard accuſed euery where,
As Theife and Traytor, of the vulgar crew,
For this miſdeed, he fware against his will;
For who knew Henry could not meane him ill.
IIII.
VISION.
Saw erewhile, conducted forth by Fame
A Carre Triumphall, all of maffie Gold,
And *foure fierce Lyons yoaked in the fame,
The which a Virgin, louely to behold,
1
With gentle raine did guide and ſhow the way,
Shena hight, none elſe they would obay.
A warlick Impe within was fet on high,
Who Phabus, in his glorious armes out-fhone,
Ydrad of all for awfull Maieftie,
Yet louing, and more loued liùed none;
Hight Philocles, whom Fame did thus addreffe
To high defignes, which few or none could gheffe.
*Three of England and that one of Scotland.
+ Vnitie.
2
་
But
[
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
1
But oh vncertaine ſtate of all below,
And feeble itay whereon our hopes doe reft!
While that I gazed rauifh'd with the ſhow
And heart did leape for ioy within my breaſt,
From Heauen I ſaw defcend a fiery wand
And all to blacke was turned out of hand.
Carricks white Lions in a field of Red,
His golden Garbes as Chefters Palatine,
The Cornish Beafaunts feldome quartered,
Rothfay with that braue Coate of Leoline,
Which one-day might in field of Mars haue flowne,
Before his Herfe were mournfull ſtreamers showne.
The gallant Steede that did difdaine the bit,
And ſhooke with angry hoofe the hollow ground,
His Riders loffe lamented ouer it:
The Souldiour with his Drumme and Trumpets found,
That beate the March, and blew the furious charge,
Were turn'd to Singers timing of his Dirge.
The fiery ſpirit whoſe aſpiring flame
Brake out enkindled at his glorious light
Grew dimme and damp'd, as dying with the fame;
The gentle Heart in mourning melted quite,
His Friends and louers (We) did weare his blacke
*Within the Breaſt, while others on the Backe.
But in the while we haue related this,
The corps was gone and euery thing was paſt,
That there remained nothing but his Miffe,
Which when I ſaw mine eyes to Heauen I caft,
And faid, Oh let me neuer liue I pray,
To feele the griefe of fuch another day.
B
*!! But I have that within which paſſeth ſhew.”
t
Hamlet.
1
}
V.
10
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING,
*
VS
Vrsion.
*
Lay to reft by thofe two Sifter-ftreamies,
That ftriue with each as feemeth by their shaft,
Who to her fpoufe fhould take the ftately Thames,
(For both into his bofome fall at laſt;)
Where, one I heard as Thracian Orpheus fing,
With beaft and bird about him liftening.
Come Woods (quoth he) and Waters lend your found,
And help vs to bemone our Dions death,.
Come euery Plant that growes vpon the ground,
Your fruit or fauours to his Herfe bequeath,
Come purple Rofes, pureft Lillies turne
Your Beauties, blacke, and help a while to mourne.
}
S
Come Albion Mules, come fweet Philomel,
Report this newes among thy mournefull ftrainesį, i
To greenie Groues the Death of Dion tell,
Ye Shepheards fill herewith the fruitfull plaines,
At Morne and Euen, and fay, with Dion dead,
All Muficke and our Merry daies are fled.
*
1
Come Albion Mufes, come ye filuer Swannes,
Sing dying and die finging on the bankes
Of Ifis flood, come wood Mufitians
Surround him fleeping in your painted ranckes,
Leaue wanton Naiads treading of your rings
And teach your eyes to,ouerflow the fprings,
Come Albion Mufes bid Menalcas lit
With broken reede befide his aged Oke,
And folitary there fome dittie fit
That mought to teares infernall Dis provoké
Eternall filence dwell on Dale and Hill,
And Heards vnkept goe wafider where you
?
will.
Come
THE. PARDOD OF MOURN
XING.
Come Albion Mufes, come with Eccho mourne
In hollow rockes and vales, for Dion gone,
Who (like his lips). fhall neuer more returne,
A gratious anfwere call'd by you vpon:
Die flowers, and fall ye fruit vnripe from Trees,
And ceafe your toile (the fweeteſt gone) ye Bees.
Come Albion Mufes, neuer Dolphin wept
More kindly, caft by Neptune on the fhore,
Or Memnons Bird with greatef forrow kept
Auroras fonne, whom ſtill ſhe weepeth ore,
Or groue with plaints of Philomele rung
When Plough man had bereft her of her young.
Calliope more woefull did not feeke
Her Loued Homer all about the Sea,
Or Venus on her deere Adonis cheeke
More kiffes heaped as he dying lay,
}
244
As Albion now who (mother-like) in vaine,
Would, fpight, of Nature, weepe him backe againé.
If in a garden but the Mallow die,
The Daifie, Dill, or Rofe, it liues agen,
And ſhooteth yeerely from his bed on high,
But we endu❜de with Reaſon who are men,
Much fairer, ſtronger, if we once doe fall,
No more on Earth our being haue at all.
1
Much more he would haue faid but that with griefe,
His voyce did faile and hand began to flacke,
Wherewith approached firſt of Beaſts the chiefe,
Who in their kindes bewailed Dions lacke:
The Birds aboue, in trees were ſet aloft,
Each chattering in his note as Nature taught.
B 2
* The laſt image in this ftanza is particularly beautiful and tender.
As Albion] Than Albion 3c. would have been better,
1
None
12
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
None for precedence ftroue, that they forgat,
As ill befitting penfiueneffe of heart,
But as they came in Loving league they fat,
And each to each his forrow did impart :
For griefes doe grow by many bearers weake,
That elſe the backes of one or two would breake.
Three Lyons white full bitterly did groane,
And waile his abfence whom they loned deere,
Aloofe the * Heliconian Horfe did moane,
For as the reſt he could not come fo neere.
The Lynx, the Bufle, and the Talbot true,
Did (as they could) their vtmoft forrow fhew.
The Greyhound, Griffon, Tiger, and the Goate,
Two gallant Dragons greene, and one of Red,
The Unicorne in his faire Ermine-coate,
The Roebucke, Bore, and Bull, for combat bred:
The Leopard, Wiuerne, Munkey, and the Beare,
The Tiger, Cat, and Porcefpine were there.
Of Birds, I faw the Eagle fharpe of fight,
Th' Arabian Phenix, and the Peacocke gay,
The towring Falcon for the Kings delight,
The Chough, the Rauen, and dainty Popingaie,
The Swanne with Pheafaunt fetch'd from Phafis flood,
And Pellican foare wounded with her brood.
With others numberleffe both wilde and tame,
By flockes that hither in a Moment flew,
But as I neere to this affembly came,
Their order, kindes, and cullors for to view,
The Man, the Muficke, Bird, and Beaft were gone,
I left to mourne difconfolate alone.
* Noble perfonages of the land whofe Crefts theſe are.
1
VI.
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
13
VI.
VISION.
Was conducted by a louely childe,
I was conduct
Whoſe haire outſhone the brighteſt burning gold,
Offweet afpect as Maid, and modeſt milde,
Vnto that place where certainely is told,
The foules of fuch as here had liued well,
Difróab'd of Earth in happineffe doe dwell.
It was Elifium, a delightfull plaine,
Where Zephyre makes an euerlafting Spring,
And Fruits, and Flowers, doe all the yeere retaine
Their taft and beauties, fweeteſt Birds doe fing
In Laurell fhades, where cooleſt filuer brookes
Divorce their courſes by a thouſand crookes.
Within there was a Theater of gold,
Rais'd on a mount in femi-circle wife,
Which ſtately columnes ftrongly did vphold,
That by afcent did ouer other rife,
And railde betweene with Chriſtall lights that fhone
Againſt the Sunne like Rockes of Diamond.
Not Scaurus Scene might with this fame compare,
That eightie thouſand could at one time hold,
Nor that of Pompey, nor that wounder rare
*Vefpafian reard, nor that with pouldred gold
Which Nero as with fand, I read, beſtrew
And feel'd with filke of ftarry gilt in blew.
Three rowes it had where Princes onely fat,
To view their worldly miferies foregone,
Their Kingdomes changes and to contemplate
Their happineffe in full fruition:
Theſe liued well, or for the Faith were flaine,
Or younglings were who neuer faw their raigne.
Each
* Marti. Epigr. Lib. 1. Epift. 1. Barbara pyramidum, &c.
‡ feel'd] i, e. ciel'd, as we now ſpell it; from Ciel, the French for Heav ".
3
Ti4
S
THE PER POD OF MORNING.
Each were in order rancked as they dy'd,
The formoft, Heire apparants of our land,
Whoſe deaths were by Imprefas fpecifide,
So fweetly limn'd as by an Angels hand.
*William firft Henries fonne did giue a fea
Enrag'd, aboue was written, Caft away.
The fonne of Stephen Prince § Euftace next did fit,
Who gaue a braunch of bitter Hellebore,
Difpayre's not holpe was fcored ouer it.
Henry the fonne of fecond Henry bore
A Phaeton, with this, Too foone I clime,
* A King and Rebell in my Fathers time.
Appeared then, in Armes, a goodly Prince
Of fwarthy Thew, by whom there hung a Launce
Of wondrous length, preferued euer fince,
Hee overthrew at Poiteirs John of Fraunce:
A Dial his deuice, the ftile at One,
And this, No night and yet my day is done. -
}
By
* Hee was drowned at 17 yeeres of age, comming into England
out of Normandie, and with him his brother Richard, and Richard
Earle of Cheſter, and his brother Otwele the Princes Tutor, the
Counteffe of Perch, the Kings daughter named Mary, and his Neece
the Counteffe of Chefter, with many young Noble-men and Knights,
to the number of 160 perfons.
$ Euftace being angry with his Father Stephen for making peace
with Henry Duke of Normandie departed from him, at Bury fitting
downe to dinner fell mad vpon the receiuing of the first morfell.
+ Henry, eldeſt fonne of Henry the fecond, borne in London, was
crowned in his Fathers life time, to the quiet of the Realme as it was
thought, but he rebelled in Normandie, whofe part there took againſt
his Father, Lewis King of Fraunce, William King of Scots,_ Henry,
Geoffrey, Lohn his fonnes, Robert Earle of Leiceſter, Hugh Earle of
Cheſter, &c. Hee fought againſt his Father, and after dyed of a Feuer,
defiring forgiueneffe: his Father fent him his Ring in token he had
forgiuen him, which he humbly kiffed. He dyed at Martell, and
was buried at Roane, his body wound in thoſe linnen clothes hee was
annointed King in.
Edward the blacke Prince, firſt fonne to Edward the 3. fome
make his name rather from the black dayes Fraunce endured by him,
then from his Countenance.
Was it not from the black armour which he wore ?
THE PERIOD 1.5
•
OF MOURNING.
By him I faw in white a comely *youth,
Vpon whoſe breaft appear'da gaping wound
(That would haue mou'd a heart of Flint to ruth;)
Wherewith the place was fmeared all around.
A withered crimfón Rofe by him was fixt,
His word, The laft, as fonne of Henry fixt.
A little lower fat two beauteous Inpes
Offmyling cheere, as freſh as flower in May:
Not Tyndaris faire twinnes, Pierian Nimphes,
Or Myrrha's Boy fo louely faire as they :
Theſe were the Brother-Princes that in bed
The Tyrant flew and deft vnburied.
One had a Pillow with his crowne thereon,
His Mot, The Price of my eternall reſt:
The other gaue a Vulture ceafing || on
The heart of Titius, with, The Tyrants breaft.
§ Prince Arthur, this, aboue an Orange flower,
Though feemes the fayreft yet the fruit is fower.
The
*Prince Edward who was flaine at Tewksbury: King Edward the
firft fmote him on the face with his Gauntlet, afterward hee was moſt
cruelly flaine, being runne through the breaft with an arming-fword:
His mother Queene Margaret at the fame time being taken priſoner,
and flaine, John Duke of Somerſet, Courtney, E. of Deuonſhire, the
Lord Wenlocke, &c.
King Edward the fift, and Richard his Brother, taken out of
Sanctuary: Murdered in the Tower: The liuely pourtracture of theſe
Princes came to my hands limned in a Manufcript which was written
by Anthony Earle Riuers their Vncle, and giuen to King Edward the
fourth; and this was the first booke that euer was Printed in England
(as Maſter Cambden told me) this being the fame that the Earle gaue
the King, bound in greene Veluet, &c.
|| ceafing.] i. e, ſeizing, or perhaps preying.
§ Prince Arthur maried Catharine, Daughter of Ferdinando king of
Spaine. By this deuice the Author feemes couertly to fhew a diſtaſt
of our Princes matching with Spaine.
←
-16
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
The laſt fat our late HENRY on a Throné
By one degree rais'd higher then the reft;
About whoſe brow an heauenly glory fhone,
And certaine beames appeared from his breaſt,
Which waqfo did with neerer eye admire
Were ftriken blinde, or had their hearts on fire.
Where when I faw that Brow, that Cheeke, that Eye,
Hee left imprinted in Eliza's face,
That louely cheere and gracefull Maieftie,
In hopefull CHARLES that take their fecond place..
With loy furprized to my home before
I bad returne, wee cared for no more,
2
FINIS,
1
$
*
Α
}
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
£7
A* EPICEDIVM
of the Author.
Tay Royall Body ere thou go'ſt
STAY
To fleepe in Mothers armes the duft:
And let our Teares diftilling faft,
Embalmne the Louely Limmes the laſt,
Whom Heauen fo deere while here did hold,
It tooke both Modell and the mold
From Nature, leaſt there might remaine,
A hope to haue his like againe :
HENRIE too too forward Rofe,
HENRI E terror to his foes,
HENRIE Friendes and Fathers ftay,
HENRIE Sunne-rife of our Day,
HENRIE Loadftar of the Arts,
HENRIE Loadftone of all harts.
But now our bud hath bid the froft,
And Britaine, warlike Arthur loft:
Friendes and fathers want their ſtay,
And ouer-clouded is our day,
This ſtarre is fallen from our fight,
And loft with all our compaffe quite.
Oh loffe of loffes, griefe of griefe,
Beyond compaffion or reliefe!
C
But
*The difference between an Epicede and Epitaph is (as Seruius
teacheth) that the Epicedium is proper to the body while it is vnbu-
ried, the Epitaph otherwife; yet our Poets ſtick not to take one for the
other: it hath the Etymon from xnded, which is curaro inferias, faith
Scaliger: in Poet.
18
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
But was our young Iofias fhot
From Babell, Egypt ward or not?
His Iourney ſcarfly yet begunne,
Or was this deede by Heauen done?
The cauſe were Earths all Horrid crimes,
Hatch'd in thefe faithleffe fruitleffe times:
"Tis finne hath drawne the deluge downe
Of all theſe teares, wherein we drowne,
Wherein not onely we are drent*,
But all the Chriftian continent;
Yea vtmoſt climes and coaftes vnknowne,
Whereto his winged Fleete is flowne,
Whofe Pilot while the Maifter fleepes,
Is founding of the Northerne deepes,
Encounting Icie Mountaines, Coafts,
Rak'd vp in Snowes, or bound with frofts:
Who faue the Deitie diuine,
Could fay the depth of his defigne?
As when a Comet doth amaze,
The world with it's prodigious blaze,
While in fome pitchie night, from North,
Sword-brandifht flames it fhooteth forth,
All gheffing what it might it portend,
Or where th'effect would fall i'th'end,
So when this youth in Armor fhone,
He was with terror look'd vpon,
Which way mought turne his fword or launce,
To Turke, to Spaine, to Rome, or Fraunce:
But this a Meteor was, no Starre,
Imperfect mixt as glories are;
Though
+ Kings 2, Cap. 23. Ver. 29.
* Drent, i, e. drown'd.
}
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
19
Though Belus terme himfelfe a God,
And Commodus beare Hermes rod :
Marcellus call in thunder downe,
From Heauen, an artificiall crowne,
Clearchus in his charge beare fire,
Auguftus clepe the Sunne his Sire,
Domitian his owne Mother fcorne,
To fay of Pallas he was borne,
Yet all are Adams earthy weake,
Adord like Idols till they breake;
Become the fcorne of Time and Faté,
And obiects of the meaneft Hate.
By *Bodkins greateſt Cafar's dead,
A Shepherdeffe take Cyrus head,
A Weafils bite kils Ariftide,
And Lice did puniſh Herods pride:
Blinde Times afcribing theſe to be
Th'effects of Fate or Deftinie
Ineuitable; mocking vs
With th'Atomes of Democritus.
The Soule of this which World we call,
Or Influence Coleſtiall,
'Tis no Ægyptian Iron Line,
But prouidence of Power Diuine;
Whofe high Ideas are beeings,
And all Effentiall formes of things,
Difpofing of all here below,
Whofe ends himſelfe doth onely know:
Who made a cord of feuerall finne,
To whip vs out, or hold vs in.
C 2
*" When he himself might his quietus make
"With a bare bodkin"
HAMLET.
Bodkin is the old word for a dagger or poniard.
That
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
1
That what Rome of her Fitus faid
May to late Henry be applied;
That he for his owne good is gone,
But for our full affliction:
For whoſe deare loffe, oh let the Towers
Of each heauen-daring crime of ours
Be caft to ground, as Carthage were,
When ſhe her Princes death did heare:
And to expreffe her forrow more,
Her wals with blacke quite couer'd o'er.
Or with th' Ægyptians let vs mourne
Tenne times feauen days about his Vrne ›
Or ftrow his Herfe with bud and bloome,
As Thetis her Achilles Tombe:
Or crowne his Aſhes left to vs,
As they did of Demetrius :
Or hang, with Athens, Laurell by,
In fignall of his Victory,
Triumphing* ouer Sinne and Death,
Wherewith wee ſtruggle ftill beneath;
That happy thus, why (fooles) doe wee
With vaineft vowes follicite thee?
Teares after teares to Heauen fend,
That ſhould vpon our felues defcend?
But rather let thee quiet reſt,
Where thou perpetually art bleft:
Then farewell Henry heauenly Iemme,
Adorning new Hierufalem;
Farewell thy Britaines broken Shield;
Farewell the Honor of the Field;
!
Farewell
1
* Triumphing] In our elder writers we always, I believe, find this, and its
radical word accented on the fecond fyllable.
2
..
21
THE PERIOD OF MOURNINO.
}
Farewell the Joy of King and Mother;
Farewell Eliza's deareft Brother;
Farewell the Church and Learnings prop;
Farewell the arme that held me vp;
Farewell the golden dayes of mirth;
Farewell the beſt-beft§ Prince of earth;
Farewell. Perforce I ceafe to mourne,
For tears mine Inke to water turne.
}
To the buried Prince.
* As from each angle of the Vault
Wherein thou lyeft, a line is brought
Vito the Kingly founders heart;
So vnto thee, from euery part,
See how our loues doe runne by line,
And dead, concenter in thy Shrine.
An
§ Beſt-beft] In Spenfer we read" An old old man."
*Hee alludeth to that famous worke of Henry the feauenths Chappell,
fo contriued, that from every window in the fame, in the Foundation,
a line was laid to the Kings Graue, and in the fame to his heart, as
hee ordained it in his life.
}
22
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
綠茶 ​2 € / | F S
1
**
An Elegiacke EPITAPH vpon the vntimely
death of the hopefull, Prince HENRIE, &c.
Written by the Author, at the time of his Death.
HO ere thou art that paffeft by,
WH
And canſt not read for weeping eye
Our interrupted Lines, or fpeake
For fighes, that fwollen hart would breake;
Imagine Heauens and Earth reply,
Our Hopes are fal'n, and here they lye :
For Griefe her felfe is ftricken dumbe,
To fee this worthieft worthies toombe,
And Earth to hide from mortall fight
The worlds fole wonder and delight,
The richeſt Iemme ere Nature wrought
For prizeles forme, of pureft thought,,
For chaft defire, for Churches zeale,
For care and loue of common weale;
For manly ſhape, for active might,
For Courage and Heroique fprit,
For Loue of Armes and Heauenly Arts,
For Bounty toward all beſt deſerts:
That euen by Teares of yet vnborne,
f
His
t
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
23
His marble will be waſh'd and worrie :
For liuing we, though deadly fhot,
Stand at the gaze but feele it not.
Oh neuer land had fuch a loffe
**
But certaine foule thou art but gone,
To thy new coronation;
Thy prefence Heauen, thy ftate a Throne,
Thy Carpet Starres, to tread vpon,
Full glory for a Crowne of gold,
Out fhining this accurfed mold.
For awfull Scepter, or thy Rod,
A palme; thy friends, the Saints of God:
When Parafite, nor Spangled groome,
With Courtiers vaine accloy thy roome;
Where Sifters, Friends, thy comming greete,
With Himnes and Halleluiahs fweet.
That from the height of bliffe aloft
Thou view't methinkes our Manfion oft:
Braue Hampton, checking Heauen with ſtage;
Or Richmond, thy belou'd of late,
And bid'ft Adiew thefe heapes of clay,
Cares reftles roomes, Innes for a day.
Oh that the Heavens deny it me,
Eere loathing life, to follow thee!
Bet till my death I weare my dayes
In zealous teares, and in thy praiſe;
Since I may neuer liue to fee
A Prince, or Henrie, like to thee.
*4 line wanting in the original.
1
FINI $
SEQVENTIA
24
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
1
SEQVENTIA
Doctifsimi Amici Carmina, Lachrumarum
coronidem, ob elegantiam, & Autoris fin-
gularem in Principis defuncti Pietatem,
& Amorem, merito adpofuimus.
POST NENIA S
ΤΩΝ ΚΑΛΕΜΙΖΟΝΤΩΝ ad Funus diu diu Britannis
Lugendum !
Boʻn
HENRIC. BRIT. PR.
& Deliciarum.
Ο ΣΠΟΡΕ, στο γόων, ΚΑΜΟΡΓΘ'Α τε, στις πέπυσμαι,
Τῶν δ'αποδημεντος, τῶν προπάροιθε θεά,
Εις μέγαν ΕῬῬΙΚΟΝ. Μέγα θαῦμα δὲ ΦΟΙΒΟΝ απῖιναι
Εἷο ναῶν, Μύσαις μήτ' ἐπαρωγὸν ἑοῖς.
Αλλ' ύπαρ διδα λογον. Θεὸς ἄσχολος, ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα,
Πρὸς ΜΟῪΣΑΣ ὀλίγες ἔξοχα τάτε φίλος.
Κλητος ἄρ αγχίμολου ποτ' Ολύμπια δώματ' έβαινεν
Και, πολυθαμβής περ, κλαίε θεοῖσιν ὁμῶς.
Κλάιε θεοῖσιν ὁμῶς : ὀλοφύρετο ΖΕΥΣ, ἐμὸν ἔρνα
Κόπτεται, ἔνγε βροιοῖς δὲν ἔἴσον ἔφυ.
Οντε θάλος γλυκερόν ΠΑΦΊΗ ἄιαζεν, ΕΡΩΤΕΣ
Α'ιάζεσι, νέας και ΧΑΡΙΤΕΣ χάριτας.
( * )
Εγκαλί
$
1
THE PERIOD OF MOURNING.
25
Εγκαλέεσι κακὰς κῆρας προσειπε δ' ΕΝΤΩ
ΚΑΝΔΑΟΝ, Ουτος ἔην, ἐν χθονίοισιν, ΑΡΗΣ,
Τον σφετέριζε σοφὸς ΚΑΔΜΙΛΟΣ, τον γε ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ,
Ισοθέστε περιξ πάντας ὀδυρμός ἔχει.
Πάντας ἐρισματ᾽ ἔχει, πλην φοιβος· τις παρὰ θνητοῖς
Τάρχεσι τῆς Α' ρετῆς ἄρκετος; ὄντες ὅλως.
Οὔτις ὅλως νοέει τα ΒΡΕΤΑΝΝΙΚΑ τήματα μένοις
Γνωτὰ θείοισι, γονῶν ἐσσομένωντε μόρον.
Σπαρνος ἀριθμὸς ἔην Θιάσε κεχαρισμένος ΰμμιμ,
Ος περι τόσσον, ἐπὸς παῦρον, Α'νακία λέγοι.
Λέξε· κ' ΑΗΔΟΝΙΕΙΣ μινύριζον, τῶν μετὰ ΚΙΣΣΑΙ.
Αν κ' ἀποδημῶντος, και προπάροιθε θεῖ.
I. S.* è Soc. Int. Templi.
EP IT A PHI V
Eodem Auctore.
HIC quis iacet libentiùs proh! dixeram,
Nifi rettuliffent Neniæ tot vndiq;
Tot vndiq; & Leffi; malum! Vos Futiles
Exefte fultis. Metus adeft à Pofteris,
Seris. Nepotibus, ne Diris malè ferant
Líras vouentes, perquàm iniquas Principi
Liras! Quis, aft Viator, Illius memor
Effe potis eft fatis? Sed impares Clar I
Fuêre Vates. Quicquid Humanum magis
Impar; quod olim fentient Britannides
Olim nimis, cum grauius eheu ! dixerit
Fatum hoc ftupendum Gnata temporis. Sed
HAVE,
Henrice Princeps, Magne, Semonum Decus,
AETER N V M
4
HAVE.
(*) D
M,
Avreus
* 1. S. ] John Selden. From his extenfive and multifarious learning,
defervedly named the Great Selden, he died in 1654, and was buried on
the fouth fide of the round walk in the Temple Church. An account of him
and his writings is in Athen. Oxon, 2 Vol. Col. 179.
WHALLEY's New Edit, of BEN. JONSON, Vol I, page 4.
( 26 )
1
t
Corona Principis.
A
Vreus huic vitæ fpatium benè circulus actæ,
Vitauè quæ Regni forte beata fuit.
Tuncta cruci alterno ftant ordine Lilia, mifcet
An quia diuerfus gaudia noftra dolor?
Gemma animi fuerat Virtus (Henrice) relucens
Quælibet, antevenis qua probitate tuis.
Vnio (ait) primùm fum facta Britannia, in iſto
Principe, candidius quo nihil orbe fuit.
Indomitas mentis vires Adamantina corda
Ipfe Adamas dederas, et didiciffe pati.
Quantus eum ætherei cepiffet Numinis ardor,
Cerule, nec falfus teftis Iafpis eras.
Tempora Smaragdum retuliffe virentia Veris,
Rebar, et in multos fpem fupereffe dies:
Deflua flore nouo, fit fpes hæc Bruma dolôrum,
Præproperam vt necuit dira pruina Rofam.
Sanguine foedatam palmam, fpolia ampla, triumphos,
Principis innuerit Martius ille Rubor.
Hucq; Amethyste venis de Perfide, pallor Iacchi,
Et quam mens illi, ſobria, ſana fuit.
Nec Chryfolithus abeft, ceu quo radiantibus vndis
Splendet opum cumulus, fplendet auîtus Honos.
Eft tua de cœlis *Vngaria lata corona,
In cœlos rapitur dignior ifta Polo.
( * )
1
•
*
Qvam
Corona auream multis gemmis infignită cælitùs S. Ladislao Hun-
gariæ Regi delatam legimus in Annal. Hun. quod ab illis adeo con-
ftanter creditur, vt penes quemcunq; ea fit pro ligitimo Rege haberi
debeat, Vide Hift. Hung. Angl.
10
1
***
( 24 )
}
Pluma triplex principis infigne:
H
ICH
DI
P
EN
Q
Vam bere conuenit forti tuà Symbola Płuma:
Gloria cum fuerat, parua, caduca, leuis.
Vod Pius et prudens armifq; animofior effes,
Eft tibi Pluma triplex, qua fuper aſtra volas.
ICH DIE N.
I.
Seruio.
Ervijt HENRICVs bis denos circiter annos,
Servi
Liber abinde fuit, Ciuis et æthereus.
}
H. P.
(
L
Iterulæ noftri communes Nominis, H. P.
Quam fero mœroris vos monumenta mei.
1
D 2
Henrici
( 28 )
1
Rofa Britannica.
Enrici-Henricus Regis de fanguine Princeps,
H Enatufq; Rofis, Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Nafcitur ex Veneris Rofa vulnere, vulnera Regni
Reddunt hunc nobis. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
In facie rofeufq; pudor, candore remiftus
Cafto flore placens. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Virtute, ingenio, pollebat viribus, Hoftis
Senferit has ſpinas. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Pofcebant (Veneres Europa) Tufca Sabauda,
Rure decus thalamis. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Intulit Ambrofios quàcunq; inceffit odores
Numinis afflatus. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Coelica mellificos ditabat dona labores
Elargitus opes. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Præproperè emicuit, cœliq; emarcuit ictu,
Solus Honos Hortis. Hinc Rofa vera fuit.
Terror
!
( 29 )
Carduus Scoticus.
T
Error eram Hoftilis viuus modo, mortuus, Hofti
Vt Zifce, inijciant nomina fola metum.
Deciduus fuera mihi flos, folia atq; caduca,
Nullaq; quæ noceat, fpina relicta mihi;
Attamen abftineas hoftis, radice fuperftes
Idem vnufq; tibi moeror, amâror, ineft.
Dum mihi flos teneris lætus rideret agellis,
Illucenfq; dies aureus omnis adeft.
Vndiq; follicitat volitantùm turba procorum,
Et me fucus iners, fedula quærit apes,
Muſca dapem captans, crabro, tuq; inuida vefpa,
Et fame preffa culex, pictaq; papilio.
Deferor emoriens, fi quid mihi caule relictum
Aulicus, aut Patris fifcus, Acanthis erit.
SI
30 )
I
Ad Principem defunctum.
SI quot corda tibi firmo iungantur amore,
Principe, cum Domino, contumulata forent á
Pyramidum moles reticeret Barbara Memphis,
Et Maufolæo nullus adeffet Honos:
Vltima quod moeftas fundat mea Mufa querelas,
Et minùs in cineres officiofus eran:
Obftupui, cœlo (Niobes ceu marmora) læfus,
Dum leuis in luctu garrit.vbiq; dolor.
Epigramata alia.
Vos Henrice tui cœpifti viuus amore,
Occîdis nimium funere fæue tuo.
Vulnera quanta dedit tua Mors, Henrice Britannis,
Hei mihi vidiffes, non fera bella putes.
M
Ad Lectorem.
Enfe, fapit carmen tibi noftrum vt Scombrus Iule
Lector ais, fletum plus et vbiq; fatis:
Subfidunt (fateor) Lachrymarum flumina, regno
Intempeftiuus non dolor ifte venit.
Confcia mens Veri Famæ mendacia ridet;
Fama loquens Verum, vertitur in lachrymas.
Imminet Henrico morienti nubibus Iris,
Nuntia Iunonis, non fuit illa Dei.
Quòd nullo prodiere tibi mea carmina cultu,
Nil mirum luctu fqualleo et ipfe meo.
譬
​{
Nuptial!
A
Nuptiall Hymnes :
In Honour of the MARRIAG E.
LL Feares are fled, and from our Sphære
The late Eclipfe is vaniſh'd quite :
And now we entertaine the yeare
With Hymenæus chafte delight:
Heauen, the firft, hath throwne away
Her weary weede of mourning hew,
And waites Eliza's Wedding-day
In Starry-fpangled Gowne of blew.
The Huntreffe in her filuer Carre,
The Woods againe furuaieth now :
And that fame bright Idalian Starre
Appeares on Vefper's vailed brow;
Let Earth put on her beſt aray,
Late bath'd in eye-diftilled fhowers;
And melt yee bitter Frofts away,
That kill'd the forward Hope of ours.
7
Yee higheſt Hils that harbour Snowes,
And arme your heads with Helmes of Ice;
Be Gardens for the Paphian Roſe,
The Lilly, Violet, or De-lis :
Low Vallies let your Plaines be ſpread
With painted Carpets of the Spring,
(Whereon Eliza's foote muft tread)
*And euery where your odours fling.
1
-fresh gales and gentle airs
And
Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings
Flung rofe, flung odors from the Spicy ſhrub.
Paradife Loft. B. 8, V. 515, Seq.
1
X
32
NUPTIALL HYMNES.
And talleſt Trees, with tender'ft Twigs,
Whom Winters-Storme hath ftripped bare,
Leaue off thofe rimy Periwigs,
And on with your more feemely haire.
Forget yee filuer-paued Flouds,
Your wonted rage, and with your found
Reuiue the Shores and fhady Woods,,
That lay in deepeſt forrow drown'd.
}
Tell Amphitrite, when you meete,
Eliza, Princeffe, is a Bride:
And bid her with the Newes goe greete
The fartheft Shoares at euery Tyde;
And as yee waſh high towred wals,
With gentle murmure in each eare,
Command thefe Royall Nuptials
Bé folemnized euery where.
Let Thracian Boreas keepe within,
With *Eafterne Blafts that crops doe kill,
And Aufter wetting to the ſkinne;
Be onely Zephyre breathing ftill,
Warme Zephyre to perfume the Ayrė,
And ſcatter downe in filuer Showers
A thouſand Girlonds for her haire
Of Bloffome, Branch, and fweeteſt flowers.
With Roſemarine, and verdant Bay,
Be wall and window clad in greene:
And forrow on him who this day
In Court a Mourner ſhall be ſeene.
Let Muſicke fhew her beſt of ſkill,
Difports beguile the irkſome night.
But take my Muſe thy ruder Quill,
To paint a while this royall fight:
Proclaiming firft, from Thames to Rhine
ELIZA Princeffe Palatine..
Eurus
Nymphes
* Lufter ſhould have been named; that is, the Eafterne Blafts fhou'd
have been perfonified, as well as Boreas, Aufter, and Zephyre, or Ze-
phyrus, the North, South, and Weft Winds.
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE. 33
N
2.
Ymphes of Sea and Land away,
This, ELIZA's Wedding day,
Helpe to dreffe our gallant Bride
With the Treaſures that yee hide
Some bring flowry Coronets,
Rofes white, and Violets :
Doris gather from thy Shore
Corall, Chryſtall, Amber, ftoret,
Which thy Queene in Bracelets twifts*
For her Alabafter wriſts³,
While
yee
Siluer-footed Girles
Plat her Treffes with your Pearles.
Others from Paftolus ftreame,
Greete her with a Diademe :
Search in euery Rockie Mount
For the Iemmes of moft account:
Bring yee Rubies for her Eare,
Diamonds to fill her Hayre,
Emrald greene and Chrifolite
Binde her Necke more white then white.
On her Breaſt depending be
The Onyx, friend to Chaſtitie;
Take the reft without their places,
In Borders, Sleeues, her Shooes, or Lace.
Nymphes of Niger offer Plumes:
Some your Odors and Perfumes.
Dians Maids more white then milke,
Fit a Roabe of fineſt Silke:
Dians maids who wont to be
The Honor of Virginitie.
Heauens haue beſtow'd their grace,
Her chafte defires, and Angels face.
¹ Store ] A fufficient quantity.
E
the
VRANIAS
23 In the original we read twift and wrift, which I conceive were only
errors of the prefs; as grammar requires twists in the first line of the
couplet, and both rhime and reafon wrists in the fecond.
4 More white then white. i. e. more white than even the abſtract
idea of whiteness; then is commonly written by our elder authors for than.
s Without their place.] Without the particular place, or part of her
drefs, which they are to enrich or adorn, whether borders, fleeves, c.)
being Specified.
34
NUPTIALL HYMNES
3.
RANIAS Sonne, who dwell'ſt vpòn
The fertile top of Helicon,
Chafte Marriage Soueraigne, and doft leade
The Virgin to her Bridall Bed.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
With Marioram begirt thy brow,
And take the Veile of yealow: now
Yee Pinie Torches with your light,
To golden day conuert the night.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
See how like the Cyprian Queene,
ELIZA Comes, as when ( I weene)
On Ida hill the prize he had
Allotted by the Phrygian Lad
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
As Afian Myrtle freſh and faire,
Which Hamadryads with their care,
And duely tending by the flouds,
Haue taught to ouer-looke the Woods.
To Hymen Hymenaus.
Behold how Vefper from the fkie
Confenteth by his twinckling eye;
And Cynthia ſtayes her Swans to fee
The ſtate of this Solemnitie,
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
Wedlocke, were it not for thee,
Wee could not Childe nor Parent fee;
Armies Countries to defend,
Or Shepheards hilly Heards to tend.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
+
•
1
But
* Called in Latine Flammeum, it was of a yellowish colour, &
worne of the Romane Virgins going to be marryed, to conceale &
hide their bluſhing and bathfulneſs.
+ Plutarch faith theſe Torches were of waxe,
like ours ; Plautus
onely once mentioneth one of thefe waxen Lights, but for the mott
fart, they were of Pine or thorne tree.
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE.
35
¿
But Hymen call the Nymph away,
With Torches light the Children ſtay,
Whofe fparkes (fee how) afcend on hye,
As if there wanted Starres in Skye.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
As virgin Vide her Elme doth wed,
His Oake the Iuie ouer-ſpread:
So chafte defires thou ioynft in one,
That difvnited were vndone.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
But fee her golden foote hath paſt
The doubted *Threſhold, and at laft.
Shee doth approach her Bridall-bed
Of none faue Tyber enuyed.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
Chaft Mariage-bed, he fooner tels
The Starres, the Ocean Sand, or fhels,
That thinkes to number thofe delights.
Wherewith thou ſhortneft longeft nights.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
With richeſt Tyrian Purple fpred,
Where her deare Spoufe is laid on bed,
Like yong Afcanius, or the Lad
Her Loue the Queene of Cyprus had :
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
Young Frederick of Royall Ligne,
Of Caffimiers, who on the Rhine
To none are ſecond ſaid to be,
Valour, Bounty, Pietie.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
For
E 2
1
་
Come
*The Bride neuer vfed to touch the threshold (which cuftome is
yet obferued in fome places of Italy) but very warily paffed over the
fame, leaſt charmes or fome other kinde of Witch-craft might be laid
vnder the fame,eyther to caufe debate, or to the hinderance of procre-
ation. By the Threshold, at her comming home, was fet fire and water,
which thee touched with eyther hand.
Vienna valiantly defended by Philip, Earle Palatine, againſt Soliman.
who befieged it with 300,000. men. An. 1529.
36
NOTALL HYMNES
UPTIALL
Come Bride-maide Venus and vndoe
Th' Herculean knot with fingers two,
And take the *girdle from her waft,
That Virgins muft forgoe at laft.
To Hymen Hymenæus.
Scatter §Nuts without the Dore,
The Married is a Childe no more,
For whofoere a wife hath wed,
Hath other bufineffe in his head.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
Where paffe ye many an happy night,
Vntill Lucina brings to light,
An hopefull Prince who may reftore,
In part, the loffe we had before.
To Hymen Hymenæus.
1
That one day we may liue to fee,
A Frederick Henry on her knee,
Who mought to Europe giue her law,
And keepe encroaching Hell in awe.
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
Vpon whoſe Brow may Enuie read,
The reconcile of Loue and Dread,
And in whofe Rofie cheek we ſee,
His Mothers gracefull Modeftie,
Io Hymen Hymenæus.
But Mufe of mine we but moleft,
I doubt, with ruder fong their reſt,
The Dores are ſhut, and lights about
Extinct, then time thy flame were out,
Io Hymen Hymen aus.
སོ་
7
Th?
*This girdle was dedicated to Diana, whom the Grecians called
Auriwun, and the Latines Cinxia: it was wouen with wool, and knit
with a kinde of knot which they called Herculean, in figne of fruitful-
nes, which Virgins ware, and neuer was taken away vntill the firft
night of their Marriage, which then the bride maid vnknit but with
two fingers onely.
+ Nuts at their going to bed were woont to be throwne among
children & thoſe without the dore; in token (as Scaliger faith) of
renouncing the delights of youth and childhood, and vndertaking the
weighty charge of houthold affaires. Diuers other opinions the aun-
cient writers haue had hereof.
♫
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE..
37
4.
'H' Idalian Boy no fooner with his Fire,
TH
Had warm'd the breft of Honour'd Cafimire:
(That now he leates the Nimphes along his Rheine,
T'efpoufe Eliza, with Saint Valentine. )
But fmiling at the Newes, away he hi'de
To Cyprus, where his Mother did abide.
There is a Mount within this facrèd Ile,
Right oppofite againſt feauen-headed Nile,
Another way affronting Pharos bright,
That many a mile, the Sea-man lends her light:
Here on a plaine, to mortall wight vnknowne,
Where neuer ftorme, or bitter blaft had blowne;
Or candi'd hoare-Froft ftrow'd the crufty earth;
But euer May of meriment and mirth.
An hedge the fame enuirons all of Gold,
Which Mulciber, for fweet embracements fold
And wanton dalliance, to the Cipryan Dame';
(Tis faid) and fince the hath poffeft the fame.
Where ſtill the fields with veluet-greene are ſpred,
And bloffomes paint the woods all white and red,
No Bird may perch her on the tender bow
But fuch for voyce as Venus fhall allow.
The trees themfelues doe fall in loue with either,
As feemes by kiffing of their tops together:
And foftly whiſpring; when fome gentle gale
Chides from the Mountaine, through the fhady Vale.
Now from a Rocke within, two fountaines fall,
One ſweet, the other, bitter as the-gall,
Herein doth Cupid often ſteepe his darts,
When h'is difpos'd to feuer louing harts.
A thouſand Amorets about doe play
(Borne of the Nymphes) thefe onely wound, they fay,
•
The
Strow'd, or Strew'd.] In the original it is fhow'd; which I conceive
to have been an error of the prefs, and have accordingly corrected it.
"Chides from the Mountaine. Chides here means only founds, or
fings; See the note on "Such gallant' chiding.
1
""
Shakspeare, Ed. 1778, Vol. 3, Page 96.
}
38
HYMNES
NUPTIALL
?
The common people; Venus darling, hee
Aimes at the Gods, and awfull Maieftie:
And many a Power elfe in this place is found,
As Licence, euer hating to be bound,
Wrath, eafie to be reconcil'd, and Teares;
3Slie Theft, and iocund Pleafure, and pale Feares:
And ouer-head doe flutter in the bowes
With painted wings, Lyes, Periuries and Vowes,
Hence Age is baniſh'd. Here is feene beſides
The Goddeffe Court, where alway ſhe refides,
This Lemnius built of Gold and rareft lemmes,
That like a Mount quite hid with Diadems
1
It feemes; where Art and Coft with each contend4,
For which the Eye, the Frame ſhould moft commend.
Here Cupid downe with weary wing did light,
And iocund comes into his Mothers fight,
With ſtatefull gate: who from a burnifh'd Throne,
Embraces, with Ambrofian Armes, her Sonne;
And thus begins; the newes my louely Boy,
And cauſe of thy arriue5, and this new joy?
Haft thou againe turn'd lö into' a Cow?
Or wanton Daphne to a Lawrell-bough?
What Man, or Power immortall, by thy Dart,
Is falne to ground, that thus reuiu'd thou art?
With many a Nectar kiffe, milde Loue replies,
Our Bow ne'er bare away a greater prize
Knowes not the Goddeffe by the fertile Rheine,
Young Fredericke, borne of imperiall Ligne,
3 Slie Theft, &c.] In the original it is
Slie Theft, and Pleafure, pale, and iocund Feares:
which being evidently wrong, I have arranged as above.
Where Art and Coft with each contend,
46
"For which the Eye, the Frame fhould most commend.]
while both contend
Defcended
"To win her grace, whom all commend." Milton's L'Allegro.
5 Arrive.] Ufed fubftantively for Arrival.
Haft thou againe turn'd love into a Cow? is the original reading.
Jupiter chang'd lö into a Cow, but affumed the form of a Bull himfelf
"I imagine the author wrote Haft thou againe turn'd lo into' a Cow?
meaning, Haft thou, Love, been the cause of fuch a metamorphofis, as was
the changing of Io into a Cow, or of Daphne into a Lawrell and I have
fo altered the text.-Wanton is a very improper epithet for Daphne, whe
was changed into a Laurel to preferve her chastity.
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE.
39
1
Defcended from that braue¹ Rolando flaine,
2
And worlds great Worthy, valiant 2 Charle-Maigne:
This hopefull Impe is ftricken with our Bowe,
Wee haue his Armes, and three-fold Shield to ſhow;
3 Franconias Lyon, and this of 4 Baueir,
A potent Heyre deriu'd to Cafimire.
Another
(¹) A moſt valiant Souldier, and Nephew to Charlemaine, who with
his companion Oliuer, was flaine vpon the Pyranaan Hils, in Rouci
valley, or Roulandi valley, warring againſt the Infidels. His Horne
wherewith he called his Souldiers together, and his Sword are yet to
be feene at a Village in Xantoigne of whom, as of the Emperour
Charlemaigne the Palfgraue is lineally defcended.
:
(2) Pipin King of France, the Father of Carolus Martellus, he begat
Pipin the Father of Charlemaigne, auncetour to Count FREDERICK :
I will ſhortly publish the Pedigree itfelfe, being too long for thiş
place.
The editor does not know whether or not Peacham fulfilled this promife.
(3) Whoſe ancient Armes was the Lyon, which the Hollanders
beare, as defcended from the auncient Franci. The Romane Empire
was diuided into two Kingdomes; the one called Lombardicum, the
other Teutonicum: this latter, being indeede Germany it felfe, was
againe fubdiuided, and gouerned iure Franconico & Saxonico: that of
Saxonie ftretched it felfe vnto the Balticke-fea; the other of Franconia
contained eyther fide about the Rhine, Sueuia, Franconia Eaft, and
all Bauaria. The Palatinate of the Rhene to make a difference be-
tweene that of Saxonie, had the beginning in the time of Otho the third
Emperour, about the yeere of Grace, 985. At what time the feauen
Electors were ordained at Quedlingburge.
(4)Otto the Sonne of Lewes Duke of Bauaria, or rather Boiaria, marryed
Agnes Daughter and Heire of Henry, Count Palatine of the Rhine, in
the yeere 1215, ( as ſaith Auentinus) which was the firſt vniting of
thefe noble Houles. Bauaria, was fometime a great Kingdome lying
one part vpon Hungary, the fecond vpon the Adriatique-Sea, the third
vpon Franconia. Out of this Family have many worthy Emperours
deſcended, in a manner, by continuall fucceffion, vnto our times. The
Coate or Armes of Bauaria or Boiaria is Mafculy Argent and Azure,
which had the beginning (as is verily fuppofed) at the fame time
when Chrixus, Duke of the Boij or Bauarians, tooke the Capitoll of
Roome, whofe Souldiers had their Caffockes wrought of the fame
manner and forme, whichVirgil (whofe penne wrote nothing in vaine)
teftifieth in the eight Booke of his Eneidos, reporting they were futed
Sagulis virgatis: which kinde (faith Diodorus) were interflincta, & ca
Boribus variegata in teftellatam fpeciem.
40
NUPTIALL HYMNES
Another 5 Argent onely, long they bore,
Till charg❜d by Charles the laft, late Emperour,
That as "Arch-Sewer, and 7 Elector, this
Hee beares, faue honor, adding nought of his.
What Coaſt or Country haue not heard their Fame
Or who not lou'd their euer-honour'd Name?
Yet trembled at from fartheft & Cafpian Sea,
୫
And Scythian Tanais, to the Danubie.
ELIZA'S
(5) The third and middlemoft, borne by the Palatine, was onely
white, till the time of Charles the fift, who bestowed the Pall, or
Mound, for the charge vpon Frederieke the ſecond, Count Palatine, in
regard it is his office to deliuer it into his hand at his Coronation. It
is called in Greeke uññov, (Cedrenus) and he that bare it, unλoogos,
(Glycas) and was vfually borne by the Grecian Emperours. Con-
cerning the Fable, how the forme of it was fhowne vnto Pope Bene-
dict in a dreame, I let it paffe, as frivolous.
(°) Howfoeuer it pleafeth Bodin, lib. de Rep. cap. 9. to ieſt at the
Germaine Princes, in regard of theſe their dignities at the Emperours
Coronation, where he faith; Les Electeurs portent le qualite's de
barlets domestiques, comme boutclliers, efcuiers, efchanlons de't'
Empereur: The beginning and vfe hereof is moft honourable and aun-
cient. Nicephorus faith, that in the time of Conftantine the great, that
the office of Arch-Sewer was affigned to Rofficus, a great Prince, his
wordes be; Ρωσικος την τε ςάσιν και το άξιωμα τὸ ἐπὶ τῆς τραπέζης
παρά μεγαλο κεκλήρωται Κωνςταντίνα. And who foeuer lift to fee the
large priuiledges which haue been graunted Archidapifero. S. I. let him
reade the Golden Bull of Charles the fourth Emperour.
~
(7) By which Bull the fenior Electorfhip is alfo confirmed to the
Palatine, in thefe wordes; Quoties facrum vacare continget Imperium
Illuftris Comes Palatinus S.1. Archidapifer ad manus futuri Regis Roman
orum, in partibus Rheni, & Sueuia, Sc. debet effe prouifor. By the fame -
Bull the Palatine may call the Emperour to his tryall, (but within
the limits of his owne court) hee may redeeme, and recall, any ali-
enation made uniuſtly by the Emperour, lands pawned or folde, &c.
One goeth farther, and affirmeth that if the Emperour be conuict of
any capitall crime, the Palatine himfelfe is to cut off his head with a
golden Axe, upon his Shield: but mine Author worthily condemneth
this as an idle and ridiculous ieſt..
(8) From hence had the Turkes their firſt Originall. Danubie is
in a manner the bounds of the Ottomans Empire, vpon the Weft,
whereon ftandeth the famous Vienna in Auftria, fo valiantly defended
by Philip Count Palatine againſt Soliman in the time of Charles the fift,
whereof wee haue already ſpoken.
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE.
41
ELIZA'S Name, I know, is not vnknowne
Vnto my Queene, the ſecond vnto none,
For beauty, fhape of body, euery grace,
That may in earthly Maieftie take place;
That were not Venus daily feene of mee,
I would haue fworne this Princeffe had beene ſhee.
Haft Cytherea, Leaue thy natiue Land,
And ioyne them quickly by the Marriage band.
The Queene her Sonne remouing from her lap,
Her haire of wiery gold fhee treffeth vp';
Throwes on her Veile, and takes the Girdle chaſte,
Wherewith the quiets ftormes, and euery blaſt,
Allaies the fwelling flouds, and furious ſea;
Whereto full ſpeedily fhe takes her way :
And here arriu'd, fends forth a Cupid faire,
Dreft like a Sea-Nymph, with a filuer hayre:
To ſearch the deepe, and bring vnto the ſhore
Some Triton, able to conuay her o'er;
Which if hee did performe with nimble ſpeede,
A golden Bowe and Shafts ſhould be his meede.
No fooner Loue had diu'd into the Maine,
But on the furge appear'd a wondrous traine
Of Sea-gods, Tritons, Nymphes, who equall ftroue
The formoft who fhould aide the Queene of Loue;
Firſt, Neptune, mounted on a Grampas crown'd
With Roſes, calm'd the Ocean all around:
Palamon on a Seale with hoary lockes,
*
Begirt with Samphire from the neighbour rockes:
An vgly Whirlepoole Nereus beftrides,
With Trident galling oft his lazie fides.
Among the Maids flie Glaucus hindmoft lagges,
Vpon a Porpoſe brideled with flagges.
Next Venus comes, with all her beauteous crew,
Whom Dolphins in a fhelly Chariot drew.
F
7• This line is extremely in Spenfer's manner.
* A Fiſh almoſt as bigge as the Whale.-
No
42
NUPTIALL HYMNES
1
No Nymph was there but did fome gift beſtow,
That did in Amphitrites bofom grow:
Cymothoe brought a girdle paffing faire
Of filuer, twiſted with her Chriftall haire,
Young Spathale, a pearely Carcanet,
And Clotho Corrall good as fhe could get,
Faire Galatea from the Perfian Shore,
Strange lemmes and Flowers, fome vnknowne before,
Which to ELIZA, as their loues they fent,
(Herewith adorning Venus as the went)
Whom when they had conducted to our Thame,
And view'd the ſpatious channell of the fame,
Admir'd our Chalkie Cliffes, furuai'd each Pierre,
Our fertile Shores, our Ships, and Harbours here,
They backe unto their boundleffe home doe hye;
But in a cloud the Queene afcends the ſkie,
And takes her way unto the Royall Hall,
Where downe, ſhe did no fooner foftly fall,
But Clouds were fled that ouer-caft the ayre,
9And Phabus threw about his golden ha、re :
*Eke Snow-trefs'd Ianuary (feldome feene)
Vpon his brow had got a wreath of greene.
Ioy was in Court, and iocund mirth poffeft
The hearts of all, from greateſt to the leaſt,
(Yet knew they not the caufe) the windowes lay
Beftrow'd with Primroſe, Violets, and Bay.
Now Children looke (quoth fhee) you banifh hence
Affaires of State, ambitious difference,
Complaints, and Faction, melancholy Feares,
All Parfimonie, Sighes, and former Teares.
Let Nights in royall banquetting be ſpent,
Sweet Muficke, Mafques, and ioyous merriment,
Now Pleafure take her fill; bring Graces Flowers;
With Torches Hymen plant the lofty Towers';
Twine, Concord, double Girlonds, Cupids you
Some gather branches from the My tle bough,
1
$
And
8 See the enumeration of Sea-Nymphs in THE FAERIE QUEENE.
B. 4. C. 11. S. 48. Seq.
9 This is a most elegant line!·
* See Spenfer's beautiful defcription of the Months and Seafons; F.
B. 7. C. 7. S. 28. Seq.
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE:
43
And guild the roofe with waxen lights on high;
Tacke (others) vp rich Arras bufily;
Some caſt about fweet waters; others clenfe
With Myrrhe, and beft Sabaan Frankinfence,
The Curtaines; others fit about her Bed,
Or for her foote the floore with Veluet fpred.
Which faid, into the Chamber of the Bride,
Who lay to reſt, ſhe paffed vnefpide,
And fécretly inftructs her how to loué,
Recounting euery pleaſure fhee fhould proue:
And vrgeth that each Creature's borne to be
The Propagator of Pofteritie.
And now and then, fhee cafteth in betweene,
Their Legends that haue faithfull Louers beene 1
Shee tels of Dido, and Lucretia chaſte,
Camilla, Hero, Thisbe, and the reſt;
And many a Booke fhee had at fingers end,
Which for her purpoſe oft ſhee can* commend.
Now as the Aire 'gan more and more to cleare,
The Goddeffe plainly did at laſt appeare.
Whoſe burniſh'd haire the goodly roome did guild,
And with a fweet Ambrofian odor fill'd;
That ſeeing now ELIZA's goodly grace,
Her daintie fingers, and her faireft face:
Shee ſtood amazed, and with a Nectar kiffe,
Shee bow'd her felfe, and boldly vtter'd this.
All happineſſe vnto the Princeffe be,
The Pearle and Mirrour of great Brittannie,
For whoſe deere fake, I this aduenture tooke,
And Paphos with my Cyprus fweet forfooke;
Drawne by the Rumor of thy Princely Name,
And pitty of the hopefull Frederickes flame:
Though thou wert not a Princeffe by thy birth,
This face deferues the greateſt King on Earth;
What hand fo fits a Scepter, and what Eye,
Did euer fparke with fweeter Maieftie :
F 2
་
Thy
*Can ] did; ſo uſed frequently by Spenfer: See Upton's Gloſſary to
THE FAERIE QUEENE.
2
1
44
NUPTIALL HYMNES
Thy lips the Rofes, whiteft necke excells
The mountaine fnow, and what is whiter els.
With equall temper how the white and red,
( Our cullors,) are vpon thy cheeke difpred;
The fingers of the Morning doe not ſhine,
More pleafing then thoſe beauteous ones of thine:
If Bacchus crown'd his Loue with many aftarre,
Why art thou yet vncrowned, fairer farre?
Oh Virgin, worthy onely not* of Rhine,
I
2
And that ſweet foile, thy Countie Palatine,
(Where 3 Mofe, the Moene, the Nah, and Nicer clear,
With Nectar runne againſt thy comming there)
But of a world, due to thofe guiftes of thine,
Which in thee more than all thy lewels fhine.
This faid, about her Iuory necke ſhee hung
The Nereids tokens, which fhe brought along;
And with a needle curl'd her louely haire,
Then Gallant Pearles beſtow'd at either eare:
And ore her head fhe threw her Sindon vailé,
That farre adowne (upborne by Nimphes ) did traile.
* Onely not is here an inverfion for not onely.
I
By
¹ They were called, Comites, or Earles, among the Romans; who
alwaies followed the Emperour in his Court; out of thefe number
were elected the choifeft, and fent to gouerne fundry Prouinces, as
Comes, Africa, Tingitania, Littoris Saxonici, &c. Befides there were
others called Comites, Palatij qui præerant Palatio, as it were viceroys
in the Court of thefe, Clotharius, Sigebert, and other Kings of France
had, whom they ſent viceroys into Auſtraſia, Burgundie, &c.
2 Palatine is a name of office, deriued not from the Pallace in Treuir,
nor from a Caſtle called Die pfalsz and of old pfaltz greuenftein, in the
middle of the Rhene, but of the Emperours Pallace whereof they had
the charge and difpofing all affaires of the fame, and was immediate
next to the Emperours. I denie not but that there haue beene many
Palatines, as the Palatine of Troyes, Bloies, Champaigne, Hungary,
Habfpurge, and Tubing: but this is the greateſt and in a manner who
hath worne out all the reft: of whofe familie haue beene nine or ten
famous Emperours, they are lineally difcend from Pepin King of
Fraunce.
3 Riuers that fall into the Rhene in the Palatinate.
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE.
45
A
By this, without a thoufand Virgins ftai'd,
To lead along to Church the Princely maid,
With heauenly founds, (in fall of plenteous fhowers,
Among the crew, of all the ſweeteſt flowers.)
That Cytherea leaues the Virgin now,
And takes her leaue with this, or other vow.
Live Roiall Paire in peace and ſweeteſt Loue,
With all aboundance bleft by heauen aboue;
A thouſand kiffes binde your harts together,
Your Armes be weary with embracing either:
And let me liue to fee betweene you twaine,
A Cæfar borne as great as Charlemaine.
There are so many beauties interfperfed throughout these poems, that I
cannot but wonder they have been fo little known and noticed.
+
!
FINI S.
}
+
}
Monumenti,
1
40
NUPTIALE HYMNES
?
C
1
Monumenti,
Anno fuperiori
In alta Diuúm publica relati
Formula
De Deftinatis
Superilluftrifs. Pir.
Frederici V. Com. Palat. ad Rhenum Pr. Elect.
S. R. I. Archidapif. & Vic.
Et
Serenifs. D. D. ELIZABETHÆ vnicæ
Potentifs. D. N.
Iacobi Regis, & Charifs. Filiæ,
Nuptijs.
Onfentes, Socij, Lares, quibúsq;
Fas eft indugredi Jouís Senatum,
Adfint vt numerò, monet Camillus.
I
Sic iuffit Cronius. Frequens Olympo
Confeffus Superûm. Tonantis ora
Intenti adfpiciunt; Relationem
Exfpectant. BONA fcæua FAVSTAq; (orfus
Adfatur.) Teneræ in fuis 3 Britannis
I
( Concham
Mercury; to euery fchoole boy he is common for Ioues meffenger.
But alfo his office was to fummon the Gods of every ranke to Parli-
ament, as you may fee in Lucians Zeus Tgay.
* Good Fortune. V. Feftum in Scaua. in fteed of Quod bonum fauftum
fælixq;fit. Which was folemnly vfed before euery matter of moment
(as we vfe Good Speed, or fuch like) and eſpecially before motions in
the Senate, by thoſe which propofed. Cic. 1. de Diuinat. Donat. in
Phorm. Terent. cæterùm apud Liuium pafsím.
3 For our Women (fcarce equall'd, no where better'd) Venus may
well call our Nation hirs. The Topique ftarre alfo of London (Beau-
ties confluence) is the Harp, being of hir nature in Aftrologie. And
her image and name hath been ghes'd to be in fome Britiſh filuer
coines. Camd. ad Numifmat. pag. 71.
3
{
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE.
44
(Concham quæ meruit tenere eandem,
Quæ Germen Charitum, 4 Sacróq; Patrum
Regnat Stemmate) Virgini iugalem
Cypri Diua Potens torum rogauit,
Id Tritonia, Juno idem rogauit.
Quid cenfetis? Erant Opinione
Pleri quàm vario, tamen volebant
Confulti fimúl Ordines 5 Bis octo,
Magnus ter Superis quatérq; 7 Amate
Terreftriq; Dea vt Deus Daretur.
Parcarum in Tabulas refertur. Vrget
(Quis dignus?) Iupiter. Statìm rogantur
Terrarum Genij. Suis petendo
Ambit quisq; Deam: excipitq; 9 Præfes
Germanúm; Modò Quintus Ille 10 Diues
Noftris Pace viret, Quirine, " Rhenis
II
Quoi
• Befide the common reaſons of Sacrum attributed to great fubiects,
our Soueraigns anceſtors fpecially deferue it, for their folemne an-
nointings at their Coronation, which is familiarly knowne vſuall to
them and fome other Princes. But in ours fo ancient, that CIO
yeeres fince and more it was common to them, if Gildas deceiue not.
V. eum in Epift. de excid. Brit.
5 Mart. Capella, lib. 1. makes ſo many feuerall Eſtates (as it were)
among the Deities.
6
It is triuiall how thrife and foure times, expreffe a fuperlatiue.
But alſo it heere refpects the Name of our Princeffe Elizabeth, which
together may fignifie the Septenary of God. The number withall in-
cludes Virginity, & by the ancients was titled Pallas. Mac. lib. 1. ad
fom. Scip.
7 It was alfo the name whereby the noble Vestals were alwaies ce-
remoniouſly called when they were chofen. Agell. Noct. Attic.1. Cap.
12. and fits (with the other fenfe) for a Virgines name.
" Both holy and prophane authoritie ftile great Princes, Gods.
v. Pfal. 82. & fæpius alibi.
Euery ſtate or country hath been fuppofed to haue his Topique
Gouernour, as a Genius or Angell. v. Macrob. Saturn.2. cap.9. Alios.
Symmachus. lib. 1. epift. 40. vt anima nafcentibus, ita populis fatales Genij,
diuiduntur. See Paralip. 2. cap. 28. and what true Diuines haue vpon
Daniel, cap. 9.
10 Diues pace interprets Fredcrique, in old Engliſh or Dutch.
"The people by Rhine in Steph. TegI TON.
περι πολ.
48
NUPTIALL HYMNES
Quoi te Magnanimum dediffe Semen,
Quoi 12 Malum, Cytherea, te venuſtum,
Quoi dotes Animi liquet Mineruam :
Haùt eft, tam meritò Parem Britannam,
Alter, qui cupiat. Pares Amorum
Pulli! quin Generis Pares honore!
Fit difceffio. Quotquot id Deorum
Cenfent vnanimi, nimìs Minorum
Antiftant numero, qui alid proteruus.
Ceris Fata duint, iubet Senatus.
Perfcribunt. Paphie, Cupidinésq;
Aethon¹s et Pyrois parate Flammas.
14 Pattæci, Gemini, Thetisq; Confe
Veftras Nodo operas. Propago Tama,
Rheni
12 That Apples were as interceffion, oft, for Loue, if you haue
read any thing in old Poets, you muſt know, & that, fitting to this
purpoſe, euery æquiuocation of it may be. That they are proper for
Venus to giue, Claudian's rofcida læti Mala legunt donum Veneris, is tefti-
monie, and an old allufion in Pindar. Ifthm. 2. with many other. But
the verſe here alludes alfo to that golden Apple, Globe, or Ball, which
the Palſgraues of Rhine beare with an infixt croffe in a Scutcheon pend-
ant to their owne coate and that of Bauiere, as token of what they
carry at the Emperours Coronation. Following the vulgar, I thinke of
it by name of an Apple, but certainely it ſeemes it was purpoſed for a
Symbole of the Earth, by the firſt inuentor, (which was Iuftinian 1.)
and the Croſſe vpon it interpreted, Our Sauiours paffion on the earth,
fhewing, ὡς δια τῆς εἰς τὸν Σταυρὸν πίστεως τῆς γῆς ἐγκρατής γέγωνε,
as exprefly Codin in Orig.Conftant. and Suid. in Inftiniano. 1. that through
beliefe in the Groffe hee became Ruler of the earth. Frederique II. firft bare
it in the Scutcheon by grant of Charles V. Of it fee more in Marquhard.
Freh. Orig. Palat. 1. Cap. 15.
13 They are vfed as for Eros & Anteros by Claudian in Epithalam.
Pall. & Serena. viz. for the II. Cupids that make Loue mutuall.
14 By that_name were thofe pictures titled, which the Gentiles
painted for Tutelary Deities in the poupes of their fhips. Europe had
it from the Phænicians. v. Suid. in Пariamos soi. Feft. in Europ. et
ibid. Scaliger. quin et Tzetz. ad Lycophron. pag. 11. in AQλasta. And a
place of Scripture, Act. Cap. 28. Com. 11. may be hereon interpret-
ed. But fee there Theophilact, who places them in the Prowe. They &
their fellowes in the verfe are all known Sea-gouernars.
}
1
IN HONOUR OF THE MARRIAGE,
49
·
Rheni vt fulgeat amplitèr 15 Corolla,
Tædam præferat aut 16 Amica JVNo,
Aut CAIAE17 Genetrix. Sient 18 LYCAE A
PANOS poftridie, vt Satu fruantur.
Adclamant Superi, PARES HAVETE.
Quis vidit Venerem aufpicatiorem?
+
I. S. è Soc. Int. Templi.
G
The
15 And alſo as proper to the Marriage, Crownes were vfed to the
couple in the Orientall Empire, as you may fee in Theophilact. Simo-
cat. Hift. I. cap. 10. & ibid. Pontanum. Phranz. lib. II. cap. 17. which
I transferre not hither, but with allufion.
16 Pronuba Iuno is ſo familiar that none can be ignorant of her in-
tereſt in Marriages; and for this Paffage,-Dat Iuno verenda Vincula,
&infigni geminat concordia tædâ. Papinius Syluar. I. agreeing teftimo-
nies are obuious.
17 Caia by the auncient Romane vfe, was a perpetuall name for euery
Bride, and fhee vſed to falute her huſband being firft brought to him
thus; Vbi tu Caius, ego Caia. The reaſon of it may be enquired in Plu-
-tarch. Problem. Rom. 30. Valer. Epit. de Nom. Rat. and elfe-where.
And choife is giuen whether Iuno, or the Brides mother, beare the
Light, being in this particular, Both great Queenes: and that, Mothers
alfo did vfe fo, authoritie is large. Scholiaft. ad Apollon. Argonautic. S.
& Euripid. in Phaniffis, with others.
18 That, the Nuptials fhould be the day before the Lupercals (i.
Lycaa) which was a Sacrifice inſtituted anciently in Rome, and the
chiefe effect was, that young marryed women touch'd with a bloudy piece
of Goates-fkinne, ſhould be fertile in pofteritie. The day of that was
alwayes on the XV. of Kl. February, that is, the XV. of February with
vs, which was the day after this happy Knot. For the Lupercals, Plu-
tarch, in Romula. Ouid. Faft. II, Halicarnafs. lib. I, are molt particular.
t
ľ
$
The Manner of the Solemnization
of this Royall Marriage.
HE proceeding was from the Priuie-Chamber through
the Prefence, and Guard-Chamber, over the Tarras,
through the new-built Roome, downe into the vtter Court*:
where, from the Gate all along, vp againe to the great Cham-
ber-dore, was a foote-pace made about fixe foote high, and
railed in on eyther fide, vp againe to the great Chamber-dore,
and fo by the way leading to the Clofet, they went downe
into the Chappell, where the Marriage was folemnized.
The order of the proceeding was thus: Firft, came the
Palfgraue, attended by diuers Noble-men, Knights, and
Gentlemen, as well Engliſh as Strangers; himfelfe apparrelled
all in white, being Cloath of filuer.
Then came the Bride, apparrelled alfo in white, ( Cloath
of Siluer alfo ) with a Coronet on her head of Pearle, and her
haire difheueled, and hanging downe ouer her ſhoulders, lead
to the Chappell (as I remember) by the Prince, and the
"Earle of Northampton, being Batchelors: (for in comming
backe ſhe was lead by my Lord Admirall, and the Duke of
Lennox.) And her Traine borne by eight or nine Ladyes of
Honor: after whom followed the Queenes Maieftie, with a
great number of Ladies and Gentlewomen..
Then came the Kings Maieftie, attended by moſt of the
Nobilitie of the Land, and followed by the band of Penfi-
oners, bearing their Axes, and proceeded as before, into the
Chappell.
In the middeft whereof was erected a Stage of fiue degrees,
high railed on each fide, and open at either end; the Railes
couered
* Ytter] outer.
THE SOLEMNIZATION, &c.
5L
couered with Cloath of Gold: vpon which was folemnized
the afore-faid Marriage, which being confummate by my
L. Grace of Canterbury; and a Sermon made by the B. of
Bath and Welles, Mr. Garter Principall King of Armes, pub-
liſhed the ſtile of the Prince and Princeffe, to this effect:
All Health, Happineſſe, and Honour be to the High and
Mightie Princes, FREDERICK, by the Grace of God Count Pa-
latine of the Rhine, Arch-Sewer, and Prince Elector of the holy
Empire, Duke of Batfier*, and ELIZABETH his Wife, onely
Daughter to the High, Mighty, and right Excellent, IAMES,
by the Grace of God, King of great Britaine, &c.
· Which finiſhed: the marryed Princes returned backe the
fame way they came; but the Kings Maieftie priuately, by
another way.
An Aduertiſement to the Reader.
Eader, I attribute the name of Cafimire in fome places to
the Palfgraue, which thou happily maieft imagine to
be the Sir-name of that Familie, which was but an addition
to the Chriften-name of fome later of the Earles, from the
Marqueffe of Brandenburge, that Iohannes or Frederick Cafimire,
is no more then Henry Frederick, Iohn Maria, Petrus Andreas,
or the like: but by reafon of the remarkable worth and ver-
tues of thoſe his late Grandfires, I have uſed it xxooxn'v: be-
fides, the nature of the Verfe could not admit the Name Fre-
derick, fo often, or fo well.
Thine affuredly
H. P.
*The order of the Garter, whereof the Palfgraueis Knight, was here
omitted.
FINI S.
1
ERRATA.
胖​味​味
​Page 15, Note, for King Edward the firft, read King Edward the
fourth. This error is in the original, but was overlook'd by the
preſent Editor, till the ſheet was printed off.
Page 28, line 9, read Tufca, Sabauda,
Page 29, line 3, read fuerat
Ibid. line 9, read volitantûm
P.32, for Euster read Eurus.
The Greek Lines by SELDEN in Pages 24 and 25, having,
through an overfight, been printed off without proper revifion,
the two leaves containing Pages 23, 24, 25, and 26, have been
reprinted; the laft leaf of Sig. C. and the first leaf of Sig. D.
are therefore to be cancell'd: and the Binder is requested to ob-
ferve, that the Four Reprinted Pages to be inferted inftead, are
on a connected Quarter Sheet, and have an afterifm at the bot-
tom of each Page, thus ( * ).
ค
}
!
A
>
*
THE
WORK S
18
O F
BEN. JONSON.
VOLUME the FIRST,
CONTAINING,
EVERY MAN in his EVERY MAN. out of
HUMOUR.
his HUMOUR..
K
[ 3 ]
ވ
Ad V. CL.
BEN. JONSONIUM,
Carmen protrepticon.
Aptam Threicii lyram Neanthus
Pulfet; carmina circulis Palæmon
Scribat; qui manibus facit deabus
Illotis, metuat Probum. Placere
Te doctis juvat auribus, placere
Te raris juvat auribus. Camænas
Cùm totus legerem tuas (Camænæ
Nam totum rogitant tuæ, nec ullam
Qui pigrè trahat ofcitationem,
Lectorem) & numeros, acumen, artem,
Mirum judicium, quod ipfe cenfor,
Jonfoni, nimium licèt malignus,
Si doctus fimùl, exigat, viderem,
Sermonem & nitidum, facetiáfque
Dignas Mercurio, nováfque gnomas
Morum fed veterum, tuique juris
Quicquid dramaticum tui legebam,
Tam femper fore, támque te loquutum,
Ut nec Lêmnia notior figillo
Tellus, nec maculâ facrandus Apis,
Non cefto Venus, aut comis Apollo,
Quàm mufâ fueris fciente notus,
Quàm mufâ fueris tuâ notatus,
Illâ, quæ unica, fidus ut refulgens,
Stricturas, fuperat comis, minorum:
In mentem fubiit Stolonis illud,
Lingua Pieridas fuiffe Plauti
Ufuras, Ciceronis atque dictum,
Saturno genitum phrafi Platonis,
Mufæ fi Latio, Jovifque Athenis
Dixiffent. Fore jam fed hunc & illas
Ionfonî numeros puto loquutos,
Anglis fi fuerint utrique fati.
Tam, mi, tu fophiam doces amænè,
Sparsim
[ 4 ]
Sparsim tamque fophos amæna fternis
Sed, tot delicias, minùs placebat,
Sparfis diftraherent tot in libellis
Cerdoi caculæ. Volumen unum,
Quod feri Britonum terant nepotes,
Optabam, & thyafus chorúfque amantum
Mufas hoc cupiunt, tui laborum
Et quicquid reliquum eft, adhuc tuifque
Servatum pluteis. Tibi at videmur
Non tàm quærere quàm parare nobis
Laudem, dum volumus palàm merentis
Tot laurus cupidi repofta fcripta ;
Dum fecernere te tuáfque mufas
Audemus numero ungulæ liquorem
Guftante, ut veteres novem forores
Et Sirenibus & folent cicadis;
Dum & fecernere poffe te videmur,
Efflictim petimus novúmque librum,
Qui nullo facer haut petatur ævo,
Qui nullo facer exolefcat ævo,
Qui curis niteat tuis fecundis;
Ut nos fcire aliquid fimul putetur.
Atqui hoc macte fies, velutque calpar,
Quod diis inferium, tibi facremus,
Ut nobis benè fit; tuámque frontem
Perfundant ederæ recentiores
Et fplendor noyus. Invident coronam
Hanc tantam patriæ tibique (quantâ
Æternùm à merito tuo fuperbum
genus effe poffit olim)
Anglorum genus
Tantùm qui penitùs volunt amænas
Sublatas literas, timéntve lucem
Ionfonî nimiam tenebriones.
J. SELDEN, Juris-Confultus.
Of this Author, from his extenfive and multifarious learn-
ing defervedly named the Great Selden, it is unneceffary to
fay any thing here.-An account of him and his writings is
in Athen. Oxon. 2. Vol. Col. 179.-He lived in conftant
friendſhip with our poet, and dying in 1654, was buried on
the South fide of the round walk in the Temple Church.
[ 5 ]
TO
BEN. JONSON, on his Works.
AY I ſubſcribe a name? dares my bold quill
Write that or good or ill,
MAY
Whofe frame is of that height, that, to mine eye,
Its head is in the fky?
Yes. Since the moſt cenfures, believes, and faith
By an implicit faith:
Left their misfortune make them chance amifs,
I'll waft them right by this.
Of all I know thou only art the man
That dares but what he can :
Yet by performance fhows he can do more
Than hath been done before,
Or will be after; (fuch affurance gives
Perfection where it lives.)
Words fpeak thy matter; matter fills thy words;
And choice that grace affords,
That both are beft: and both moft fitly plac'd,
Are with new Venus grac'd
From artful method. All in this point meet,
With good to mingle fweet.
Theſe are thy lower parts.
What ſtands above
Who fees not yet muſt love,
When on the bafe he reads Ben Jonfon's name,
And hears the reft from fame.
This from my love of truth: Which pays this due
To your juſt worth, not you.
ED. HEYWARD.
This gentleman was by profeffion a lawyer, and an intimate
friend of our author, and of the great Selden. The regard,
which the latter had for him, appears from his addreffing to
him his book on the Titles of Honour.
A 3
ON
[ 6 ]
5/
ΟΝ ΤΗΕ
AUTH HOR,
H
The Poet-Laureat, BEN. JONSON.
ERE is a poet! whofe unmuddled ftrains
Show that he held all Helicon in's brains.
What here is writ, is fterling; every line
Was well allow'd of by the muſes nine.
When for the ſtage a drama he did lay,
Tragic or comic, he ftill bore away
The fock and bufkin; clearer notes than his
No fwan e'er fung upon our Thamefis;
For lyric fweetnefs in an ode, or fonnet,
TO BEN the beſt of wits might vail their bonnet.
His genius juftly, in an entheat rage,
Oft lafht the dull-fworn factors for the ſtage:
For alchymy, though't make a glorious glofs,
Compar'd with Gold is bullion and bafe drofs.
WILL. HODGSON.
On his elaborated art-contrived PLAYS,
An EPIGRAM.
E
ACH like an Indian fhip or hull appears,
That took a voyage for fome certain years,
To plow the fea, and furrow up the main,
And brought rich ingot from his loaden brain.
His art the fun; his labours were the lines;
His folid ftuff the treaſure of his mines.
WILL. HODGSON.
The treaſure of his mines.] The former reading was lines.
I have given the preſent text, from the conjecture of the in-
genious Mr. Steevens.
[ 7 ]
Upon
SEJA NU S.
O brings the wealth-contracting jeweller
Pearls and dear ſtones from richeſt flores and
As thy accompliſh'd travail doth confer [ftreams,
From fkill-enriched fouls their wealthier gems;
So doth his hand enchaſe in ammel'd gold,
Cut, and adorn'd beyond their native merits,
His folid 'flames, as thine hath here inrol'd
In more than golden verfe, thofe better'd ſpirits;
So he entreaſures princes cabinets,
4
As thy wealth will their wifhed libraries;
So, on the throat of the rude fea, he fets
His vent'rous foot, for his illuftrious prize;
And through wild defarts, arm'd with wilder beafts;
As thou adventur'ft on the multitude,
Upon the boggy, and engulfed breaſts
Of hirelings, fworn to find moft right, moſt rude:
And he, in ſtorms at fea, doth not endure,
Nor in vaſt deſarts, amongſt wolves, more danger;
Than we, that would with virtue live fecure,
Suſtain for her in every vice's anger.
Nor is this Allegory unjuſtly rackt
To this ftrange length: Only, that jewels are,
In eſtimation merely, fo exact:
And thy work, in itſelf, is dear and rare;
Wherein Minerva had been vanquished,
Had' fhe, by it, her facred looms advanc'd,
And through thy fubject woven her graphick thred,
Contending therein, to be more entranc'd;
For, though thy hand was ſcarce addreft to draw
The femi-circle of Sejanus' life,
Thy mufe yet makes it the whole fphere, and law
To all ſtate-lives; and bounds ambition's ftrife.
And as a little brook creeps from his fpring,
With fhallow tremblings, through the loweſt vales,
As if he fear'd his ftream abroad to bring,
Left prophane feet ſhould wrong it, and rude gales;
But
h/
[ 8 ]
But finding happy channels, and ſupplies
Of other fords mixt with his modeſt courſe,
He grows a goodly river, and defcrys
Theftrength that mann'd him, fince he left his fource;
Then takes he in delightfome meads and groves,
And, with his two-edg'd waters, flouriſhes
Before great palaces, and all mens loves
Build by his ſhores, to greet his paffages:
So thy chaſte muſe, by virtuous ſelf-miſtruſt,
Which is a true mark of the trueft merit;
In virgin fear of mens illiterate luft,
Shut her foft wings, and durft not fhew her fpirit;
Till, nobly cheriſht, now thou let'ft her fly,
Singing the fable Orgies of the Muſes,
And in the higheſt pitch of Tragedy,
Mak'ft her command,all things thy ground produces.
Befides, thy poem hath this due reſpect,
That it lets nothing paſs without obferving,
Worthy inſtruction; or that might correct
Rude manners, and renown the well deferving:
Performing fuch a lively evidence
In thy narrations, that thy hearers ſtill
Thou turn'ft to thy fpectators; and the ſenſe
That thy fpectators have of good or ill,
Thou inject'ft jointly to thy reader's fouls.
So dear is held, fo deckt thy numerous taſk,
As thou putt'ft handles to the Thefpian bowls,
Or ſtuck'ſt rich plumes in the Palladian caſk.
All thy worth, yet, thyſelf muft patroniſe,
By quaffing more of the Caſtalian head;
In expifcation of whoſe myſteries,
Our nets muſt ſtill be clogg'd with heavy lead,
To make them fink, and catch: for chearful gold
Was never found in the Pierian ſtreams,
But wants, and fcorns, and fhames for filver fold.
What? what ſhall we elect in theſe extremes?
Now by the fhafts of the great Cyrrhan poet,
That bear all light, that is, about the world;
I
[ و ]
I would have all dull poet-haters know it,
They ſhall be foul-bound, and in darkneſs hurl'd,
A thoutand years (as Satan was their fire)
Ere any, worthy the poetic name,
(Might I, that warm but at the mufes fire,
Preſume to guard it) ſhould let deathlefs Fame
Light half a beam of all her hundred eyes,
At his dim taper, in their memories.
Fly, fly, you are too near; fo, odorous flowers
Being held too near the ſenſor of our ſenſe,
Render not pure, nor fo fincere their powers,
As being held a little diſtance thence.
O could the world but feel how fweet a touch
The knowledge hath, which is in love with goodneſs,
(If Poefie were not raviſhed ſo much,
And her compos'd rage, held the fimpleft woodneſs,*
Though of all heats, that temper human brains,
Hers ever was moſt fubtil, high and holy,
Firſt binding favage lives in civil chains;
Solely religious, and adored folely:
If men felt this, they would not think a love,
That gives itſelf, in her, did vanities give;
Who is (in earth, though low) in worth above,
Moſt able t'honour life, though leaſt to live.
And fo, good friend, fafe paffage to thy freight,
To thee a long peace, through a virtuous ftrife,
In which let's both contend to virtue's height,
Not making fame our object, but good life.
GEOR. CHAPMAN.2
* Woodness. ] Madneſs.
66
188
B
Wodenefs laughing in his Rage."
Chaucer's Knyghtes Tale, V. 1152,
thus modernized by Dryden,
Madneſs laughing in his ireful Mood."
The Knight's Tale, Page 296.
Morell's Edition, 8vo. 1737.
2 He was contemporary with our poet, and the author of ſe-
veral plays, which at that time were favourably received, and
is famous likewife for his tranflations of Mufæus, Hefiod, and
Homer into Engliſh verfe. The reader will find a hiſtory
of him and his Poems in Wood's Athena Oxonienfes, I. Vol.
Col. 591. and prefixed to his Comedy of All Fools, in the
fourth volume of Old Plays, edit. 1780, alſo in Langbaine's
Account of the Dramatic Poets.
[ 10 ]
To his worthy Friend, BEN. JONSON,
}
upon his SEJANUS.
N that this book doth deign Sejanus name,
IN
Him unto more than Cæfar's love it brings:
For where he could not with ambition's wings,
One quill doth heave him to the height of fame.
Ye great ones though (whoſe ends may be the fame)
Know, that, however we do flatter kings,
Their favours (like themſelves) are fading things,
With no leſs envy had, than loft with fhame.
Nor make yourſelves lefs honeft than you are,
To make our author wiſer than he is:
Ne of fuch crimes accufe him, which I dare
By all his muſes fwear be none of his.
The men are not, fome faults may be theſe times:
He acts thoſe men, and they did act theſe crimes.
HUGH HOLLAND.*
Amiciffimo, & meritiffimo BEN. ION SON,
in Vulponem.
Q
UOD arte aufus es hic tuâ, poeta,
Si auderent hominum deique juris
Confulti, veteres fequi æmulariérque,
O omnes faperemus ad falutem.
1
His
* He was bred at Weſtminſter-School, under Cambden, and
from thence elected fellow of Trinity college in Cambridge.
He is faid by Dr. Fuller to have been no bad Engliſh, but an
excellent Latin poet. He wrote ſeveral things, amongſt
which is the life of Cambden, but none of them, I believe,
have been ever publiſhed. See an account of him in Athen.
Oxon. 1. Vol. Col. 583.
[ 11 ]
His fed funt veteres araneofi;
Tam nemo veterum eft fequutor, ut tu,
Illos quòd fequeris novator audis.
Fac tamen quod agis; tuique primâ
Libri canitie induantur horâ :
Nam chartis pueritia eft neganda,
Nafcuntúrque fenes, oportet, illi
Libri, queis dare vis perennitatem.
Prifcis, ingenium facit, labórque
Te parem; hos fuperes, ut & futuros,
Ex noftrâ vitiofitate fumas,
Quâ prifcos fuperamus, & futuros.
To
A
my Friend
J. DONNE.*
Friend BEN. JONSON,
upon his ALCHEMIST.
Maſter, read in flattery's great ſkill,
Could not paſs truth, tho' he would force his will,
By praifing this too much, to get more praiſe
In his art, than you out of yours do raiſe.
Nor can full truth be utter'd of your worth,
Unleſs you your own praifes do fet forth:
None elſe can write fo fkilfully, to fhew
Your praife: Ages fhall pay, yet ſtill muſtowe.
All I dare fay, is, you have written well;
In what exceeding height, I dare not tell.
GEORGE LUCY.
* In former editions we have only the initial Letters J.D.
affixed to this copy of verfes; I have written the author's
name at length, and on his own authority, becauſe the verſes
are printed in the collection of Dr. Donne's poems.
[ 12 ]
Ad utramque Academiam,
De BENJAMIN IONSONIO,
in Vulponem.
HIG
TIC ille eft primus, qui doctum drama Britannis,
Graiorum antiqua, & Latii monimenta theatri,
Tanquam explorator verfans, fœlicibus aufis
Præbebit: Magnis cœptis, geminaaſt ra, favete.
Alterutrâ veteres contenti laude: Cothurnum hic,
Atque pari foccum tractat Sol fcenicus arte;
Das Volpone jocos. fletus Sejane dedifti.
At fi Jonfonias mulctatas limite mufas
Angufto plangent quiquam: Vos, dicite, contra,
O nimiùm miferos quibus Anglis Anglica lingua,
Aut non fat nota eft; aut queis (feu trans mare natiș)
Haud nota omnino: Vegetet cum tempore vates,
Mutabit patriam, fiêtque ipfe Anglus Apollo.
E. BOLTON.
This author appears to no great advantage in the pre-
ceding lines; but we may fee him in his proper fplendour, in
a book entituled Nero Cæfar, or Monarchy depraved, which he
publiſhed in fol. Lond. 1624, and is a work containing much
good fenfe, and curious learning. He is alſo ſaid to have
tranflated Lucius Florus, and written The Elements of Armory,
printed in 1610 He left in M. S. Hypercritica, or a Rule of
Fudgment for Writing or Reading our Hiftories: fince publiſhed
by A. Hall, at the end of the 2nd Vol. of the Annals of Tri-
vetus. In this piece, treating of different English writers, he
thus fpeaks of our Author: "I never tafted Engliſh more to
my liking, nor more ſmart, and put to the height of uſe in
"poetry, than in that vital, judicious, and moft practical
language of Benjamin Jonfon's poems." Addreffe, IV.
Sect. iii. page 237. For a more particular account of
Bolton, fee Warton's Hift. of Poetry, Vol. 3, Page 278.
"
[ 13 ]
To my dear Friend Mr. BEN. JONSON,
upon his FOX.
F it might ftand with juſtice, to allow
The fwift converfion of all follies; now,
Such is my mercy, that I could admit
All forts fhould equally approve the wit
Of this thy even work: whofe growing fame
Shall raiſe thee high, and thou it, with thy name.
And did not manners, and my love command
Me to forbear to make thoſe underſtand,
Whom thou, perhaps, haft, in thy wifer doom
Long fince, firmly refolv'd, fhall never come
To know more than they do; I would have ſhown
To all the world, the art, which thou alone
Haft taught our tongue, the rules of time, of place,
And other rites, deliver'd with the grace
Of comick ftile, which only, is far more,
Than any Engliſh ſtage hath known before.
But fince our fubtile gallants think it good
To like of nought that may be underſtood,
Left they ſhould be difprov'd; or have, at beſt,
Stomachs fo raw, that nothing can digeſt
But what's obfcene, or barks: let us defire
They may continue, fimply, to admire
Fine cloaths, and ftrange words; and may live, in age,
To fee themſelves ill brought upon the ſtage,
And like it. Whilft thy bold and knowing muſe
Contemns all praiſe, but fuch as thou wouldſt chufe.
FRANC. BEAUMONT.
[ 14 ]
Upon the SILENT WOMAN.
EAR you bad writers, and though you not fee,
HI will inform you where you happy be:
Provide the moſt malicious thoughts you can,
And bend them all againſt fome private man,
To bring him, not his vices, on the ſtage;
Your envy fhall be clad in fome poor rage,
And your expreffing of him fhall be fuch,
That he himſelf ſhall think he hath no touch.
Where he that ſtrongly writes, although he mean
To fcourge but vices in a labour'd fcene,
Yet private faults fhall be fo well expreft,
As men do act 'em, that each private breaſt,
That finds theſe errors in itſelf, fhall fay,
He meant me, not my vices, in the play.
FRANC. BEAUMONT.
To my Friend BEN. JONSON,
upon his CATILINE.
F thou hadft itch'd after the wild applauſe
I'
Of common people, and hadft made thy laws
In writing, fuch, as catch'd at prefent voice,
I ſhould commend the thing, but not thy choice.
But thou haft fquar'd thy rules by what is good,
And art three ages, yet, from underſtood :
And (I dare fay) in it there lies much wit
Loft, till the readers can grow up to it.
Which they can ne'er out-grow, to find it ill,
But muft fall back again, or like it ftill.
FRANC. BEAUMONT.
Beaumont, who was a fincere admirer and friend of Jonfon,
feems to have gratified the poet's temper in the preceding co-
pies, by a generous contempt of the vulgar judgment and
applaufe, reſulting from confcious worth.
EVERY MAN
IN HIS
HUMOUR.
A
A COME D Y.
Acted in the Year 1598,
By the then Lord CHAMBERLAIN's Servants.¹
Haud tamen invideas vati, quem pulpita paſcunt.²
JUVEN.
In the 4to edition 1601, it ftands thus; As it hath beene
fundry times publickly acted by the right honorable the Lord
Chamberlaine his Servants.
2 Before this verſe, in the 4to. is prefixed,
Quod non dant proceres, dabit Hiftrio.
TO THЕ
Moſt Learned, and my Honoured Friend,
Mr.
CAMDEN,
CLARENCIEU X.
SIR,
TH
no
HERE are, no doubt, a fupercilious race in the
ra
world, who will efteem all office, done you in
this kind, an injury; fo folemn a vice it is with them
to uſe the authority of their ignorance, to the crying
down of POETRY, or the profeffors: But my grati-
tude muſt not leave to correct their error; fince I
am none of thofe that can fuffer the benefits con-
ferred upon my youth to periſh with my age. It is
a frail memory that remembers but prefent things:
and, had the favour of the times fo confpired with
my difpofition, as it could have brought forth other,
or better, you had had the fame proportion, and
number of the fruits, the firft. Now I pray you to
accept this; fuch wherein neither the confeffion of my
manners fhall make you bluſh; 'nor of my ſtudies,
repent you to have been the inſtructer: And for the
profeffion of my thankfulneſs, I am fure it will, with
good men, find either praiſe or excufe.
Your True Lover,
BEN.
JONSON.
* Nor of my studies, repent you to have been the inftructer:]
Fonfon, as we have feen in his life, received part of his edu-
cation under Camden, at Weſtminſter-School.
VOL. I.
C
PRO-
PROLOGUE.*
Hough need make many poets, and ſome ſuch
As art and nature have not better'd much;
TH
Yet ours for want hath not fo lov'd the ftage,
I
age,
'As he dare ferve th' ill cuſtoms of the
Or purchaſe your delight at fuch a rate,
As, for it, he himſelf muft juftly hate:
To make a child now fwaddled, to proceed
Man, and then ſhoot up, in one beard and weed,
Paſt threescore years: or, with three rufty fwords,
And help of fome few foot and half-foot words,
Fight over York and Lancaſter's long jars,2
And in the tyring-houfe bring wounds to fcars.
He
*To the 4to edition of this Comedy there is no prologue;
and probably it was written, when the Author made the total
reform taken notice of in the preface, and previous to the
publication of it, with other Plays and Poems, in fol. 1616.
¹ As he dare ferve th' ill cuftoms of the age,] To ferve the
ill cuftoms of the age is a Latin phrafe of the fame import
with Inftituta majorum fervare, which occurs in Cicero.
2
With three rufty fwords,
And help of fome few FOOT AND HALF-FOOT WOrds,
Fight over York and Lancafter's long jars.] Here is evidently
an allufion to Shakspeare's hiftorical plays, on the contention
between the houſes of York and Lancafter. Other dramatists
indeed had written on this fubject, but Fonfon doth not ap-
pear to have thought them worthy of his notice. Shakspeare,
who died in 1616, retired from the ftage about three years
before his deceaſe; and our author, envious of his growing
fame, began to be very fevere in his cenfures, and invectives
against him. The "foot and half-foot words," a tranſlation
of Horace's Sefquipedalia Verba, allude to expreffions of a moft
unmeafurable length, which were commonly made uſe of by
the authors of that age; and were fuppofed to give magnifi-
cence and fublimity to their diction. It was about this time,
that compound epithets were first introduced into our poetry:
and to what licentioufnefs of ftyle they were perverted, ap-
pears from the following lines of Bishop Hall, who is draw-
ing the character of the Poetafter Labeo.
"He
PROLOGUE.
19
He rather prays you will be pleas'd to fee
One fuch to-day, as other plays ſhou'd be;
3Where neither chorus wafts you o'er the feas,
4 Nor creaking throne comes down the boys to pleaſe:
"He knows the grace of that new elegance,
5 Nor
"Which ſweet Philifides fetch'd of late from France;
"(That well befeem'd his high-ftyl'd Arcady,
"Though others mar it with much liberty)
"In epithets to join two words in one,
Forfooth, for adjectives cannot ſtand alone:
"As a great poet cou'd of Bacchus fay,
"That he was Semele-femori-gena."
VIRGIDEMIARUM, Lib. VI. Sat. 1.
Dr. Donne hath likewife ridiculed the affected uſe of them,
by the following compound;
"The grim-eight-foot-high-iron-bound ferving-man,
"Who oft names God in oaths, and only then.
Elegy 4th.
The particular play in view is probably Richard III. where
we find the epithets childish-foolish, fenfeless-obftinate, and others
of the like kind.
Glo. I am too childish-foolish for this world. A. 1. S. 3.
Buck. You are too fenfelefs-obftinate, my lord. A. 3. S. 1.
3 Where neither chorus wafts you o'er the feas,] The chorus
here alluded to, is the chorus at the beginning of the fecond
Act of Henry V,
The Scene
"Is now tranfported, gentles, to Southampton;
"There is the play-houfe now, there muft you fit:
"And thence to France fhall we convey you fafe,
"And bring you back, charming the narrow feas,"
As this prologue was probably not written before 1616, no
conclufion can be drawn from it, that Henry V. as Mr.
Malone fuppofes, was acted before 1598; nor does it fubject
Fonfon to the cenfure of ridiculing his benefactor, at the
time he was effentially obliged to him.
Shakspeare, Edit. 1778, page 302.
*Nor creaking throne comes down the boys to please:] It
appears from Acolaftus, a Comedy printed in 1540, that ma-
chinery was then employed in the exhibition of ftage plays.
In the vifion or mafque in Cymbeline, A. 5. S. 4. Jupiter de-
fcends in thunder and lightning, fitting upon an eagle.
s Nor
20
PROLOGU E.
5 Nor nimble ſquib is ſeen to make afeard
The gentlewomen; nor roul'd bullet heard
To fay, it thunders; nor tempeftuous drum
Rumbles, to tell you when the ftorm doth come;
But deeds, and language, fuch as men do uſe,
And perfons, fuch as comedy would chufe,
When fhe would fhew an image of the times,
7And ſport with human follies, not with crimes.
Except we make 'em fuch, by loving ſtill
Our popular errors, when we know th' are ill.
I mean fuch errors as you'll all confeſs,
By laughing at them, they deſerve no leſs:
Which when you heartily do; there's hope left then,
You, that have fo grac'd monſters, may like men.
• Nor nimble fquib is feen.] The like expreffion is in the
prologue to Shirley's Doubtful Heir,
"No Clown, no fquibs, no devil in't."
nor roul'd bullet heard
To ſay, it thunders, &c.] The author had poffibly in his
intention, the ſtorms in the Tempeft, and King Lear.
* And Sport with human follies, not with crimes.] This dif»
tinction is made exprefsly from the precept of Ariftotle; who
affigns the ro yɛλolov or the ridiculous, as the immediate ſub-
ject of comedy. Poetic. Sect. 5. but makes the crimes of men,
as being of a more ferious nature, the particular object of the
tragic poet.
1
(When
When Mr. GARRICK revived this Play, he
ſpoke the following PROLOGUE to it,
written by himſelf.
C
RITICKS, your favour is our author's right-
The well-known ſcenes we ſhall preſent to-night
Are no weak efforts of a modern pen,
But the ſtrong touches of immortal Ben;
}
A rough old Bard, whofe honeft pride difdain'd
Applauſe itſelf, unleſs by merit gain'd-
And wou'd to-night your loudeft praiſe diſclaim,
Shou'd his great ſhade perceive the doubtful fame,
Not to his labours granted, but his name.
Boldly he wrote, and boldly told the age,
"He dar'd not proſtitute the uſeful ſtage,
"Or purchaſe their delight at fuch a rate,
"As, for it, he himſelf muſt juſtly hate:
"But rather begg'd they wou'd be pleas'd to fee
"From him, ſuch plays as other plays fhou'd be:
"Wou'd learn from him to fcorn a motley ſcene,
"And leave their monſters, to be pleas'd with men.'
Thus ſpoke the bard--And tho' the times are chang'd,
Since his free mufe for fools the city rang'd:
And ſatire had not then appear'd in ftate,
To lafh the finer follies of the great,
Yet let not prejudice infect your mind,
Nor flight the gold, becauſe not quite refin'd;
With no falfe nicenefs this performance view,
Nor damn for low, whate'er is juſt and true :
Sure to thoſe ſcenes fome honour fhou'd be paid,
Which Cambden patroniz'd, and Shakespeare play'd:
Nature was Nature then, and ftill furvives:
The garb may alter, but the fubftance lives.
Lives in this play- where each may find complete,
His pictur'd felf.- Then favour the deceit-
Kindly forget the hundred years between;
Become old Britons, and admire old Ben. )
Dramatis
Dramatis Perfonæ.
K
NO'WELL, an old Gentleman.
ED. KNO'WELL, his Son.
BRAIN-WORM, the Father's Man.
MASTER STEPHEN, a Country Gull,
DOWN-RIGHT, a plain Squire.
WELL-BRED, his half Brother.
JUSTICE CLEMENT, an old merry Magiſtrate.
ROGER FORMAL, his Clerk.
KITELY, a Merchant.
DAME KITELY, his Wife.
MISTRESS BRIDGET, his Sifter.
MASTER MATTHEW, the Town Gull.
CASH, Kitely's Man.
COB, a Water-bearer.
Сов,
TIB, his Wife.
CAPT. BOBADILL, a Paul's MAN',
The SCENE, LONDON.
* Every
A Paul's Man.] St. Paul's Cathedral was at this time a
place of refort for idlers, fharpers, and bullies. The Scene
was originally at Florence, and the perfons of the drama
Italians. It hath been fhewn in the preface, that by chang-
ing the names and place of reprefentation, the author adapted
it to his own times. Bobadill is the only name which is
brought from the old play, and has here an Engliſh termina-
tion. The poet feems to have thought it a word of fome hu-
mour. Bobadilla is the character of a bluftering ſteward in
Beaumont and Fletcher's Love's Cure, or the Martial Maid.
It is alſo the name of an illuftrious family in Spain.
* Every Man in his Humour.
ACT I.
SCENE I.
Goodly day toward! and a freſh morning!
Brain-worm,
A G
Call up your young maſter: Bid him riſe, ſir.
Tell him, I have fome buſineſs to employ him.
Brai. I will, fir, preſently.
Know. But hear you, firrah,
If he be at his book, diſturb him not.
Brai. Well, fir².
Know.
* This Comedy was revived foon after the Reſtoration,with
an epilogue written by Lord Buckhurſt, and ſpoken in the
character of Jonfon's Ghoft. In 1749 it was again revived by
the late Mr. Garrick, with fome few alterations and an ad-
ditional ſcene of his own. Being acted with the full ſtrength
of the Company, Garrick himſelf performing the part
of Kitely, Woodward Bobadil, and Shuter Stephen, every
character was exhibited in a very ſtriking light, and to the
utmoſt advantage.
* A goodly day toward!] The profpect or appearance of a fine
day. So in The fecond part of the Honeft Whore,
"Here's a hot day towards”
And in The Spanish Curate, by Beaumont and Fletcher;
"He bears a promifing face, there's fome hope toward."
A. 2, S. 1.
A fine day is fo called in Shakspeare;
I.
“A goodly day, not to keep houfe" Cymbeline, A.3, S. 3.
The metre of our comic poets, in the age of Jonfon, was
often looſe and irregular, requiring to be helped out by the
fpeaker. The voice, as it is neceflary, muft either flur over,
or lengthen out a fyllable to preſerve the numbers. There is
however nothing in thefe lines that requires correction, or
that diſorders the pronunciation in the reading.
2 Brain. WELL, SIR.] An elliptical expreffion; It is well,
fir; probably borrowed from the Latin form of ſpeaking,
ufual on fuch occafions.
Rogo nunquid velit; RECTE, inquit, abeo.
TEREN. Eun. A. 2, S. 3.
The anſwer in the 4to. is, Very good, Sir.
5.3.
24
Every Man in his 'Humour.
R
Know. How happy yet, fhould I eſteem myſelf,
Could I (by any practice) wean the boy
From one vain courſe of ſtudy, he affects.
He is a fcholar, if a man may truft
The liberal voice of fame, in her report,
Of good account in both our univerfities,
Either of which hath favour'd him with graces:
But their indulgence muſt not ſpring in me
A fond opinion, that he cannor err.
3 My felf was once a ftudent, and, indeed,
Fed with the felf-fame humour he is now,
Dreaming on nought but idle poetry,
That fruitless and unprofitable art,
•
Good unto none, but leaſt to the profeffors;
Which, then, I thought the miſtreſs of all knowledge:
But fince, time and the truth have wak'd my judgment,.
And reaſon taught me better to diſtinguiſh
The vain from th' ufeful learnings. Coufin Stephen!
What news with you, that you are here fo early?
Step. Nothing, but e'en come to fee how you do,
uncle.
Kno. That's kindly done; you are welcome, couz.
Step. 4 Ay, I know that, fir, I would not ha' come elſe.
How does my coufin Edward, uncle?
3
My felf was once a ftudent, and indeed,
Kno.
Fed with the felf-fame humour he is now, &c.] This thought
is to be met with in the Spanish Tragedy, or Hieronimo is mad
again. Old Plays, Vol. 3, page 217.
Hieron. When I was young, I gave my mind,
And ply'd myſelf to fruitless poetry:
Which though it profit the profeffor nought,
Yet is it paffing pleafing to the world.
Act 5.
And Jonfon, who played the part of Hieronimo, as Mr. Reed
obferves, hath borrowed it.
4
+ Ay, I know that, fir,] The antient way of writing this af-
firmative particle (Ay) was only with the vowel I, and a
comma after it; this is followed in the former editions: but,
as it is liable to be confounded with the perfonal pronoun, I,
the modern orthography is now conformed to.
Every Man in his Humour.
25
Kno. O, well couz, go in and fee: I doubt he be
fcarce ftirring yet.
Step. Uncle, afore I go in, can you tell me, an' he
have e'er a book of the ſciences of hawking and hunt-
ing; I would fain borrow it.
Kno. Why, I hope you will not a hawking now,
will you?
Step. 5 No, wuffe; but I'll practice againſt next year,
uncle: I have bought me a hawk, and a hood, and
bells, and all; I lack nothing but a book to keep it by.
Kno. O, moſt ridiculous.
Step. Nay, look you now, you are angry, uncle;
why you know an' a man have not ſkill in the hawk-
ing and hunting-languages now-a-days, I'll not give
a rush for him. They are more ftudied than the
Greek, or the Latin. He is for no gallants company
without 'em: And by gads-lid I fcorn it, I, fo I do,
to be a confort for every hum-drum; hang 'em,
fcroyles! there's nothing in 'em i' the world. What
do you talk on it? Becauſe I dwell at Hogfden, I
fhall keep company with none but the archers of Finf-
Vol. I.
bury,
Ꭰ
5 No, wuffe; but I'll practice against next year,] I apprehend
that Wuffe is a corruption of I wis, which, like I trow, was a
familiar expreffion, and is often to be found in our ancient
dramatic writers. See Poetafter, Act 5, Sc. 3.
I lack nothing but a book to keep it by.] Falconry was a fa-
vourite diverfion of this age. Mafter Stephen having pur-
chafed a hawk with all its furniture, is at a lofs how to keep
it fecundum artem. The most curious books on the fubject,
were the book of St. Alban's, in which is a treatife of Hawk-
inge, by Dame Juliana Bernes, prioreffe of Sopwell Nunnery,
near St. Alban's, Enprynted at Weftmoftre by Wynkyn de
Worde, 1496. Fol. and a treatife on Falconry, by George
Turbervile, in 1575.
Hang 'em fcroyles!] Scrophulous fcabby fellows. It is
ufed by Shakspeare,
By heaven, the fcroyles of Angiers flout you, kings."
King John, Act 2, Sc. 2.
26
Every Man in his Humour.
bury, or the citizens that come a ducking to Iflington
ponds? A fine jeft i' faith! Slid, a gentleman mun'
Thow himſelf like a gentleman: Uncle, I pray you
be not angry, I know what I have to do, I trow, I
am no novice.
Ι
Kno. You are a prodigal abfurd cockfcomb, go to.
Nay, never look at me, it's I that ſpeak.
Take't as you will, fir, I'll not fiatter you.
Ha' you not yet found means enow to wafte
That which your friends have left you, but you muſt
Go caft away your money on a kite,
And know not how to keep it, when you ha' done? 9
I fhall keep company with none but the archers of Finfbury,]
Finfbury is a lordſhip or manor lying to the north of Moor-
fields, and was much frequented by archers, when ſhooting
with bows and arrows made a part of our anceſtors diver-
fions. In the year 1498, all the gardens, which had conti-
nued, time out of mind, without Moorgate, to wit, about
and beyond the lordship of Finsbury, were deftroyed; and of
them was made a plain field for archers to ſhoot in. It was
called Finſbury field, in which were three windmills; and here
was the meadow, where they ufually thot at twelve-ſcore,
and where the wreſtling ufually was.
Stowe's Survey, Ed. 1633, P. 475, & 913.
In this neighbourhood dwelt bowyers, fletchers, and bow-
ftring makers. The prependary of Hallywell and Finsbury
in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul is lord of the manor.
Finfbury fields were the common refort of the Citizens in the
Summer; fo in Shakspeare;
As if thou never walk'dft further than Finsbury."
Hen. IV. Ift, pt. A& 3, Sc. 2.
• Go caft away your money on a kite,
And know not how to keep it, when you ha' done?]The great
number of hawks or falcons kept in that age, and the manner
of their food, will appear from the following paffage: "I
"would our falcons might be fatisfied with the divifion of
"their prey, as the falcons in Thracia were, that they needed
"not to devour the hens of this realm in fuch number, that
"unleſs it be ſhortly confider'd, our familiar poultry fhall be
as
Every Man in his Humour.
27
O it's comely! this will make you a gentleman!
Well, coufin, well! I fee you are e'en paſt hope
Of all reclaim: ay, fo, now you are told on it,
You look another way.
Step. What would you ha' me do?
Kno. What would I have you do? I'll tell you,
kinfman;
Learn to be wife, and practice how to thrive,
That would I have you do: And not to ſpend
Your coin on every bauble that you fancy,
Or every fooliſh brain that humors you.
I wuuld not have you to invade each place,
Nor thruſt yourſelf on all focieties,
Till mens affections, or your own defert,
Should worthily invite you to your rank.
He that is fo refpectlefs in his courfes,
Oft fells his reputation at cheap market.
Nor would I, you fhould melt away yourſelf
In flaſhing bravery*, left while you affect
To make a blaze of gentry to the world,
A little puff of fcorn extinguish it,
And you be left like an unfav'ry fnuff,
Whofe property is only to offend.
I'd ha' you fober, and contain yourſelf;
Not that your fail be bigger than your boat;
But moderate your expences now (at firſt)
As you may keep the fame proportion ſtill.
Nor ftand fo much on your gentility,
Which is an airy, and meer borrow'd thing,
From dead mens duft, and bones; and none of yours,
Except you make, or hold it. Who comes here?
D2
SCENE
"as fcarce, as be now partridge and pheafant. I fpeak not
"this in difpraiſe of the falcons, but of them which keepeth
"them like cockneyes."
""
Sir THO. ELIOT's Governour, L. i. C. 18. Lond. 1580.
*Bravery here means finery, a common acceptation of the
word with the writers of this age.
28
Every Man in his Humour,
1
SCENE
II.
Servant, Mafter Stephen, Kno'well, Brain-worm.
Serv. Save you, gentlemen,
Step. Nay, we do not fland much on our gentility,
friend; yet you are welcome, and I affure you
mine uncle here is a man of a thouſand a year, Middle-
ſex land: He has but one fon in all the world, I am
his next heir (at the common law) Mafter Stephen,
as fimple às I ftand here, if my coufin dye (as there's
hope he will) I have a pretty living o'mine own too,
befide, hard by here.
Serv. In good time, fir.
II
Step. In good time, fir? why! and in very good
time, fir: You do not flout, friend, do you?
Serv. Not I, fir.
Step:
10 We do not stand much on our gentility, friend;] This anſwer
is made with exquifite humour. Stephen piques himſelf on
being a gentleman; Kno'well had juft reproved him for a
rough illiberal behaviour, and cautions him not to preſume
upon his birth and fortune Mafter Stephen doth not feem
to relifh this advice, but at the entrance of the fervant, he dif-
covers his regard for what his uncle had been ſaying, by the
repetition of his laft words.
Toftand on any thing, denotes to infift on,value,orboaſt one-
felf of any quality; thus in Warner's Albion's-England;
"For ftoutly on their honefties doe wylie harlots ftand."
B. 6. C. 30.
"Mafter Stephen, as fimple as I ftand here.] This was a phraſe
in common ufe;
"He's a Juftice of peace in his country,
"Simple though I ftand here.
Merry Wives of Windfor, Act. 1, Sc. 1.
"You prophecy'd of the lofs of a chain: fimply though I
"ftand here, I was he that loft it." Puritan, Act 3, Sc. 6.
Again in The return from Parnaffus, 1616,
"I am
Stercutio, his father, Sir, fimple as I ftand here." Act 2, Sc.4.
And in The Tragedy of Soliman and Perfeda, 1599,
"I was one of the mummers myſelf, ſimple as I ſtand here."
་
Every Man in his Humour.
29
Step. Not you, fir? you were not beft, fir; an' you
ſhould, here be them can perceive it, and that quickly
too; go to: And they can give it again ſoundly too,
an' need be.
Serv. Why, fir, let this fatisfy you; good faith, I
had no fuch intent.
Step. Sir, an' I thought you had, I would talk with
'you, and that preſently.
Serv. Good mafter Stephen, fo you may, fir, at
your pleaſure.
Step. And ſo I would, fir, good my faucy compa-
nion! an' you were out o' mine uncle's ground, I can
tell you; though I do not ſtand upon my gentility
neither in't.
Kno. Coufin! coufin! will this ne'er be left?
Step. Whorfon baſe fellow! a mechanical ferving
man! By this cudgel, an' 'twere not for fhame, I
would
Kno. What would you do, you peremptory gull
If you cannot be quiet, get you hence.
You fee, the honeſt man demeans himſelf
Modeftly towards you, giving no reply
To your unfeafon'd, quarrelling, rude faſhion :
And ſtill you huff it, with a kind of carriage
As void of wit as of humanity.
Go, get you in; 'fore heaven, I am aſham'd
Thou haft a kinfman's intereſt in me. [Exit Stephen.
Serv. I pray, fir, is this maſter Kno-well's houfe?
Kno. Yes, marry is it, fir.
Serv. I fhould enquire for a gentleman here, one
maſter Edward Kno'well; do you know any ſuch, fir,
I pray you?
Kno.
12 You peremptory gull?] Abfolute fool, or idiot. In the per-
fons of the play, Mafter Stephen is called a Country Gull, and
Maſter Matthew the Town Gull. Dekkar, our poet's great ad-
verſary, wrote a fatirical pamphlet in 1609, named the Gul's
Horn-book.-A gofling in many counties is called a Gull.
Thus in Wily Beguiled;-"And fo we'll make a gull of the
one, and a gooſe of the other."
30
Every Man in his Humour.
Kno. I fhould forget my felf elf, fir.
Serv. Are you the gentleman? cry you mercy, fir
I was requir'd by a gentleman i' the city, as I rode out
at this end o' the town, to deliver you this letter, fir.
Kno. To me, fir! What do you mean? pray you
remember your court'fie. (To his moft felected friend
mafter Edward Kno'well.) What might the gentle-
man's name be, fir, that fent it? nay, pray you be
'cover'd.
Serv. One mafter Well-bred, fir.
Kno, Maſter Well-bred! A young gentleman? is
he not?
Serv. The fame, fir, mafter Kitely married his fifter;
the rich merchant i'the Old Jewry.
Kno. Youfay very true. Brain-worm.
Brai. Sir.
Kno. Make this honeſt friend drink here: pray you
go in.
This letter is directed to my fon :
Yet I am Edward Kno'well too, and may,
With the fafe confcience of good manners, uſe
The fellow's error to my fatisfaction.
Well, I will break it ope (old men are curious)
Be it but for the ſtile's fake, and the phraſe,
To fee if both do anſwer my fon's praiſes,
Who is almoft grown the idolater
Of this young Well-bred: what have we here? what's
this?
The LETTE R.
HY, Ned, I befeech thee, haft thou forfworn
W all thy friends i'the Old Jewry? or doft thou
think us all Jews that inhabit there? yet if thou doft,
¹³come over, and but ſee our frippery; change an old
fhirt
13 Come over and but ſee our frippery; ] Frippery, Fr. Frip-
perie, old clothes, or the place where they are fold; the Jews
dealing
Every Man in his Humour.
31
·
fhirt for a whole fmock with us: do not conceive that
antipathy between us and Hogfden, as was between
Jews and hogs-flefh. Leave thy vigilant father alone,.
to number over his green apricots, evening and morn-
ing, o' the north-weft wall: an' I had been his fon,
I had fav'd him the labour long fince, if taking in all
the young wenches that paſs by at the back door, and
codling every kernel of the fruit for 'em, would ha'
ferv'd. But pr'y thee come over to me quickly, this
morning; I have fuch a prefent for thee (our Turky
company never fent the like to the Grand-Signior).
One is a rimer, fir, 140' your own batch, your own lea-
ven; but doth think himſelf poet-major o'the town,
ling to be ſhown, and worthy to be feen. The other-
I will not venture his defcription with you, till you
come, becauſe I would ha' you make hither with an
appetite. If the worft of 'em be not worth your jour-
ney, draw your bill of charges, as unconſcionable as
any Guild-hall verdict will give it you, and you ſhall
be allow'd your viaticum.
wil-
15 From the Windmill.
16 From
dealing formerly, as they now do, in caft-off fuits of apparel.
So Shakspeare in the Tempeft,
"Look what a wardrobe is here for thee,
"We know what belongs to a frippery.'
And fo in Maffinger's City Madam,
>>
A & 4.
A&I, Sc. I.
"He fhews like a walking Frippery.
14 O' your own batch, your own leaven;] Our author has uſed
the fame metaphor in his tragedy of Catiline;
"Except he were of the fame meal, and batch."-A&4, Sc. 3e
A batch of bread, as Mr. Steevens juftly remarks, in his
note on Act 5, Sc. 1, of Troilus and Creffida, is bread made
out of the fame flour, and all baked at one time.
15 From the WIND-MILL.] This houſe then ſtood at the
corner of the Old Jewry, towards Lothbury; and was remark-
able for the various changes it had fucceffively undergone.
The Jews ufed it at firft for a Synagogue: afterwards it came
·
into
32
Every Man in his Humour.
:
16 From the Bordello, it might come as well,
The Spittle, or Pict-hatch. Is this the man
My fon hath fung fo, for the happieſt wit,
The choiceft brain, the times have fent us forth?
into the poffeffion of a certain order of friars called de Pœni-
tentia Fefu, or Fratres de Sacca, from their being cloathed in
fackcloth. In procefs of time, it was converted to a private
houfe, wherein feveral mayors refided, and kept their
mayoralty. In the days of Stow, from whom this account is
taken, it was a wine-tavern, and had for the fign a wind-mill.
See STOW's Survey by STRYPE, L. III. p. 54.
In an old poem called, Newes from Bartholmew Fayre, in
4to. B. L. where there is an enumeration of taverns, the
Windmill is mentioned amongſt others;
"The Windmill in Lothbury, the Ship at the Exchange,
"King's-Head in New Fish-Street, where royfters do range."
16 From the Bordello, it might come as well,
The Spittle, or Pict-hatch.] From the Brothel or Stews, for
which the bankfide in Southwark was anciently noted.-
Spittle is in general an hofpital, but feemingly here to be un-
derftood of the Loke, or Lock hofpital for venereal patients at
Kingfland, in the neighbourhood of Hogfden.-Pict-hatch
was an infamous receptacle of proſtitutes and pickpockets.
It is faid to have been in Turnbull, more properly Turnmill,
or as Stow calls it Tremill-ftreet, near Clerkenwell-green.
It might be fo, but the true fituation of it, I think, is not
clearly made out. There are one or two defiles, in the ſkirts
of the town, formerly poffeffed by this kind of gentry, which
had the name of Hatches. One in particular, named the
Half-penny Hatch, from the toll paid at paffing it, at no
great diſtance from where the Globe playhouſe formerly
ftood, leading out towards Lambeth-Marfh; and another, if
I miſtake not, which goes from the fields near Hogfden to
Kingfland-road. Pickt-hatch was fo called from pikes or
fpikes on the top of it. Shore-ditch was likewife a noted
harbour for thieves and ftrumpets. All theſe places are men-
tioned together in Randolph's Mufes Looking-glafs, 1638.
"Of my fair manor of Clerkenwell, is pounds
"So many, befides new-year's capons,-the lordſhip
“Of Turnbal fo-which with my Pict-hatch, Grange,
"And Shoreditch farm, &c.
A&t 4, Sc. 3.
See Merry Wives of Windfor, Act 2, Sc. 2, Ed. 1778.
with Mr. Steevens's note.
Every Man in his Humour:
33
I know not what he may be in the arts,
Nor what in ſchools; but furely, for his manners,
17 I judge him a prophane and diffolute wretch:
Worfe by poffeffion of fuch great good gifts,
Being the maſter of fo looſe a ſpirit.
Why, what unhallow'd ruffian would have writ
In fuch a fcurrilous manner, to a friend!
Why ſhould he think, I tell my apricots,
Or play th' Hefperian dragon with my fruit,
To watch it? Well, my fon, I had thought, you
Had had more judgment to have made election
18 Of your companions, than t'have ta'en on truſt
Such petulant, jeering gamefters, that can ſpare
No argument, or fubject from their jeft.
But I perceive affection makes a fool
Of any man, too much the father.
Brai. Sir.
Brain-worm.
Kno. Is the fellow gone that brought this letter?
Brai. Yes, fir, a pretty while fince.
Kno. And where's your young Maſter ?
Brai. In his chamber, firs
Kno. He ſpake not with the fellow, did he?
Brai. No, fir, he ſaw him not.
Vol. I.
E
Kno.
17 I judge him a prophane and diffolute wretch.] Profane is not
an impious or irreligious perfon, but one of grofs, licentious
converfation: fo Shakſpeare uſes it,
"What profane wretch art thou?" Othello, A&t 1. Sc. 1,
And again,
19
“Is he not a moſt profane and liberal counſellor?"
Act 2. Sc. I.
I had thought, you
Had had more judgement to have made election
Of your companions.] Hamlet fupplies us with a fimilar fen-
timent and expreffion:
"Since my dear foul was miftrefs of herſelf,
"And could of men diftinguiſh, her election
"Hath feal'd thee for herſelf."
A&
Act 3. Sc. 2.
34
Every Man in his Humour.
Kno. Take you this letter, and deliver it my fon;
But with no notice that I have open'd it, on your life.
Brai. O lord, fir, that were a jeft indeed!
Kno. I am refolv'd I will not ftop his journey,
Nor practiſe any violent means to ſtay
Th' unbridled courſe of youth in him; for that
Reftrain'd, grows more impatient; and in kind
Like to the eager, but the generous grey-hound,
Who ne'er fo little from his game with-held,
Turns head, and leaps up at his holder's throat.
There is a way of winning more by love,
And urging of the modefty, than fear¹9:
Force works on fervile natures, not the free.
He that's compell'd to goodneſs, may be good;
But 'tis but for that fit: where others, drawn
By foftneſs and example, get a habit.
Then, if they ſtray, but warn 'em; and the fame
They ſhould for virtue have done, they'll do fer
fhame.
SCENE III.
Edw. Know'ell, Brain-worm, Mafter Stephen.
E. Kn. Did he open it, fay'ft thou?
Brai. Yes, o'my word, fir, and read the contents.
19 There is a way of winning more by love,
E. Kn.
And urging of the modesty, than fear, &c.] TERENCE is the
author of theſe fentiments, which are adapted with the utmoſt
propriety of character to the temper of the ſpeaker.
Pudore, & liberalitate liberos
Retinere, fatius effe credo, quàm metu.
Malo coactus qui fuum officium facit,
Dum id refcitum iri credit, tantifper cavet.
Hoc patrium eft, potius confuefacere filium
Suá fponte recte facere, quam alieno metu.
Adelp. A&t 1. Sc. E.
Every Man ร
35
in his Humour.
E. Kn. That ſcarce contents me*. What coun-
tenance (pr'y thee ) made he, i'th' reading of it? was
he angry, or pleas'd?
Brai. Nay, fir, I faw him not read it, nor open it,
I affure your worship.
E. Kn. No? how know't thou, then, that he did
either?
Brai. Marry, fir, becauſe he' charg'd me, on my
life, to tell nobody that he open'd it; which unleſs he
had done, he would never fear to have it reveal'd.
E. Kn. That's true: well, I thank thee, Brain-worm.
Step. O, Brain-worm, did'it thou not fee a fellow
here in a what'fha'-call-him doublet? he brought mine
uncle a letter e'en now.
Brai. Yes, mafter Stephen: what of him?
Step. O, I ha' fuch a mind to beat him
Where is he? canft thou tell?
Brai. Faith, he is not of that mind: he is gone,
mafter Stephen.
Step. Gone! which way? when went he? how long
fince?
Brai, He is rid hence: he took horfe at the ftreet-
door.
Step. And I ſtaid i' the fields! horfon Scanderbag20
rogue! O that I had but a horſe to fetch him back
again.
E 2
Brai.
*That Scarce contents me.] The faſhion of playing on the
word, pervaded, in our author's time, the Stage, the Bar, the
Pulpit, and the Senate; we may therefore pardon in the Play-
wright, what was common to all ranks and profeffions.
20
Horfon Scanderbag rogue!] Scanderbeg, or Ifchenderbeg,
which as Leunclavius tells us fignifies Lord Alexander, was the
name the Turks gave to their valiant enemy George Caftriot,
Prince of Albania; who is faid to have killed two thouſand
Turks with his own hand, never to have loft a battle, and
never to have been wounded. He died, in 1467. There is
his hiſtory in Engliſh, with this title; "The Hiftorie of
"George
36
Every Man in his Humour,
Brai. Why, you may ha' my mafter's gelding, to
fave your longing, fir.
Step. But I ha' no boots, that's the ſpight on't.
Brai. Why, a fine whifp of hay, roul'd hard, mafter
Stephen.
Step. No, faith, it's no boot to follow him, now: let
him e'en go and hang. Pr'y thee, help to trufs me §
a little. He does ſo vex me→
Brai. You'll be worſe vex'd when you are trufs'd,
mafter Stephen. Beft keep unbrac'd, and walk your
felf 'till you be cold; your choler may founder you
elſe.
Step.
"George Caftriot, furnamed Scanderbeg, King of Alba-
"nie. Containing his famous actes, his noble deedes of Armes,
"and memorable victories against the Turkes, for the Faith
"of Chrift. Compriſed in twelve Bookes: By Jaques de La-
"vardin, Lord of Pleffis Bourrot, a Nobleman of France.
"Newly tranflated out of French into Engliſh, by Z. J.
"Gentleman.-London, imprinted for William Ponsonby,
1596." Prefixed to this tranflation is the following copy
of verſes, by Spenfer.
"
"Upon the Hiftorie of George Caftriot, alias Scanderbeg,
"king of the Epirots, tranflated into Engliſh.'
"Wherefore doth vaine antiquitie fo vaunt,
"Her ancient monuments of mightie peeres,
"And old Heroes, which their world did daunt
"With their great deedes, & fil'd their childrens eares?
"Who rapt with wonder of their famous praiſe,
"Admire their ftatues, their Coloffoes great,
"Their rich triumphall Arcks which they did raiſe,
"Their huge Pyramids, which do heaven threat.
"Lo one, whom later age hath brought to light,
"Matchable to the greateſt of thoſe great:
"Great both by name, and great in power and might,
"And meriting a meere triumphant feate.
99
"The fcourge of Turkes, and plague of infidels,
"Thy acts, o Scanderbeg, this volume tels.
'ED. SPENSER.
Pry'thee help to trufs me.] This means to button, or tie the
points of, his doublet; to trufs a point is a phrafe not quite
difufed at this day. Trufs was alfo formerly the name for
fome part of the dreſs.
"Puts off his Palmer's weed into his trufs."
Drayton's Polyclbion, Song 12, Page 898, 8vo. Ed.
Every Man in his Humour,
37
Step. By my faith, and fo I will; now thou tell'ft
me on't: How do'ft thou like my leg, Brain-worm?
Brai. A very good leg, mafter Stephen; but the
woollen ftocking does not commend it fo well.
Step. Foh, the ftockings be good enough, now
fummer is coming on, for the duft: I'll have a pair
of filk againſt winter, that I go to dwell i'th'town. I
think my leg would fhew in a filk hoſe—²
Brai. Believe me, maſter Stephen, rarely well.
Step. In fadnefs, I think it would: I have a reafon-
able good leg.
Brai. You have an excellent good leg, maſter
Stephen; but I cannot ftay to praiſe it longer now,
and I am very forry for❜t.
Step. Another time will ferve, Brain-worm. Gra
mercy for this.
E. Kno. Ha, ha, ha.
[Kno'well laughs, having read the letter.
Step. 'Slid, I hope he laughs not at me; an he do-
E. Kno. Here was a letter indeed, to be intercepted
by a man's father, and do him good with him! He
cannot but think moſt virtuouſly, both of me, and
the
21 I think my leg would fhew in a filk hofe.] The humour of
theſe half-witted gallants, with relation to their dreſs, and
particularly the furniture of their legs, is frequently taken
notice of by our old comedians.
"Sir Tob. I did think by the excellent conftitution of thy
"leg, it was formed under the ſtar of a galliard.
"Sir And. Aye, 'tis ftrong; and it does indifferent well in
"a flame-coloured ftocking.
་་
SHAKSPEARE'S Twelfth-Night, Act 1. Sc. 4.
This paffion for the finery of ſilk ſtockings we find in
other dramatic writers;
"This town craves maintenance; filk ſtockings must be had."
Miſeries of inforced Marriage.
See Mr. Reed's note on The Roaring Girl, A&t 3, Page 86.
And in The Hog hath loft his Pearl, 1614, Good parts
"without habiliments of gallantry, are no more fet by in
“theſe times, than a good leg in a woollen flocking." A& 1. Sc. 1.
"
38
Every Man in his Humour.
·
the fender, fure; that make the careful coftar'*-mon-
ger of him in our familiar epiftles. Well, if he read
this with patience I'll be gelt, 22 and troll ballads for
Mr. John Trundle yonder, the reft of my mortality.
It is true, and likely, my father may have as much
patience as another man; for he takes much phyfick:
and oft taking phyfick makes a man very patient. But
would your packet, mafter Well-bred, had arrived at
him in fuch a minute of his patience; then we had
known the end of it, which now is doubtful, and
threatens -What! my wife coufin! nay, then
I'll furniſh our feaſt with one gull more toward the
mefs. He writes to me of a brace, and here's one,
that's
* Coftar'.] An abbreviation of coftard, an apple; a coftar-
monger was anciently the title of a dealer in apples. Farquhar
in his Recruiting Officer, has named a clown Coftar Pearmain,
being a native of Herefordfhire, which abounds in apples.
22 And TROLL ballads for Mr. John Trundle yonder.] Cry, or
fing ballads; the expreffion common at that time.
64
Will you troul the catch
"You taught me but while ere. "
SHAKSPEARE'S Tempeft, A& 3. Sc. 2.
And Milton in the Paradiſe Loft,
"To dreſs, to troll the tongue, and roll the eye." B. 11.V.620,
Applied likewiſe to a ring of bells
"The pleaſing changes that a well-tun'd cord
"Of trouling bells will make-”
Lingua, A&t 5. Sc. 9.
There is alſo a mode of fiſhing, called Trolling, Trouling,
or Trowling.
Mr. John Trundle was a printer, who lived at the fign of
the No-body in Barbican. Amongſt other pieces ſuited to the
humour of the times, he publiſhed a book entitled Weftward
for Smelts, &c. printed firft in 1603, and again in 1620, to
which Shakspeare is thought to have been indebted for part of
the fable of Cymbeline. See Supp. to Shakspeare, Vol. 1.
p. 82, 249. He publifhed alfo an edition of Greene's Tu
quoque, or The Cittie Gallant, written by J. Cooke, Gent.
in 4to. 1614. He is not mentioned in the 4to.. edition of
this play.
·
Every Man in his Humour.
39
that's three: Oh for a fourth! Fortune, if ever thou’lt
ufe thine eyes, I entreat thee
Step. Oh, now I fee who he laught at. He laught
at fome body in that letter. By this good light, an' he
had laught at me→→
E. Kn. How now, coufin Stephen, melancholy?
Step. Yes, a little. I thought you had laught at
me, coufin.
E. Kn. Why, what an' I had, couz? what would
you ha' done?
Step. By this light, I would ha' told mine uncle.
E. Kn. Nay, if you would ha' told your uncle, I did
laugh at you, couz.
Step. Did you, indeed?
E. Kn. Yes, indeed.
Step. Why then
E. Kn. What then?
Step. I am fatisfied, it is fufficient.
E. Kn. Why, be fo, gentle couz. And, I pray you,
let me intreat a courtefie of you. I am fent for, this
morning, by a friend i'th' Old Jewry, to come to
him; It's but croffing over the fields to Moor-gate :
will you bear me company? I proteſt, it is not to draw
you into bond, or any plot againſt the ſtate, couz.
Step. Sir, that's all one, an' 'twere; you fhall com-
mand me twice fo far as Moor-gate, to do you good
in fuch a matter. Do you think I would leave you? I
proteſt-
E. Kn. *No, no, you fhall not proteſt, couz.
Step.
* No, no, you ſhall not proteft, couz.] There appears to have
been fomething affected or ridiculous, at this time, in ufing
the word proteft. Thus the Nurfe in Romeo and Juliet, Act 2.
$. 4. "I will tell her, Sir, that you do proteft; which, as I
take it, is a gentleman-like offer." And in the old Comedy of
Sir Giles Goofecap, 1606, as cited by Mr. Steevens in a note;
"There is not the beſt duke's fon in France dares ſay,
proteft, before he is one and thirty years old at leaft; for the
inheritance of that word is not to be poffeffed before."
40
Every Man in his Humour:
1
Step. By my fackings, but I will, by your leave;
I'll proteft more to my friend, than I'll ſpeak of at
this time.
E. Kn. You ſpeak very well, couz.
Step. Nay, not fo neither, you ſhall pardon me :
but I ſpeak to ſerve my turn.
E. Kn. Your turn, couz? do you know what you
fay? 23 A gentleman of your fort, parts, carriage, and
eftimation, to talk o' your turn i' this company, and
to me alone, 24 like a tankard-bearer at a conduit! fie!
A wight that (hitherto) his every ſtep hath left the
ftamp of a great foot behind him, as every word
the favour of a ſtrong ſpirit! and he! this man! fo
graced, gilded, or (to uſe a more fit metaphor) fo
tin-foiled by nature, as not ten houſewives pewter
(*again a good time) fhews more bright to the world
than
23 A gentleman of your fort. ]That is, rank or degree in life:
So in Shakspeare;
Woul
None of nobler fort
"Would fo offend a Virgin."
>>
Midfum. Night's Dream, Act 3. Sc. 3.
"It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great Sort."Hen. V.
Act 4. Sc. 7. And fo Drayton in his Barons Wars;
"Men moft felect, of fpecial worth and fort." 2 Capt. 40.
24 Like a tankard-bearer at a conduit!] A fervant or an ap-
prentice, whoſe buſineſs it was to fetch water in a large veſſel
called a tankard, from the conduits, for the ufe of the family.
"I left my tankard to guard the Conduit.'
""
Four Prentices of London, A&t. 1. Sc. 1.
And in Eastward-Hoe; "Wilt thou bear tankards, and
may'ſt bear arms? "
A&t 1. Sc. 1.
Gob, in this play, is profeffionally a tankard-bearer. This
clafs of people, fince the abolition of conduits in London, has
become extinct; in Edinburgh, water-bearers and their
tankards are ſtill in ufe: the tankard is a kind of pitcher
made of leather, large enough to contain ſeveral gallons.
* Again a good time. ] i. e. a merry meeting; Bontemps, a
Gallicifm, having that fignification. Hence Roger Bontems be-
came the title of a French jeft book, publiſhed at Cologne, in
1731.
Mr. Steevens.
Again
Every Man in his Humour.
41
than he! and he (as I ſaid laſt, ſo I ſay again, and
ſtill ſhall ſay it) this man! to conceal ſuch real orna-
ments as theſe, and ſhadow their glory, as a milliner's
wife does her wrought ftomacher, with 25a fmoaky
lawn, or a black cyprus! O couz! it cannot be an-
Vol. I.
fwered,
F
""
Again was frequently in this age uſed for againſt; Thus our
author in The Silent Woman; "It goes again my
"It goes again my confcience."
A& 4.. Sc. 2.
And Stow in his Annals, Édit. 1580, p. 758.
"William the Lord Haftings, a nobleman then Lord
Chamberlaine, againe whom the Queene fpecially grudged:"
And in Maflinger's City Madam;
«
a Caudle,
Again you rife.
"''
A& 3. Sc. 1.
Again a good time means against fome feftival, as Chriſtmas,
&c. when Houſe-wives are careful to fet their furniture out
to the greateſt advantage.
So
* A milliners wife, ] In the 4to, of 1601, it is a Millaner's
wife, which was the orthography of Jonfon's age.
Greene, in his Quip for an Upftart Courtier;
"And first to the Millainer; what toye devifeth he
"to feed the humour of the Upftart Gentleman ?"
And this points out the etymology of the word, for perſons
exercifing the trade of a Millaner, came originally from Milan;
as Bankers, who formerly refided chiefly in Lombard-Street,
did from Lombardy.
25 A fmoaky lawn or a black cyprus.] Cyprus is a kind of thin
tranfparent crape, fo called from being originally manufac-
tured in the Iſland Cyprus,
Wi-
It is mentioned in Shakspeare's Winter's Tale,
"Cyprus black as any Crow."
Act 4. Sc. 3.
And in the old Comedy of the Puritan, Edmond, the Wi-
dow's fon, makes his entry in a Cyprus hat; i. e. with a crape
Hatband in it.
A&t 1. Sc. 1.
The tranſparency of it is taken notice of by Donne;
"As men which thro' a Cyprus fee
*
The rifing Sun."
Eclogue on the Martriage of the Earl of Somerfet.
And in our Author's 73d. epigram;
<<
One half drawn
"In Solemn Cyprus, th' other cobweb lawn."
42
Every Man in his Humour.
fwered, go not about it. 26Drake's old fhip at Dept-
'ford may fooner circle the world again. Come, wrong
not the quality of your defert, with looking down-
ward, couz; but hold up your head, fo; and let
the idea of what you are be pourtrayed i' your face,
that men may read i' your phyfnomy, Here within
this place is to be feen the true, rare, and accompliſh-
ed monſter, or miracle of nature, which is all qne.
What think you of this, couz?
Step. Why, I do think of it; and I will be § more
proud, and melancholy, and gentleman-like, than I
have been; I'll infure you.
E. Kn. Why, that's refolute, maſter Stephen! Now,
if I can but hold him up to his height, as it is happi-
ly begun, 27 it will do well for a ſuburb humour: we
may hap have a match with the city, and play him
for forty pound. Come, couz.
Step. I'll follow you.
E. Kn. Follow me? you must go before.
Step. Nay, an' I muft, I will.
me, good couſin.
SCENE
Pray you ſhew
IV.
Mafter Matthew, Cob.
Mat. I think this be the houſe: what, hough?
Cob.
26 Drake's old fhip at Deptford may fooner circle the world
again.] After this celebrated Navigator had returned from his
V Voyage round the World, his fhip was laid up at Deptford
and vifited as a fingular curiofity. Among Cowley's verfes
written on ſeveral occafions, is an ode on fitting and drinking
in the chair made out of the reliques of Sir Francis Drake's
Ship.
See Mr. Reed's note on Eaſtward-Hoe, Act 4.
Qld Plays, Vol. 4. page 254.
$ More proud, and melancholy, and gentleman like,] See below,
Act 3. Sc. 1. Note 4.
27 It will do well for a fuburb humour.] A low humour, not
tinctured with urbanity; fitted to the taste of the inferior
people, who uſually dwell in the ſuburbs.
Every Man in his Humour.
43
Cob. Who's there? O, maſter Matthew! gi' your
worſhip good morrow.
Mat. What! Cob! how doft thou, good Cob?
doft thou inhabit here, Cob?
Cob. Ay, fir, I and my lineage ha' kept a poor houſe
here, in our days.
Mat. Thy lineage, Monfieur Cob, what lineage?
what lineage?
Cob. Why fir, an ancient lineage, and a princely.
Mine ance❜try came from a king's belly, no worfe man:
and yet no man neither (by your worship's leave, I
did lie in that) but 28 Herring the king of fish (from
his belly I proceed) one o' the monarchs o' the world,
I affure you. The first red herring that was broiled
in Adam and Eve's kitchen, do I fetch my pedigree.
from, *by the harrot's book. His Cob was my great-
great-nighty-great-grand-father.
Mat. Why mighty? why mighty? I pray thee.
Cob. O, it was a mighty while ago, fir, and a
mighty great Cob.
F 2
Mat.
28 Herring the king of fiſh.] This may be illuſtrated, with the
following allufion to the name of Cob, from a paffage in
Nafh's Lenten Stuff, or the praise of the red herring, 1599,
"None won the days in this, but the herring; whom all
"their clamorous fuffrages faluted with Vive le Roy, God fave
"the King, God fave the King."-In the fame pamphlet, a red
herring is called a Cob: "He eftfoons defined unto me, that
"the red herring was this old tickle Cob." but why it is fo
called I am not able to fay. It is fo ufed in the fecond part of
The Honeſt Whore ;- "He can come bragging hither with
four white herrings, but I may ftarve ere he give me fo
much as a Cob." Old Plays, Vol. 3. page 440. Mr. Malone
with great judgement has drawn Nafhe's character as a wri-
ter; Effay to afcertain the order of Shakspeare's Plays, page295.
By the harrot's book. The vulgar pronunciation for he-
rald's. Thus in "A Dialogue both pleafaunte & pietifull, &c. by.
William Bulleyn, Lond. 1564," 12mo, "Sir when the battaile
was pitched, and appointed to be foughten, nere unto this
"Windmill, and the Somons geven by the Harottes of
“Arms." £o. 45•
66
44
Every Man in his Humour.
1
Mat. How know'ft thou that?
Cob. How know I? why, I fmell his ghoft, ever
and anon.
Mat. Smell a ghoft! O unfavory jeft! and the
ghoſt of a herring Cob.
Gob. Ay, fir, with favour of your worfhip's nofe,
Mafter Matthew, why not the ghoft of a herring
Cob, as well as the ghoft of Rafher-Bacon?
Mat. Roger Bacon, thou would'ſt ſay.
Cob. I fay Rafher-Bacon. They were both broil'd
o'th' coles; and a man may fmell broil'd meat, I
hope? you are a ſcholar, upfolve me that, now.
Mat. O raw ignorance! Cob, can'ft thou fhew me
of a gentleman, one captain Bobadill, where his
lodging is?
Cob. O, my gueft, fir, you mean.
Mat. Thy gueft! alas! ha, ha.
Cob. Why do you laugh, fir! do you not mean
captain Bobadill ?
Mat. Cob, 'pray thee adviſe thyfelf well: do not
wrong the gentleman, and thyfelf too. 29I dare be
fworn, he fcorns thy houfe, he! he lodge in fuch
a bafe obfcure place, as thy houfe! Tut, I know his
difpofition fo well, he would not lie in thy bed, if
thou 'dft gi't him.
Cob. I will not give it him, though, fir. Mafs, I
thought fomewhat was in't, we could not get him to
bed all night: Well, fir, though he lye not o' my
bed,
29 I dare be fworn, he fcorns thy houfe, be!] The repetition of
the pronouns of each perfon is common in our antient poets.
So inWily Beguiled. "I like not this learning without living, I.
Hawkins's Orig. of the Drama, Vol. 3. page 32247
and in Marlow's Edward II,
"I am none of theſe common Pedants, I."
Old Plays, Vol. 2. page 342.
See other inftances by Dr. Farmer, Mr. Steevens, and
Mr. Malone in note to 2d. Part of Henty IV. A&t 2. Sc. 4.
Every Man in his Humour.
45
bed, he lyes o' my bench: an't pleaſe you to go up,
fir, you fhall find him with two cufhions under his
head, and his cloke wrapt about him, as though he
had neither won nor loſt, and yet (1 warrant) he ne'er
3ºcaft better in his life, than he has done to night.
Mat. Why? was he drunk?
Cob. Drunk, fir? you hear not me fay fo. 31 Perhaps
he ſwallow'd a tavern token, or fome fuch device,
fir, I have nothing to do withal. I deal with water
and not with wine. Gi' me my tankard there, hough.
God b' w' you, fir. It's fix a clock: I fhou'd ha'
carried two turns, by this. What hough! my ftop-
ple, come.
Mat.
30 He ne'er caft better in his life,] A quibble on cafting or
throwing dice at play, and on eafing an overloaded ſtomach
by vomiting. We have a like play upon the word in thefe
inftances; "What a drunken knave was the fea, to caft thee
"in our way?"
Pericles, Act 2 Sc. I.
"Doft thou not know numbers? can't thou not caft?
Caft? doft thou fpeak of my cafting i' the street ?"
Puritan, Act 3. Sc. I.
ce
31 Perhaps he fwallowed a tavern token.] A token is properly
a memorial of friendſhip, or pledge of remembrance. Hence
a piece of money divided between two perfons, each of which
kept half of it, was called a Token.
"I'll break this angel: take thou half of it; this is a token
"betwixt thee and me.
">
First Part of Sir John Oldcastle, Act 3 Sc. 2.
Thus, in the Office of Matrimony, the ring, given and
received, is called a token and pledge. And hence the name of
Farthing-tokens was given to the finall pieces of brafs or cop-
per, that tradeſmen were permitted to coin for their own uſe,
and which paffed current in the neighbourhood where they
lived. The word occurs in Dekkar's Honeft Whore:
"A fpleen not ſo big as a tavern-token.” A&t 1. Sc. 4.
Where Mr. Reed, from Philocothonifta, a pamphlet, pube
liſhed in 1635, remarks, that to ſwallow a tavern-token, was a
cant term to fignify the getting drunk.
46
Every Man in his Humour.
Mat. Lye in a Water-bearer's houfe! A gentleman
3'of his havings! Well, I'll tell him my mind.
Cob. What, Tib, fhew this gentleman up to the
captain. Oh, an' my houfe were the brazen-head
now! faith it would e'en fpeak 33" Mo fools yet." You
fhould ha' fome now would take this mafter Matthew
to be a gentleman, at the leaſt. His father's an ho-
neft man, a worſhipful fishmonger, and fo forth; and
now does he creep, and wriggle into acquaintance
with all the brave gallants about the town, fuch as
my gueſt is: (O, my gueft is a fine man) and they
flout him invincibly. He ufeth every day to a mer
chant's houſe (where I ferve water) one mafter Kitely's
i' the Old Jewry; and here's the jeft, he is in love
with my mafter's fifter, (Mrs. Bridget) and calls her
miſtreſs: and there he will fit you a whole afternoon
fometimes, reading o' thefe fame abominable, vile,
(a pox on 'em, I cannot abide them) 34 rafcally verſes,
Poyetry,
32 A gentleman of his havings!] Of his fortune and poffeff-
ions. So the word is uſed by our Author's contemporaries;
The gentleman is of no having."
Merry Wives of Windfor, A& 3. Sc. 2.
And again in Twelfth Night;
""
My having is not much.'
In the fame manner likewife by Randolph;
A&t 3. Sc. 4.
"One of your havings, and thus cark and care!
Mufes Looking-Glaſs, Act 2. Sc. 4.
It feems to have been taken from the Latin phrafe,
Amor fceleratus habendi.
The 4to reads, "A gentleman of his note ?"
33" Mo fools yet."] This obfolete word Mo, for more, is to
be found in almoſt all our old writers; I will give but one
inftance; "A thouſand mo waies could I tell, and not miffe."
New Cuftom, Act 2. Old Plays, Vol. 1. page 276.
34 Abominable, vile, rafcally verfes, Poyetry, &c.] The number
of fmall wits and pretenders to poetry in this age, was very
great. Gafcoigne and Lodge, with fome others, had written
madrigals and paftoral fonnets in a natural and eaſy ſtrain.
This produced a herd of imitators, who by degrees brought
the
Every Man in his Humour.
47
Poyetry, and fpeaking of interludes; 'twill make a
man burſt to hear him. And the wenches, they do fo
geer, and ti-he at him-well, fhould they do fo
much to me, I'd forfwear them all, by the foot of
Pharaoh. There's an oath! How many water-bearers
fhall you hear fwear fuch an oath ?. O, I have a gueſt
(he teaches me) he does fwear the legibleft of any man
chriftned: By St. George, the foot of Pharaoh, the
body of me, as I am a gentleman and a foldier: fuch
dainty oaths! and withal, he does take this fame filthy
roguifh tobacco, the fineſt and cleanlieft! it would do
a man good to fee the fume come forth at's tonnels !35
Well,
the faſhion into contempt. The feverer poets, therefore, took
occafion to ridicule this affectation, by making it the object
of mirth, even to the vulgar themſelves. Mafter Matthew in-
deed might be very reaſonably excufed, both as a gentleman
and a lover. In the 4to. the word Abominable is fpelt Abho-
minable, and fo it is read in the Old Moralities and Dra-
matifts, and other antient Authors.
"A finne in fight of God, of great abhomination."
New Cuftom, Act 1. Sc. 2. Old Plays, Vol. 1. page 261.
"And then I wyll brynge in
"Abhominable Lyvyng."
Origin of the Drama, Vol. 1. Luſty Juventus, page 138.
Where fee Mr. Hawkins's note. And in Shakspeare's
Love's Labour Loft;
"This is abhomínable, which he would call abomin-
able." Act 5. Sc. 1.
I am aware that this remark, with others of the like na-
ture, may be cenfured as infignificant and trifling; but in a
work, where, according to juft criticifm, it is neceffary to
point out the variations of a language, at different periods, in
orthography and diction, an attention to the minutia literarum
hath a claim to pardon.
35 It would do a man good to fee the fume come forth at 's ton-
nels.] That is, his noftrils; through which theſe gallants
difcharged the fmoke of their tobacco, instead of their
mouth. The different pipes and channels in a chimney are
called tonnels. The metaphor inverted occurs in The Merry
Devil of Edmonton, 1617;
"The noftrils of his chimnies are ſtill ſtuff'd with fmoak.".
A& 1.
48
Every Man in his Humour.
}
Well, he owes me forty fhillings (my wife lent him
out of her purſe, by fix-pence at a time) befides his
lodging: I would I had it. I fhall ha't, he fays, the
next action, 36 Helter fkelter, hang forrow, care'll kill
a cat*, up-tails all, and a louſe for the hangman.
SCENE V.
Bobadill, Tib, Mafter Matthew.
[Bobad. is difcovered lying on his bench.37
Bob. Hoftefs, hoſteſs.
Tib. What fay you, fir?
Bob. A cup o' thy fmall beer, fweet hoftefs.
Tib.
36 Helter Skelter.] We uſe the expreffion, to denote a con-
fufed precipitate manner of doing a thing. Some have de-
rived it from the latin Hilariter Celeriter; and this etymology
may perhaps be fupported by the application of it in
Shakspeare;
"Sir John, I am thy Piftol, and thy friend,
"And belter Skelter had I rode to thee,
"And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys.'
Henry IV. 2d. part. Act 5. Sc. 4.
* Care'll kill a cat, uptails all. The firft of thefe expreffions
was proverbial. So Shakspeare, "What though care kill'd a
"cat, thou haft mettle enough in thee to kill care."
Much ado about nothing, A&t 5. Sc. 1.
The other as Mr. Steevens pointed out to me, occurs in an
old ballad, entitled " An Excellent new Medley," B. L.
"The Tinker ſwore that Tib his wife
"Would play at Uptailes all.”
And I find it, apparently as part of an old ballad, in The
Coxcomb, by Beaumont and Fletcher, Act 1.
"Then fet your foot to my foot, and Uptails all."
Again, in The Fleire, by Edward Sharpham, 1617;
"She, everie day fings John for the King, and at Uptails
"all thee's perfect.'
,,
37 Bobadill is difcovered lying on his BENCH.] The fame atti-
tude is given to a brother of the fociety, by Sir Thomas Over-
bury; Three large bavins fet up his trade, with a bench;
"which in the vacation of the afternoon, he ufes for his day-
"bed."
Character of an ordinary Fencer.
1
Every Man in his Humour:
49
Fib. Sir, there's a gentleman, below, would fpeak
with you.
Bob. A gentleman! 'ods fo, I am not within.
Tib. My huſband told him you were, fir.
Bob. What a plague--what meant he ?
Mat. Captain Bobadill!
Bob. Who's there? (take away the bafon, good
hoſteſs) come up, fir.
Tib. He would defire you to come up, fir. You
come into a cleanly houfe, here.
Mat. 'Save you, fir; 'fave you, capta in.
Bob. Gentle maſter Matthew! Is it you, fir? Pleaſe
you to fit down.
Mat. Thank you, good captain; you may fee I am
fomewhat audacious.
Bob. Not fo, fir. I was requested to fupper, laſt
night, by a fort of gallants38, where you were wiſh'd
for, and drunk to, I affure you.
Mat. Vouchfafe me, by whom, good captain?
Bob. Marry, by young Well-bred and others :
Why, hoftefs, a ftool here, for this gentleman.
Mat. No hafte, fir, 'tis very well.
G
Vol. I.
Bob.
38 I was requested to Supper, laſt night, by a SORT of gallants.
Sort here means an affembly or company. Thus, in the old
tranflation of the Pfalms;
"Ye fhall be flain all the fort of you."
And fo in The Spanish Tragedy,
"Here are a fort of poor petitioners,
"That are importunate.
Pf. 62. 3.
Old Plays, Vol. 3. pagė 201.
And in the Tragedy of Ferrex and Porrex ;
The unchofen and unarmed Sort
66
"Of ſkilleffe rebelles."
A&t 5.Sc. I.
Act 5. Sc. 8.
The fame expreffion occurs alfo in Every Man out of his.
Humour.
But it would be endleſs to multiply authorities.
To confort feems of kindred with this word.
As in the following paffage ;
"Mercutio, thou confort'ft with Romeo." Rom. & Jul.
}
50
Every Man in his Humour.
Bob. Body o' me! it was fo late e're we parted laft
night, I can ſcarce open my eyes yet; I was but new
rifen, as you came: how paffes the day abroad, fir?
you can tell.
Mat. Faith, fome half hour to feven: now truſt
me, you have an exceeding fine lodging here, very
neat and private !
Bob. Ay, fir fit down, I pray you. Maſter Matthew
(in any cafe) poffefs no gentlemen of our ac-
quaintance with notice of my lodging39.
Mat. Who? I fir? no.
Bob. Not that I need to care who know it, for the
cabin is convenient; but in regard I would not be
too popular, and generally vifited, as fome are.
Mat. True, captain, I conceive you.
Bob. For do you fee, fir, by the heart of valour in
me, except it be to fome peculiar and choice fpirits,
to whom I am extraordinarily ingag'd, (as your felf,
or fo) I could not extend thus far.
Mat. O Lord, fir, I refolve fo.
Bob. I confefs, I love a cleanly and quiet privacy,
above all the tumult and roar of fortune. What new
book ha' you there? What! Go by, Hieronymo4
Mat.
39 Poffefs no gentlemen of our acquaintance with notice of my
lodging. Inform or tell no gentlemen of my lodging.
Poffefs us, poffefs us; tell us fomething of it."
Twelfth Night, Act 2. Sc. 3.
•
"I have poffeft him, my moſt ſtay
"
"Can be but brief." Méafure for Meaſure. Act 4. Sc. 1.
Is he yet poffefs'd
*C
"How much you would?" Merchant of Venice. A&t.
And, out of numerous examples, to add one more ;
"Now, ladies, is your project ripe? Poffefs us with the
knowledge of it." Brome's Jovial Crew, or The Merry
Beggars. Act 2. Old Plays, Vol. 10, page 351.
4º What new book ha' you there? What! Go by, Hieronymo !]
The piece referred to is The Spanish Tragedy; written by
Thomas Kyd; a play much admired by the populace, and as
much
Every Man in his Humour.
51
I
Mat. Ay, did you ever fee it acted? Is't not well
pen'd?
Bob. Well pen'd! I would fain fee all the poets, of
theſe times, pen fuch another play as that was! they'll
prate and fwagger, and keep a ftir of art and devices,
when (as I am a gentleman) read 'em, they are the
moſt ſhallow, pitiful, barren fellows, that live upon
the face of the earth again!
Mat. Indeed, here are a number of fine ſpeeches in
this book¹¹. "O eyes, no eyes, but fountains fraught
G 2
with
much derided by our old Comedians. The line here quoted
is in the 4th. Act;
King. Who is he that interrupts our buſineſs?
"Hiero. Not I: Hieronimo beware; go by, go by."
Old Plays, Vol. 3. page 190.
It is alfo ridiculed in the induction to Shakspeare's Taming
of the Shrew;
"Go by, Jeronimy ;-Go to thy cold bed and warm thee."
The laſt part of this ſentence alludes to the following line,
in the fecond act of the ſame play.
"What outcries pluck me from my naked bed?"
This and the following quotations are in the 4to. of 1601.
41 Here are a number of fine fpeeches in this book; O eyes, no
eyes, but fountains fraught with tears. ] We have here another
inftance from the third act of HIERONYMO, which may ferve
the reader as a fpecimen of that poetry and nature, which
reign throughout the whole. In the comedy call'd ALBU-
MAZAR, theſe verſes are ridiculed by the following parody:
99
I.
"O lips, no lips, but leaves befmear'd with mel-dew!
"O dew, no dew, but drops of honey-combs !
"O combs, no combs, but fountains full of tears!
"O tears, no tears, but
A&t 2. Sc. 1.
And they are again parodied in Maffinger's Old Law, A&t 5.
"Oh mufick, no mufick, but prove moft-doleful trumpets;
"Oh bride, no bride, but thou may'ft prove a ftrumpet."
I would beg leave to remark, that this kind of fatire, tho'
now grown into difufe, was frequently practifed by the poets
of this age, upon the dramatic compofitions of each other.
It found a place, likewife, in the earlieſt productions of the
ftage. The old comedy of the Greeks abounded with rail-
leries of this nature: and numerous examples might be pro-
duced from Ariftophanes, in which Euripides is treated by
him in the fame manner.
鲁
​52
Every Man in bis Humour.
with tears!" There's a conceit! fountains fraught
with tears! "O life, no life, but lively form of death!”
Another! "O world, no world, but mafs of publick
wrongs!" A third.! "Confus'd and fill'd with
"murder, and mifdeeds!" A fourth! O, the
mufes! Is't not excellent? Is't not fimply the
beſt that ever you heard, captain? Ha! how do you
like it?
Bob. 'Tis good.
Mat. To thee, the pureft object to my fenfe,
The moſt refined effence heaven covers,
Send I theſe lines, wherein I do commence
The happy ftate of turtle-billing lovers.
If they prove rough, unpolish'd, harſh, and rude,
Hafte made the wafte. Thus, mildly, I conclude.
Bob. Nay, proceed, proceed. Where's this?
*[Bobadill is making him ready all this while.
Mat. This, fir? a toy o' mine own, in my nonage;
the infancy of my mufes! but, when will you come
and ſee my ſtudy? good faith, I can fhew you fome
very
* Bobadill is making him ready.] Is dreffing. To make him-
felf ready or unready, was the common phrafe for a perfon's
dreffing or undreffing himſelf. In A match at Midnight, is this
ſtage direction; "He makes himſelf unready."
See other inftances in Mr. Steevens's note on Hen. VI. Part
1. Act 2. Sc. 1. And fo our author in The New Inn, ordering
the horſes to be unfaddled;
"Make unready the horfes."
Again, in Beaumont and Fletcher;
"Here's a priest ready, and a lady ready,
"A chamber ready, and a bed ready,
A&t 1. Sc. 6.
"Tis then but making unready, and that's foon done."
The Maid in the Mill, A& 4. Sc. 3.
And in The Island Princess, A& 3.
Make me unready,
"I flept but il, laft night."
Every Man in his Humour.
53
very good things, I have done of late.-That boot
becomes your leg, paffing well, captain, methinks!
Bob. So, fo, it's the faſhion gentlemen now uſe.
Mat. Troth captain, and now you fpeak o' the
faſhion, maſter Well-bred's elder brother and I are
fall'n out exceedingly; this other day, I happened to
enter into fome difcourfe of a hanger, which, I affure
you, both for faſhion and workmanſhip, was moft
peremptory-beautiful, and gentleman-like! yet he
condemn'd, and cry'd it down for the moſt pyed and
ridiculous that ever he faw.
Bob. Squire Downright, the half-brother, was't
not?
Mat. Ay, fir, he.
Bob. Hang him, rook, he! why he has no more
judgment than a malt-horſe: By St. George, I wonder
you'd lofe a thought upon fuch an animal; the moſt
peremptory abfurd clown of Chriftendom, this day, he
is holden. I proteft to you, as I am a gentleman and
a foldier, I ne'er chang'd words with his like. By his
difcourfe, he fhould eat nothing but hay: he was born
for the manger, pannier, or pack-faddle! He has not
fo much as a good phrafe in his belly, but all old
iron, and rufty proverbs! a good commodity for
ſome ſmith to make hob-nails of.
Mat.
+ So, fo, it's the fashion gentlemen now ufe.] The faſhion of
wearing boots prevailed fo univerfally at the latter end of
queen Elizabeth's, and during the reign of James, her fuc-
ceffor, that Gondomar, the Spaniſh embaffador, pleaſantly
remarked, that all the citizens of London were booted, and
ready, as he thought, to go out of town.
See Mr. Reed's note on the prologue to Sir John Suckling's
Comedy of The Goblins, 1646.
With boots they alfo wore remarkably long ſpurs, both on
foot and on horfeback; fo that in the laft parliament of queen
Elizabeth, the ſpeaker directed the members of the houſe of
commons to come without fpurs.
54
Every Man in his Humour.
Mat. Ay, and he thinks to carry it away with his
manhood, ftill, where he comes: he brags he will gi’
me the baſtinado, as I hear.
Bob. How! he the baftinado! how came he by that
word, trow?
Mat. Nay, indeed; he ſaid cudgel me; I term'd it
fo, for my more grace.
Bob. That may be; for I was fure it was none of
his word: but when? when faid he fo?
Mat. Faith, yeſterday, they fay; a young gallant,
a friend of mine told me fo.
Bob. By the foot of Pharaoh, and 'twere my cafe
now, I ſhould fend him a chartel preſently: the baſti-
nado! 42A moſt proper and fufficient dependance,
warranted by the great Caranza: come hither: you
fhall chartel him; I'll fhew you a trick or two, you
ſhall kill him with at pleaſure; *the firft ftoccata, if
you will, by this air.
Mat. Indeed, you have abfolute knowledge 'the
myſtery, I have heard, fir.
Bob. Of whom? of whom ha' you heard it, I be-
feech you?
Mat. Troth I have heard it ſpoken of divers, that
you have very rare, and un-in-one-breath-utter-able
fkill, fir.
Bob.
42 A moft proper and fufficient DEPENDANCE, warranted by
the great CARANZA. DEPENDANCE, when the duelling
fyftem was in vogue, fignified the ground or caufe of quarrel
So in The Elder Brother, by Beaumont and Fletcher;
"
your high offers,
"Taught by the Mafters of Dependencies." A&t5.Sc.I.
The reader may find the doctrine of dependencies humorously
explain'd in The Devil is an Afs, Act 3. Sc. 3, and by Shak-
fpeare in As you like it, Act 5. Sc. 4. Caranza was an author
who wrote a treatiſe on the Duella. As did alfo the learned.
Selden.
* The firft ftoccata.] The fencing term for a thruſt with a
rapier.
See below, Act 4. Sċ. 7. n. 32.
Every Man in his Humour.
55
Bob. By heav'n, no, not I; no ſkill i' the earth;
fome ſmall rudiments i' the fcience, as to know my
time, diſtance, or fo: I have profeſt it more for no-
blemen and gentlemens ufe, than mine own practice,
I affure you: hoftefs, accommodate us with another
bed-ſtaff here quickly: lend us another bed-ſtaff: the
woman does not underftand the words of action43.
Look you, fir: exalt not your point above this ftate,
at any hand, and let your poynard maintain your de
fence, thus; (give it the gentleman and leave us) fo,
fir. Come on: O, twine your body more about, that
you may fall to a more fweet, comely, gentleman-
like guard; fo, indifferent: hollow your body more,
fir, thus: now, ftand faſt o' your left leg, note your
diſtance, keep your due proportion of time44.-Oh,
you diſorder your point, moft irregularly!
Mat.
43 Hoftefs, ACCOMMODATE us with another bed-ftaff here
quickly; lend us another bed-ftaff: the woman does not understand
the WORDS OF ACTION.] Corporal Bardolph will explain to
us what the captain means by the words of action.
"Bard.
"Pardon me, fir, I have heard the word. Phraſe call you it?
"By this day, I know not the phrafe: but I will maintain
"the word with my fword to be a foldier-like word, and a
"word of exceeding good command. Accommodated, that
❝is, when a man is, as they fay, accommodated; or when a
"man is, being whereby he may be thought to be accom-
❝modated, which is an excellent thing.'
2d. Part. Hen. 4th. A&t 3. Sc. 4.
The word accommodation, as the poet tells us in his Difco-
veries, was at this time a modifh expreffion, and what he
calls, one of the perfumed terms of the age.
And fo Beaumont and Fletcher, in The Queen of Corinth;
Has he deny'd
"On thirty damme's to accommodate money.”
Act 4. Sc. I.
44 Note your diſtance, keep you due proportion of time.] This ex-
poſes with much life and humour the affected faſhion of du-
elling, which then fo univerfally prevailed. Bare fighting was
not enough; but it must be managed according to rule, and
the directions of the maſters in the fcience. We have the
fame
56
Every Man in his Humour.
Mat. How is the bearing of it now, fir?
Bob. O, out of meaſure ill! a well experienc'd hand
would paſs upon you, at pleaſure.
Mat. How mean you, fir, paſs upon me ?
me?
Bob. Why, thus, fir; (make a thruft at me)come in,
upon the anſwer, controul your point, and make a full
career at the body: The beſt practis'd gallants of the
time name it the paffada; a molt defperate thruſt,.
believe it!
Mat. Well, come, fir.
Bob. Why, you do not manage your weapon with
any facility, or grace to invite me! I have no fpirit
to play with you: your dearth of judgment renders
you tedious.
Mat. But one venue, fir.
Bob. Venue! fie; moft grofs denomination, as ever
451 heard: O, the ftoccata, while you live, fir, note
that;
68
fame kind of fatire in Shakspeare's Romeo and Juliet. "He
fights as you fing prick-fongs, keeps time, diſtance, and
"proportion: Ah, the immortal paffado, the punto reverfo."
A& 2. Sc. 4.
And in Nabbes's Microcofmus, 1637;
CC
"I was bred up in Mars's fencing-fchool, where I learn'd
"a myſtery that confifts in lying, diftance, and direction;
pace, ſpace, and place; time, motion, and action; pro-
"greffion, reverfion, and traverfion; blows, thrufts, falfes,
"doubles, flips, and wards."
Act 2.
45 Venue! fie; moft grofs denomination, as ever I heard: O,
the ftoccata, while you live, fir,] Venue was the common tech-
nical term for a touch, or a bout, at fencing. In our old
Comedians, where it frequently occurs, it is often written
Veny. "I am no fooner got into a fencing fchool,
"To play avenie with fome friend I bring.
Four Prentices of London, Old Plays, Vol. 6. page 461.
And in Chapman's Comedy of The Widow's Tears, Act 1.
"So, there's Veny for Veny."
Ibid. page 153• `
Alfo Slender in The Merry Wives of Windfor;
"Three Veneys for a diſh of ftew'd prunes." Act 1. Sc. I..
Where, in the note by Mr. Steevens, inany other inſtances
are cited.
Stoccata
Every Man in his Humour.
57
1
that; come, put on your cloke, and we'll go to fome
private place, where you are acquainted, fome tavern,
or fo-and have a bit-I'll fend for one of theſe fen-
cers, and he ſhall breathe you, by my direction; and
then I will teach you your trick: you fhall kill him
with it at the firft, if you pleaſe. Why, I will learn
you, by the true judgment of the eye, hand, and foot,
to controul any enemy's point i' the world. Should
your adverfary confront you with a piſtol, 'twere no-
thing, by this hand; you ſhould, by the fame rule,
controul his bullet, in a line: except it were hail-ſhot,
and ſpread. What money ha'
you about
about you, maſter
Matthew?
Mat. Faith, I ha' not paft a two fhillings, or fo.
Bob. 46'Tis fomewhat with the leaft; but come: we
will have a bunch of radish, and falt, to taſte our
wine; and a pipe of tobacco, 47 to clofe the orifice of
the ftomach: and then we'll call upon young Well-
bred. Perhaps we ſhall meet the 48 Coridon, his bro-
ther, there, and put him to the queſtion.
Vol. I.
H
ACT
Stoccata is the Italian term for a thrust or pufh with a
rapier; and this, with paffado above mentioned, are found in
the following lines quoted by Mr. Steevens from The Devil's
Charter, 1607.
"He makes a thruft; I with a ſwift paffado
"Make quick avoidance, and with this ſtoccata, &c."
Romeo and Juliet, A&t 3. Sc. 1.
46 'Tis fomewhat with the leaft.] We fay at prefent fomewhat
of the leaft.Of and with are indifcriminately uſed by our
antient writers. So in The Spanish Tragedy;
"Perform'd of pleaſure by your fon, the prince."
See note on Macbeth, A&t 1. Sc. 2 Mr. Steevens.
47 To clofe the orifice of the ftomach,] A fimilar expreffion oc-
curs in The Taming of a Shrew, Act 5. Sc. 2.
"My banquet is to clofe our ftomachs up,
"After our great good cheer."
48 The Coridon his brother.] Meaning Downright, who was
half-brother to Well-bred.
So
!
58
Every Man in his Humour.
ACT II.
SCENE I.
Kit.
T
Kitely, Cafh, Downright.
Homas, come hither.
There lyes a note, within, upon my deſk;
Here, take my key: it is no matter, neither.
Where is the boy?
Cafh. Within, fir, i' the warehouſe.
Do you
Kit. Let him tell over, ftraight, that Spaniſh gold,
And weigh it, with th' pieces of eight.
See the delivery of thofe filver-ftuffs
To maſter Lucar: tell him, if he will,
He fhall ha' the grograns, at the rate I told him,
And I will meet him, on the Exchange, anon.
Caſh. Good, fir.
Kit. Do you fee that fellow, brother Downright;
Dow. Ay, what of him?
Kit. He is a jewel, brother.
"I took him of a child, up, at my door,
So in The Parfon's Wedding, 1663;
And
"He has not fo much as the family-jeft, which theſe
❝ Coridons uſe to inherit.'
""
Act 1. Sc. 3.
And in Taylor's Fearefull Summer, 1636, 4t0.j
"If any fuch have fallen into the uncurteous pawes of the
"fordid rufticks or clownish Coridons, let them know that
"God's bleffings are worth thankes, and that they were
'juftly plagued for their unthankfullneffe.” Mr. Reed.
* I took him of a child, up at my door,
Since bred him at the hofpital; where proving
4
A toward imp, I call'd him home, ] Bred him in Chrift's hof-
pital; where, at the firſt eſtabliſhment of it, foundling chil-
dren, taken up in the city, were fent for maintenance and
education.-A toward imp a tractable boy, and of promiſing
parts. Imp, in the antient Britiſh, is a fhoot or ſcion from a
tree; and applied figuratively, with this epithet, to a young
perfon, of whofe growth and abilities we have good hopes.
It was often uſed in this age, as it is always in the prefent,
ironically,
Every Man in his Humour.
59
And chriften'd him, gave him mine own name, Thomas,
Since bred him at the hofpital; where proving
A toward imp, I call'd him home, and taught him
So much, as I have made him my caſhier,
And giv'n him, who had none, a furname, Cafh;
And find him in his place fo full of faith,
That I durſt truſt my life into his hands.
Dow. So would not I in any baftard's, brother,
As, it is like, he is; although I knew
Myſelf his father. But you faid yo' had ſomewhat
To tell me, gentle brother; what is't? what is't?
Kit. Faith, I am very loth to utter it,
As fearing it may hurt your patience:
But that I know your judgment is of ftrength,
Againſt the nearnefs of affection-
Dow. What need this circumftance? Pray you be
direct.
Kit. I will not fay, how much I do afcribe
Unto your friendſhip, nor in what regard
I hold your love; but, let my paft behaviour,
H2
ironically, or in a degrading ſenſe.
And
"Noble impe of fame," is a title given by Caxton to prince
Arthur; and by Piftol, in Shakspeare, to prince Henry.
66
Moft royal Imp of fame."
Henry IV. part 2. Act 5. Sc. 5.
Where, in the note by Mr. Steevens, many other inſtances
are given.
Theſe lines are not in the 4to. but were added when Jonfon
reformed this Comedy, to accommodate it to his own times.
An allufion to the hofpital is in The Widow, a Comedy
by Fonfon, Fletcher, and Middleton;
etch
I ha' no child of mine own,
"But two I got once of a fcowering woman,
"And they're both well provided for; they're i' th'
Act 2. Sc. 1.
"hofpital."
And in The Spanish Curate. by Beaumont and Fletcher;
I will rather chooſe
"A baftard from the hofpital, and adopt him."
A&t 1. Sc. 3.
60
Every Man in his Humour.
And ufage of your fifter, but confirm
How well I have been affected to your
Dow. You are too tedious, come to the matter, the
matter.
Kit. Then (without further ceremony,) thus.
My brother Well-bred, fir, (I know not how)
Of late, is much declin'd in what he was,
And greatly alter'd in his difpofition.
When he came firft to lodge here in my houſe,
Ne'er truft me, if I were not proud of him :
Methought he bare himſelf in fuch a faſhion,
So full of man, and ſweetneſs in his carriage,
And (what was chief) it fhew'd not borrow'd in him,
But all he did became him as his own;
And feem'd as perfect, proper, and poffeft,
As breath with life, or colour with the blood.
But now, his courfe is fo irregular,
So looſe, affected, and depriv'd of grace;
And he himſelf, withal, fo far fall'n off
From that firſt place, as ſcarce no note remains*
To tell mens' judgments where he lately ſtood.
He's grown a ſtranger to all due reſpect,
Forgetful of his friends; and, not content
To ftale himſelf in all ſocieties,
He
* As fcarte no note remains,] We fhould now fay, as ſcarce a
note remains; but that was the idiom of the time.
To ftale himſelf in all focieties, ] To make himſelf cheap,
and common in all companies. So we find it uſed by
Shakspeare;
"Were I a common laugher, or did uſe
Toftale with ordinary oaths my love."
"
Julius Cæfar, A&t 1. Sc. 1.
As a fubftantive, ftale is ufed to denote a bait or allurement;
(L
Go bring it hither,
"For ftale to catch thofe thieves."
And ſo in Gaſcoigne's Suppofes;
Tempeſt, Act 4.
'No ftale at the door for the by-paffers." Act 3. Sc. 4.
1
And
Every Man in his Humour.
61
He makes my houfe here common as a mart,
A theatre, a publick receptacle
For giddy humour, and diſeaſed riot;
And here (as in a tavern, or a ftews) §
He, and his wild affociates, fpend their hours,
In repetition of lafcivious jefts;
Swear, leap, drink, dance, and revel night by night,
Controul my fervants; and indeed what not?
Dow. 'Sdeyns, I, know not what I fhould fay to
him, i' the whole world! He values me at a crackt
three-farthings, for ought I fee³. It will never out
And again in Spenfer's Fairie Queene;
"Still as he went he craftie ftales did lay,
39
"With cunning traynes him to entrap unwares.'
B. 2. C. 2. S. 4.
O'
And in the tranflation of the Menaechmi of Plautus, 1595,
it is a Butt to create merriment and laughter;
"He makes me a ſtale and a laughing-ſtock."
And fo in Wily Beguiled;
"And learned Sophos, thy thrice vowed friend,
"Is made a ftale by this bafe curfed crew."
Origin of the Engliſh Drama, Vol 3. page 330.
§ As in a tavern, or a fews.] The more ufual expreffion is
the ftews, in the plural number; but a ftewes is the reading of
the 4to. and folio: and it is fo uſed in Withers's Abuſes Aript
and Whipt, 1613.
"Turne his own houſe into a filthy ftewes." L. 1. Sat. 8.
In the 5th. ſcene of this play we read
"He liv'd not in the fews.'
""
The fingular number occurs in Cymbeline, Act 1. Sc. §.
to mart,
་་
"As in a Romish stew."
And in Omphale, a Poem, by Richard Brathwayt, 1621;
"Is now become no temple but a ftue."
3 He values me at a crackt three-farthings, for ought I fee.].
The three-farthing pieces current in the reign of queen Eli-
zabeth were made of filver; confequently very thin, and
much crackt by public ufe.
66
My face fo thin,
"That in mine ear I durft not ſtick a roſe,
"Left men fhould fay, look where three-farthings goes.'
Shakspeare's King John, Act 1. Sc. 2.
!
!
1
Every Man in his Humour.
62
o' the fleſh that's bred i' the bone! I have told
him enough, one would think, if that would ferve:
but, counſel to him, is as good as a fhoulder of mut-
ton to a fick horfe. Well! he knows what to truſt
to, for George: let him fpend, and fpend, and do-
mineer, 'till his heart ake; an' he think to be re-
liev'd by me, when he is got into one o' your city-
pounds, the counters, he has the wrong fow by the
ear i' faith; and claps his difh at the wrong man's
door4: I'll lay my hand o' my half-penny, ere I part
with't, to fetch him out, I'll affure him.
Kit. Nay, good brother, let it not trouble you
thus.
Dow. 'Sdeath, he mads me, I could eat my very
fpur-leathers, for anger! But, why are you fo tame?
Why do not you ſpeak to him, and tell him how he
difquiets your houſe?
4
Kit.
Claps his difh at the wrong man's door.] This is to be found
in Ray's Collection of Proverbs. It is an allufion to the prac-
tice of beggars in the earlier times of our anceſtors, and
which was probably fubfifting in Jonfon's days, who had a
wooden dish and cover, which they clapped or clacked, at the
doors where they came to aſk alms. Hence it was called a
clap-dish or clack-difh.
"I that was wont fo many to command,
"Worfe now than with a clap-dish in my hand."
Drayton's Epift. from El. Cobham to D. Humphrey.
"Y'an beft get a clap-dish, and fay y' are proctor to fome
"fpittle-houfe. The Honeft Whore, by Dekkar, Part 2.
Vol. 3. Old Plays, page 442.
"His ufe was to put a ducket in her clack-difh.
Meaſure for Meaſure, Act 3. Sc. 2.
To illuftrate which paffage Mr. Steevens adduces various
authorities.
This practice prevailed in foreign countries; for Morryfon
informs us that near Infpruck were many alms-houfes for
perfons infected with the leprofy; and that they were not
permitted to come near travellers, but begged at a diſtance,
with the found of a wooden clapper. Travels, 1617, page 22.
{
Every Man in his Humour.
63
Kit. O, there are divers reafons to diffuade, brother.
But, would yourſelf vouchfafe to travail in it,
(Though but with plain and eaſy circumſtance)
It would both come much better to his fenfe,
And favour lefs of ftomach, or of paffion.
You are his elder brother, and that title
Both gives, and warrants your authority;
Which (by your prefence feconded) muſt breed
A kind of duty in him, and regard:
Whereas, if I thould intimate the leaſt,
It would but add contempt to his neglect,
Heap worfe on ill, make up a pile of hatred,
That, in the rearing, would come tott'ring down,
And, in the ruin, bury all our love.
Nay, more than this, brother; if I thould fpeak,
He would be ready, from his heat of humour,
And over-flowing of the vapour in him,
To blow the ears of his familiars,
With the falſe breath of telling, what diſgraces,
And low difparagements, I had put upon him.
Whilft they, fir, to relieve him in the fable,
Make their loofe comments upon every word,
Geſture, or look, I uſe; mock me all over,
From my flat cap, unto my fhining fhoes5;
$
་
Mock me all over,
J
And
From my flat cap, unto my shining shoes.] It is obferved by Stow,
that the antient coverture of mens' heads was hoods, and
that before the time of Hen. VII. neither cap or hat is
fpoken of. In his reign fquare bonets came into ufe, and
were worn by noblemen, gentlemen, citizens, and others.
Hen. VIII. wore a round flat cap of ſcarlet, or of velvet; and
the youthful citizens alfo took them to the new fashion of
flat caps, knit of woollen yearn black. The uſe of theſe round
flat caps fo far increaſed, that in a fhort time fome young
aldermen took the wearing of them. Sir John White wore it
in his Mayoralty, and was the firſt that left example to his
followers; but now the french bonnet, or fquare cap, and
alfo
64
Every Man in bis Humour.
And, out of their impetuous rioting phant'fies,
Beget fome flander, that ſhall dwell with me.
And what would that be, think you? marry, this.
They would give out (becauſe my wife is fair,
My felf but lately married, and my fifter
Here fojourning a virgin in my houſe)
That I were jealous!* nay, as fure as death,
That
alſo the round or flat cap, have for the moſt part given place
to the Spaniſh felt. Stow's Survey, Edit. 1603. p. 545.
The plainer kind of citizens, however, ftill continued to
be diſtinguiſhed by wearing the flat cap, for which they were
held up as objects of ridicule.
So Quickfilver, in Eaſtward Hoe, by Chapman, Fonfon, and
Marſton, 1605, 4to.
"Marry, pho, goodman Flat-cap."-And again,
"Let's be no longer fools to this flat-cap Touchftone.'
See Mr. Reed's note on The Honeſt Whore,
13
A&t 1. Sc. 1.
Old Plays, Vol. 3. p. 304.
"Theſe are what Shakspeare calls plain ftatute-caps.
Love's Labour Loft, Act 5. Sc. 2.
An act of parliament being paffed in 1571, the 13th of
queen Elizabeth, enjoining all above the age of fix years, ex-
cept the nobility and fome others, on Sabbath days, and holy
days, to wear caps of wool, knit, thicked and dreft in Eng-
land, upon penalty of ten groats.
Amongst other particularities of a citizen's drefs, the
brightneſs or ſhining of his fhoes, was alſo taken notice of;
'Slid his fhoes fhine too.
"Bright. They have the Grefham dye."
Mayne's City-Match, A&t r. Sc. 4.
And Maffinger, ſpeaking of the vintners of his age;
How fhall we know 'em?
"If they walk on foot, by their rat-colour'd ſtockings,
"And fhining-fhoes.
The Guardian, Act 2. Sc. 4.
* How naturally does Kitely here betray his jealouſy!
There is a felicity in this paffage, rather to have been ex-
pected from eafy Shakspeare, than from the laborious Ben.
}
THE
CEREMONIES
For the
HEALING
Of them that be
DISEASE D
With the
KINGS EVIL,
Ufed in the Time of
KING HENRY VII.
Published by His Majefties Command.
LONDON,
Printed by Henry Hills, Printer to the King's Moft Excellent
Majeſty for His Houfhold and Chappel. 1686.
LONDON,
Reprinted for the EDITOR, and Sold at No. 62, Great Wild-
Street, near Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; by Meff. EGERTON,
Whitehall; Meff. Cox and PHILLIPSON, James-Street,
Covent-Garden; R. RYAN, No. 351, Oxford-Street;
H. D. SYMONDS, No, 20. Pater-Nofter-Row; and
W. RICHARDSON, under the Royal-Exchange. 1789.
[Entered at Stationers Hall. ]
3
}
1
1
(
This Ritual, and the annexed Ceremonial, are
printed from a ſmall volume containing them
both; the latter in M. S. late in the poffeffion of
A. D. Ducarel, L. L. D. The Formularies may, as
matters of curiofity, be preſerved, tho' the uſage of
them has ceaſed.
!
>
}
}
བྱལ་ས་ནི ཆུངབའི བྱས་པོ་བྱས་
THE
CEREMONIES
FOR
HEALING
Them that be DISEASED
With the
1
KINGS EVIL.
First, The King, kneeling, fhall fay,
N the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghoſt, Amen.
IN
And fo foon as He hath faid that, He fhall fay,
Give the Bleffing.
The Chaplain kneeling before the King, and having a Stole
about his Neck ſhall answer and ſay,
The Lord be in your heart, and in your lips, tọ
confefs all your fins. In the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Amen.
Or else he shall fay,
Chriſt hear us.
In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Amen.
Then
( 4 )
Then by and by the King fhall fay,
I confefs to God, to the bleffed Virgin Mary, to all
Saints, and to you, that I have finned in thought, word,
and deed through my fault: I pray Holy Mary, and
all the Saints of God and you, to pray for me.
The Chaplain ſhall anſwer and ſay,
Almighty God have mercy upon you, and pardon
you all your fins, deliver you from all evil, and confirm
you in good, and bring you to everlaſting life, Amen.
The Almighty and Merciful Lord grant you abſo-
lution and remiffion of all your fins, time for true re-
pentance and amendment of life, with the grace and
comfort of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
This done the Chaplain fhall fay,
The Lord be with
The King fhall answer,
And with thy fpirit.
The Chaplain,
you.
Part of the Gofpel according to St. Mark.
The King ſhall answer,
Glory to thee, O Lord.
The Chaplain reads the Gospel,
L
AST he appeared to thoſe Eleven as they fat at the
Table: and he exprobated their Incredulity and
hardneſs of Heart, becauſe they did not believe them
that had ſeen him rifen again. And he ſaid to them:
Going into the whole World, Preach the Goſpel to all
Creatures
( 5 )
ļ
Creatures. He that believeth and is Baptized, ſhall
be faved: But he that believeth not, fhall be con-
demned. And them that believe, thefe Signs fhall
follow: In my name fhall they caft out Devils, they
ſhall ſpeak with new tongues. Serpents fhall they
take up, and if they drink any deadly thing, it ſhall
not hurt them; they fhall impoſe hands upon the
fick, and they ſhall be whole.
Which laft claufe, (They ſhall impofe, &c.) the Chaplain
repeats as long as the King is handling the fick perfon.
And in the time of repeating the aforefaid words, (They
fhall impofe, &c.) the Clerk of the Clofet fhall Kneel
before the King, having the fick Perfon upon the right-
hand; and the fick Perfon fhall likewife kneel before the
King: and then the King fhall lay his hand upon the fore
of the fick Perfon. This done, the Chaplain fhall make
an end of the Gospel.
And fo our Lord JESUS after he spake unto them
was affumpted into Heaven, and fate on the right hand
of God. But they going forth preached every where;
our Lord working withal, and confirming the Word
with figns which followed.
Whilst this is reading, the Chirurgion fhall lead
away the
fick Perfon from the King. And after the Goſpel the
Chaplain fhall fay,
The Lord be with you.
The King ſhall anfwer,
And with thy ſpirit.
The
( 6 )
The Chaplain,
The beginning of the Goſpel according to St. John.
The King,
Glory to thee, O Lord.
The Chaplain then fhall fay this Gospel following,
F
N the beginning was the word, and the word was
with God, and God was the word. This was in the
beginning with God. All things were made by him,
and without him was made nothing, that which was
made. In him was life, and the life was the light of
men. And the light ſhineth in darknefs, and the dark-
neſs did not comprehend it. There was a man fent
from God, whofe name was John. This man came
for teftimony to give teftimony of the light, that all
might believe through him. He was not the light,.
but to give teftimony of the light. It was the true
light which lightneth every man that cometh into this
world.
Which laft clauſe (It was the true light, &c.) fball ftill be
repeated fo long as the King fhall be croffing the fore of
the fick Perfon, with an Angel of Gold Noble, and the
fick Perfon to have the fame Angel hang'd about his neck,
and to wear it until he be full whole. This done, the
Chirurgion fhall lead away the fick Perfon as he did be-
fore, and then the Chaplain ſhall make an end of the Gospel.
He was in the world, and the world was made by
him, and the world knew him not. He came into his
own, and his own received him not.
But as many as
received him, he gave them power to be made the Sons
of God, to thoſe that believe in his name. Who not
of
(7.)
of blood, nor of will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man,
but of God are born. And the word was made fleſh,
and dwelt in us, and we faw the glory of him, glory as
it were of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace
and verity.
Then the Chaplain fball fay,
The Lords name be praiſed.
The King Shall answer,
Now and for ever.
1
Then Shall the Chaplain fay this Collect following, praying
for the Sick Perfon or Perfons:
O Lord, hear my prayer.
The King Shall answer,
And let my cry come unto thee.
The Chaplain,
Let us pray.
Lmighty and everlafting God, the eternal health
of them that believe; graciouſly hear us for thy
fervants for whom we implore the aid of thy mercy,
that their health being reftored to them, they may give
thee thanks in thy church, thro' CHRIST our Lord.
Amen.
This Prayer following is to be faid fecretly, after the fick
Perfons be departed from the King, at his Pleafure.
A
Lmighty God, Ruler and Lord, by whofe good-
nefs the blind fee, the deaf hear, the dumb fpeak,
the lame walk, the lepers are cleanſed, and all fick
per-
fons
( 8 )
fons are healed of their Infirmities: By whom alſo
alone the gift of healing is given to mankind, and fo
great a grace, thro' thine unspeakable goodneſs toward
this Realm, is granted unto the Kings thereof, that by
the fole impofition of their hands a moft grievous and
filthy diſeaſe ſhould be cured: Mercifully grant that
we may give thee thanks therefore, and for this thy fin-
gular benefit confèrr'd on us, not to our felves, but to
thy name let us daily give glory; and let us always ſo
exerciſe our ſelves in piety, that we may labour not
only diligently to conferve, but every day more and
more to encreaſe thy grace beftowed upon us; And
grant, that on whofe bodies foever we have impofed
hands in thy name, thro' this thy Vertue working in
them, and thro' our Miniſtry, may be restored to their
former health, and being confirmed therein, may per-
petually with us give thanks unto thee the Chief Phy-
fician and Healer of all difeafes; and that henceforwards
they may fo lead their lives, as not their bodies only
from fickneſs, but their fouls alfo from fin may be
perfectly purged and cured: Thro' our Lord JESUS
CHRIST thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee
in the Unity of the Holy Ghoſt, God World without
end. Amen.
1
FINIS.
1
The
1
}
THE
OFFICE
O F
1
CONSECRATING
CRAMP-RINGS.
1
>
1694.
¿
!
རྒྱ་མིང་དུ་བའི་རྒྱལ་པའི་བརྒྱ་ཟབ་ཆ་ར་ལུ་ནི་གུ་རི་རྒྱ་རི་བྱང་སྟེ་བྱའི་འིབཅམ་ཡི་བྱ་པབྱའི་ལུཏེ་བྱ་རིམ་་པའི་ལུ་མ་བྱུང་གིས་
In the Advertiſement to the preceding Ritual, for
4. D. Dúcarel, L, L, D, read 4、 C、 Dacarel, L. L, D
ཐེས་ནུམ་ལུ་
པས་དེ་ཡུལ་དུ་མེད་པ་ཞེས་པ་ཡོད་བྱསེ་རུ་པ་ཞེན་པ་ཡི་དུཡོཞེ་བྱ་ཞེ་ གཞེ་ཆེཔུ་བྱ་ལེ་པུནུཁཾ
THE
CEREMONIES
OF BLESSING
CRAMP-RINGS
*
On GOOD-FRIDAY,
Uſed by the
CATHOLICK KINGS
Of ENGLAND.
The pfalme Deus mifereatur noftri, &c. with the
Gloria Patri.
MAY
AY God take pity upon us, and bleffe us* may
he fend forth the light of his face upon us, and
take pity on us.
That we may know thy ways on earth* among all
nations thy falvation.
May people acknowledge thee, O God: * may all
people acknowledge thee.
Let nations reioice, and be glad, becauſe thou iudgeſt
people with equity, and doeft guide nations on the
earth.
May people acknowledge thee, O God, may all
people acknowledge thee, the earth has fent forth
her fruit.
May
4)
May God bleffe us, that God who is ours: may that
God bleffe us, and may all the bounds of the earth
feare him.
*
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the
Holy Ghoſt.
As it was in the beginning, and now, and ever, and
for ever, and ever. Amen.
Then the King reades this prayer.
A
Lmighty eternal God, who by the moſt copious
gifts of thy grace, flowing from the unexhauſted
fountain of thy bounty, haft been graciously pleaſed for
the comfort of mankind, continually to grant us many
and various meanes to relieve us in our miferies; and
art willing to make thoſe the inſtruments and channels
of thy gifts, and to grace thofe perfons with more ex-
cellent favours, whom thou haft raiſed to the Royal
dignity; to the end that as by Thee they reign, and go-
vern others: fo by Thee they may prove beneficial to
them; and beſtow thy favours on the people: graci-
oufly heare our prayers, and favourably receive thoſe
vows we powre forth with humility, that Thou mayſt
grant to us, who beg with the fame confidence the
favour, which our Anceſtours by their hopes in thy
mercy have obtained: through Chrift our Lord. Amen.
The Rings lying in one bafon or more, this prayer is to be
Said over them.
O
God the maker of heavenly and earthly crea-
tures, and the moft gracious reftorer of mankind,
the difpenfer of fpiritual grace, and the origin of all
bleffings; fend downe from heaven thy holy Spirit the
Comforter upon theſe Rings, artificially fram'd by the
workman, and by thy greate power purify them fo,
that all the malice of the fowle, and venomous Serpent
be driven out; and fo the metal, which by Thee was
created,
( 5 )
created, may remaine pure, and free from all dregs of
the enemy. Through Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
The bleffing of the Rings.
O
thee.
God of Abraham, God of Ifaac, God of Jacob,
heare mercifully our prayers. Spare thoſe who feare
Be propitious to thy fuppliants, and graciouſly
be pleaſed to fend downe from Heaven thy holy Angel:
that he may fanctify and bleffe thefe Rings: to
the end they may prove a healthy remedy to fuch as
implore thy name with humility, and accufe them-
felves of the fins, which ly upon their conſcience: who
deplore their crimes in the fight of thy divine cle-
mency, and befeech with earneftnefs, and humility thy
moſt ferene piety. May they in fine by the invocation
of thy holy name become profitable to all fuch as
weare them, for the health of their foule and body,
through Chrift our Lord. Amen.
A Bleffing.
O
God who haft manifeſted the greateſt wonders
of thy power by the cure of diſeaſes, and who
were pleaſed, that Rings fhould be a pledge of fidelity
in the patriark Judah, a prieſtly ornament in Aaron,
the mark of a faithful guardian in Darius, and in this
Kingdom a remedy for divers difeafes: gracioufly be
pleafed to bleffe and fanctify thefe Rings, to the
end that all fuch who weare them may be free fron
all.fnares of the Devil, may be defended by the power
of celeftial armour; and that no contraction of the
nerves, or any danger of the falling-ficknefs may infest
them, but that in all fort of difeafes by thy help they
may find relief. In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. Amen.
Bleffe, O my foule, the Lord, and let ali things
☀
which are within me praiſe his holy name. Blefle
( 6 )
Bleffe, O`my foule, the Lord, and do not forget all
his favours.
*
He forgives all thy iniquities, he heales all thy
infirmities.
He redeemes thy life from ruin, he crownes thee
with mercy, and commiferation.
He fils thy defires with what is good: * thy youth
like that of the eagle fhall be renewed.
The Lord is he, who does mercy, and does iuftice
to thoſe who ſuffer wrong.
The merciful, and pitying Lord: * the long ſufferer,
and most mighty merciful.
*
He wil not continue his anger for ever; neither
wil he threaten for ever.
He has not dealt with us in proportion to our fins ;*
nor has he rendered unto us according to our offences.
Becauſe according to the diftance of heaven from
earth, * fo has he enforced his mercies upon thoſe who
feare him.
As far diftant as the eaft is from the weft: * ſo far
has he divided our offences from us.
After the manner that a Father takes pity of his
Sons: fo has the Lord taken pity of thoſe, who feare
him : * becauſe he knows what we are made of.
He remembers that we are but duft. Man like hay,
fuch are his days; like the flower in the field, fo
wil he fade away.
Becauſe his breath wil paffe away through him, and
he wil not be able to fubfift, * and it wil find no
longer its owne place.
But the mercy of the Lord is from all eternity; * and
wil be for ever upon thoſe who feare him.
And his iuftice comes upon the children of their
children, ✶ to thoſe who keep his wil.
And are mindful of his commandements, * to per-
forme them.
The
(7)'
The Lord in heaven has prepared himſelf a throne,
and his kingdom fhall reign over all.
!
Bleffe yee the Lord all yee Angels of his, yee who
are powerful in ftrength: who execute his com-
mands, at the hearing of his voice when he fpeakes.
Bleffe yee the Lord all yee vertues of his : * yee
Minifters who execute his wil.
Bleffe yee the Lord all yee works of his throughout
all places of his dominion: ✶ my. Soule praiſe thou
the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Ghoft.
As it was in the beginning, and now and ever, and
for ever and ever. Amen.
1
Wee humbly implore, O merciful God, thy infinit
clemency; that as we come to thee with a confident
foule, and fincere faith, and a pious affurance of mind:
with the like devotion thy beleevers may follow on
theſe tokens of thy grace. May all fuperftition be
baniſhed hence, far be all fufpicion of any diabolical
fraud, and to the glory of thy name let all things fuc-
ceede: to the end thy beleevers may underſtand thee
to be the diſpenſer of all good; and may be ſenſible´
and publiſh, that whatſoever is profitable to foule or
body, is derived from thee: through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Theſe prayers being faid the Kings highnes rubbeth the
Rings between his hands, faying,
SA
Anctify, O Lord, theſe Rings, and graciouſly be-
dew them with the dew of thy benediction, and
confecrate them by the rubbing of our hands, which
thou haft been pleaſed according to our miniftery
to fanctify by an external effufion of holy oyle upon
them: to the end, that what the nature of the
mettal
1
( 8 )
mettal is not able to performe; may be wrought by
the greatnes of thy grace: through Chrift our
Lord. Amen.
Then must holy water be caft on the rings, faying,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy-Ghoft. Amen.
O
Lord the only begotten Son of God, Medi-
atour of God and men, Jefus Chriſt, in whoſe
name alone falvation is fought for; and to fuch as
hope in thee giveft an eafy acces to thy Father:
who when converfing among men, thyfelf a man,
didſt promiſe by an affured oracle flowing from thy
facred mouth, that thy Father ſhould grant what-
ever was aſked him in thy name: lend a gracious
eare of pity to theſe prayers of ours; to the end
that approaching with confidence to the throne of
thy grace, the beleevers may find by the benefits
conferr'd upon them, that by thy mediation we
have obtained, what we have moft humbly begd in
thy name: who liveft and reigneft with God the
Father in the unity of the Holy-Ghoſt, one God
for ever and ever. Amen.
Wee befeech thee O Lord, that the Spirit, which
proceedes from thee may prevent and follow on
our defires: to the end that what we beg with con-
fidence for the good of the faithful, we may effica-
cioufly obtaine by thy gracious gift: through
Chrift our Lord. Amen.
O moſt clement God; Father, Son, and Holy-
Ghoft; wee fupplicate and befeech thee, that what
is here performed by pious ceremonies to the fancti-
fying of thy name, may be prevalent to the defenſe
of our foule and body on earth; and profitable to a
more ample felicity in heaven. Who liveſt and
reigneft God, world without end. Amen.
FINI S.
To the Editor of the LITERARY MUSEUM.
From a fincere wiſh that your very curious and entertaining
Miſcellany may anfwer your utmoſt expectations, I have
aš
ſent you as under; which, if the interpretation to the ob-
folete words render it intelligible, muſt be approved of,
for the fimplicity of thought, fentiment, and language.
Nottingham, Jan. 1789.
B. N.
1
Onne mie Maifter LYDGATE, his travellynge ynnto Fraunce.
Written three hundred and fixty years fince.
FR
AISTER of Poettes, vènerable,
MAISTER
1
Ryghte worthye, honourable,
¹ Fadre ynne ²feeftelyche mynneftrellfyė,
Natoures chyllde ynne Phyloefophye,
Pyrynnecipalle Poette of Brytaîné,
Bryghtte 3 ordaynoure, clere founteyně,
4 Werthe ymage of 5 connyfaunce,
Of 'efployte, eke of 7 efperaunce,
Fetyſe foundere of Scyence,
Myror of 9 deauratte Eloquence,
ΙΟ
II
Sythennes dygne Mayfter Chaucere,
12 Eke Ennglonndes Poette Dan Gowere,
7
1
!
I
6
And
* Father. 2 pleáfánt. 3origina!. 4True, worthy: learning. per-
fection. hope. amiable. fplendid, fhining. 10 Since, worthy,
12 Alfo.
1
( 2 )
L
And Occleue are gone fro us,
Poettes 13 hértedde as Vergilius,
You ne, 14 mote toe mayke us 15 dere,
The 16 feefte of alle wythouten 17 pere,
20
Forre 18 gyffe you doe 19 ne jubylye,
Ynne alle faire Allebionnes Londe wylle bee,
Ne wylle heie boafte ynne 2 mackleffe lore,
As yeye werre 22 hanntenned herretoeforre,
Syth youe bee gone yatte Rhetoerycke
Dyde unnderſtonnde thatte none youe lycke,
Ne wylle the chauntynge 23 chylannedry
Delyghte 24thylke Forrefte, or thylke Tre,
Butte maiken manie a 25 drerie leie
As yffe youe nere 26 not gone butte 27 deie.
The 28 Sheppefterres eke 29 iwaymentynge
Wylle fytte onne greene bancke, ne fynge,
Ne pype, ne daunce, 30 fycke 3 footlyé,
As 32 whyelomme theie fulle merrieleye,
Butte 33 forfonnegenne yeie wylle yweepe
Annde beate yerre 34 lyarte breaftes wythe 35 keepę.
22.
Theyre
21
18
*³ fam❜d. 14 muſt not go. lament. "joy. "equal, or rival. 1 if
19 no, nor, not. 20 rejoicing, gladnefs. unrivalled, excelling, 22 ac-
cuftom'd. 23 goldfinch 24each. 25 mournful. 26 an example of two ne-
gatives often ufed by Chaucer, meaning as if you were not. 2?dead.
28 fhepherds. 29 lamenting. 30 fo. 3fweetly. 32 formerly,
33 fatigued, weary with finging. 34gentle, 35 anguish.
oldán
་་་
( 3 )
Theyre 36 Lommebes 37 foreyettenne wylle wanndere,
Ne 38 conne 39 heie of the 4° colfoxe nere,
Whanne you bee 41 gleddenne, gyf you doe,
Faire 42 Burye Toune wyl be ynne woe,
Syker 43 boutte you yfchalle bewaylle,
Mie 44 lefe fry endde wythe 45 fyckes for 46 aylle,
Ne fytte 47 ytte wele yatte you fchoolde 48 lete,.
Forre gyffe youe doe yt-49 nyl be mete
Forre me toe bee sajoyleynynnge.
Whanne youe mie lotelie are travellynge,
5
Ne fchalle I playe the. 5 gray enelle
Gyf you doe 53 wynde whomme I love wélle,
Ne fchalle I ynne- 54 boune foothe 55 ywiffe
Wryghte poefye-as-I-dydde 56 onys,
Ne fchall I mereyn.fheene 57 aurore:
5§
Delyghte toeftraie ynne 58 wryenne: 59 góre,
Wheare 60 Mees doe fmyle withe fwooté floure,
6T
The joie of plummetuous Natoure, -
Ne mere the 62 hyne wythe hardic 63 hele'
}
Schalle
36fheep, lambkins. 37 forgotten, neglected. 38 know. 39 contraction
of they a dark color'd fox. 4 gone. 42a Town, of which John
Lydgate was Monk. 43I certainly without you. 44 beloved. 45 fighs.
46for ever, always: 47 nor is it fit. 48 abandon, forfake. 49 will not.
so joyful, rejoicing companion, friend. 52 I believe an inftru-
ment then uſed. 53to go. 54in good faith. 55truly. 5once. 57morning.
58 covered. 59 an arbour compofed of gourdes, and perhaps any
arbour indifcriminately. meadows. bountiful, fruitful. 62 huſband-
-man. 63 health.
(4)
Schalle 64 floyte ne fete flourettes 65 wele,
Ne 66
$8
connenne I 67 joieeuze 68 forreleine
Inne rofie 69 fours onne 7° tetched pleine,
"¹Syttheneffe you goe anndde leave mee herre
Meft 72 wrothenne wyghte forre aie toe derre,
Thanne ftaie annde bleffe'a wepynnge toune
Ynne glorye, 73 rennomie, anndde renoune,
Youe fchalle 74ybrooke a goulde chappelette
Thatte Fame ſchalle onne yoor browe ifette,
Youre 75 Wurches a laftynnge ornamennte
Anndde 76 eke a goodlie monumennttè,- ..
Thenne 77 blenen 78 heal the wordes I 79 faine,
Ne hanne I 80 ſpylltte mie fpeeche ynne vayne.
}
}
I
64 whiſtle. 65 rife, or fpring. 66 can: 67 merry, joyful. 68 wander.
69 ſpring. 70 ſpotted, ftained. 71 perceiving that. 72 lonefome,
miferable. 73 fame, celebrity. 74 to poffefs, enjoy. 75 works. 76 alfo.
77 to ſtay, tarry, abide. 78 hear. 79 fay, 80 to fpill ones words, is to
argue to no purpoſe, vainly..
§§ Whether this Poem was written by a Rowley, or a-
Chatterton, I will not prefume to fay; I only take the liberty
to obferve that the M. S. from which it was printed has a
few inaccuracies, which denote it to have been a tranfcript:
if B. N. or any other perfon, more converfant with OLD
ENGLISH than myſelf, will do me the favour to point out
any errors in this copy, they fhall be acknowledged hereafter
EDITOR.
1
1
FOR THE LITERARY MUSEUM.
The Editor of The Literary Muſeum prefents the following
Ode from a Correfpondent to his Readers without a
comment, not 'doubting but that they will eftimate It
properly. The Author it is hoped will pardon the liberty
taken in making two or three trifling variations. from the
Original, which appeared to be indifpenfibly neceffary.
The NEW ARCADIA,
A Regulated Pindaric ODE;
(In Imitation of GRAY.)
By W. BELTCHER.
STROPHE,
IME fwung his ſcythe, and Slav'ry fled:
TMM
No more the tear-earn'd bread,
Torn fleſh and iron bed;
Nor nurſe of wealth the fervid mold,
Whoſe bowels countleſs treaſures hold,
Curfe of a hapless clime fhall glut the univerſe
with gold,
ANTISTROPHE,
In vain each brilliant morning deck'd the glade,
Hung the thorn and gemm'd the blade,
Vain the ſtream's lull, and noontide fhade,
In vain in wavy profpect laugh'd the field,
In vain did earth the precious bullion yield,
Its tyrannous, relentlefs lords, with ruthlefs bofoms
fteel'd.
រ
+
}
1
EPODE.
(?)
:
EPODE.
}
What youth of gay look and fantaſtical mould,
Trips blithe o'er the lawn clad in purple and gold?
Walks with him young April, whofe bluſhes adorn
The welkin that melts to his fweet-fwelling horn.
Wanton hireling no more fcourges,
Flaw'd the hands for beggar's pay,
Nor fell mafter labour urges;
Ends the cruel fultry day,
II
STROPHE,
Spaniard, thy batt'ning faints withdraw,
With gluttonizing maw
That mock kind nature's law :
Ceaſe, viceroy-tyrants, dire controul,
O'er bowed neck and pinion'd foul,
Whilft avaricious priefts th' Almighty's thunder
roll.
ANTISROPHE.
Spaniard, that lov'ft fell Inquifition's frown,
Gallia, Gallia flings thee down,
Totters thy Peruvian crown.
Thy mighty empire's wrapp'd in fleepy lees
Nor truft unequal fhips to catch the breeze,
Where Britiſh engines hurl the ball, triumphant
o'er the feas.
EPODE.
The Nereids delighting to gambol the deep,
To fcud on the wave, to the Tritons time keep,
How nimbly they play and how merrily dance,
To floating fhell-mufic that tells their advance!
Se
1
( 3 )
See the airy colours flying,
And the honeft, jolly crew,
Laſs with Zephyr gently fighing
For the Britiſh failor true.
III.
STROPHE
Afar, ſtoop'd ſky and fea between,
A hoſtile fleet is ſeen
With proud majeſtic mein:
A folemn gun the fight foretells,
Surge after furge each bulk impells,
And whift'ling wind above the flapping canvaſs
1
fwells.
ANTISTROPHE.
Wide ſtretch the heaving lines in tow'ry pride,
In tremendous glory ride,
O'er the darkling, groaning tide:
But foon the pond'rous, ruthleſs ruin feel,
The maft-fall'n caftles fagg, and bulging reel,
Or high explode in fheets of fire that fearful day
reveal.
EPODE.
But, Britain victorious, hoar Neptune appears,
Canadian pine for his trident-ſtaff rears;
The conqueſt ſtill pleas'd to hail of his fons,
His face on the painted ftern viewing he runs.
Beamy Saturn clears th' horizon,
Jove ufurper flung from high;
To proclaim his Inca hies on;
Both recover'd empire try.
!
IV.
#
( 4 )
3
IV.
STROPHE.
The ſcarlet foldier fhapes his way,
His glory to affay
To Phebus ufh'ring day:
The drum's and trumpet's mix'd alarm
Fans in his breaſt the beating charm,
The terror of his eye, and tempeft of his arm.
ANTIST ROPH E. ·
17
Trembles the ground beneath the trampling fteed,
Shiv'ring foes denounc'd to bleed,
Sounds tumultuous drive his fpeed:
Thick fhow'rs of bullets from rang'd barrels pour,
Bombs fcatter deaths and braying cannons roar,
And fulph'rous mines explode in air, earth's entrails
upward bore.
EPODE.
But liberty marches with flow'rets behind;
They die and are blefs'd, or live free as the wind
Young Liberty prances with loofe auburn hair,
And with him trips lightly a frolicfome Fair.
Earthquakes vanifh'd, fee advancing
J
Forms that mock the mortar's blaze,
Ambuſh new the laft enhancing;
Caught at laſt in Cupid's maze.
V.
STROPHE.-
With joy unknown they love t'explore
The friendly-winding fhore,
Ne'er Briton-trod before:
The rifled fpices breathe along,
New warblers chaunt the woods among,
Dear foothers, fweetly fhrill, in confort foft and
ftrong.
ANTISTROPHE.
}
"
( 5 )
ANTISTR OP HE.
The mouldy dungeon chang'd for lightſome ſky,
Racks in ocean buried lie,
Prifons drear in thunders fly:
Juft puniſhments compleated crimes await,
The barb'rous mifcreants mark the new-year's date,
For pamper'd god of luxury, they eye grim-ſtalking
Fate.
EPODE.
The youth is defcended from old filver Time,
The feaſons revolv'd to melodious chyme;
He foots it and capers, befpangled with dew,
Comes with him the nightingale, thrufh, and
cuckow.
Hark! the azure vault refounding,
Wings the freſh, tranſporting gale,
Spring and May together bounding
On the banks that fweets exhale.
VI.
STROPH E.
The flocks more verdant dales admire ;
And ah! what ſweets confpire
Where waves yon feſtive fire!
Lit groves of nard difpenfe perfume,
Heav'n propitious wide illume,
And Victory on high expands his gliſt'ning plume.
ANTIS TROP H E.
The vig'rous woodman loads the lengthened team,
Primes the fir, or hews the beam,
For the dimpled-courting ftream:
1
The
ios
6
The burften planks ftrange cloud-cap'd trees
renew;
Gay-launch'd the bark round which fierce battle
flew,
Th' exulting ſeaman mounts in air, the realms of
peace to view.
E PODE.
The Fays and the Fairies, in ermine array'd,
Beſprinkle the green to fair Cynthia diſplav'd;
The Queen leads the Dance to the twinkleing ftar,
The dulcimer tinkles and filv'ry guittar:
And the ſhining waggon rattles,
Whilft the merry driver fings,
This the fruit of freedom's battles,
Bracelet 'ftead of fetter rings.
VII.
'
STROPHE.
*
The burniſh'd youth receives each gueſt,
A faviour each confefs'd,
Pil'd high the tropic zeſt.
To Fortune kind, and Bacchus young,
The quiv'ring, thrilling lyre is ftrung,
Their native Sov'reign blefs'd with Britain's mo-
narch fung.
ANTIS TROPH E.
The cooling liquor fcented herbs improve,
Airs entrancing break above,
In the genial voice of love.
The flaming goblets pealing anfwer fend,
While mellow flutes the ftrain harmonious blend,
And Cherubs in etherial robes their glancing
fteerage bend.
EPODE
1
( 7
7 .)
F
EPODE.
The traveller faint in the rivulet laves,
O'er which ſpreading myrtle meandering waves;
The melon embroidered wantonly greets
The orange o'er-dangling, and mingles its fweets.
Alps and Atlas, fnow-cloath'd mountains,
Are but Liliputians here:
Crackling blaze; or gufhing fountains;
Froft, or fun, throughout the year.
+
VIII.
STROPHE,
The peaſant fees delighted twine
The purple-clufter'd vine,
Or crops the wildling pine,
( Ambrofial food that never palls,
Whoſe funny juice in ftreamlets falls)
Nor fears at ev'ry tafte the bondage-wringing
calls,
ANTISTROPHE,
Fat dews the ears of conftant harveſts fill,
Springs fupply that fpout the rill,
Sky ferene and tempeſt ſtill•
Luxuriant grafs involves the ribbon'd mead,
No chilling blafts the fragrant growth impede,
Soft fmiling Graces hand in hand, harmonious
Seafons lead.
EPODE.
What's yonder I fee on the cedar-clad plain,
That gleams in its courſe to the billowy main?
The
{
S
( 8 )
The fplendour quite dazzles the winking-quick eye,
*Flames flaſh as it fparkles with whirling found by.
Surely tis Gold-age returning
Speck'd with di'mond from the mine,
Orient rays together burning,
Vifion glorious and Divine!
1
}
* I am almoſt afraid to confeſs that I am rather an advocate for an
alliteration here and there interfperfed, productive, I think, of a cur-
rent ſweetneſs. How glorious is Pope's!
"To founds of heav'nly harps fhe dies away"
The beſt line of Gray's Elegy
"And wak'd to extafy the living lyre".
for which, by the way, he is indebted to this of Cowley,
"Begin the fong and ſtrike the living lyre".
has an alliteration. But the moft remarkable one is Virgil's,
"Neu patriæ validas in vifcera vertite vires"-
who, among his artifices of verfification, was fenfible of fluid celerity;
witnefs
and again
14
Corripuere, ruuntq' effufi carcere currus"-
"volat vi fervidus axis".
as was Gray of the importance of pirated thoughts, a mark of his in-
genuity, if not a proof of his genius.
As a poetical licence, I have alfo ventured to write twinkleing as
an expanfion for twinkling.
The Reader perceives my reafon for naming this Ode a Regulated
Pindaric, which is becauſe though it contains a variety of verfes, they
have a regular recurrence in the refpective partitions; the former qual-
ity, befides its turn of poetry, intitling it to the appellation of a Pin-
daric. A regular Pindaric I do not name it, becauſe, whatever idea
fome may entertain of the equality of Pindar's metre, I conceive that
it would have been a contradiction in terms: Whether the denomina-
tion I have affigned to the conſtruction of this piece be right or wrong,
it is of the fame nature with that of Gray's two great Odes. W. B.
In Ben Fonfon's UNDERWOODS, the Ode to the memory, &c. of Sir
Lucius Cary, and Sir H. Morrifon, "is a true and regulated Pindaric,
and the firſt in our language, that hath a juft claim to that title."
See Mr. Whalley's elegant Note, or rather Differtation, on the ODE
PINDARIC, in his edition of Jonfon, Vol. 6, Page 440.
To which the following may be added, "The correct and laborious
Ben Jonfon, as he was the firft importer of the Strophe, Antiftrophe and
Epode, has given us alſo the firſt Engliſh precedent of an irregular ode,
if I miſtake not, in the poem on the burning of his works."
Prefton's Thoughts on Lyric Poetry.
EDITOR.
KING in the COUNTRY.
THI
A
DRAMATIC PIEC E,
In TWO ACTS.
1
1
警
​Acted at the THEATRES-ROY A L,
At RICHMOND and WINDSOR,
1788.
LONDON,
Printed for the EDITOR, and Sold at No. 62, Great Wild-
Street, near Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; by Meff. EGERTON,
Whitehall; Meff. Cox and PHILLIPSON, James-Street,
Covent-Garden; R. RYAN, No. 351, Oxford-Street;
H. D. SYMONDS, No.. 25, Pater-Nofter-Row; and
W. RICHARDSON, under the Royal Exchange. 1789.
[ Ontend at Stationes-Mall, }
>
351
M
ADVERTISEMENT.
The following Piece is taken from an underplot in The
First Part of King Edward the Fourth, written by
Thomas Heywood; the dialogue has been altered a little, to
render it fit for modern repreſentation; and a few paſſages
have been added for connexion and conclufion.
}
Dramatis Perfonæ.
King Edward the Fourth.
Lord Howard.
Sir Thomas Sellenger.
Sir Humphrey Bowes.
Juſtice Afton.
Lord Mayor.
f
{
Recorder.
Sheriffs.
Huntſmen.
{
John Hobbs, the Tanner of Tamworth.
Young Hobbs, his Son.
Dudgeon, his Man,
Hadland.
Goodfellow.
Grudgen,
The Queen.
The Dutchefs.
Nell, the Tanner's Daughter.
*
"
!
፡
1
}
1
r
PROL O G U E.
YOU lately read in each news-paper,
At morn, at noon, by evening-taper,
Of Cheltenham-water, wooden-houſe,
Now left to prowling rat or moufe;
With fmart bon-mots, and anecdotes
Of Prince and Peafant, Crowns and Cotes;
And bow, furprised, the ruftics ran
To ſee the King was but a man ;
Wond'ring that blue-coat and bob-wig
Were worn by one they thought fo big,
Great Gog or Magog's coat of mail
To cover him would furely fail:
How stars and garters clowns did fcare,
And make them at a distance ftare;
With Mayors, most loyally addreffing,
To beg of Majesty the bleffing
Of one short vifit to their city,
Which they, no doubt, had trimm'd up pretty:
With *female bell-man, Squeaking out
"God fave the King!" while ruftics fhout;
And gracious GEORGE, by chance being nigh her,
Moft courteous adds, "God bless the cryer!"
Thefe, and a thousand fuch-like matters,
By news-papers now worn to tatters,
May prove a theme for fome Stage-Writer,
Some Laureat-Bard, or Song-Enditer.
Tho' choice the fubject, yet, thro' fear.
We might debafe it, were it here
Attempted to be dramatized,
It being fo far overſized
For our weak talents; we, inftead,
Evoke the Spirits of the Dead!
1
And
*This anomalous expreffion is not without a precedent; Man
Mid-Wife, fo generally uſed, being authority for it.
1
ษ.
1
+
PROLOGUE.
And crave you to accept a Story
Of our Fourth EDWARD, England's glory!
And a blunt Tanner; long fince writ
By Thomas Heywood, a Stage-Wit:
Antique the phrafe, and coarſe the manners,
Yet fuch as fuited Kings and Tanners
Who lived three hundred years ago,
When few could to a goofe fay Bo!
And needy King's would beg or borrow
What their poor fubjects' toil and forrow
Had Scraped together: happier now!
We under no fuch bondage bow;
Nor King demands, nor fubjects grieve,
Beneath our vines content we live!´
And read with wonder of thofe times,
The fimple theme of this night's Mimes.
If it afford fome harmless mirth,
Nor fhew of humour quite a dearth;
Kindly o'ertook whate'er's amifs,
Nor pay our labours with a bifs.
And Jhould it pleaſe you to commend,
We shall atchieve our wish'd-for end;
For every thought, deed, and endeavour,
Is bent to gain that Prize, your Favour!
1
1
27 बु
THE
(
KING in the COUNTRY.
D
ACT I.
SCENE A Foreft.
Enter Hobbs and Dudgeon.
HOBBS.
UDGEON, doft thou hear? look well to Brock, my
mare, drive Dun and her fair and foftly down the hill,
and take heed the thorns tear not my cow-hides, as thou
goeft near the hedges.
Dud. Mafter, the bull's hide is down.
Hobbs. Ha! what fay'ft thou knave? is the bull's hide
down? why then hoift it up again. I'll meet thee at the
ftile, and help to fet all ftrait. [Exit Dudgeon.] And yet,
heaven help us, it is a crooked world, and an unthrifty; for
ſome that have ne'er a ſhoe had rather go barefoot, than buy
clout-leather to mend the old, when they can get no new;
well, heaven mend them, tho' they will not mend their shoes.
Let me fee by my executor here, my leather pouch, what I
have taken, what I have ſpent, what I have gained, what I
have loft, and what I have laid out: My taking is more than
my ſpending, for here's ſtore left. I have ſpent but a groat,
a penny for my two jades, a penny to the poor, a penny pot
of ale, and a penny cake, for my man and me.-A dicker of
cow-hides coft me - 'fnails, who comes here? Dame
Ploughfhare, or Miſtreſs what d'ye call her? put up, John
Hobbs, money tempts beauty.
Enter
The KING in the COUNTRY.
7
1
Enter the Queen and Dutchefs, in riding dreſſes, and Two
Huntſmen, with bows, &c.-
Dut. Well met, good fellow, faw'ft thou not the hart?
Hobbs. My heart? heaven bleſs me from feeing my heart?
Queen. Thy heart? the deer, man, we demand the deer.
Hobbs. Do you demand what's dear? marry, corn and
cow-hides.—Maſs! a good fmug lafs. Well like my
daughter Nell.
Dut. Cameft thou not down the wood?
Hobbs. Yes, miſtreſs, that I did.
Queen. And faw'ft thou not the deer imboſt?
$
Hobbs. By the rood ye make me laugh, ha! ha! ha!
what the dickens is it, love! that makes ye prate to me fo
fondly?
Ift. Hunts. Why how now, Hobbs, fo faucy with the
Dutchers and the Queen?
Hobbs. *Much Dutchefs, and much Queen, I trow! theſe
be but women; and one of them is as like my wench as a
raw hide is to one that's not tann'd: I would Nell had her
cloaths, I would give a load of hair and horns, and a fat of
leather, to match her to fome Juſtice, by the meg-holly.
2nd. Hunts. Be filent, Tanner, and aſk pardon of the Queen.
Hobbs. And ye be the Queen, I cry ye mercy, good
Miſtreſs Queen!
Queen, Madam, let's take our bows, and in the ſtanding
feek to get a ſhoot.
Dut. Come bend our bows, and bring the herd of deer.
[Exeunt Queen, Dutchefs, and Huntfinen.
Hobbs. Heaven fend you good ſtriking, and fat fleſh.-
See if all women, high or low, be not alike. I took the Queen
for Dame Ploughfhare, as I am a true Tanner.
Enter Sellenger and Howard in hunting dreſſes.
Hobbs. Soft, who comes here? more knaves yet!
Sel. Ho! good-fellow! faw'ft thou not the king?
Hobbs. No, good-fellow! I faw no King.-Which King
doſt thou aſk for?
How.
Much] Ben Jonfon uſes this word in the fame ironical manner,
"much wench, or much ſon !-Whalley's Edition, Vol. I. P. 102.
8
The KING in the COUNTRY.
.00
f
How, Why, King Edward, what King is there elſe?
Hobbs. There's another King, and ye could hit on him;
one Harry, one Harry! and by our Lady they ſay he's the
honefter man of the two.
Sel. Sirrah, beware you fpeak not treaſon.
Hobbs, What if I do?
Sel. Then you'll be hang'd.
Hobbs. That's a dog's death, I'll not meddle with it. But
by my troth I know not when I do fpeak treafon, and when I
don't; there's fuch halting betwixt two Kings, that a man
cannot go upright but he fhall offend one of them: I would
heaven had them both for me.
How. Well, thou faw'ft not the King?
Hobbs. No; is he in the Country?
How. He's hunting here at Drayton-Baffet.*
Hobbs. The devil he is, God blefs his mafterſhip! I faw
a woman here, that they faid was the Queen. She's as like
my daughter Nell as ever I fee, but that my daughter's
fairer.
Sel. Farewell, fellow; fpeak well of the King.
[Exeunt Sellenger and Howard.
Hobbs. God make him an honeft man, I hope that's well
fpoken; for, by the mouſe-foot, fome give him hard words;
whether he 'zerves um or not, let him look to that; I'll med-
dle o'my cow-hides, and let the world wag. [Enter the King
in a riding dress.] The devil in a dung-cart! how theſe roy-
fters fwarm in the country now the King is fo near. 'deliver
me
* Mr. Urban, I fhould be obliged to any of your topographical
friends, to inform me, why fo many towns in North Wiltihire have
the addition of Baffet to their names, as Watton Baffet, Compton Baffet,
Berwick Baffet, &c. &c.? Every fingularity of the kind fhould be
traced to its fource; as it frequently produces exemplifications of an-
cient cuſtoms, or leads imperceptibly to difcuffions of antiquity. that
feldom fail of rewarding us with fome knowledge, that was before loſt
to all but the incurious tenant of the foil. H."
Gentleman's Magazine, 1788, Part 2, Page 885.
"The feveral towns in North Wiltfhire which have the addition
of Baffet to their names, derive it from their owner Philip Baffet, who
had confiderable property in the county, and was a younger branch
of the Baffets of Edendon there. See Dugdale's Bar. 1. 383, 385.P.P."
Idem, P. 973.
The KING in the COUNTRY.
.9
me
from this, for he looks more like a thief than a horfe! but
a man cannot tell amongſt thefe court-nols who's true.
King. Now I have let my mother and the Queen, and all
our train go by, let me awhile forget my Majefty; and,
'ftead of royal Edward, as the King's attendant have
ſome ſport with yonder ruftic. Hollo! my friend! good-
fellow, prithee ftay:
Hobbs. No fuch matter. I am in haſte.
King. If thou be a good-fellow, let me borrow a word.
Hobbs. My purfe thou mean'ft.-I am no good-fellow, and
I pray heaven thou beeſt not one.
King. Why, doft thou not love a good-fellow.
Hobbs. No; 'tis a bye-word, good-fellows be thieves.
King. Doft thou think I am one?
Hobbs. Thought is free, and thou art not my ghoftly father
King. In faith, I mean thee no harm.
Hobbs. Who knoweth that but thyself?—I pray heaven he
fpied not my purſe!
King. On my troth I mean thee none.
[afide.
Hobbs. Well, upon thy oath I'll ftay.-Now what ſay'ſt
thou to me? fpeak quickly, for my company ſtays for me be-
neath at the next ſtile.
King. The King is hunting hereabouts; did'ft thou fee his
Majefty?
Hobbs. His Majefty? what's that? his horfe or his mare?
King. Tuſh, I mean his Grace.
Hobbs. Grace, quotha! pray heaven he have any.-Which
King doth thou 'quire for?
King. Why, for King Edward.-Know'st thou any mote
Kings than one? -
Hobbs. I know not fo many, for I tell thee I know none.-
Marry, I hear of King Edward.
King. Did'st thou fee his highneſs?
Hobbs. Now, by my holydame, that's the best term thou
gaveft him yet; he's high enough, but he has put poor King
Harry low enough.
King. How low hath he put him?
B
Hobbs.
+
IO
.
The KING in the COUNTRYέστ
Hobbs. Nay I cannot tell, but he has got the Crown from
him, much good do him with it!
King. Amen! I like thy talk to well, I would I knew thy
name.
Hobbs. Doft thou not know me?
King! No.
Hobbs. Then thou know'ft nobody; did'ft never hear of
John Hobbs, the Tanner of Tamworth?
King. Not till now, I promiſe thee; but now I do know
thee, I like thee well.
Hobbs. So do not I thee.-I doubt thou art fome out-rider,
that lives by taking of purfes, here on Baffet-heath.-But
I fear thee not; for I have wared all my money in cow-
hides, at Colefill market; and my man and my mare are hard
by at the hill-foot.
King Is that thy grey mare, that's tied at the ftile, with
the hides on her back?
Hobbs. Ay, that's Brock, my mare; and there's Dun, my
nag; and Dudgeon, my man.
King. There's neither man, nor horſe; but only the mare.
Hobbs. Od's blue bodkin! has the knave ferved me fo?
farewell. I may loſe hides, horns, mare, and all, by prating
with thee.
King. Tarry, man, tarry! they'll fooner take my bay
gelding, than thy grey mare; for I have tied mine by her.
Hobbs. That will I fee before I take your word.
King. I'll bear thee company.
Hobbs. If you will, you muft; but I had much rather go
alone.
The SCENE continues.
Enter the Two Huntfmen.
[Exeunt.
ift. Hunts. Now, by my troth, the Queen ſhoots paffing
well.
2nd. Huntſ. So did the Dutchefs, when ſhe was as young.
1ft. Huntf Age ſhakes the hand, and fhoots both wide
and ſhort
2nd. Huntſ. What have they given us?
ifte Huntf. Six rofe-nobles juft.
2nd.
The KING in the COUNTRY.
II
1
2nd. Hunts. The Queen gave four.
ift. Hunt. Right, and the Dutchefs two; had the King
come, he would have rained on us fhowers of gold.
2nd. Huntf. Why, he is hunting, fomewhere hereabout.-
Let us firſt drink the Queen and Dutchefs' health, and then
go feek him.
ift. Huntf. Agreed.
[Exeunt.
Another part of the Foreft, at the bottom of the hill.
Enter the King and Hobbs.
King. How fay'ft thou, Tanner? wilt thou take my
courfer for thy mare?
Hobbs. Courfer, call'ft thou him? he's too fine for me!
thy fkittiſh jade will neither carry my leather, horns, nor
hides. But if I were fo mad to change, what would'ſt thou
give me to boot?
King. Nay, boot that's boot-worthy.-I look for boot of thee.
Hobbs. Ha, ha, ha! that's a merry jig! why, man, Brock,
my mare, knows ha and ree; will ftand when I cry ho, let me
get up when I fay hi, and down when I fay bee.
King. Well, I'll give thee a noble if I like her pace; lay
thy cow-hides on my faddle, and let's jog towards Drayton.
Hobbs. 'Tis out of my way; but I begin to like thee well.
King. Thou wilt like me better ere we part. I pray thee
tell me, what ſay they of the King?
Hobbs. Of the Kings, thou mean'ft.-Art thou no blab if I
do tell thee?
King. If the King knows not now, he fhall never know it
for me.
Hobbs. Mafs, they fay King Harry's a very advowtry man.
King. A devout man; and what's King Edward?
Hobbs. He's a frank franion, a merry companion, and loves
a wench well; they fay he has married a poor widow becauſe
The is fair.
King. Doft thou like him the worſe for that?
B 2.
Hobbs.
f
12
The KING in the COUNTRY.
114
Hobbs. No, by my feckens, but the better; for though I
be but a plain Tanner, I love a fair laſs myſelf.
King. Prithee, tell me, how love they King Edward?
Hobbs. Faith, as poor folks love holidays. Glad to have
them now and then, but to have them come too often would
undo them; foto fee the King now and then is a comfort,
but to behold him every day would beggar us; and I may
fay to thee, under the rofe, we fear we fhall be troubled to
lend him money, for we doubt he's but needy.
King. Would't thou not lend him money if he ſhould.
need it?
Hobbs. Yes, by my holydame! he ſhall have half my purfe,
and I'll fell fole-leather to help him to more.
King. In faith now, which lov'ft thou beft, Harry or
Edward?
Hobbs. Nay, that's a fecret! and two may keep it, if one
be away.
King. Shall I fay my confcience? I think Harry is the
true King.
Hobbs. Art adviſed of that? Harry's of the old houſe of
Lancaſter, and that progenity do I love.
King. Then doft thou hate the Houſe of York?
Hobbs. Why, no; for I am juft a-kin to Sutton wind-mill
I can grind which way foe'er the wind blow: If it be Harry,
I can fay well fare Lancaſter! if it be Edward, I can fing,
York, York for my money!
King. Thou art of my mind, for I fay Harry is the lawful
King; Edward is but a ufurper; fool and a coward.
Hobbs. Nay, there thou lyeft! he has wit enough, and
courage enough; doft thou not fpeak treafon?
King. Ay; but I know to whom I ſpeak it.
Hobbs. Doft thou? an I were conftable, I fhould be for-
fworn if I fet thee not in the ſtocks for it.
King. Well, let it go no further; for I did ferve King
Harry, and I love him beft; though now I ferve. King
Edward.
Hobbs, Thou art the arranter. knave to ſpeak ill of thy
mafter. But, firrah, what's thy name? what office hait
thou? and what will the King do for thee?
King,
The KING in the COUNTRY.
13
King. My name is Ned; I am the King's butler, and he
will do more for me than for any nobleman in the court.
Hobbs. The devil he will! the more fool he, and fo I'll tell
him if e'er I fee him; and I would I might fee him in my
poor houſe at Tamworth.
King. Go with me to the court, and I'll bring thee to the
King; and what fuit foever thou have to him, I'll warrant
thee to speed.
Hobbs. I ha' nothing to do at court; I'll home with my
cow-hides; but. if the King will come to me, he ſhall be
welcome.
King. Haft thou no fuit touching thy trade? to tranfport
hides, or have the fole felling of leather within a certain
circuit; or about bark, or fuch like, to have letters patent.
Hobbs. By the mafs, I like not thoſe patents! for, I think
it's pity that only one fubject ſhould have, what might do
good to many throughout the land.
King. Say'ft thou me fo, Tanner? well, let's caft lots,
whether thou shalt go with me to Drayton, or I
with thee to Tamworth.
go home
Hobbs. Lot me no lotting! I'll not go with thee; if thou
wilt go with me, 'cauſe thou'rt my Liege's man (and yet I
think he has many honefter) thou fhalt be welcome to John
Hobbs: thou shalt be welcome to beef and bacon; and per-
haps a bag-pudding: and my daughter Nell fhall make a
poffet for thee ere thou goeft to bed.
King. Here's my hand.-I'll but go and fee the King
ſerved, and be at home as foon as thyfelf; ay, and, with thy
leave and her's,. kifs. thy fair daughter too.
Hobbs. That's hereafter as it may be; but,
Doft thou hear me Ned? if I fhall be thy hoft,
Make haſte, thou wert beft, for fear thou kiſs the poſt.
1 Exit Hobbs.
King. Farewell, John Hobbs, the honeft true Tanner!
I fee plain men, by obfervation
Of things that alter in the change of times,
Do gather knowledge; and the meaneſt life,
1
Por-
14
The KING in the COUNTRY.
Portion'd with but content's fufficiency,
Is happier than the mighty ſtate of Kings.
[ Enter Howard and Sellenger.
How now? what news bring ye, Sirs?
Where's the Queen?
Sel. Her highneſs and your mother, my dread Lord,
Are both invited by Sir Humphrey Bowes,
Where they intend to feaſt and lodge to night,
And do expect your Grace's prefence there.
*
King. Tom Sellenger, I have other buſineſs..
Aftray from you and all my other train,
I met a Tanner; fuch a merry mate,
So frolick, and fo full of good conceit,
That I have given my word to be his gueft;
Becauſe he knows me not to be the King:
Good coufin Howard grudge not at the jeft,'
But greet my mother and my wife for me;
Bid them be merry; I muft have my humour;
Let them both fup and fleep when they fee time;
Commend me kindly to Sir Humphrey Bowes,
Tell him at breakfaſt I will vifit him.
This night Tom Sellenger and I muſt feaſt
With Hobbs, the Tanner; theré plain Ned and Tom,
The King and Sellenger awhile forgot.
Enter a Meffenger, booted, with letters, and kneeling gives them
to the King:
How. The Queen' and Dutchiefs will be difcontent,
Becauſe his Highnefs comes not to the feaſt.
Sel. Sir Humphrey Bowes may take the moſt offence;
But there's no help; the King will have his pleafure.
King. Good news, my boys; Harry the fixth is dead.
Pcrufe this letter. Sirrah, drink you that,
And ſtay not, but poft back again' for life,
And thank my brother Glofter for his news;
黑
​[gives his purfe.
Commend me to him; I'll fee him tomorrow night.
How like ye it, Sirs?
1
[ Exit Meffenger.
Sel
The KING in the COUNTRY,
15
Sel. O, paffing well, my Liege;
You may be merry for this happy news.
King. The merrier with our hoft, the Tanner, Tom;
My Lord, take you that letter to the ladies;
Bid them be merry as good news can make them:
And if we ſee them not before we go,
Pray them to journey eafily after us.
We'll poft to London, fo good night, my
Lord.
Exit Lord Howard.
And now fet forward on thy frolick, Ned!
Come, Tom; the word's Fat Bacon and Brown Bread!
[Exeunt King and Sellenger.
SCENE, Hobbs's Houſe.
Enter Hobbs, and his daughter Nell.
1
Hobbs. Come, Nell, come daughter, be your hands and
face waſhed?
·Nell. Ay, forfooth, father.
Hobbs. Ye muſt be cleanly I can tell ye, for there comes a
court-nol hither to-night, the King's maſterſhip's butler,
Ned; a fpruce youth; but beware ye be not in love, nor
overtaken by him, for Courtiers be flippery lads.
Nell. No, forfooth, father.
Hobbs. God's bleffing on thee! that half-year's ſchooling
at Liechfield, was better to thee than houſe and land, it has
put fuch manners into thee: Ay, forfooth; and no forfooth,
at every word. Is fupper ready?
Nell. Ay, forfooth, father.
-
Hobbs. Have we a good barley bag-pudding, a piece of
fat bacon, a good cow-heel, a hard cheeſe, and a brown loaf?
Nell. All this, forfooth; and more, ye ſhall have a poffet:
but, indeed, the rats have ſpoiled your hard cheeſe.
Hobbs. Now, the devil choak them! for they eat me a
whole candle the other night.
Dudgeon. (within) What, Mafter! Maſter!
Hobbs. How, now, Knave? what fay'ft thou, Dudgeon?
Dud. Here's gueſts come. Where's Ellen?
།
;
Enter
}
16
the COUNTRY.
The KING in 2
}
Enter Dudgeon.
Hobbs. What gueſts be they?
1
Dud. A court-nol; one Ned, the King's butcher, he fays;
and his friend too.
>
Hobbs. Ned, the King's butcher? ha, ha, ha!-the King's
butler, thou mean'ft; take their horfes, and walk them, and
bid them come in doors. [Exit Dudgeon.] Nell, lay the
cloth, and fupper o'th" board.
[ Exit Nell.
Enter King and Sellenger.
Mafs! here's Ned, indeed; and another mifproud ruffian.—
Welcome Ned! I like thy honefty, thou keep'ft promiſe.
King. I'faith, honeft Tanner, I'll ever keep promiſe with
thee:-prithee, bid my friend welcome.
Hobbs. By my troth ye are both welcome to Tamworth!
friend, I know not your name.
Sel. My name is Tom Twift.
Hobbs. Tom Twift? belike then you are the King's taylor.
Sel. No, faith.
Hobbs. Ye are welcome both; and I like you well, but
for one thing.
Sel. What's that?
Hobbs. Nay, that I keep to myſelf.-For I- grieve to think
that pride brings many to extruction.
King. Prithee, tell us thy meaning.
Hobbs. Troth, I doubt ye ne'er came truly by all thefe
gay
trappings. 'Tis not your bare wages, and thin fees ye have of
the King, can keep ye thus fine; but either ye muft rob the
King privily, or his fubjects openly, to maintain your prodi-
gality. But, come, let's to fupper.What, Nell! what,
Dudgeon!-where be thefe folks?
Enter Nell and Dudgeon, with a table covered.
Daughter, bid my friends welcome.
Nell. Ye are welcome, gentlemen, as I may fay, forfooth.
[The King and Sellenger kifs her.
Sel. I thank ye, fair maid.
King. A pretty wench, faith!
Hobbs. How lik'ft her, Ned?
..
King.
The KING in the COUNTRY.
I'
King. I like her fo well, I would ye would make me your
fon-in-law.
Hobbs. And I like thee fo well, Ned; that, had'ſt thou an
occupation, (for fervice is no heritage, and a young courtier,
an old beggar.) I could find in my heart to caft her away
upon thee; and, if thou wilt forfake the court, and turn
Tanner, here with me at Tamworth, or bind thyſelf to a
Shoe-maker, in Liechfield, I'll give thee twenty nobles,
ready money, with my Nell; and trust thee with a dicker of
leather to fet up thy trade.
Sel. Ned, he offers ye fair, if ye have the grace to take it.
King. He does, indeed Tom; and hereafter I'll tell him
more.
Hobbs. Come, fit down to fupper. [They fit. ] Go to, Nell!
no more ſheep's eyes; ye may be caught, I tell you; theſe
be licorifh lads.
Nell. 1 warrant ye, father. Yet, in truth, Ned is a very
proper man; and to'ther may ferve, but Ned's a pearl in mine
eye.
Hobbs. Daughter, call Dudgeon and his fellows, we'll have
a three-man-fong, to make our gueſts merry. [Exit Nell.
'Nails! what court-nols are ye? ye'll neither eat nor talk.
What news at the court? do fomewhat for
your meat.
King. Heavv news there. King Henry is dead.
Hobbs. That's light news and merry for your mafter, King
Edward.
King. But how will the commons take it?
Hobbs. Troth, the commons will take it as a common
thing, and fay, Well! God be with good King Henry!
death's an honeft man, for he fpares not the King.-
As one comes, another's ta'en away,
And ſeldom comes a better, as a body may ſay.
King. Shrewdly fpoken, Tanner, by my faith.
[Enter Nell, Dudgeon, and others.
Hobbs. Come, fill me a cup of mother Whetſtone's ale,
that I may drink to my friends; Here's to ye, Ned and
Tom, with all my heart! [ drinks] and yet, I doubt, if I
come to the court, you'll not know me.
C
King.
ช
ہیں
18
The KING in the COUNTRY.
King. Yes, faith! Tom fhall be my furety, Tanner, I
will know thee.
Sel. 'fthou doft not, Ned, thou deferv'ft that the King
fhould not know thee.
King. Come, honeſt Tanner, I drink to thy fair daughter,
Nell; my wife that may be.
Sel. 'Ifaith Ned, thou may'ft live to make her a lady.
King. Tufh, her father offers nothing, having no more
children but her.
Hobbs. I would I had not, condition fhe had all; but I
have a knave to my fon, juft fuch an unthrift as one of you
two; that ſpends all on gay cloaths and new fafhions, and no
work will go down with him, that I fear he'll be hang'd;
heaven bleſs you to a better fate! tho', by my troth, I doubt
it; but come, let's drive away care with a good old fong.
[ A Song here by Dudgeon, &c.
Sel. Well fung, good fellows, I would the King heard you.
Hobbs. So would I; i'faith, I ſhould ſtrain a note for him.
Come, take away, and let's to bed-ye fhall have clean fheets,
Ned, tho' they be coarfe; good ftrong hemp, of my daugh-
ter's own fpinning.
King. Thanks, honeft Hobbs! but we'll not go to bed.
Hobbs. What then? let's ha' more ale.
King. No more, good friend; we'll mount our horfes,
and with fpeed to London, for it is near day; and, honeſt
Tanner! gramercy for our hearty cheer. If e'er it be thy
chance to come to court, enquire for me, Ned, the King's
Butler; or Tom, of the King's Chamber, my companion,
and fee what welcome we will give the there.
Hobbs. I have heard of courtiers have faid as much as you,
and when they have been tried, would not ſo much as afk
their friends to drink.
King. We are none fuch, believe me, honeft Tanner. So
now to horſe, for we muſt ſtrait away; and fo, with hearty
thanks, friend Hobbs, farewell.
Hobbs. Fare ye well, both! commend me to the King, and
tell him,
I'd ha' been glad to ha' feen his worship here;
But, come when he will, I promife him good cheer! [Exeunt.
.
The KING in the COUNTRY.
19
N
ACT
II.
SCENE, An Antique Hall.
Sir Humphrey Bowes and Juſtice Aſton, feated,
Hobbs, Hadland, Grudgeon, Goodfellow, &c.
SIR HUMPHREY BOWES.
Eighbours and friends, the cauſe why you are call'd
Concerns the King's moft excellent majefty,
Whofe right, you know, by his progenitors,
Unto the crown and fovereignty of France,
Is wrongfully detained by the French.
Which to revenge and royally regain,
His highneſs means to put himself in arms,
And in his princely perfon to conduct
His warlike troops againſt the enemy.
But, for his coffers are unfurnished,
Through civil diſcord and inteſtine war,
For York and Lancaſter's difputed claim,
(Whoſe bleeding fcars our eyes may yet behold)
He prays his faithful, loving fubjects' help
To further this his just great enterpriſe.
*
Hobbs. So, the drift and meaning, whereby as it were,
of
all your long purgation, Sir Humphrey Bowes, is no more
in fome reſpect, but that the King wants money, and would
ha' fome of his commonality.
Sir H. Tanner, you rightly underſtand the matter.
7. Afton. Note this withall; where his dread majefty,
(Our lawful fovereign, and mot royal King)
Might have exacted or impofed a tax,
Or borrow'd greater fums than we can fpare,
(For all we have is at his dread command)
He doth not fo; but mildly doth intreat
C 2
Our
*
20
The KING in the COUNTRY.
Our kind benevolence, what we will give,
With willing minds towards this mighty charge.
[Enter Lord Howard.
Which to receive, his noble counſellor,
And kinfman, the Lord Howard here is come.
How. Now good Sir Humphrey Bowes, and Juſtice Aſton,
Have ye declared the King's moft gracious pleafure?
Sir H. We have, my lord.
How. His highneſs will not force,
As loan or tribute: but will take your gift
In grateful part, and recompence your loves.
Sir H. To fhew my love, though money now be fearce,
A hundred pounds I'll give his majefty.
How. 'Tis well, Sir Humphrey !
7. Afton. Ia hundred marks.
How. Thanks, Juftice Afton! you both fhew your love.
Now aſk your neighbours what they will beftow?
Sir H. Come, mafter Hadland, your benevolence.
Had. O, good Sir Humphrey, do not rack my purſe.
You know my ſtate, I lately fold my land.
7 Afton. Then you have money; let the King have part.
Hobbs. Ay, do, mafter Hadland, do; they ſay ye fold a
foul deal of dirty land for fair gold and filver; let the King
have fome, now, while ye have it; if ye be forborne a
while, all will be fpent: for he who cannot keep land, that
lies faft, will have much ado to hold money 'tis flippery
ware! 'tis melting ware!
How. Gramercy, Tanner!
Sir H. Say, what fhall we have?
Had. My forty fhillings.
7. Afton. Robert Goodfellow,
I know you will be liberal to the King.
Goodf. O, Juftice Afton, be content I pray ye;
You know my charge, my houſehold very great,
And my houfe-keeping holds me very bare ;
Threefcore up-rifing and down-lying, Sir,
Spend no fmall ftore of victuals in a year;
Two brace of greyhounds, twenty couple of hounds;
And
The KING in the COUNTRY.
21
•
And then my horfes eat a deal of corn;
My chriſtmas coſt, and friends that then do come,
Amounts to charge; I am Robin Good fellow,
That welcome all, and keep a frolick houfe;
But have no money,-pray ye pardon me.
Hobbs. Why hear you, goodman Goodfellow! (tho' you
are much mifcall'd ) hear a plain Tanner, who will teach
you thrift; Keep fewer dogs and horfes, and then
you may feed more men; yet feed no idle men, 'tis needleſs
charge but furely you, that for hounds and hunting mates do
fpare for nought, will fomething fpare unto your king.
Goodf. My brace of angels, by my troth that's all.
Hobb's. Mafs! and 'tis well the curs have left fo much; I
thought they would have eaten up thy land ere this.
Sir H. Now, Harry Grudgen.
Grud. What would you have of me? money I have none,
and I'll fell no ſtock; here's old polling!-fubfidy, foldiers,
and to the poor! and you might have your will, you'd foon
ſhut me out of doors.
Hobb's. Now, by my holydame, neighbour Grudgén,
thou'rt but a grumbling, grudging churl! thou haft two
ploughs gomg, and ne'er a cradle rocking, with many a peck
of money; and wilt not fpáre a few pounds to the King.
Grud. Marry come up, goodman Tanner, are you fo tart?
your prolicateneſs has brought your fon to the gallows
almoft; you can be frank of another man's coft.
Hobbs. Thou'rt no good man to twit me with my fon; he
may outlive thee yet: my fon's in jail;-is he the firſt ho-
neft man's fon that hath been there? and thou wert a man as
thou'rt but a beaft, I would have thee by the ears.
How. Friend, thou want'ft nurture to upbraid a father
With a fon's fault; we fit not here for this.
What's thy benevolence to his Majefty?
Hobbs. His beneligence? hang him! he'll not give a
penny willingly.
Grud..I care not much to caft away forty pence.
How. Out, grudging péafant! bafe, ill-nurtur'd groom'!
Is this the love thou bear'ft unto the King?
Gen-
1
2.2
The KING in the COUNTRY.
Gentlemen, take notice of the flave,
}
And if he fault let him be foundly plagued.
Now, frolick Tanner, what wilt thou afford?
Hobbs. Twenty old angels, and a fcore of hides; if that
be too little, take twenty nobles more: while I have it my
King ſhall never want.
How. The King fhall know thy loving, liberal heart.
Hobbs. Shall he, i'faith? I thank ye heartily! but, hear
ye, gentlemen, come ye from the court?
How. I do.
Hobbs. Lord, how does the King? and how does Ned, the
King's butler? and Tom of his chamber? I am fure ye
know them.
How. I do, and they are well.
Hobbs. For want of better gueſts they were at my houſe
one night.
How. I know they were.
Hobbs. They promifed me a good turn for kiffing my
daughter, Nell; and now I ha' cagion to try them: my fon's
in Caperdochia, as they call it, in Newgate jail; for peeping
into another man's purfe and outcept the King be mifer-
able, he's like to totter for lack of ground to ftand on! can
that fame Ned, the butler, do any thing with the King?
How. More than myfelf or any other Lord.
Hobbs. A halter he can! by my troth ye rejoice my heart
to hear it.
How. Come to the court; I warrant thy fon's life; Ned
will fave that, and do thee greater good.
Hobbs. Then fare ye well, Sirs!
I'll wean my mare's foal, and come up to the King;
And you for your pains, two fat hens will I bring.
1
SCENE, A Grand Apartment.
Enter King, Howard, Sellenger, &c.
[Exeunt.
King. And have our country fubjects been fo frank,.
And bountiful in their benevolence,
Toward our preſent expedition?
Thanks
The KING in the COUNTRY.
23
Thanks, coufin Howard, for thy pains herein:
We will have letters fent to every fhire,
Of thankful gratitude, that they may know
How highly we refpect their gentleness.
How. One thing, my lord, I had well nigh forgot;
Your pleaſant hoit, the Tanner of Tamworth-
King. What of him, coufin?
How. He was right liberal;
Twenty old angels and as many nobles,
With a fcore hides, he gave unto your grace;
And others, feeing him fo bountiful,
Stretch'd further than they otherwife had done.
King. Truft me I muft requite that honeft Tanner.
O, had he kept his word, and come to court,
In faith we fhould have had good ftore of mirth.
How. That is not long, my lord, which haps at laſt ;
He's come to London on an earneft caufe.
His fon lies prifoner in Newgate-jail,
And is condemned for a robbery.
Your hignefs pardoning his fon's default,
May yield the Tanner no mean recompence.
King. But who hath feen him fince he came to town?
Sel. My lord, in Holborn 'twas my hap to fee him
Gazing about; I fent away my men,
And, clapping on one of their livery cloaks,
Accofted him; the Tanner knew me ftrait;
How now, Tom? and how doth Ned? quoth he,
That honeft, merry hangman, how doth he?
I, knowing that your majefty intended
This day in perſon to come to the Tower,
There bade him meet me, where mad Ned and I
Would bring him to the prefence of the King,
And there procure a pardon for his fon.
King. Have then a care we be not ſeen of him,
Until we be provided for the purpofe;
Becauſe once more we'll have a little ſport.
Tom Sellenger, let that care be your's.
Sel. I warrant you, my lord; I will not fail.
Enter
24
The KING in the COUNTRY.
Enter Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Recorder, &c.
King. Welcome, Lord Mayor! Recorder, Sheriffs, all!
Say, worthy friends, have you well fignified
Our thankfulneſs unto our citizens,
For their late gathered benevolence?
*
Mayor. So, pleaſe your highnefs it has juft been done;
Before the citizens in our guild-hall,
Maſter Recorder made a long oration
Of thankful gratitude for their kind gifts;
Which they received with fo great refpect,
And love unto your royal majefty,
As it appear'd to us they forrowed
Their bounty to your highneſs was no more.
King. Lord Mayor, and Sirs, thanks to yourſelves and them.
And go ye with us now unto the Tower,
To fee the order that we ſhall obferve
In this fo needful warlike preparation,
To gain our lawful right from haughty France;
The better may ye certifie to them,
What need there was of their benevolence.
And, gentle Sheriffs, as we paſs along,
A word in private about other matters.
While we to quell our foes abroad to roam,
Let's not forget our fubjects' blifs at home!
SCENE, The Tower.
[Exeunt.
Enter King, Lord Mayor, Recorder, Howard, Sellenger,
and the train.
King. Having awak'd forth of their fleepy dens
Our drowſy cannon, which ere long fhall charm
The watchful French, with Death's eternal fleep,
And all things elſe in readineſs for France,
A while we will give truce unto our care.
There is a merry Tanner near at hand,
With
The KING in the COUNTRY.
25
1
With whom we mean to have a little mirth;
Therefore, Lord Mayor, and you my other friends,
I muſt intreat you not to knowledge me;
No man ftand bare, but as companions all:
So, Tanner, now come when you pleaſe ;—and ſee
Where, in good time, he comes. Go, Tom, and meet him.
Enter Hobbs.
Sel. What, John Hobbs? welcome i'faith, to court.
Hobbs. Gramercy, honeft Tom! where is the hangman
Ned? where is that mad raſcal? fhall I not fee him?
Sel. See, there he ftands; that fame is he.
Hobbs. What, Ned! a plague on thee, how doft thou for
a mad rogue? and how, and how? [Shaking him by the Hand.
King. In health, John Hobbs, and very glad to ſee thee;
But fay, what wind drove thee to London?
Hobbs. Ah, Ned! I was brought hither with a whirlwind,
man; my fon! my fon! did I not tell thee I had a knave to
my fon?
King. Yes, Tanner, what of him?
Hobbs. Faith, he's in Caperdochia, Ned; inNewgate-goal,
for a robbery and is like to be hang'd, outcept thou
King to be more miferable to him.
King. If that be all, Tanner, I'll warrant him;
I will procure his pardon of the King.
get the
Hobbs. Wilt thou, Ned? for thofe good words, fee what
my daughter Nell hath fent thee; a hankercher wrought
with as good Coventry-blue* filk thread as ever thou ſaw'ft,
King. And I, perhaps, may wear it for her fake,
In better preſence than thou art aware of.
D
1
*"And ſhe gave me a fhirt-collar, wrought over
With no counterfeit ſtuff.
What, was it gold?
Nay, 'twas better than gold.
What was it?
Right Coventry blue."
Hobbs.
George A Greene, The Pinner of Wakefield, 1599.
By this paffage Coventry-blue appears to have been formerly held in
great eſtimation.
46
The KING in the COUNTRY.
Hobbs. How, Ned; a better preſent? that can't thou not
have, for filk, cloth, and workmanſhip; why Nell made it,
man!-But, Ned, is not the King in this company? what's
he in the white beard and red petticoat? By the maſs, I
mifdoubt, Ned, that is the King: I know it by my Lord
What-ye-call-um's players. .
King. How by them, Tanner?
Hobbs. Why, ever when they play an Enterlout, or a Com-
modity, at Tamworth, the King is always in a white-beard,
and a red-gown like him; therefore I 'fpect him to be
the King.
King. No, truft me, Tanner, that is not the King; but
thou fhalt fee the King before thou goeft, and have a pardon
for thy fon with thee.
Hobbs. Then what is he i'th'red-gown, and he i'th'black ?
King. That is the Mayor, Lord-Mayor of London; the
other is the Recorder.
Hobbs. What nick-names thefe Court-nols, have for one-
another! Mare and Corder, quotha!-We have no fuch at
Tamworth or Liechfield; there is the honeft bailiff and his
brethren: fuch words 'gree beft with us.
King. My Lord-Mayor, and good Mr. Recorder, I pray
ye, for my fake, to bid this honeft Tanner welcome.
Mayor. You are welcome, my honeſt friend!
In fign whereof, I pray you fee my houſe,
And fup with me this night.
Record. And, if it pleafe you, dine with me tomorrow.
Hobbs. I thank ye, goodman Mare! and Mafter Corder!
but I care not for no meat; my ftomach is like to a fick
fwine's, that will neither eat nor drink, 'till fhe know what
will become of her pig.-Ned and Tom, ye promiſed me
a good turn when I came to Court; either do it now, and
fave my fon from the gallows, or go hang yourſelves.
King. No fooner comes the King, but I will do it.
Sel. I warrant thee, Tanner; fear not thy fon's life.
Hobbs. Nay, I fear not his life; 'tis his death I fear.
Enter
·
The KING in the COUNTRY.
27
Enter the Sheriffs, and Young Hobbs.
[They kneel.
ift. Sher. All health and happineſs attend my fovereign!
2d. Sher. Here is the young man, Hobbs, condemn'd
to die.
Hobbs. Sovereign! and my fon! O that ever I was born!
King. Look to the Tanner! chafe his temples, Sirs!
This unlook'd meeting and diſcovery
Have overpower'd his faculties.
Hobbs. Let me alone, I'm a dead man!-
Ah, my liege! that ye fhould deal fo with a poor fimple
Tanner! but its no matter, I can but die.
King. But when, Tanner? can't thou tell?
Hobbs. Nay, e'en when ye pleafe; for I have fo defended
ye, by calling ye plain Ned, mad rogue, and raſcal, that I
know ye'll have me hang'd. Therefore, no more ado, but
let my fon and I e'en be trufs'd up together.-And here's
another, as honeſt as yourſelf no doubt; ye made me call
him plain Tom, and I warrant his name is Thomas, and
fome man of worſhip too; therefore, let's to our doom, e'en
when and where ye will.
King. Tanner, attend! not only do we pardon thee
Thy plain and blunt, tho' honeft, well-meant fpeech,
But in all princely kindneſs welcome thee!
And thy fon's treſpaſs do we pardon too; [YoungHobbskneels.
With this obfervance, that he fin no more
In fuch-like fort, elſe ſhall he ſurely die!
For he who from his prince's clemency
Hath once received a juftly-forfeit life,
And brings it into jeopardy again,
Deſerves not mercy, nor e'en pity merits.
Y. Hobbs. If I offend again, my gracious liege!
Let me not mercy, nor e'en pity find.
King. 'Tis well! Receive with kindneſs thy repentant fon;
And in return for what thou freely gav'ft
To aid our enterpriſe 'gainft haughty France,
We give to thee and thine in yearly fee.
An hundred marks; now, Tanner, what doſt fay?
D2
1
Hobos.
23
The KING in the COUNTRY.
Hobbs. Why, an'like your kingfhip, I can ſcarce fay at
all! but, I thank ye!-I thank ye for my fon's life, I
thank ye for not putting me to death; and when I get back
to Tamworth, my Nell fhall work a fcarf, and fend ye; and
I'll not forget a fkin of choice cordovan, of my own tanning,
to make ye boots againſt ye next go a hunting: when, if
ye would but once more leave your kingfhip behind ye,
come to my poor hovel, and be plain hail-fellow Ned again,
we'd have fuch a rowfe, as fhould make all the hair on my
hides ſtand an end! and fo, farewell!
Heaven bleſs ye! ftill I'll fay or fing,
Long live your Majefty! God fave the King!
King. The Drama ended, EDWARD is no more!
But for his lofs we little need deplore;
GEORGE, great and good! yet lives, and may he long!
Join, then, all loyal hearts in cheerful fong;
Lift high your voices 'till the roof doth ring,
In duteous homage to great GEORGE Our KING!
Song and Chorus of
"GOD SAVE THE KING!”
FINI S.
1
ERRATA.
Page 7, line 2, read from ſeeing my heart!
Page 9, near the bottom, read Which King doft thou 'quire for?
Page 12, ibid. read a fool and a coward.
Page 17, line 18, read and t'other may ſerve.
Idem, line 24, read Heavy news there.
Page 18, near the bottom, read we will give thee there.
Idem, Divide the laft fpeech but one into verfe, e. g.
We, &c.
So now, &c
And fo, &c.
The like may be neceſſary in fome other places overlook'd.
Page 23, line 20, read Your highneſs pardoning, &c.
Page 24, line 22, read abroad do roam, &c.
Correct alfo you into ye, wherever it may occur in HOBBS's fpeeches.
ALFLALAge
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Dramatic Piece of "The King in the Country,"
was compiled and performed laft fummer, imme-
diately on His Majesty's return from, Cheltenham;
when Entertainments of various kinds were exhi-
bited at the different Places of Public Amuſement,
having relation to the Royal Excurfion. The Ca-
lamity which, to the grief of every good mind, has
fince befallen Our Beloved Sovereign, does not, it is pre-
fumed, render the publication of this Drama im-
proper; had the Editor thought it fo, it would cer-
tainly have been withheld: for,having been honoured
with The Royal Authority to fuperintend Theatrical
Entertainments theſe ten years paſt (during which
period it has been neceſſary for him to adapt pieces of
a local, or temporary nature, to Provincial Theatres),
no one can entertain a more proper ſenſe of duty,
reſpect, loyalty, and affection, to Our most gracious
King, whom God preſerve and reſtore!
Written on the Bank of the Thames, oppofite KEw,
December 29, 1788.
ร
By Winter's chilling breath now Silver Thames
Is ice-bound, and his gently-gliding ſtream,
That late convey'd each product of the land'
To all who wanted, ftill diffufing good,
In torpid ftupor lies! But oh! worſe grief!
Benign and gracious GEORGE, whofe every deed
Throughout his holy life was amiable,
Difpenfing bleffings ever o'er his realms,
Under th' ALMIGHTY's vifitation lies!
The ſtream of reafon, and the ſpring of fenfe,
Faft bound! clofe lock'd!
Moſt merciful, juſt GOD!
As thou ftill fendeft kindly, genial warmth,
1
To looſe the bands of Winter in due time;
So may it pleaſe THEE fhortly to reſtore
To reaſon, health, and happineſs, OUR KING!
A
For the Literary Mufcum, No. III.
Written by the Author of the Lines on
His Majeſty's late Derangement,
inferted in No. 1.
PR
RAIS'D be our God, th' Almighty Lord!
Praiſe the Moft High with one accord;
Let no diffent be heard;
For gracious George, ftill good and great,
His Mind relum'd, refumes his State:
Nor Anarchy be fear'd.
Ambition, Envy, hide your heads!
Serene he ſpeaks, auguft he treads,
To re-aſcend his Throne;
Th' acclaim of Millions meets his ear,
Th' o'erflowing joy of hearts fincere
Succeeds an Empire's moan.
Fiction avaunt! nor hope to raiſe
A power unknown in former days,
The Eaglet's eyes to feel;
To blunt his talons, foil his plumes;
While Owl, or Bat obfcene, prefumes
To mould the Commonweal.
Generous
· Generous Hibernia! thine the praiſe,
Fit fubje& ior a Hayley's lays,
To ſcorn a niggard unite!
Him thou decm'lt worthy thee to rule,
Maugre the knave, or knave-led fool,
Thou freely doft invite!
Nor thou, Britannia! proud, difdain,
Should (Heaven avert it!) George again
An invalefcence prove,
To emulate thy Sifter's foul;
And give Young George, without controul,
Thy fceptre, faith, and love!
B may his Sire, till Time fay no,
An th compel him to forego,
Through length of days, the Crown,
O'er Britain's Empire mildly reign;
That when the Heir is call'd again,
It be with full renown!
d
Rofcius Anglicanus,
OR, A N
HISTORICAL
REVIEW OF THE
STAGE,
After it had been Supprefs'd by means of the late
Unhappy Civil War, begun in 1641, 'till the Time
of King Charles the IId's. Reftoration, in May,
1660. Giving an Account of its Rife again; of the
Time and Places the Governours of both the
Companies firft erected their Theatres.
The Names of the Principal Actors and Actreffes, who Per-
formed in the Chiefeſt Plays in each Houſe. With the
Names of the moſt taking Plays, and Modern Poets, for
the ſpace of 46 Years, and during the Reign of Three
Kings, and part of our prefent Sovereign Lady, Queen
ANNE, from 1660, to 1706.
Non Audita narro, fed Comperta.
London, Printed and Sold by H. Playford, at his Houſe
in Arundel-Street, near the Water-fide, 1708.
With ADDITIONS,
By the late Mr. THOMAS DAVIES,
Author of The Life of Garrick, and Dramatic Mifcellanies.
LOND O N,
گو
Printed for the EDITOR, and Sold at No. 62, Great Wild-
Street, near Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; by Meff. EGERTON,
Whitehall; Meff. Cox and PHILLIPSON, James-Street,
Covent-Garden; R. RYAN, No. 351, Oxford-Street ;
H. D. SYMONDS, No. 20. Pater-Nofter-Row; and
W. RICHARDSON, under the Royal-Exchange. 1789.
[Entered at Stationers Hall. ]
!
}
A
བེ2 2༅ - 2g
ILILAL DX
ADVERTISEMENT.
· Downes's Rofcius Anglicanus, however inelegantly written,
is valuable, as it contains fome ftage-history no where elſe to be
met with.
In Meff. Egerton's Sale-catalogue of the late Mr. Henderfon's
library, was a manufcript copy of "Davies's Additions to
Downes's Rofcius Anglicanus," which being claimed as the
property of The Hon. Mr. Byng, who had purchafed it of
Mr. Davies's widow, and by whom it had been lent to
Mr. Henderfon, was restored to that Gentleman: and by him
entrufted to the prefent editor, with permiffion to make whatever
ufe of it he might think proper.
55.
The Rofcius Anglicanus having become fo extremely scarce,
that a copy of it in Mr. Henderſon's collection, was fold for 1l.
it was thought that the reprinting it, with Mr. Davies's Ad-
ditions, and fuch others as might appear neceſſary, would not be
unacceptable. The original edition is faithfully followed, evident
errors excepted; the notes figned D were written by Mr. Davies,
thofe figned W by the prefent editor.
G F L XM L ༄d e2 «ལོ23 83
1
r
TO THE
READER.
TH
HE Editor of the enfuing Relation, being long Con
verfant with the Plays and Actors of the Original
Company, under the Patent of Sir William Davenant, at
his Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, Opened there 1662.
And as Book-Keeper and Prompter, continued Jo, 'till Oc-
tober 1706. He Writing out all the Parts in each Play;
and
* Book-Keeper means here, not one who keeps accounts, but the
perſon who is entrusted with, and holds a book of the Play, in order to
furnih the Performers with written parts, and to prompt them when
neceffary. In "The Spanish Tragedy; or Hiernonimo is mad again," a
play is introduced, as in Hamlet, and this is fpoken relative to it;
"Here, brother, you fhall be the book-keeper,
"This is the argument of that they fhow.
Old Plays, 1780, Vol. 3, Page 224.
Ben Fonfon, in his Induction to Cynthia's Revels, calls this retainer
to the ftage the Book-holder.
W.
iv.
TO THE READER.
f
and Attending every Morning to the Actors Rehearsals, and
their Performances in Afternoons; Emboldens him to af-
firm, he is not very Erroneous in his Relation. But as to the
Actors of Drury-Lane Company, under Mr. Thomas
Killigrew, he having the Account from Mr. Charles
Booth, fometimes Book-Keeper there; if he a little De-
viates, as to the fucceffive Order, and exact Time of their
Plays Performances, he begs Pardon of the Reader and
Subſcribes himself,
✔
4.
His very humble Servant,
John Downes.
Rofcius
€ 5 € / || \
笑​怒
​GSA AND V
P
Rofcius Anglicanus,
OR AN
HISTORICAL
OF THE
REVIEW
STAG E.
N the Reign of King Charles the Firſt, there were Six
Play-Houfes allowed in Town: The Black-Fryars Com-
pany, His Majefty's Servants; the Bull, in St. John's-Street;
another in Saliſbury-Court; another called the Fortune; another
at the Globe; and the Sixth at the Cock-Pit, in Drury-Lane ;
all which continued Acting till the beginning of the Civil
Wars. The ſcattered Remnant of feveral of theſe Houſes,
upon
* Prynne, in his Hiftrio-Maftix, reckons up 19 Play-houſes in
London, about the year 1630.
From Rymer's M. S. we learn that there were no leſs than 23
Theatres in the Metropolis.
The Fortune was built from the ground by E. Allen, or perhaps
rebuilt; it was a large, round, brick building: Prynne fays that it
was burned to the ground by fome accident, which I fuppofe he
thought a judgment, as all fuch fanatical writers generally do.
1617, March 4.
The Play-houſe lately erected in Drury-Lane was pulled down by
the Mob, and all the Apparel torn in pieces.
1623, Auguft.
By the fall of the Play-Houfe in Black-Fryars 8r Perfons of
Quality were killed. Camden's Annals of James I. D.
In
6
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
upon King Charles's Reftoration, Fram'd a Company who
Acted again at the Bull, and Built them a New Houſe in
Gibbon's
In Randolph's Mufes Looking-Glaffe, 1630, is the following hu-
morous dialogue between Bird, a Featherman, and Mrs. Flowrdew,
wife to a Haberdaſher of fmall wares; two of the fanctified fraternity
at that time dwelling in Black-friers: the one having brought feathers
to the Play-houſe, the other Pins and Looking-glaffes.
"Flow. It was a zealous prayer,
I heard a Brother make, concerning Play-houſes.
Bird. For Charity what is it?
Flow. That the Globe
Wherein (quoth he) reigns a whole world of vice,
Had been confumed! The Phoenix burnt to aſhes ;
The Fortune whipt for a blind whore: Black-friers
He wonders how it fcap'd demoliſhing
I'th'time of reformation: laftly he withed
The Bull might croffe the Thames to the Bear-garden,
And there be foundly baited!
Bird. A good prayer.
Flow. Indeed it fomething pricks my Confcience,
I come to fell 'em Pins and Looking-glaffes.
Bird. I have their custome too for all their feathers:
'Tis fit that we which are fincere Profeffors
Should gain by Infidels."
Act 1. Scene 1.
W.
"The fanatical zeal of the Nonconformists could bear no exhibi-
tions or ſhows but their own: all ſtage-plays theſe religioniſts looked
upon as profane, and devoted the actors, whom they denominated the
children of Satan, to perdition. That tedious writer, William
Prynne, in his Hiftrio-Maftix, had, with as much folly as brutality,
involved the King and Queen in the guilt of encouraging, by their
prefence, the Satanical diverfions of the theatre
}
Davies's Dramatic Mifcellanies, 1784, Vol. 1, Page 323.
The Author of Comus and Samfon Agonistes, having been accuſed of
joining this puritanical outcry againſt the ftage; the following ex-
tracts and obfervations, will not, it is prefumed, be thought im-
pertinent.
Milton ought to be read and ftudied by all our young Gentlemen
as an Oracle. He was a great and noble genius, perhaps the greatest
that ever appeared among men; and his learning was equal to his
Genius. He had the higheſt fenfe of liberty, glorious thoughts, with
a itrong and nervous ftyle. His works are full of wifdom, a treaſure
of knowledge. In them the Divine, the Statefman, the Hiftorian,
the Philologiſt, may be all inftructed and entertained."
The Editor's Preface to Baron's Edition
of Milton's Eiconoclaftes. 8vo. 1770.
If
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
7
Gibbon's Tennis-Court, in Clare-Market; in which Two
Places they continued Acting all 1660, 1661, 1662, and
part
If Milton merit the above eulogy, the flighteſt endeavour to clear
him from any unfavourable imputation is furely commendable; the
attempt is the more neceffary when objections fall from fuch pens as
cannot be influenced by any motives, excepting a love of truth, and a
defire to do juſtice: But it is moft particularly requifite, when probity
and candour are guided in their decifions by learning and penetration.
An attempt to controvert an opinion fo founded is certainly an ar-
duous one; but, as it is made with every poffible deference to the
judgments it prefumes, in this inftance, to diffent from, any further
apology would be but mock humility.
The following paffages are adverted to.
"It is lamentable to fee how far party and prejudice will carry the
wifeft men, even againſt their own practice and opinions. Milton in his
Exovonastes cenfures King Charles for reading, "one whom," fays
Εικονοκλάστες
he, "we well knew was the clofet companion of his folitudes,
William Shakespeare."
FARMER. Shakspeare, Edit. 1778, Vol. 4. Page 283.
See alfo, Vol 7, Page 52.
"To read and amufe himfelf with the writings of Shakspeare, the
great Milton noft fhamefully charged upon Charles as a crime:
though Milton himfelf was a profelfed admirer of our great bard.
Such is the malignant fpirit of party! and fo little able are the nobleſt
minds to refift its influence!"
Davies's Dramatic Mifcellanies, 1784, Vol. 1, Page 323.
Milton's writings afford a ftriking example of the ftrength and
weakneſs of the fame mind. His fineft feelings, his warmeft po-
etical predilections, were at laſt totally obliterated by civil and re-
ligious enthuſiaſm. Seduced by the gentle eloquence of fanaticiſm, he
liftened no longer to the "wild and native woodnotes of fancy's
fweeteft child "In his ICONOCLASTES, he cenfures King Charles
for ſtudying, "One, whom we well know was the clofet-companion
of his folitudes, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
""
PROSE-WORKS, Vol. 1. Page 368.
This remonftrance, which not only refulted from his abhorrence
of a King, but from his difapprobation of plays, would have come
with propriety from Prynne or Hugh Peters. Nor did he now per-
ceive, that what was here ſpoken in contempt, conferred the higheſt
compliment on the elegance of Charles's private character."
Warton's Milton, 1785. Page 436, N. 41.
Without entering into the argument, pro or con Royalifts or Re-
publicans, it is doing Milton but juftice to fay he is entirely innocent
of the charge brought againſt him by Dr. Farmer, repeated by
Mr. Davies, and enforced by Mr. Warton; he does not cenfure
Charles
ROSCIUS ANGLICANÚS.
part of 1663. In this time they Built them a New
Theatre in Drury-Lane: Mr. Thomas Killigrew gaining
<
a
Charles for reading and amufing himſelf with the writings of
Shakspeare, but for imitating the hypocrify of Richard, as drawn by
our dramatic hiſtorian, ſo cloſely, that in the paffage animadverted
on he utters the very fentiment put into Richard's mouth by the poet.
the deepeſt policy of a Tyrant hath bin ever to counterfet
Religious. And Ariftotle in his Politics, hath mentioned that ſpecial
craft among twelve other tyrannical Sophifms. Neither want wee ex-
amples. Andronicus Comtenus the Byzantine Emperor, though a moſt
cruel Tyrant, is reported by Nicetas to have bin a conftant reader of
Saint Pauls Epiftles: and by continual ſtudy had fo incorporated_the
phrafe & ftile of that tranfcendent Apoftle into all his familiar Let-
ters, that the imitation ſeemed to vie with the Original.
•
Yet this availed not to deceave the people of that Empire; who
notwithſtanding his Saints vizard, tore him to peeces for his Tyranny.
From Stories of this nature both Ancient and Modern which abound,
the Poets alfo, and fom Engliſh, have bin in this point fo mindfull of
Decorum, as to put never mare pious words in the mouth of any per-
fon, then of a Tyrant. I fhall not inftance an abſtruſe Author,
wherein the King might be leſs converfant, but one whom wee well
know was the Clofet Companion of thefe his folitudes, William
Shakespeare; who introduced the Perfon of Richard the third, fpeak-
ing in as high a ſtrain of pietie, and mortification, as is utterd in any
paffage of this Book [EIKON BAΣI^IKH]; and fometimes to the
fame fenfe and purpoſe with fome words in this place, I intended,
faith he, not onely to oblige my Friends but-mine enemies. The like faith
Richard, Act 2, Scene 1,
I doe not know that Englishman alive
With whom my foule is any jott at odds,
More than the Infant that is borne to night;
I thank my God for my humilitie.
Other stuff of this fort may be read throughout the whole Tragedie,
wherein the Poet us'd not much licence in departing from the truth
of Hiftory, which delivers him a deep diffembler, not of his affections
oncly, but of religion," EIKONOKAA'ΣTHE. 4to. 2d. Edit.
1650, Page 10.
The following reply to Milton, however virulent, does not fuggeft
the leaſt idea of what Dr. Farmer, Mr. Warton, &c. object to him.
"The inftances of Tyrants counterfeiting Religion are frequent,
and that hipocrifie is infeperable from Tyrants by ufurpation, fuch
as this libellers Mafters, whofe want of right, feekes protection from
diffembled vertue, but this ſeldome happens to Kings by juft Title,
whofe power wants not that fupport. His comparing his late
Majeft:
ROSCIUS ANGLICAN U S.
9
a Patent from the King, in order to Create them the King's
Servants; and from that time, they called themſelves his
Majeſty's Company of Comedians in Drury Lane.
B
Whofe
Majeft: to knowne ufurpers, that confirmed their Crownes, gained
by robbery, and kept with falfhood and blood, [by counterfeiting
religion,] fhewes his odious fhameleffnes in the diffimilitude, &
whoever obferves the prophane affumption of the Titles of pietie, by
theſe Monſters, & their hipocriticall profeffions, to make their
wicked ends, fhall finde, that Andronicus Comnenus, and our English
Rich. 3. came fhort of them, not only in counterfeiting Religion, and
confcience, but in falfhood and crueltie. Infteede of Shakeſpeares
fcene of Rich. 3. the libeller may take the Parliaments declaration of
the 29. May, where their words are. The providing for the publique
peace and profperitee of his Majeft: and all his Realmes, we proteft in the
prefence of the all-feeing Deitie to have been, and ftill to be, the only end of
our Councells, & endeavours, wherein wee have r.flved to cont nue freed,
and enlarged from all private aimes, perfonall respects, or paffions what-
foever, and againe in their petition of the fecond of June, they tell hum,
that they have nothing in their thoughts, and defires more pretious, and of
higher efteeme next to the honour, and immediate Jervice of God, then the juft,
and faithfull performance of their dutie to his Majeft: and the libeller will
not finde in hiftorie or poet, wordes of a deeper hipocrifie in the
mouth of a villaine, nor more contradicted by their Actions. That
which he adds from his Teftimony out of Shakeſpeare of the imagined
vehemence of Rich, the 3. in his diffembled profeffions, holds noe pro-
portion with theis hipocrifies, really acted, not fancyed by a poet,
and this libeller hath learnt to act a part out of Shakespeare, and with
Rich. 3. accufing loyaltie, and innocency for high Crymes, and cry-
ing out againſt their wickednes, that fought to restore the difpofeffed
heires of the Crowne to their right, and amplifying their offence, as
the higheſt againſt God, and man, and wherein comes the libeller
fhort of his patterne in this fcene?"
ΕΙΚΩΝ ΑΚΛΑΣΤΟΣ. 4to. 1651. Page 81.
This laſt quotation might perhaps have been ſpared, but that it was
thought neceffary to bring the whole into one point of view; to, as it
is conceived, the entire exoneration of Milton, ſo far as relates to his
fuppofed cenfure of Charles, for merely the reading of Shakspeare:
fhould the argument be thought undeferving of fo much notice, it
may be faid, with Mr. Richardfon, "Thefe indeed are trifies; but
even fuch contract a ſort of greatneſs, when related to what is great,
19
W.
1
10
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
Whoſe names were viz.
Mr. Theophilus Bird,
Mr. Robert Shatterel,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Mohun,
Mr. Lacy,
Mr. William Shatterel,
Mr. Duke,
Mr. Hancock,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Clun,
Mr. Bateman,
Mr. Baxter,
Mr. Blagden.
Note,
+ It appears by this Lift of the Actors of Drury-Lane, that all the
Performers who had acted before the Civil Wars, were ſelected to
complete the King's Company; and Kynaston taken from the Com-
pany that acted under Rhodes, the Bookfeller, at the Cock-Pit,
Drury-Lane.
Winterfel originally belonged to the Private Houſe in Saliſbury-
Court; and is mentioned in the Key to the Rehearſal, as a very ju-
dicious Actor.
Cartwright was of the fame Company of Actors as Winterfel.
Hart was Apprentice to Robinfon*,, an Actor who lived before the
Civil Wars; he afterwards had a Captain's Commiffion, and fought
for Charles the Firft. He acted Women's Parts when a Boy.
Mohun was brought up under Robinfon, as Hart and others were ;
in his youth he acted Bellamente, in Love's Cruelty, which Part he re-
tained after the reſtoration.
Burt was a Boy or Apprentice to Shanke**, and acted in his youth
Women's Parts; this feems to have been the Practice of the old
Actors to initiate their Apprentices in Women's Characters.
Langbaine ſpeaks of Lacyt as of the moſt perfect Comic Actor of
his time; he was one of the Recruits which they engaged in the
King's Company, for there is no trace of his having ever acted bẹ-
fore the Reſtoration. He wrote three Plays and died about the year
1684.
D.
*See an interefting account of Robinſon in Malone's Appendix to
Johnſon and Steevens's Shakspeare, Vol. 1, Page 57. To which the
following may be added.
Reader, this play was made but th'other day.
Yet 'tis not ſtuff'd with names of Gods,-
Nor has't a part for Robinfon, whom they
At School account effential to a Play."
Dedication of Cowley's Love's Riddle.
**See an account of Shanke, Malone, ibid.
+
See an account of Lacy and his works, Biographia Dramatica,
Vol 1, page 277.
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS:
II
Note, Thefe following came not into the Company, 'till
after they had begun in Drury-Lane.
Mr. Hains,
Mr. Griffin,
Mr. Goodman,
Mr. Lyddoll,
Mr. Charleton,
Mr. Sherly,
Mr. Beefton §,
Theſe Four were bred up
from Boys, under the Maſter
ACTORS.
Mr. Bell,
Mr. Reeves*
Mr. Hughs,
Mr. Harris.
Women.
NOTE, theſe following
Mrs. Corey,
Mrs. Ann Marſhall,
Mrs. Eaftland,
Mrs. Weaver,
came into the Company
fome few Years after.
Mrs. Boutel,
Mrs. Uphill,
Mrs. Knep,
Mrs. Hughs.
Mrs. Ellin Gwin,
Mrs. James.
Mrs. Rebecca
§ Verſes by Christopher Beefton, a Player, are prefixed to Heywood's
Apology for Actors, 1612. Poffibly he was the Father of this
Beefton.
W.
*Reeves is in the copy this edition was printed from; but the
table of errrata prefixed thereto fays, Read Reeves for Knight. Quere,
which is the right name? Mrs Knight occurs in the following lift of
Women;
I therefore think the erratum fhould have been Read
Knight for Reeves.
W.
12
RoscIUS ANGLICANUS.
Mrs. Rebecca Marſhal,
Mrs. Rutter.
The Company being thus
New Theatre in Drury-Lane,
being the 8th Day of April,
Lieutenant.
| Mrs. Verjuice,
Mrs. Knight*.
Compleat, they opened the
on Thurfday in Eafter Week,
1663, with the Humorous
Note, This Comedy was Acted Twelve Days Succeffively.
King,
Demetrius,
Seleucus,
Leontius,
Lieutenant,
Celia,
I.
The Humorous Lieutenant.
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Burt,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Clun,
Mrs. Marshal.
II.
Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife.
Don Leon,
Don Juan de Caſtro,
Michael Perez,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Hart,
Cacafogo,
Margaretta,
Eftifania,
Mr. Clun,
Mrs. Ann Marſhal,
Mrs. Boutel.
III.
*This lift of "Women" ftands thus, in regard to its diviſion in
two pages, in the firft edition. I don't know whether Downes
meant that Marbal, Rutter, Verjuice, and Knight, "came into the
Company fome few Years after," or Boutel, Gwin, James, Verjuice,
and Kright; whofe names fland in the right-hand column, over
which is his "NOTE."
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
13
Volpone,
Mofca,
III.
The Fox.
Major Mohun,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Shatterel,
1
Corbaccio,
Voltore,
Corvino,
Mr. Burt,
Sir Politique Wou'd-be,
Mr. Lacy,
Peregrine,
Mr. Kynafton,
Lady Wou'd be,
Mrs Corey,
Celia,
Mrs Marshal,
Morofe,
True-Wit,
Clerimont,
Dauphine,
Sir Amorous,
Sir John Daw,
IV.
The Silent Woman.
Mr. Cartwright,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Shatterel,
Mr. Lacy,
Mrs. Knep,
Mrs. Rutter,
Mrs. Corey.
Captain Otter,
Epicene,
Lady Haughty,
Mrs. Otter,
V.
The Alchemiſt.
Mr. Winter fel,
Subtle,
Face,
Sir Ep. Mammon,
Surly,
Ananias,
*Wholeſome,
Dol Common,
Dame Plyant,
Major Mobun,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Lacy,
Mr. Bateman,
Mrs. Corey,
Mrs. Rutter.
Ip
:
VI.
*Wholefome.] There is no fuch character in The Alchemift: perhaps
it should be Tribulation, which is wanting in this lift; as alfo are
Lovewit, Dapper, Drugger, and Kafiril.
W.
14
'ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
King,
Melantius,
Amintor,
Calianax,
Evadne,
Afpatia,
<
Arbaces,
Tygranes,
Mardonius,
Gobrias,
Lygones,
Betfus,
Arane,
Panthea,
VI.
The Maid's Tragedy.
1 Mr. Winterfel,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Shatterel,
Mrs. Marjbal,
VII.
Mrs. Boutel.
King and no King.
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Burt,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Shotterel*
Mrs. Corey,
Madam Gwin.
VIII.
Rollo, Duke of Normandy.
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Kynafton,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Burt,
Mrs. Corey,
Rollo,
Otto,
Aubrey,
La Torch,
Dutchess,
Edith,
Elder Lovelefs,
Younger Lovelefs,
Welford,
Sir Roger,
The Lady,
Martha,
Abigail,
Mrs. Marſhal.
IX.
The Scornful Lady.
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Lacy,
Mrs. Marſhal,
Mrs. Rutter,
1
Mrs. Corey,
X.
* Sometimes fpelt Shatterel, and ſometimes Shotterel, in the
W.
original,
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
15
Charles,
Euftace,
Their Father,
X.
The Elder Brother.
r
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Kynaston,
Mr. Loveday,
Mr. Gradwel,
The Uncle,
Charles's Man,
Mr. Shotterel,
Lady,
Mrs. Rutter,
<
Lilia Bianca,
Mrs. Boutel.
Brabantio,
Moor,
Caffio,
Iago,
Rodorigo,
Desdemona,
Emilia,
1
King,
Prince,
Hotſpur,
Falſtaff,
Poyns,
XI.
The Moor of Venice.
}
XII.
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Hart*,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Beefton,
Mrs. Hughs,
Mrs. Rutter.
King Henry the Fourth.
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Shotterel,
XIII.
Mr. Hart became o on fo fuperior to Burt, that he took the lead
of him in almoſt all the Plays acted at Drury-Lane; Othello was one
of his mafter-parts.
D.
+ Falstaff] Lacy play'd Falstaff during the life of Cartwright; on
account, I fuppofe, of his fuperior excellence: Langbaine fpeaks of
Lacy's admirable repreſentation of Falſtaff.
D.
16
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
螺
​1
Lyfimantes,
Philocles,
Celadon,
Queen,
Afteria,
Florimel,
Meliffa,
1
XIII.
The Maiden Queen.
Mr. Burt,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Hart,
Mrs. Marshal,
Mrs. Knep,
Mrs. Elen. Gwin,
Mrs. Corey.
XIV.
Mock Aftrologer.
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Burt,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Shatterel,
Mrs. Hughs,
Mrs. Elen. Gwin,
Mrs. Quyn.
Don Alonzo,
Don Lopez,
Belamy,
Wildblood,
Mafkal,
Theodofia,
Jacyntha,
Aurelia,
XV.
Julius Cæfar.
Julius Cæfar,
Caffius,
Brutus,
Anthony,
Calphurnia,
Portia,
Mr. Bell,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Kynaston,
Major Mobun.
Mrs. Marfbal,
Mrs. Corbet.
Note, That theſe being their Principal Old Stock Plays;
yet in this Interval from the Day they begun, there were
divers others Acted.
As
In this lift of fifteen plays, there are feven of Beaumont and
Fletcher, three of B. Jonfon, and three [only] of Shakspeare, ſo little
was this great author known and followed at that time.
D.
In the following lift of twenty-one plays, there are, at moſt, but
two by Shakspeare.
W.
}
1
17.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
Cataline's Confpiracy*.
The Merry Wives of Windfor.
The Opportunity.
The Example.
The Jovial Crew.
Philafter.
The Cardinal.
Bartholemew Fair.
The Chances.
The Widow.
The Devil's an Afs.
As
Argalus and Parthenia.
Every Man in his Humour.
Every Man out ofhis Humour.
The Carnival.
Sejanus.
The Merry DevilofEdmonton.
Vittoria Corrombona.
The Beggars Buſh.
The Traytor.
Titus Andronicus.
Theſe being Old Plays, were acted but now and then; yet
being well performed, were very fatisfactory to the Town.
Next follow the Plays writ by the then Modern Poets, A
The Indian Emperour.
Major Mohun,
Emperour,
Odmar,
Guyomar,
Prieft,
Cortez,
Vafquez,
Cydaria,
Almeria,
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Burt,
Mrs. Elen. Gwin,
Mrs. Marshal.
C
Plain
*Catiline.] This (B. Fonfon's favourite) was condemned on its
original reprefentation, and though Hart's excellent action kept it
alive during the Reign of Charles II. it has never been revived fince
the death of that actor.
D.
Since the foregoing fheet was printed off, The Rev. Mr. Whalley,
the learned Editor of Ben Fonfon, has done me the favour to point out
a mistake in the notè, page 13, relating to Whalfome in THE
ALCHEMIST; that being the Sur-name of Tribulation: e. g.
Subtle. O, you are fent from mafter Wholfome,
Your teacher?
Ananias. From Tribulation Wholfome,
Our very zealous paftor."
1
A&t 2, Sc. 5.
W.
#
18
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS
Manly,
Freeman,
Verniſh,
Novel,
Major Oldfox,
Lord Plaufible,
Jerry Blackacre,
Plain Dealer.
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Griffin,
Mr. Clark*,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Haines,
Mr. Charleton,
}
Olivia,
Women.
Mrs. Marshal,
Fidelia,
Eliza,
Widow Blackacre,
Maximin,
Porphyrius,
Placidius,
Mrs. Boutel:
Mrs. Knep,
Mrs. Corey.
Tyrannick Love.
Major Mobun,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Kynaston,
Nigrinus,
Mr. Beefton,
Amariel,
Mr. Bell,
Charinus,
Mr. Harris,
Valerius,
Mr. Lydal,
Albinus,
Mr. Littlewood's
Apollonius,
Mr. Cartwright,
Women.
Empress,
Mrs Marſhal,
Valeria,
St. Catharine,
Nakar,
Mrs. Elen. Gwin,
Mrs. Boutel.
Mrs. Knep,
Damilcar,
Mrs. James.
Aureng
* Mr. Clark.] This Actor feems to have made a figure for a fhort
time only; I do not find his name after the junction of the com-
panies in 1681.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
19
Old Emperour,
Aureng Zebe.
Major Mohus,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Kynafton,
Aureng Zebe, his Son,
Morat, the younger Son,
Arimant,
Mr. Winterfel,
Women.
Mrs, Marjbal,
Mrs. Cox,
Mrs. Corbet.
Nourmahal, the Empress,
Indamora,
Melefinda,
Alexander,
Clytus,
Lyfimachus,
Alexander the Great.
Mr. Hart,
Hepheſtion,
Caffander,
Polyperchon,
Syfigambis,
Statira,
Roxana,
1
Major Mobux,
Mr. Griffin,
Mr. Clark,
Mr. Kynaston,
Mr. Goodman*.
Women.
1 Mrs. Corey.
Mrs. Boutel.
Mrs. Marſhal +.
All for Love, or the World well Loft,
Marc Anthony,
Mr. Hart,
Ventidius, his General,
Dolabella, his Friend,
Major Mobun.
Mr. Clark,
Alexas, the Queen's Eunuch,
Mr. Goodman,
Serapion,
Mr. Griffin.
Women.
Cleopatra,
Mrs. Boutel,
Octavia,
Mrs. Corey,
C 2
The
* Goodman was afterwards a celebrated actor, and famous for the
part of Alexander the Great; which he acted occafionally to pleaſe
the Dutchess of Cleveland, whom he uſed familiarly to call his Dutchess.
D.
+ Mrs. Marſhal was the first actreſs of the King's Theatre; fhe was
a woman of virtue, and tricked into a ſham-marriage by a nobleman :
King Charles 11. obliged him to fettle an annual income on the
Lady.
D.
10
Roscius ANGLICANUS.
Duke of Mantua,
Prince Frederick,
Aurelian,
Camillo, his Friend,
The Affignation, or Love in a Nunnerý,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Kynaston,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Burt,
*
Mario,
Mr. Cartwright,
Afcanio, Page to the Prince,
Mr. Reeves*
Benito,
Mr. Haines,
Women.
Sophronia,
Mrs. James.
Lucretia,
Mrs. Marſhal,
Hippolita, a Nun,
Mrs. Knep,
Laura,
Mrs. Boutel,
Violetta,
Mrs. Cox.
Mythridates, King of Pontus,
Mythridates,
Major Mobun,
Ziphares,
Mr. Hart,
Pharnaces,
Archelaus,
Pelopidus,
Mr. Goodman,
Mr. Griffin,
Mr. Winterfel,
Aquilius,
Monima,
Semandra,
Mr. Clark.
Women.
Mrs. Corbet,
Mrs. Boutel.
/
Titus Vefpafian,
Phraartes,
Matthias, High Priest,
John,
The Deſtruction of ferufalem.
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Hart,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Cartwright.
Women.
Clarona, D. to Mathias,
Mrs. Boutel,
Queen Berenice,
•
Mrs. Marshal.
Marriage
*See an obſervation on Recves and Knight, Page 11. W..
ROSCIUS ANGLICAN US.
2f
Polydamus,
Leonidas,
Harmogenes,
Rhodophil,
Palamede,
Marriage Alamode.
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Kynaston,
Mr. Cartwright,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Burt.
Women.
Palmira,
Mrs. Cox,
Amathea,
Doralice,
Melantha,
Mrs. James,
Mrs. Marfbal,
Mrs. Boutel.
The Unhappy Favourite,
The Earl of Effex,
The Earl of Southampton,
Lord Burleigh,
Queen Elizabeth,
or the Earl of Effex.
Mr. Clark,
Mr. Griffin,
Major Mohun,
Mrs. Gwin,
Women.
Countess of Rutland,
Mrs. Cook,
Countess of Nottingham,
Mrs. Corbet.
The Black
Prince.
King Edward the IIId.
King John of France,
The Black Prince,
Lord Delaware,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Hart,
Mr. Burt,
Mr. Cartwright,
Count Guefelin,
Lord Latimer,
Women.
Alizia,
Plantaganet,
Cleorin,
Valeria, difguifed,
A Lady,
J
Mrs. Gwin,
Mrs. Marshall,
Mrs. Corey,
| F. Damport,
| Betty Damport.
The
22
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
The Conqueft of Granada. 2 Parts.
Mahomet Boabdelin, laſt }
King of Granada
Prince Abdalla,
Abdemelech,
Abenamar,
Almanzor,
Mr. Kynafton,
Mr. Lydal,
Major Mobun,
Mr. Cartwright,
Mr. Hart,
Ferdinand, K. of Spain,
Duke of Arcos,
Mr. Littlewood,
Mr. Bell.
Women.
Almahide, 2. of Granada,
Mrs. Elen Gwin,
Lindaraxa,
Benzaida,
Mrs. Marshal,
Mrs. Boutel,
Efperanza,
Mrs. Reeves*.
Ifabella, 2, of Spain,
Mrs. James.
Sophonifba, or Hanibal's Overthrow.
Hanibal,
Maherbal,
Major Mohun,
Mr. Burt,
Bomilcar,
Scipio,
Lelius,
Maffaniffa,
Mr. Winterfel,
Mr. Kynaston,
Mr. Lydal,
Mr., Hart,
Maffina,
Mr. Clark.
Women.
Sophoniſba,
| Mrs. Cox,
Rofalinda,
Mrs. Boutel.
Note, All the foregoing, both Old and Modern Plays,
being the Principal in their Stock and moft taking, yet, they
Acted
3
* Mrs. Knight, mentioned in the firft lift of women, Page 12, has
no character fet down to her; poffibly the erratum already noticed
might relate to Mrs. not Mr. Knight and Reeves,
W.
}
1
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
23
Acted divers others, which to Enumerate in order, would
tire the Patience of the Reader. As The Country Wife; Love in
a Wood, or St. James's-Park; Amboyna; The Cheats; Selindra;
The Surprizal; Vestal Virgin; The Committee; Love in a Maze;
The Rebearfal: In which laft, Mr. Lacy,
For his just acting, all gave him due praife,
His part in The Cheats, Jony Thump, Teg, and Bayes,
In thefe Four excelling; the Court gave him the Bays.u
And many others were acted by the Old Company at the
Theatre-Royal, from the time they begun, 'till the Patent
defcended to Mr. Charles Killigrew, which in 1682, he
joined it to Dr. Davenant's Patent, whofe Company acted
then in Dorfet Garden, which upon the Union, were created
the King's Company: After which, Mr. Hart Acted no
more, having a Penfion to the Day of his Death, from the
United Company.
I muſt not omit to mention the Parts in feveral Plays of
fome of the Actors; wherein they excelled in the performance
of them. Firſt, Mr. Hart, in the Part of Arbaces, in King and
no King; Amintor, in the Maids Tragedy; Othello; Rollo ;
Brutus, in Julius Cæfar; Alexander; towards the latter end
of his Acting, if he acted in any one of theſe but once in a
fortnight, the houfe was filled as at a new play, eſpecially
Alexander; he acting that with fuch grandeur and agreeable
Majeſty, that one of the Court was pleaſed to honour him
with this commendation; that Hart might teach any King
on earth how to comport himſelf §.
W.
He
+ Downes was determined that his verfe fhould not put his profe out
of countenance.
* Mr. Hart acted no more ] Downes takes no notice of Mohun's
quitting the ſtage, who was one of the greateft performers belonging
to the King's Theatre; we must therefore ſuppoſe that he died fome-
time before the union of the Two Companies: poffibly his death
might accelerate the agreement, as the lofs of him muſt have been
feverely felt by the Company he belonged to.
D.
$ The great Critic, Rymer, in his Differtation on Tragedy fpeaks
thus of this celebrated Actor, "The eyes of the audience are pre-
poffeffed and charmed by his action, before aught of the Poet can
approach their ears; and to the moſt wretched of Characters Hart
gives a luftre which dazzles the fight that the deformities of the Poet
cannot be perceived."
D.
44
ROSCLUS ANGLICANUS
He was no leſs excellent [ inferior, in the original,] inf
Comedy; as Moſca, in the Fox; Don John, in the Chances;
Wildblood, in the Mock Aftrologer; with fundry other Parts.
In all the Comedies and Tragedies he was concern'd [ in ],
he perform'd with that exactneſs and perfection, that not
any of his fucceffors have equall'd him.
Major Mohun, he was eminent for Volpone; Face, in the
Alchemist; Melantius, in the Maid's Tragedy; Mardonius, in
King and no King; Caffius, in Julius Cæfar; Clytus, in
Alexander; Mithridates, &c. An eminent Poet feeing him
act this laft, vented fuddenly this faying; Oh, Mobun,
Mobun! thou little man of mettle, if I should write a 100 Plays,
I'd write à part for thy mouth*; in fhort, in all his
was moft accurate and correct..
parts, he
Mr.
*This was an expreffion of Lee, as it is faid; yet he was himſelf ſo
good a reader of his own Tragedies, that Mohun frequently threw
down his part, in defpair of approaching to his excellence of ex-
preffion. King Charles 2d. being afked how he liked Mohun's acting
in a certain Play? faid that Mohun, or Moon as ufually pronounced,
fhone like the Sun, and Hart like the Moon t. No man had the art of
putting fpirit and paffion into the heaviest poetry like Mobun; Rymer
celebrates both thefe great Actors in his Remarks on Tragedyt. Yet
notwithſtanding the acknowledged abilities of Hart and Mohun, they
were confined to two or three walks of playing; they were not, like
Betterton and Harris, general actors §.
D.
+ Charles 2d. is fomewhere characterized as having never faid a
foolish thing, nor ever done a wife one; (the latter imputation, however,
is contradicted by the note at bottom of Page 19,) this play upon the
words Sun and Moon might paſs for wit in aKing, but would not be
fo reputed in a Subject.
&c.
The proper title of Rymer's Remarks is "The Tragedies of the Laft
Age confidered, c." in which the following compliment is paid to
Hart and Mobun. "We may remember (however we find this fcene
of Melanthius and Amintor written in the Book) that at the Theater we
have a good Scene Acted; there is work cut out, and both our
Afspus and Rofcius are on the Stage tegether:-Whatever defect may
be in Amintor and Melanthius, Mr. Hart and Mr. Mohun are wanting
in nothing. To thefe we owe what is pleafing in the Scene; and to
this Scene we may impute the fuccefs of the Maids Tragedy.
2d. Edit. 1692, Part I, Page 138.
$ Randolph's complimentary verfes "To his dear friend Thomas
Riley," prefixed to his Comedy of The Fealous Lovers, in which Riley
performed, are not inapplicable to Mohun; both for the excellence of
his acting, and the fmallneſs of his ftature,
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
25
}
Mr. Winterfel, was good in Tragedy, as well as in
Comedy; eſpecially in Cokes, in Bartholemew Fair; that the
famous Comedian Nokes came in that part far fhort of him.
•
Then Mr. Burt, Shatterel, Cartwright, and feveral other
good actors, but to particularize their commendations would
be too tedious; I refer you therefore to the feveral Books,
their names being there inſerted.
Next follows an account of the rife and progreffion of the
Duke's Servants, under the Patent of Sir William Davenant;
who, upon the faid junction in 1682, remov'd to the Theatre-
Royal in Drury-Lane; and [were] created the King's
Company.
In the Year 1659, General Monk, marching then his
army out of Scotland to London, Mr. Rhodes, a Bookfeller,
being Wardrobe-Keeper formerly (as I am informed) to
King Charles the Firft's Company of Comedians in Black--
Friars, getting a Licenfe from the then Governing State,
fitted up a houſe then for Acting call'd the Cock-Pit in
Drury-Lane, and in a fhort time compleated his company.
Mr. Betterton,
Mr. Sheppy,
Mr. Lovel,
Mr. Lillifton,
Mr. Underhill,
Mr. Turner,
Mr. Dixon,
Robert Nokes.
Their Names were, viz.
NOTE, Theſe fix commonly
Acted Womens Parts.
Mr. Kynafton,
Fames Nokes,
Mr. Angel,
William Betterton*,
Mr. Moſely,
Mr. Floid.
D
The
* William Betterton. 1 This Actor has been fuppofed by Curl, and
others, to be the fon of Mr. Thomas Betterton; but the abfurdity of
fuch a fuggeſtion appears from this Lift of the Actors of Sir William
Davenant's Company. He could not be much younger than his
name-fake.
Roffibly he was brother to Thomas Betterton.
D.
W.
26
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
The Plays there Ated were,
The Loyal Subject.
Maid in the Mill.
The Wild Gooſe Chafe.
The Spaniſh Curate.
The Mad Lover.
Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
A Wife for a Month.
Rule aWife and Have a Wife..
The Tamer Tamed.
The Unfortunate Lovers.
Aglaura.
Changling.
Bondman*
With divers others.
Mr. Betterton, being then about 22 Years Old, was highly
applauded for his acting in all theſe plays; but efpecially for
The Loyal Subject; The Mad Lover; Pericles; The
Bondman; Deflores, in the Changling: his voice being then
as audibly ſtrong, full, and articulate, as in the prime of his
acting.
Mr. Sheppy performed Theodore in the Loyal Subject;
Duke Altophil, in the Unfortunate Lovers; Afotus in the
Bondman; and ſeveral other Parts very well: But above all
the Changling, with general Satisfaction.
Mr. Kynafton acted Arthiope, in the Unfortunate Lovers;
the Princess, in the Mad Lover; Aglaura; Ifmenia, in the
Maid in the Mill; and feveral other Womens Parts: he be-
ing then very young, made a compleat Female Stage Beauty;
performing his Parts fo well, eſpecially Arthiope and Aglaura,
being Parts greatly moving compaffion and pity; that it has
fince been difputable among the judicious, whether any
Woman that fucceeded him fo fenfibly touch'd the Au-
dience as he t
Mr.
* Bondman.] This was the only Play of Maffinger revived after the
Reſtoration; till Mr. Betterton took a fancy to the Part of Paris, in
the Roman Actor.
D.
After the Reftoration, (we are told by old Mr. Cibber, ) it was
a frequent practife of the ladies of quality, to carry Mr. Kynafton the
actor, in his female drefs, after the play, [which began then at three
o'clock in their coaches, to Hyde-Park.
Malone's Supplement, Vol. 1, Page 34. W.
Roscius ANGLICANUS..
27
Mr. James Nokes acted firft The Maid in the Mill; after
him Mr. Angel; Aminta, in the fame play was acted by
Mr. William Betterton (who not long after was drowned in
fwimming at Wallingford). They acted ſeveral other Wo-
mens Parts in the ſaid Plays, very acceptable to the Audience:
Mofely and Floid commonly acted the Part of a Bawd and
Whore.
In this interim, Sir William Davenant gain'd a Patent from
the King, and created Mr. Betterton, and all the reft of.
Rhodes's Company, the King's Servants*; who were Sworn
by my Lord Manchefter, then Lord Chamberlain, to ferve
his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York, at the Theatre in
Lincoln's-Inn Fields.
Note, The four following were new Actors taken in by Sir
William, to compleat the Company he had from Mr. Rhodes.
Mr. Harris,
Mr.-Price,
Mr. Richards,
Mr. Blagden.
The Five following came not in 'till almoſt a year after
they begun.
Mr. Smith,
Mr. Sandford,
Mr. Medburnt,
Mr. Young,
Mr. Norris.
Sir
*I do not find that any of Sir William Davenant's Company were
of the old Stock of Actors, who play'd before the Civil Wars. D.
‡ Matthew Medburn was an actor of merit, and no contemptible
writer; he tranflated the Tartuffe of Moliere, a Comedy, which was
acted with Applaufe. Unfortunately Medburn was a bigotted Papift,
and his conduct rendered him fo obnoxious that, during the profe-
cution of the Popish Plot, he was thrown into Newgate, and died
there. He merited, as Langbaine juftly obferves, a better fate. D.
28
Roscius ANGLICANUS.
1
Sir William Davenant's Women Actreffes* were
Note, Thefe Four being his Principal Actreffes, he boarded
them at his own Houſe.
•
Mrs. Davenport,
Mrs. Saunderfon,
Mrs. Ann Gibbs,
Mrs. Norris,
Mrs, Davies,
Mrs. Long.
Mrs. Holden,
Mrs Jennings.
His
* It is well known, that in the time of Shakspeare, and for many
years afterwards, female characters were reprefented by boys or
young men. Sir William D'Avenant, in imitation of the foreign
theatres, firft introduced females in the ſcene, and Mrs. Betterton is
ſaid to have been the firſt woman that appeared on the Engliſh Stage.
Andrew Pennycuicke played the part of Matilda, in a tragedy of Da-
venport's, in 1655: and Mr Kynafton acted feveral female parts
after the Reſtoration." Malone's Supplement, Vol. I, Page 29.
However ftrange this may appear to thofe, who have been ac-
cuſtomed to ſee the Womens Parts performed by Females, it ſhould
be remembered that in the infancy of the English ftage, whole
plays were performed by the Children of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel;
and one Boy (Sal. Pavy), who died in his thirteenth year, was fo
admirable an Actor of Old Men, that Ben Jonfon, in his eleganț
epitaph on him, fays the Fates thought him one, and therefore cut
his thread of life. Jonfon's Works not having been reprinted thefe
thirty years, and having confequently become very ſcarce, the infer-
tion of it here may not be unacceptable.
Epitaph on S. P. a child of Q. El. Chappel.
And did act, (what now we mone)
Old men fo duely, [one,
As, footh, the Parco thought him
He plai'd fo truely.
So, by error, to his fate
Weepe with me all you that read
This little ftorie: [fhed,
And know, for whom a teare you
Death's felfe is forry.
"Twas a child, that fo did thrive
In grace and feature, [ſtrive
As Heaven and Nature feem'd to
Which own'd the creature.
Yeereshe numbred ſcarce thirteene
When Fates turn'd cruell,
Yet three fill'd Zodiackes had he
beene
The ſtages jewell ;
[late)
They all confented;
But viewing him fince, (alas, too
They have repented. [birth)
And have fought (to give new
In bathes to ſteepe him;
But, being fo much too good for
earth,
Heaven vowes to keepe him."
Ben Fonfon's Works, Folio, 1616, P. 808;
And Vol. 6, P. 275, Whalley's Edition.
This celebrated Child performed originally in Fonfon's Cynthia's
Revels, and Poetafter, in the Years 1600 and 1601.
W.
+ Mrs. Saunderfon] The appellation of Miftrefs has deceived fome
writers who have pretended to give the Hiftory of this Lady; they
did not recollect that the title of Mifs was not given to unmarried Fe-
males 'till after the Revolution.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
29
His Company being now compleat, Sir William, in order
to prepare Plays to open his Theatre, it being then a building
in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, rehearſed the Firſt and Second Part
of the Siege of Rhodes; and the Wits at Apothecaries-Hall:
and in Spring 1662, opened his Houſe with the faid Plays,
having new Scenes and Decorations, being the firft that e'er
were introduced in England*.
Mr. Betterton acted Solyman the Magnificent; Mr. Harris,
Alphonfo; Mr. Lillifton, Villerius, the Grand Maſter; Mr.
Blagden, the Admiral; Mrs. Davenport, Roxolana; Mrs.
Saunderfon, Ianthe: All Parts being juftly and excellently
perform'd, it continued acting 12 days without interruption
with great applaufe.
}
The next was The Wits, a Comedy writ by Sir William
Davenant; the Part of the elder Palatine performed by
Mr. Betterton; the younger Palatine by Mr. Harris; Sir
Morglay Thwack, by Mr. Underhill; Lady Ample, by Mrs.
Davenport: All the other Parts being exactly performed, it
continued 8 days acting fucceffively.
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Hamlet being performed by Mr.
Betterton: Sir William (having feen Mr. Taylor, of the
Black-Fryars Company, act it; who being inftructed by the
Author Mr. Shakespear) taught Mr. Betterton in every par-
ticle of it, gain'd him efteem and reputation fuperlative
to
"Downes himſelf acted in The Siege of Rhodes, on the opening of
Sir William D'Avenant's Houfe.-Scenes, however, had been before
ufed in private exhibitions; he ought therefore to have added "on a
public theatre." They had been introduced by Sir William, probably
in a lefs perfect ſtate, about four years before the period Downes
fpeaks of, not indeed in a play, but in an entertainment, entitled,
The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru, expreft by vocal and inftru-
mental mufick, and by Art of perfpective in Scenes. Reprefented daily
at the Cockpit in Drury-Lane, 1658;" a performance which
Cromwell, from his hatred to the Spaniards, permitted, though he
had prohibited all other theatrical exhibitions.
>>
Malone's Supplement, Vol. 1, Page 18, Note.
+ See an Account of Taylor, 'Idem, Page 56.
I might have enriched this tract by more numerous and copious
extracts from Mr. Malone's very curious and elaborate work; but it
being in the hands of almoft every elegant reader, I have made free
with only a few indifpenfible paffages.
W.
30
ROSCIUS ANGLICAN U S.
*
to all other plays*. Horatio by Mr. Harris; the King by
Mr. Lillifton; the Ghoft by. Mr. Richards; (after by Mr.
Medburn.) Polonius by Mr. Lovel; Rofencrans by Mr. Dixon;
Guilderstern by Mr. Price; 1ft. Gravemaker by Mr. Underhill;
the 2d. by Mr. Dacres; the Queen by Mrs. Davenport;
Ophelia by Mrs. Saunderfon: No fucceeding Tragedy for ſe-
veral years got more reputation or money to the Company
than this.
Love and Honour, wrote by Sir William Davenant: This
Play was richly cloath'd? the King giving Mr. Betterton his
Coronation Suit, in which he acted the Part of Prince Alvaro;
the Duke of York giving Mr. Harris his, who did Prince
Profpero; and my Lord of Oxford gave Mr. Jofeph Price his,
who did Lionel, the Duke of Parma's fon: The Duke was
acted by Mr. Lillifton; Evandra by Mrs. Davenport; and
all the other parts being very well done: The Play having a
great run, produced to the Company great gain and efti-
mation from the Town.
Romeo and Juliet, wrote by Mr. Shakespear: Romeo was
acted by Mr. Harris §; Mercutio by Mr. Betterton; Count
Paris by Mr. Price; the Fryar by Mr. Richards; Sampfon
by Mr. Sandford; Gregory by Mr. Underhill, Juliet by Mrs.
Saunderfon; Count Paris's Wife by Mrs. Holden.
Note,
*Betterton continued to act Hamlet with great ſpirit and with much
applaufe 'till the laſt year of his life.
+ Nokes acted Polonius after Lovel.
Vide Tatler.
D.
D.
誓
​Romeo by Mr. Harris.] By the variety of parts- which this gen-
tleman fuftain'd, we may fairly conjecture that he was a general as
well as favourite actor; a complete mafter of his profeffion: Romeo,
Sir Andrew Ague-cheek, Cardinal Wolfey, Medley in the Fop's Fortune,
Sir Foflin Folley in She Wou'd if She Cou'd, Harry the Fifth, and
A Ballad Singer, required various and oppofite abilities. He either
died, or left the Stage, fome years before the union of the King's and
Duke of York's Company, for I do not fee his name in any Dra-
matis Perfonæ of a new play, after 1676.
Downes takes no notice of Caius Marius, written by Otway; and
chiefly taken from Shakspeare's Romeo and Juliet: It was acted much
about the time of the Popish Plot, the Author having introduced the
dufentions of Marius and Sylla, and applied them to the Factions in
the reign of Charles 11.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
31
Note, There being a Fight and Scuffle in this Play be-
tween the Houfe of Capulet, and Houſe of Paris; Mrs.
Holden acting his wife, entered in a hurry, crying, O my
dear Count! She inadvertently left out O in the pronunti-
ation of the word Count! giving it a vehement accent, put
the Houſe into fuch a laughter, that London-Bridge at
low-water was filent to it.
This Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was made fome time
after into a Tragi-comedy, by Mr. James Howard, he pre-
ferving Romeo and Juliet alive; fo that when the Tragedy
was reviv'd again, 'twas play'd alternately, tragically one
day, and tragicomical another, for feveral days together.
-
The Adventures of Five Hours, wrote by the Earl of
Briftol, and Sir Samuel Tuke: This play being cloath'd fo
excellently fine in proper habits, and acted ſo juſtly well.
Mr. Betterton acting Don Henriq; Mr. Harris, Antonio;
Mr. Young, Octavio; Mr. Underhill, Diego; Mr. Sandford,
Ernefto; Mr. Smith, the Corrigidor; Mr. Price, Silvio;
Mrs. Davenport, Camilla; Mrs. Betterton, Portia; Mrs. Long,
Flora:
*Note.] In the Advertiſement to this Edition, the Original is
faid to be faithfully followed; this filly and indecent paffage had not
been remarked when that was written, otherwiſe both would have
been omitted: now there is a neceflity to retain it. It is proper, how-
ever, to obferve that it is founded in error; there is no contending
"Houfe of Paris" in Romeo and Juliet: nor could Mrs. Holden,
whether acting Capulet's, Montague's, or Paris's Wife, (there is, how-
ever, no fuch character as the latter in the Play) have occafion to fay,
"O my dear Count!" there being no fuch expreffion in Shakspeare's
Tragedy: Lady Capulet fays only "By my Couni," i. e. reckoning s
"Juliet, the County ftays;" and "The County Paris." Howard's Tra-
gi-comedy of Romeo and Juliet, faid in the next paragraph to have
been "made fome time after," could not, of courfe, be the Piece in the
reprefentation of which the accident happened; and Otway's Caius
Marius, altered from Romeo and Juliet, and adapted to Roman man-
ners and names is entirely out of the queſtion.
W.
+ This play of The Adventures of Five Hours was publiſhed in 1663.
It appears that Mrs. Sanderfon's name was then chang'd to Betterton,
but he was not a widow when married to the great Actor of that
name, as Curl fays in his hiſtory of the Stage [See a preceding note
on Mrs. Sanderfon.] This amicable couple lived together 47 years.
She furvived her huſband more than a year.
D.
我
​32
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
Flora: It took fucceffively 13 days together, no other Play
intervening.
Twelfth Night, or what you will; wrote by Mr. Shakespear,
had mighty fuccefs by its well performance: Sir Toby Belch
by Mr. Betterton; Sir Andrew Ague-Cheek by Mr. Harris;
Fool by Mr. Underhill; Malvolio, the Steward, by Mr. Lovel;
Olivia by Mrs. Ann Gibbs: All the Parts being juſtly acted
crown'd the Play.
Note, It was got up on purpose to be acted on Twelfth Night.
The Villain, written by Major Thomas Porter; this play
by its being well perform'd, had fuccefs extremely beyond
the Company's expectation. Mr. Betterton acting Monfieur
Brifac; Mr. Harris, Monfieur Beaupre; Governour, Mr.
Lillifton; Bontefeu, Mr. Young; Maligni, the Villain,
Mr. Sandford; Coligni, the Scrivener's Son, by that inimit-
able fprightly Actor, Mr. Price (eſpecially in this part);
Bellmont by Mrs. Betterton: It fucceeded 10 days with a full
houſe to the laſt.
The Rivals*, a Play, wrote by Sir William Davenant;
having a very fine interlude in it, of vocal and inſtrumental
mufic
and
* I know not on what authority this Play of The Rivals is afcribed
to Davenant; it is not in the Folio collection of his works, nor does
the 4to edition cf it, 1668, bear his name. It is a very indifferent
alteration of Shakspeare and Fletcher's Two NOBLE KINSMEN,
containsfeveral Songs, &c. not in the Original; particularly a hunting-
dialogue fung by Forreſters, Hunters, and Huntreffes: the ideas and
hunting-terms in which are entirely borrowed from Ben Jonson's
Paftoral of The Sad Shepherd.
Downes has forgot to tell us the name of the actreſs who performed
Celia, which name likewiſe he has mif-written for Celania; the cha-
racter was reprefented, according to the 4to. 1668, by Mrs. Davis:
[Spelt Davies by Downes, See P. 28.] of whom the following extracts
will give the reader all the information I have been able to collect.
"The practice [of marrying with rufh rings] is alluded to in a
fong in a play written by Sir William Davenant, called The Rivals:
"I'll crown thee with a garland of ſtraw then,
""
And I'll marry thee with a ruſh ring.
Which fong was firft fung by Mifs Davis; fhe acted the part of
Celania in the play; and King Charles II. upon hearing it, was
fo
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
33
mufic, mixt with very diverting dances; Mr. Price intro-
duced the dancing by a fhort comical prologue, gain'd him
an univerſal applaufe of the town. The part of Theocles was
done by Mr. Harris; Philander, by Mr. Betterton; Cunopes,
the Jailor, by Mr. Underhill; And all the Women's Parts
admirably acted; chiefly Celia, a Shepherdefs, being mad
for Love; eſpecially in finging ſeveral wild and mad fongs;
My Lodging it is on the Cold Ground, &c. She performed that
fo charmingly, that not long after, it rais'd her from her bed
on the cold ground, to a Bed Royal.
The Play by the excellent performance lafted uninter-
ruptedly Nine Days, with a full audience.
E
King
fo pleaſed with her voice and action, that he took her from the ſtage,
and made her his Miftrefs." Sir 7. Hawkins's Note in Vol. 4.
Page 51. Shakspeare. Ed. 1778.
"The following ballad [My lodging it is on the cold ground] was
originally fung in a Play called the Rivals, by Mrs. Davis, which
King Charles the fecond hearing, he was fo pleafed, that he took her
off the ſtage, and had a daughter by her, who was named Mary Tudor,
and was married to Francis Lord Radcliffe, afterwards Earl of
Derwentwater."
Evans's Ballads, 1784. Vol. 3. Page 285.
"Nell Gwyn having notice that Mifs Davis was to be entertain'd
at night by the King in his Bed-chamber, fhe invited the Lady to a
collation of Sweetmeats, which being made up with phyfical ingre-
dients, [an indelicate paffage is here omitted, caufed her Royal
Maſter to turn her off with the fmall penfion of aThousand Pounds per
Annum, in confideration for her former fervices in the Affairs of
Love; after which fhe never appeared again at Court."
Lives of the moſt celebrated Beauties, &c. 1715.
From a paffage in a Satirical poem by Sir Geo. Etheredge, in the
fame book, it appears that Nell Gwyn was kept by Lacy, and af-
terwards by Hart, previous to her elevation to the " Bed Royal."
There is a mezzotinto print by R. Tompson, after Sir Peter Lely, of
"Madame Davis," playing on a Lute; and another of " Madam
Davids,"without the Lute, by G.Valck, after Lely: they are undoubtedly
portraits of the Actrefs of Celania, and fhew her (eſpecially the latter
one, which is very fine) to have been a moſt beautiful creature. Downes
erroneously calls Celia (properly Celania) a Shepherdefs; the is daugh-
ter to the Governor or Keeper of the Caftle or Prifon wherein the
Kinſmen are confined: In the original Piece the character is nameleſs,
being called fimply The Failor's Daughter. An alteration of THE
Two NOBLE KINSMEN, by the Editor of this Tract, was performed
at the Theatre-Royal, Richmond, 1779. -
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS:
34
King Henry the 8th. This Play, by order of Sir Wil
liam Davenant, was all new cloathed in proper habits:
The King's was new, and all the Lords, the Cardinals, the
Biſhops, the Doctors, Proctors, Lawyers, Tipftaves, new
Scenes: The Part of the King was fo right and juftly done by
Mr. Betterton, he being inftructed in it by Sir William, who
had it from Old Mr. Lowen, that had his inftructions from
Mr. Shakespear himſelf, that I dare and will aver, none can,
or ever will come near him in this age, in the performance of
that part: Mr. Harris's performance of Cardinal Wolfey
was little inferior to that, he doing it with fuch juſt ſtate,
port, and mein, that I dare affirm none hitherto has equalled
him:
The Duke of Buckingham by Mr. Smith; Norfolk by Mr.
Nokes; Suffolk by Mr. Lillifton; Cardinal Campeius and
Cranmer by Mr. Medburn; Bifhop Gardiner by M. Underhill;
Earl of Surrey by Mr Young; Lord Sands by Mr. Price;
Mrs. Betterton, Queen Catherine: Every Part, by the great
care of Sir William, being exactly perform'd; it being all
new cloath'd and new fcenes; it continued acting 15 days
together with general applauſe.
Love in a Tub, wrote by Sir George Etheridge; Mr. Bet-
terton performing Lord Beauford; Mr. Smith, Colonel Bruce;
Mr. Norris, Lovis; Mr. Nokes, Sir Nicholas Cully; Mr.
Underhill, Palmer; Mr. Saunford, Wheadle; Mrs. Betterton,
Graciana; Mrs. Davies, Aurelia; Mrs. Long, the Widow;
Mr. Harris, Sir Frederick Frolick; Mr. Price, Dufoy.
* See an account of Lowen, or Lowin, in Malone's Supplement.
Vol. I, Page 54.
Sir
++ I know of no folly greater, or more common, in writing or dif-
courfing on theatrical ſubjects, than this of praiſing living performers,
by derogating from the merit of not only their predeceffors, but_that_
alfo which may be poffeffed by thoſe who are to come; when Booth,
Wilks, and Cibber formed fo bright a conftellation, would it not have
been abfurd to ſay neither of them would ever be outfhone, Garrick
having fince concentered all their radiance; and why may not future
Luminaries dim the effulgence of his fame, as he eclipſed the ſplen-
dor of all who went before him?
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
35
Sir Nich❜las, Sir Fred'rick; Widow and Dufoy,
Were not by any fo well done, Mafoy:
The clean and well performance of this Comedy, got the
Company more reputation and profit than any preceding
Comedy; the Company taking in a month's time at it 1000l.
* Cutter of Coleman-Street; Written by Mr. Abraham Cowley;
Colonel Jolly, performed by Mr. Betterton; Old Trueman, by
Mr. Lovel; Young Trueman, Mr. Harris; Cutter, Mr.
Underhill; Captain Worm, Mr. Sandford; Parſon Soaker,
Mr. Dacres; Puny, Mr. Nokes; Will, Mr. Price; Aurelia,
by Mrs. Betterton; Lucia, Mrs. Ann Gibbs; Laughing Jane,
by Mrs. Long: This Comedy being acted fo perfectly well
and exact, it was performed a whole week with a full au-
dience.
Note, This play was not a little injurious to the Cavalier
indigent Officers; efpecially the characters of Cutter and Wo. m.
The Dutchess of Malfey; wrote by Mr. We'fter: Duke
Ferdinand, performed by Mr. Harris; Befola, by Mr. Bet-
terton; Antonio, Mr. Smith; Cardinal, Mr. Young; Dutchefs
of Malfey, by Mrs. Betterton; Julia, the Cardinal's Miſtreſs,
by Mrs. Gibbs: This Play was fo exceeding excellently
acted in all parts; chiefly, Duke Ferdinand and Bofola; it
fill'd the Houfe 8 days fucceffively, it proving one of the
beſt of Stock Tragedies,
The Tragedy of Muftapha, wrote by the Earl of Orrery.
The part of Solyman, the Magnificent, was done by Mr. Bet-
terton; Muſtapha, Mr. Harris; Zanger, Mr. Smith; Ruftan,
Mr. Sandford; Pyrrhus, Mr. Richards; [the name of fome
character is here wanting in the original,] Mr. Young; Haly,
Mr.
*The Author of The Cutter of Coleman Street was charged with an
intent to ridicule the Cavaliers, from which charge he defended him-
felf; the Play, though rejected at firft, was afterwards refumed, and
acted with applaufe: however, The Cutter of Coleman Street being a
temporary Satire, was foon banifhed the Theatre, notwithstanding it
had the great name of Cowley to fupport it.
D.
36
ROSCIUS ANGLICAN US.
Mr. Cademan: Roxolana, Mrs. Davenport; (afterwards [by]
Mrs. Betterton, and then by one Mrs. Wifeman); Queen of
Hungaria, Mrs. Davies. All the parts being new cloath'd,
with new ſcenes, Sir William's great care to have it perfect
and exactly performed, it produc'd, to himſelf and company
vaſt profit.
;
Theſe being all the principal, which we call Stock-plays,
that were acted from the time they open'd the Theatre in
1662, to the beginning of May, 1665, at which time the
Plague began to rage, the company ceas'd acting 'till the
Christmas after the Fire in 1666. Yet there were ſeveral
other Plays acted from 1662 to 1665, both old and modern :
as a comedy call'd, A Trick to catch the Old One; The Spa-
ragus Garden; Wit in a Conftable; Tu Quoque; The Tragedy
of King Lear, as Mr. Shakespear wrote it*; before it was al-
tered by Mr. Tate. The Slighted Maid; The Step Mother
both written by Sir Robert Stapleton. Law against Lovers,
by Sir William Davenant; 'Tis better than it was; Worfe and
Worfe: Thefe two Comedies were made out of Spaniſh, by
the Earl of Briſtol. The Ghofts, wrote by Mr. Holden;
Pandora, wrote by Sir William Killigrew. The Company
ending as I faid with Mustapha, in May 1665. After a year
and a half's diſcontinuance they, by Command, began with
the fame play again at Court, the Christmas after the Fire in
1666; and from thence continued again to act at their The-
atre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields.
The firſt new Play that was acted in 1666 was the Tragedy
of Cambyfes, King of Perfia; wrote by Mr. Settle: Cambyfes
was performed by Mr. Betterton; Prexafpes, the General,
by Mr. Harris; Prince Smerdis, Mr. Young; Mandana, by
Mrs. Betterton: all the other parts being perfectly well acted,
fucceeded fix days with a full audience.
After
* Betterton, we muſt ſuppoſe, acted Lear.
D.
› Betterton being at this period a young man, it is more probable that
Lear was performed by fome Veteran: and that he did not reprefent
the old Monarch 'till Tate's alteration was produced.
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
37
After this the Company reviv'd Four Comedies of Mr. Shirley's*,
The Grateful Servant.
The Witty Fair One.
viz.
|
The School of Complements.
The Woman's a Weathercock.
Theſe Plays being perfectly well perform'd, eſpecially
Dulcino, the Grateful Servant, being acted by Mrs. Long;
and the firſt time ſhe appeared in Man's Habit, prov'd as
beneficial to the Company as feveral fucceeding new Plays.
Richard the Third, or the English Princefs, wrote by
Mr. Carrol, was excellently well acted in every part; chiefly
King Richard, by Mr. Betterton; Duke of Richmond, by
Mr. Harris; Sir William Stanley, by Mr. Smith; gain'd them
an additional eſtimation, and the applaufe from the town, as
well as profit to the whole company.
King Henry the 5th, wrote by the Earl of Orrery. Mr.
Harris acted the King; Mr. Betterton, Owen. Tudor; Mr.
Smith, Duke of Burgundy; Duke of Bedford, Mr. Lillifton;
Earl of Warwick, Mr. Angel; Clermont, Mr. Medburn;
Queen, Mrs. Betterton. This Play was fplendidly cloath'd;
the King, in the Duke of York's Coronation Suit; Owen
Tudor, in King Charles's; Duke of Burgundy, in the Lord
of Oxford's; and the reſt all new. It was excellently per-
form'd and acted 10 days fucceffively.
After this, my Lord Orrery writ two Comedies; the firſt
call'd Gufman: the other, Mr. Anthony Gufman, took very
well; the former [the other in the original,] but indifferent.
There
*The fuccefs of Shirley's Plays, wher. Dryden was ftriving to puſh
his fortune in the Dramatic World, perhaps induced that Poet to give
him a place in his Mc. Flecnoe.
D.
+ Betterton's action muſt have been very excellent to fupport fo
wretched a piece, of which the Author has not borrowed a line from
Shakspeare
D.
"Upon
The following eulogy confirms Mr. Davies's fuppofition.
the Stage it [Tamerlane] may appear well, but he [Rowe] had fome of
the beſt Tragedians in the World to act it, and who knows not the
Advantage a Play receives from their mouths? Who knows not the
effect of Betterton's fine Action? Who is not charm'd with Mrs.Barry?
What beauty do they not give every thing they repreſent?"
A Comparison between the Two Stages, 1702, Page 190.
See alfo the extracts from Rymer, Pages 23 and 24 of his Tract. W.
38
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
There being an odd fort of Duel in it between Mr. Nokes and
Mr. Angel, both Comicks meeting in the field to fight; one
came arm'd with a Blunderbufs, the other with a Bow and
Arrows.
}
Sir Martin Marall. The Duke of Newcastle giving
Mr. Dryden a bare tranſlation of it, out of a Comedy of the
famous French Poet, Monfieur Moliere; he adapted the part
purpoſely for the mouth of Mr. Nokes, and curioufly po-
lifhed the whole; Mr. Smith acting ir John Swallow; Mr.
Young, Lord Dartmouth; Mr. Underhill, Old Moody; Mr.
Harris. Warner; Mrs. Norris, Lady Dupe; Mrs. Millifent,
Madam Davies. All the parts being very juft and exactly
perform'd, 'fpecially Sir Martin and his Man, Mr. Smith,
and ſeveral others fince have come very near him but none
equall'd, nor yet Mr. Nokes in Sir Martin ||. This Comedy
was crown'd with an excellent Entry, in the last act at the
Maſk, by Mr. Prieft and Madam Davies; this, and Love in
a Tub, got the Company more money than any preceding
Comedy.
She wou'd if she cou'd, wrote by Sir George Etheridge;
Courtall, acted by Mr. Smith; Freeman, Mr. Young; Sir
Follin, Mr. Harris; Sir Oliver, Mr. Nokes; Ariana, Mrs.
Fennings; Gatty, Mrs. Davies; Lady Cockwood, Mrs. Shad-
well; It took well, but inferior to Love in a Tub.
1
After this were acted, The Queen of Arragon, and
Cupid's Revenge.
The
* If Downes is to be credited Sir Martin Marall was not an original
piece of Dryden's, but reviſed and poliſhed from a meer verbal tranf-
lation of Moliere's L'Etourdi; the Song in it is a tranſlation from
Voiture: this Play owed its Theatrical Life to the excellent action of
Nokes; for fince his death I do not find that it was ever revived. D.
Elevation to the "Bed Royal" conferred, in Downes's opinion,
the title of Madam on the quondam Mrs. Davies; as it had before
done on her rival Gwyn.
W.
This paffage is involved in fuch impenetrable darkneſs, that, in
defpair of being able to throw light on it, I leave it in its original.
obfcurity.
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICAN US.
39
1
The Impertinents; or Sullen Lovers: wrote by Mr. Shadwell.
This Comedy being admirably acted, eſpecially Sir Pofitive
At-all, by Mr. Harris; Poet Ninny, by Mr. Nokes; Wood-
cock, by Mr. Angel; Standford and Emilia, the Sullen Lovers;
One by Mr. Smith, and the other by Mrs. Shadwell*. This
Play had wonderful fuccefs, being acted 12 days together,
when our Company were cómmanded to Dover, in May
1670. The King with all his Court meeting his fifter, the
Dutchefs of Orleans there. This Comedy and Sir Solomon
Single, pleas'd Madam the Dutchefs, and the whole Court
extremely.
The French Court wearing then exceffive fhort lac'd coats;
fome fcarlet, fome blew, with broad waft belts; Mr. Nokes
having at that time one fhorter than the French fashion, to
act Sir Arthur Aadle in; the Duke of Monmouth gave Mr.
Nokes his Sword and belt from his fide, and buckled it on
himſelf, on purpoſe to ape the French; that Mr. Nokes
lookt more like a dreft up Ape, than a Sir Arthur: which
upon his firſt entrance on the stage, put the King and Court
to an exceifive laughter; at which the French look'd very
Shaggrin, to fee themſelves ap'd by fuch a buffoon as
Sir Arthur. Mr. Nokes kept the Duke's fword to his
dying day.
Sir Solomon Single, wrote by Mr. Carrol. Sir Solomon acted
by Mr. Betterton; Peregrine Woodland, by Mr. Harris; Sin-
gle, by Mr. Smith; Mr. Wary, by Mr. Sandford; Timothy,
by Mr. Underhill; Betty, by Mrs. Johnson; Julia, Mrs.
Betterton. The Play being fingularly well acted, it took
12 days together.
The Woman made a Juftice; wrote by Mr. Betterton.
Mrs. Long acting the Juftice fo charmingly, and the Comedy
being perfect and juftly acted, fo well pleas'd the audience,
it continu'd acting 14 days together the prologue being
ſpoke to it each day.
The
W.
*Mrs. Shadwell ] Quere, if the wife of Shadwell the Poet?
+I do not think that even the Savages of Owhyee would, in fimilar
circumſtances, have been guilty of fuch an incivility.
W.
}
40
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
The Amorous Widow; or, The Wanton Wife: wrote by the
fame author. Mr. Betterton acted Lovemore; Mr. Smith,
Cunningham; Mr. Nokes, Barnaby Brittle: The Widow,
Mrs. Betterton: She performed it fo well, that none equall'd
her but Mrs. Bracegirdle.*
The Unjuft Fudge; or, Appius and Virginia: done by the
fame author. Virginius, acted by Mr. Betterton; Appius,
the Unjuft Judge, by Mr. Harris; Virginia, by Mrs. Betterton.
And all the other parts exactly performed. It lafted fuc-
ceffively 8 days, and very frequently acted afterwards.
The Man's the Mafter, wrote by Sir William Davenant,
being the laſt play he ever wrote, he dying preſently after;
and was bury'd in Westminster-Abbey, near Mr. Chaucer's
Monument, our whole Company attending his funeral.
This Comedy in general was very well perform'd, eſpecially
the Mafter, by Mr. Harris; the Man, by Mr. Underhill:
Mr. Harris and Mr. Sandford finging the Epilogue, like two
Street Ballad-fingers.
Note, Mr. Cademan in this play, not long after our
Company began in Dorfet-Garden, his part being to fight
with Mr. Harris, was unfortunately, with a fharp Foil pierc'd
near
´* Mrs. Oldfield's fuperior merit in this part, [Mrs. Brittle] as it was
decided by the audience, in a conteft for pre-eminence between her
and Mrs. Bracegirdle, occafion'd the latter to leave the Stage about
the year 1797.
Norris, [the original Scrub,] who was a very little man, acted
Barnaby Brittle when Mrs. Oldfield play'd Mrs. Brittle; during an in-
difpofition of Norris, Colley Cibber play'd the part of Brittle: when
Mrs. Oldfield faid fhe could not play fo well with the latter as the
former, becauſe Norris look'd more like a cuckold than Cibber. D.
T
+"The Rivals a Comedy, acted by His Highnes the Duke of
York's Servants," attributed to Sir William Davenant, was "Printed
for William Cademan, at the Pope's-Head in the Lower Walk of the
New-Exchange, 1668." If this was Cademan, the Actor, Downes
might, in addition to his own official knowledge as prompter,' have
been certified by him that Davenant was the Author or Alterer of it;
which fuppofition clears up the doubt expreffed in Note, Page 32. W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
41
near the eye; which fo maim'd both his hand and his ſpeech,
that he can make but little uſe of either; for which mif-
chance he has received a penfion ever fince 1673, being 35
years ago.
This being the laſt New Play that was acted in Lincoln's-Inn
Fields, yet there were fundry others done there, from 1662,
till the time they left that Houfe: As, Love's Kingdom, wrote
by Mr Fleckno; The Royal Shepherdefs, by Mr. Shadwell;
Two Fools well met, by Mr. Lodwick Carlile; the Coffee-House,
by Mr. Sincerf; All Plot; or, The Difguifes; by Mr. Stroude:
All which expired the third day, fave The Royal Shepherdess,
which liv'd fix.
Note, About the year 1670, Mrs. Aldridge, after Mrs. Lee,
after Lady Slingby; alfo Mrs. Leigh, wife of Mr. Anthony
Leigh; Mr. Crosby, Mrs. Johnſon, were entertained in the
Duke's Houſe.
The new Theatre in Dorfet Garden being finiſhed, and our
Company after Sir William's death being under the rule and do-
minion of his widow, the Lady Davenant, Mr. Betterton, and
Mr. Harris, Mr. Charles Davenant, her fon, acting for her),
they removed from Lincoln's-Inn Fields thither: and on the
ninth day of November, 1671, they opened their new Theatre
with Sir Martin Marall, which continued 3 days together,
with a full audience each day; notwithſtanding it had been
acted 30 days before in Lincolns-Inn Fields, and above 4 times
at Court.
Next was acted Love in a Tub, it was performed 2 days to-
gether to a full audience.
The firſt new Play acted there, was King Charles the 8th of
France; it was all new cloath'd, yet lafted but 6 days to-
gether, but 'twas acted now and then afterwards.
The next new Comedy was The Mamamouchi; Or, The
Citizen turn'd Gentleman: wrote by Mr.Ravenfcraft. Trickmore
and Fencing Mafter, by Mr. Harris; French Tutor, and Singing
Mafter, by Mr. Haines: (He having affronted Mr. Hart, he
F
gave
42
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
gave him a diſcharge,and then [Haines came into ourHouſe)*
Old Forden, Mr. Nokes; Dr. Gural, Mr. Sandford; Sir Simon
Softhead, Mr. Underhill; Lucia, Mrs. Betterton; Betty Trick-
more, Mrs. Leigh; This Comedy was look'd upon by the
Criticks for a foolish Play; yet it continued acting 9 days
with a full houſe; upon the Sixth the Houſe being very full,
the Poet added 2 more lines to his Epilogue, viz.
The Criticks come to bifs and damn this play,
Yet fpite of themselves they can't keep away.
However Mr. Nokes in performing the Mamamouchi pleas'd
the King and Court, next Sir Martin, above all Plays.
The third new Play acted there was The Gentleman Dancing
Mafter, wrote by Mr. Witcherly, it lafted but 6 days, being
liked but indifferently, it was laid by to make room for other
new ones.
Note, Several of the old Stock Plays were acted between
each of theſe 3 new ones.
Epfom-Wells, a Comedy wrote by Mr. Shadwell. Mr. Rains
was acted by Mr. Harris; Bevil, by Mr. Betterton; Woodly,
by Mr. Smith; Juftice Clodpole, Mr.Underhill; Carolina, Mrs.
Johnson; Lucia, Mrs. Gibbs; Mrs. Filt, by Mrs. Betterton; Mr.
Nokes, Mr. Bifket; Mr. Angel, Fribble. This Play in general
being admirably acted produced great profit to the company.
Note, Mrs. Johnfon in this comedy, dancing a Jigg fo
charming well, Love's power in a little time after coerc'd her
to dance more charming elfe where.
A Comedy call'd The Reformation, written by a Maſter of
Arts in Cambridge; The Reformation in the Play being the
reverſe to the Laws of Morality and Virtue, it quickly made
its Exit, to make way for a Moral one.
The Tragedy of Macbeth, altered by Sir William Davenant;
being dreſt in all its finery, as new cloaths, new ſcenes, ma-
*
chines,
Joe Haines was, on account of his pretending to great gallantry,
call'd Count Haines; he was a man of humour, and fometimes threw
out vivacities which paſs'd for wit: he was extremely irregular in his
way of life.
See his Life, Dennis's Letter to Sir John Edgar, (i. e. Sir Richard
Steele) and Dryden's Epilogue to The Pilgrim.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
43
chines, as flyings for the witches§, with all the finging and
dancing in it: the firft compofed by Mr. Lock, the other by
Mr. Channell and Mr. Jofeph Prieft; it being all excellently
performed, being in the nature of an Opera, it recompenced
double the expence: it proves ftill a lafting play.
Note, That this Tragedy, King Lear, and The Tempeft,
were acted in Lincoln's-Inn Fields; Lear being acted as
Mr. Shakespear wrote it*; as likewife The Tempeſt, altered by
Sir William Davenant and Mr. Dryden, before 'twas made into
an Opera.
Love's Jealouſy, and The Morning Ramble, written by Mr.
Nevil Pain. Both were very well acted, but after their firſt
run were laid aſide to make room for others; the company
having then plenty of new poets.
The Jealous Bridegroom, wrote by Mrs. Bhen, a good play,
and lafted fix days; but this made its Exit too, to give room
for a greater, The Tempeft.
Note, In this play, Mr. Otway, the poet, having an inclina-
tion to turn actor, Mrs. Bhen gave him the King in the play,
for a probation part; but he being not us'd to the ſtage, the
full houſe put him to fuch a ſweat, and tremendous agony,
being
F 2
§ In the modern repreſentation of Macbeth, Hecate is the only cha-
racter which aſcends; the three Witches who open the play depart
with thefe words, "Hover thro' the fog and filthy air," but they are
improperly made to fink thro' a trap-door in the ftage, inftead of be-
ing rais'd by a machine into the clouds.
W.
+ In the Dramatis Perfonæ of the 4to. Edition of Davenant's alter-
ation of Macbeth we read that Banquo and the Ghoft of Banquo were re-
prefented by dividual performers; the former, I believe, by Smith,
the latter by Sandford; the reafon for which I cannot guefs, unleſs it
was that Sandford's countenance was naturally formed to infpire terror;
while the reprefentative of the living Banquo had, as was neceffary, a
placid mein.
W.
*There can be no doubt that Betterton acted the Part of Lear
[See a doubt of it expreffed in the laſt note, Page 36.] but fince it was
perform'd as originally written; it were to be wished that Downes had
given us fome account of its reception from the audience; with a caſt
of the characters in fo remarkable a play: I fhould fuppofe that Nokes
acted The Fool. Some admirers of unfophifticated Shakspeare wifhed to
have feen Mr. Garrick in Lear, as originally written; though I believe
the diſtreſs would have been more than any audience could bear.
D.
44
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS:
being dafh't, fpoilt him for an actor*. Mr. Nat. Lee had the
fame fate in acting Duncan, in Macbeth, ruin'd him for an
actor too.
I muſt not forget myſelf, being liſted for an actor in Sir
William Davenant's Company in Lincoln's-Inn Fields; the
very first day of opening the houſe there with the Siege of
Rhodes, being to act Haly, the King, Duke of York, and all
the Nobility in the houſe, and the first time the King was in
a public Theatre, the fight of that auguft prefence ſpoil'd me
for an actor too. But being fo in the
But being fo in the company of two
fuch eminent poets, as they prov'd afterward, made my dif
grace
ſo much the leſs; from that time their Genius ſet them
upon Poetry: the first wrote Alcibiades; the latter, the tra-
gedy of Nero; the one for the Duke's, the other for the
King's Houſe.
The year after in 1673, The Tempest, or Inchanted Ifland§;
made into an Opera by Mr. Shadwell: having all new in it;
as Scenes, Machines; particularly, one fcene painted with
myriads of Ariel [ aerial] Spirits; and another flying away
with a table, furnifht out with fruits, fweet-meats, and all forts
of viands, juft when Duke Trinculo and his companions were
going to dinner; all things perform'd in it fo admirably well,
that not any fucceeding opera got more money.
About this time the Company was very much recruited,
having loft by death Mr. Jofeph Price, Mr. Lovell, Mr.
Lillifton, Mr. Robert Nokes, Mr. Mofely, Mr.Coggan, Mr.Floid,
Mr.Gibbons; Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Jennings, &c.
The three laft by force of Love were erept the Stage.
In
* This was in the year 1671, fometime before Otway had written
a play.
D.
+ Lee's misfortune, or repulfe happen'd the year after Otway's.
Lee, after having been fome time in Bedlam, was, on the return of
his fenfes, releas'd; returning home from the Bear and Harrow, in
Butcher Row, where he had drunk abundance of liquors, he fell down
and was stifled in one of the Inns: fome fay he was found dead on a
bulk
Otway is faid to have perifh'd thro want!
D.
W.
§ Here we may ſee the origin, I believe, of Dryden's refentment to
Shadwell; who fhould not, he imagined, have meddled with the fub-
ject after fo great a maſter: but it was a ftill greater provocation to
Dryden, that Shadwell's Plays pleas'd better than his own. D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
45
In their rooms came in Mr. Anthony Leigh', Mr.Gillo², Mr.
Jevon, Mr. Percival, Mr. Williams, who came in a boy, and
ferv'd Mr. Harris, Mr. Boman3, a boy likewife; Mrs. Barry,
Mrs. Currer, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Slaughter, Mrs. Knapper,
Mrs. Twiford.
After The Tempest came The Siege of Conftantinople, wrote by
Mr. Nevil Pain.
Then the Conqueft of China, by the Tartars, by Mr. Settle;
in this Play Mr. Jevon, acting a Chinefe Prince and Com-
mander in it, and being in the battle vanquished by the Tartars,
he was by his part to fall upon the point of his fword and kill
himſelf, rather than be [ made ] prifoner by the Tartars: Mr.
Fevon, inftead of falling on the point of his fword, laid it in
the ſcabbard at length upon the ground and fell upon't, fay-
ing, now I am dead; which put the Author into fuch a fret,
it made him ſpeak treble inſtead of double. Jevon's anſwer
was, did you not bid me fall upon my fword*?
In February 1673, the long expected Opera of Ffyche came
forth in all her ornaments; new ſcenes, new machines, new
cloaths, new French dances: this Opera was fplendidly fet
out, eſpecially in fcenes; the charge of which amounted to
above 800. It had a continuance of performance about 8
day's
* Anthony Leigh was a favourite actor of Charles 2d. who ufed to
call him his Actor.
2 Gillo generally play'd the graver kind of characters, ſuch as Acafto,
in The Orphan.
3 Boman, or Bowman, was fuppofed to be near ninety years old
when he died; no Coquette was ever more careful to conceal her age
than this actor: to thoſe who aſked him his age, his conftant reply
was, Sir, I am very well.
* Jevon was a good comic actor, and died young.
D.
D.
From this fample of Jevon's humour I venture to pronounce him
a contemptible buffoon: extempore fallies, and eccentricities in comedy,
are generally reprehenfible in the actor who indulges in them; but to
make a mockery of what was intended to excite pity or terror, deferves
the ſevereſt cenfure words can convey..
W
46
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
GLIC
days together; it prov'd very beneficial to the Company:
yet The Tempest got them more money.
After this Sir Patient Fancy was acted, then The Rover; both
wrote by Mrs. Bhen. Alcibiades*, the firſt play that Mr. Otway
wrote. Madam Fickle, by Mr. Durfey.
Then Don Carlos, Prince of Spain; the fecond play wrote
by Mr. Otway: the King was performed by Mr. Betterton;
Prince by Mr. Smith; Don John of Auftria, by Mr. Harris;
Gomez, Mr. Medburn; Queen, Madam Slingby; and all the
parts being admirably acted it lafted fucceffively 10 days; it
got more money than any preceding modern Tragedy.
After this, in 1676, The Man of Mode, or Sir Fopling Flutter,
was acted: Dorimant, by Mr. Betterton; Medley, Mr. Harris;
Sir Fopling by Mr. Smith; Old Bellair, Mr. Leigh; Young
Bellair, Mr. Jevon: Mrs. Lovit, Mrs. Barry; Bellinda, Mrs.
Betterton; Lady Woodvil, Mrs. Leigh; Emilia, by Mrs. Twi-
ford. This comedy being well cloath'd, and well acted, got
a great deal of money.
The Soldier's Fortune, wrote by Mr. Otway. Then the Fond
Huſband, by Mr. Durfey.
Theſe two Comedies took extraordinary well, and being
perfectly acted, got the Company great reputation and
profit.
Circe, an Opera, wrote by Dr. Davenant. Oreftes was acted
by Mr. Betterton; Pylades, Mr. Williams; Ithacus, Mr. Smith;
Thoas, Mr. Harris; Circe, Lady Slingfby; Iphigenia, Mrs.
Betterton; Ofmida, Mrs. Twiford. All the Mufick was fet by
Mr. Banifter, and being well performed, it anfwer'd the ex-
pectation of the Company.
The
* Alcibiades] acted 1675. The Author in his preface celebrates Mrs
Barry's acting in this Play.
D.
+ The Fond Husband, or PlottingSifters. This is the best of all Durfey's
comedies, and was acted at Drury-Lane little more than forty years
fince.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
47
The Siege of Troy, Anna Bullen*, by Mr. Banks.
The Feign'd Courtezans. The City Heiress, Both by Mrs.
Bhen. Thefe four were well acted; three of them liv'd but
a fhort time but Ann Bullen prov'd a Stock-Play.
Timon of Athens§, alter'd by Mr. Shadwell, was very well
acted, and the mufick in't well performed; it wonderfully
pleas'd the Court and City, being an excellent moral.
The Libertine, and Virtuofo; both wrote by Mr. Shadwell;
they were both very well acted, and got the Company great
reputation: the Libertine perform'd by Mr. Betterton crown'd
the play.
The Spanish Fryar, wrote by Mr. Dryden; 'twas admirably
acted, and produced vaft profit to the Company.
Oedipus, King of Thebest, wrote by Mr. Nat. Lee, and Mr.
Dryden the laft writing the first two acts, and the firſt the
three
* Anna Bullen has not been revived fince the death of Mrs. Oldfield,
who acted the Principal Part.
D.
§ Timon, by Shadwell, was acted at the Theatres of Drury-Lane,
and Lincoln's-Inn Fields, about forty-five years fince.
Mills play'd Timon, and Mrs. Thurmond, Evandra, at Drury-Lane;
Walker, Timon, and Quin, Apemantus, at Lincoln's-Inn Fields. D.
An alteration of Timon from Shakspeare and Shadwell, by Love, (an
affumed name, his real one being Dance,) was perform'd about twenty
years fince at the Theatre-Royal, Richmond; the ſcenery, dreffes, and
decorations were very fplendid, the play well performed, and the re-
ceipts to it confiderable.
It has been fince revived at Drury-Lane, with alterations by Mr.
Cumberland; when Barry play'd Timon, and Love, Apemantus. W.
The Libertine was acted frequently at Drury-Lane, during the
management of Booth, Wilks, and Cibber; but it dwindled by degrees
to a meer Holiday-Play: the elder Mills acted The Libertine.
D.
+ Oedipus, K. of Thebes. This play has often been reviv'd, but never
with any great fuccefs: the critics tell us it is the mafter-piece of
antiquity: the fable is admirably work'd up by Sophocles, it is con-
fefs'd; but the moral, which is, that no man, though ever ſo happy in
appearance, can be fecure of felicity till his death; is bought too
dearly, by involving an innocent man in the murder of his father, and
the commiffion of inceft with his mother. The tearing out his eyes
is a cataſtrophe too fhocking.
D.
48
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
three laſt. This Play was admirably well acted; efpecially
the Parts of Oedipus and Iocafta; one by Mr. Betterton, the
other by Mrs. Betterton: it took prodigioufly, being acted 10
days together.
The Orphan; or, the Unhappy Marriage: wrote by Mr.
Otway. Caftalio acted by Mr. Betterton; Polydore, by Mr. Wil-
liams; Chamont, Mr. Smith; Chaplain, Mr. Percival; Moni-
mia, Mrs. Barry; Serina Mrs. Monford. All the Parts being
admirably done, eſpecially the Part of Monimia. This, and
Belvidera in Venice Preferv'd; or, A Plot Difcovered; together
with Ifabella, in The Fatal Marriage: Thefe three Parts gain'd
her the name of Famous Mrs. Barry*, both at Court and City,
for whenever ſhe acted any of thoſe three parts, fhe forc'd
tears from the eyes of her Auditory, eſpecially thoſe who
have any ſenſe of pity for the diſtreſs'd.
Thefe 3 Plays, by their excellent performance, took above
all the modern Plays that fucceeded.
Titus and Berenice,, wrote by the fame Author, confifting
of 3 Acts; with the Furce of The Cheats of Scapin at the end.
This Play, with the Farce, being perfectly well acted, had
good fuccefs.
Theodofius
* Famous Mrs. Barry. ] This Actrefs was the firft comedian that
was favour'd with a Benefit, on account of her great merit; which
was about the year 1687.
It does not appear that Betterton accepted a Benefit till 1709.
+ The fame Author.] Downes means Otway; tho' the author of the
laft-mentioned piece fabella) was Southern
D.
+ This was about the period when the cuſtom of annexing, Farces
to Plays was introduced.
W.
Roseius ANGLIĈANUŠ.
49
Theodofius, or The Force of Love ;* wrote by Mr. Nathaniel
Lee: Varanes, the Perfian Prince, acted by Mr. Betterton;
Marcian, the General, Mr. Smith; Theodofius, Mr. Williams;
Athenais, Mrs. Barry All the Parts in't being perfectly per-
form'd, with feveral Entertainments of Singing, compos'd
by the famous mafter, Mr. Henry Purcell (being the firſt he
ever compofed for the ftage), made it a living and gainful
play to the Company: the Court, efpecially the Ladies, by
their daily charming prefence, gave it great encouragement.
Note, Mr. Lee wrote the tragedy of Nero, The Court of
Auguftus, for Drury-Lane Houfe; The Prince of Cleve for
Dorfet-Garden: being well acted, but fucceeded not ſo well
as the others:
The Lancaſhire Witches, acted in 1681, made by Mr.
Shadwell, being a kind of Opera, having feveral Machines of
Flyings for the Witches, and other diverting Contrivances
in't: All being well perform'd, it prov'd beyond expectation
very
beneficial to the Poet and Actors.
All the preceding Plays, being the chief that were acted
in Dorfet-Garden, from November 1671, to the year 1682;
at which time the Patentees of each Company united Patents;
and, by fo incorporating, the Duke's Company were made
G
the
Theodofius, or The Force of Love.] A Play was written by Maſſin-
ger on this fubject, and acted with fuccefs; there are many good
fcenes, and juft fentiments in it, but upon the whole it is one of that
Author's leaft meritorious productions: Theodofius is juftly eſteem'd as
Lee's mafter-piece.
D.
+ Shadwell, in this play,has borrowed the name and epithet of Puck-
hairy, with various reputed magical ingredients, from the renowned
(as he ftiles him) Ben Fonfon's Fragment, of THE SAD SHEPHERD.
See the Supplemental Notes to The Sad Shepherd, and Continuation
thereof, by the Editor of this Tract, 8vo. 1783, P. 134 and 135.
Shadwell has more merit than is generally allowed; in "A Comparison
between the two Stages," 1702, P. 57, the following compliment is
paid to him. " Fletcher and Beaumont are every where irregular, but
always gentile [genteel ] and eafy; their Tragedies are moving, and
their Comedies diverting; Shakespear fublime in the firft, and always
natural in the latter; Fonfon humourous in one, and very correct in
both: I defcend to no others, only I can't omit Shadwel, whofe Com-
edies are true Copies of Nature."
W.
50
ROSCIUS ANGLICÁNUS.
the King's Company, immediately removed to the Theatre-
Royal in Drury-Lane*.
Upon this Union, Mr. Hart, being the Heart of the Com-
pany under Mr. Killigrew's Patent, never acted more, by
reafon of his malady; being afflicted with the Stone and
Gravel, of which he died fome time after: having a Salary
of 40 Shillings a Week to the day of his death. But the
remnant of that Company, as Major Mohunt, Mr. Cart-
wright,
1
* It is faid that Mr. Betterton, by his ſkill in negotiation, contri-
buted greatly to this Union of the King's and Duke of York's Com-
panies. See BIOG. BRIT. Article Betterton.
D.
+ Major Mohun acted in 1682, in The Perfian Prince, by Southern;
and Burleigh in The. Unhappy Favourite, by Banks, in_1685.
D.
?
This being the laſt mention (of any confequence) made of Hart
and Mohun, by Downes or Davies; I will take my leave of them with
the following extract from
"A Comparifön between the Two Stages," P. 48. feq.
"The late Duke of Monmouth was a good judge of dancing, and a
good dancer himself; when he returned from France, he brought
with him St. Andre, then the beſt Maſter in France:: The Duke pre-
fented him to the Stage, the Stage, to gratifie the Duke admitted him,
and the Duke himfelf thought he might prove a,mighty advantage to
'em, tho' he had nobody elfe of his Opinion: A Day was publiſhed
in the Bills for him to dance, but not one more befides the Duke and
his Friends came to fee him; the reafon was, the Plays were then ſo
good, and Hart and Mohun acted. 'em fo well, that the Audience
wou'd not be interrupted for ſo ſhort a time, tho' 'twas to fee the beſt-
Matter in Europe."
Madam Davies and Madam Gwyn having alfo made their Exeunt, the
following extracts from Granger's Biographical Hiftory of England,
8vo. 2d. Ed. 1775, Vol. 4. which fhould have followed my note, at
bottom of P. 33, had the work they are taken from occurred before
that was printed, are inferted here; and the reader is requeſted to re-
fer them to that place.
W.
Madam DAVIS; Lely p. Valk f. 1678; 4to. mezz.
Madam DAVIS; Lely p. Tompfon exc. h.sh. mezz.
She is reprefented as playing on a guitar.*
1
At Billingbere, in Berkshire, the feat of Richard Neville Neville,
efq. is a fine poitrait of her by Kneller, with a Black. This picture,
which
·ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
wright, Mr. Kynafton, Mr. Griffin, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Duke
Watſon, Mr. Powel Senior, Mr. Wiltshire, Mrs. Corey, Mrs.
-G 2
Bowtell,
which is in the painter's beft manner, was the property of Baptift
May, who was privy purfe to Charles II. and of fingular fervice to
to him in his private pleafures.
Mary Davis, miſtreſs to Charles II. was fome time comedian in
the duke of York's theatre. She had one daughter by the king;
namely Mary, who took the furname of Tudor, and was, in 1687,
married to the fon of Sir Francis Ratcliffe, who became earl of Der
wentwater**.
*The guitar was never in fo general vogue in England, as it was
in this reign. The king was pleafed with hearing Signor Francifco,
[Franceſco Corbetta. See Granger, V. 4. P. 146. ] an Italian, play
on this inſtrument; as he knew how to fetch better muſic out of it
than any other performer. Hence it became faſhionable at court, and
eſpecially among the king's miftreffes, who were greater leaders in
faſhions of all kinds, than the queen herſelf.
[Mr. Pope, in the following lines, hints at the vogue of this inftru-
ment in the reign of Charles.
"No wonder then, when all was love and fport,
"The willing Mufes were debauch'd at court;
On each enervate firing they taught the note
To pant, or tremble through an eunuch's throat."
Imit. of the 1ft. Epift. of the 2d. Book of Horace.
Granger. V. 4. P. 146.]
| John Wilmot, earl of Rocheſter; John Sheffield, earl of Mul-
grave; lord Buckhurft, afterwards earl of Dorfet; Henry, fon of
Thomas Killegrew, Henry Saville, Fleetwood Sheppard, and Bap-
tiſt May, were generally of the number of thofe felect and facetious
parties which enlivened the evenings of Charles II. in the apartments
of his miftreffes. The last but one of theſe perfons, who, as well as
the earl of Dorſet, was a friend and patron of Prior, was a gentleman-
uſher and daily-waiter, and afterwards ufher of the black rod to king
William. See more of theſe favourites in "Athen. Oxon." ii. col.
1039. See alfo lord Clarendon's "Continuat." fol. p. 338, 355,
438, &c.
** Wood.
It would be too indelicate to mention the particular confequences
of the jalap, which was given to Moll Davies ["Moll Davies". Gran-
ger
52
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS,
Bowtell, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Monfort, &c. [continued to per:
form, fhould follow, but is wanting in the original.]
Note,
ger here adapts his ftile to his anecdote.] at fupper by Nell Gwynn,
who knew that the was to lie the fame night with the king. It is fuf-
ficient to hint at the violence of its operation, and the difaftrous ef
fects; fuch effects as the ancients would have attributed to Anteros,
[Aurepws], a malignant deity, and the avowed enemy of Cupid.
Granger, V 4.P. 186, feq.
Madam ELEANORA GWYNN,
Madam ELEANOR GWYNN,
Madam ELLEN GWYNN,,
Madam ELLEN GWIN,
Mrs. ELLEN GWYNN,
In which various manners fhe is deſcribed in the different portraits
of her mentioned by Granger, is by that Biographer thus re-
corded, P. 188.
Eleanor Gwynn; better known by the familiar name of Nell, was,
at her firſt ſetting out in the world, a plebeian of the loweft rank, and
fold oranges in the theatre. Her perfon, though below the middle
fize, was well-turned; fhe had a good natural air, and a fprightlineſs
that promiſed every thing in comedy. She was inftructed by Hart
and Lacy, who were both actors of eminence; and, in a fhort time
the became eminent herſelf in the ſame profeffion. She acted the
moft fpirited and fantaſtic parts*, and fpoke a prologue or epilogue
with admirable addrefs. The' pert and vivacious prattle of the
orange-wench, was, by degrees, refined into fuch wit as could pleaſe
Charles II. Indeed it was fometimes carried to extravagance: but
even her higheſt flights were fo natural, that they rather provoked
laughter than excited difguft. [A remarkable inftance is recorded of
her, when,upon the Stage-Keeper preparing to carry her off the ftage,
after the had died in fome character, the ſtarted up, and exclaimed,
"Hold, you damn'd confounded dog,
"I'm to rife, and fpeak the Epilogue."]
She is faid to have been kept by lord Dorfet, before fhe was re-
tained by the king, and to have been introduced to the latter, by the
duke of Buckingham, with a view of fupplanting the dutchefs of
Cleveland +. Nell, who knew how to mimic every thing ridiculous
about
Roscius ANGLICANUS.
53
Note, pow Mr. Monfort and Mr. Carlile were grown to
the maturity of good actors.
The
about the court, prefently ingratiated herſelf with her merry fovereign,
and retained a confiderable place in his affections to the time of his
death. She continued to hang on her cloaths with her ufual negli-
gence when the was the king's miſtreſs, but whatever the did be-
Game her.
Ob. 1687+.
*She very rarely appeared in tragedy, but is known to have acted
the part of Almahide; to which lord Lanfdown alludes, in his “Pro-
grefs of Beauty."
"And Almahide once more by kings adored".
+ See Burnet, į. P. 263.
She was, or affected to be, very orthodox, and a friend to the
clergy and the church. The ftory of her paying the debt of a worthy
clergyman, whom, as ſhe was going through the city, fhe faw fome
bailiffs hurrying to prifon, is a known fact; as is alfo that of her be-
ing infulted in her coach at Oxford, by the mob, who mistook her for
the dutcheſs of Portfmouth. Upon which fhe looked out of the win-
dow, and faid, with her ufual good humour, Pray, good people be civil; I
am the proteftant whore. [ the Dutchefs of Portfmouth was a French-
woman, and a papift.] This Laconic fpeech drew upon her the blef-
fings of the populace, who fuffered her to proceed without further
moleftation.
Granger. V. 4. P. 187, feq.
Mrs. KNIGHT, a famous finger, and favourite of king
Charles II*.
[ Mrs. Knight occurs in the former part of this tract. ]
*If any credit may be given to a manuſcript lampoon, dated 1686,
Mrs. Knight was employed by Charles as a procurefs: particularly,
fhe was fent with overtures to Nell Gwynn; whom, as the fame au-
thority fays, lord Buckhurst would not part with, 'till he was reim-
burfed the expences he had laviſhed upon her. The king at length
created him earl of Middleſex for his compliance.
"Gave him an earldom to refign his b-tch."
Granger. V. 4. P. 189.
糵
​54
1
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
The mixt company then reviv'd the feveral old and mo-
dern plays, that were the propriety of Mr. Killigrew: as,
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife; Mr. Betterton acting Michael
Perez; Don Leon, Mr. Smith; Cacafogo, Mr. Cartwright;
Margaretta, Mrs. Barry; Eftifania, Mrs. Cook..
1
Next, The Scornful Lady, The Plain Dealer, The Mock
Aftrologer, The Jovial Crew, The Beggars Bufh, Bartholomew
Fair, The Moor of Venice,*, Rollo, The Humorous Lieutenant,
The Double Marriage; with divers others.
Next new play was the. Tragedy of Valentinian; wrote by
the Lord Rochester, from Beaumont and Fletcher. Mr. Good-
man acted Valentinian; Mr. Betterton, Ecius; Mr. Kynafton,
Maximus; Mr. Griffin, Pontius; Madam Barry, Luci-
na, &c.
The
In fome of the State Poems, Charles II. is ridiculed under the
nick-name of Old Rowley, which was an ill-favoured ftallion kept
in the Meuſe, that was remarkable for getting fine colts.-Mrs. Hol-
ford, a young lady much admired by Charles, was fitting in her apart-
ment, and finging a fatirical ballad upon "Old Rowley the King",
when he knocked at the door. Upon her aſking who was there? he,
with his uſual good humour replied, "Old Rowley himſelf, madam",
Granger, V. 4..P. 49.
In the note, P. 33, I have erroneouſly ftiled the Guittar, which
"Madame Davis" is reprefented as playing on, a Lute; which the
reader will be fo good as to correct.
W..
*This was the firſt opportunity Betterton could obtain of acting
Othello.
D.
If Downes is to be credited, (to ufe Mr.Davies's expreffion in Note,
P. 38 ) the propriety or property of Othello was in Mr. Killigrew, fo
late as the year 1682; Shakspeare's fuppofed fupinenefs refpecting
the publication, or correction of his plays, originated therefore in ne-
ceffity; he having no right to print,or publiſh, what had been already
-fold by him to others..
W.
1
६
55
ResCIUS ANGLICANUS,'
The well performance, and the vaſt intereſt the author
made in town*, crown'd the play with great gain of reputa
tion, and profit to the actors.
In Anno 1685, the Opera of Albion and Albianus was per-
form'd; wrote by Mr. Diyden, and compofed by Monfieur
Grabue, this being perform'd on a very unlucky day, being
the day the Duke of Monmouth landed in the Weft, the nation
being in great confternation, it was perform'd but fix times;
which not anſwering half the charge they were at, involv'd
the Company very much in debt.
The firſt new Comedy after King James came to the Crown,
was Sir Courtly Niece, wrote by Mr.Crown: Sir Courtly acted
by Mr. Mounford; Hothead, Mr. Underhill; Teftimony, Mr.
Gillo; Lord Beaugard, Mr. Kynafton; Surley, by Mr. Griffin;
Sir Nicholas Callico by the famous Mr. Antony Leigh: Leonora,
Madam Barry, &c. This Comedy being justly acted, and
the characters in't new, crown'd it with a general applaufe.
Sir Courtly was fo nicely perform'd, that not any fucceeding,
but Mr. Cyber, has equall'd him.
Note, Mr. Griffin fo excell'd in Surly, Sir Edward Belfond,
The Plain Dealer, none fucceeding in the 2 former have
equall'd hini, except his predeceffor Mr. Hart in the
latter.
The Squire of Alfatia, a Comedy wrote by Mr. Shadwell;
Sir William Belfond done by Mr. Leigh; Sir Edward, Mr.
Griffin; the Squire by Mr. Nokes, afterwards by Mr. Fevon;
Belfond Junior, Mr. Mounfort; Termagant, Mrs. Boutel;
Lucia, Mrs. Bracegirdle. This Play by its excellent acting,
being
*Mr. Davies's Ms. directs, on what authority I know not, "And:
the vast intereft the author, made in town," to be intirely left out. I think
it fhould on no account be omitted; as it ferves to fhew, that tho' ·
indifferent Pieces have been brought on the Stage, and rendered fafh-
ionable, by the influence of Authors of rank, in our days; to the ex-
clufion, or depreffion, of writers of perhaps more merit, and certainly
lefs intereft,it is no new artifice, but a ſtale trick practiced by dig-
nified authors above a century ago.
W.
+ This paffage is of kin to that adverted to in the laſt note, P. 38.·
•
W.
35
ROSCIUS ANGLIČANU Í.
being often honour'd with the preſence of Chancellor Jef-
feries, and other great perfons; had an uninterrupted run of
13 days together.
Note, Mr. Leigh was eminent in this part of Sir William,
and Scapin, Old Fumble, Sir Folly Fumble, Mercury in Amphi-
tryon, Sir Formal, Spanish Fryar*, Pandarus in Troilus and
Creffida.
Note, The Poet receiv'd for his third day in the Houfe in
Drury-Lane at fingle Prices 130. which was the greateft re-
ceipt they ever had at that houfe at fingle prices§.
About this time were feveral other new plays acted, as The
True Widow, Sir Anthony Love, The Scowrers, Amphitrion,
Love in, and Love out of Fashion, Greenwich Park, Cleomenes,
Troilus and Greffida, Cæfar Borgia.
All but Amphitrion fucceeding but indifferently; I omit
the Perſons names that acted in this Play, this proving
Stock-Play.
The Old Batchelor, wrote by Mr. Congreve; The Fatal
Marriage, or Innocent Adultery; by Mr. Southern. The Dou-
ble Dealer by Mr. Congreve.
All 3 good Plays; and by their juft performances, fpeci-
ally Mr. Dogger's and Madam Barry's, unparallel'd.
The Boarding School, wrote by Mr. Durfy; it took well,
being justly acted.
The
*There is a fine print extant of Leigh, in the character of Dominic
the Spanish Fryar.
W.
§ Single Prices ] Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. 6d. Firft Gallery is. 6d. Upper
Gallery Is.
D.
It is faid in "A Compariſon between the Two Stages," P. 10, fpeaking
of the expences of a Benefit Night at the Old Houfe, i. e. Drury Lane
Theatre, to an Author at that period, 1702, that "the ordinary
Charge is about four and thirty pounds a day." In Mr Garrick's
time the Ordinary Charges were Sixty Four Pounds; they are now
confiderably advanced.
W.
In the original it is "All but Amphitrion; which ſucceeding but in-
differently; I &c." Mr. Davies's Ms. properly directs which to be
omitted.
W.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS,
57
The Marriage Hater Match'd, wrote by the fame Author:
there Mr. Dogget perform'd the part of Solon inimitably; like-
wife his part in The Boarding School.
King Arthur, an Opera, wrote by Mr. Dryden; it was ex-
cellently adorn'd with Scenes and Machines: The Mufical
Part fet by Famous Mr. Henry Purcell, and Dances made by
Mr. Jo. Prieft: the Play and Mufick pleas'd the Court and
City; and being well perform'd, 'twas very gainful to the
Company.
·
The Prophetess*, or, Dioclefian; an Opera, wrote by Mr.
'Betterton being fet out with coftly fcenes, machines, and
cloaths; the vocal and inftrumental mufick done by Mr.
Purcell; and dances by Mr. Priest; it gratify'd the expecta-
tion of Court and City; and got the Author great repu-
tation.
The Fairy Queen, made into an Opera, from a Comedy
of Mr. Shakeſpear's: This in ornaments was fuperior to
the other two; eſpecially in cloaths for all the Singers and
Dancers; Scenes, Machines, and Decorations; all moft
profufely fet off, and excellently perform'd: chiefly the in-
ſtrumental and vocal part compos'd by the faid Mr. Purcell,
and dances by Mr. Prieft. The Court and Town were won-
derfully fatisfy'd with it; but the expences in fetting it out
being fo great, the Company got very little by it.
Note, Between theſe Operas there were feveral other Plays
acted, both Old and Modern; As, Bury Fair, Wit without
Money, The Taming of a Shrew, The Maiden Queen, by Sir
Charles
1
H
*The Prophetess, by Beaumont and Fletcher, was reviv'd at Lincoln's
Inn-Fields, and Covent-Garden with fuccefs; entirely owing to the
D.
+ From Shakspeare's Midfummer Night's Dream Mr. Garrick fa-
bricated an operatical piece call'd The Fairies, in 1754; to which he
fpoke a Prologue.
D.
58
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
Charles Sedley, Iland Princess, A Sea Voyage, The English
Fryar, by Mr. Crown, Buffy D'Ambois, The Mallacre of
Paris, &c.
Some time after, a difference happening between the
United Patentees and the chief Actors, as Mr. Betterton,
Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. Bracegirdle; the latter complaining of
oppreffion from the former; they for redrefs appeal'd to my
Lord of Dorfet, then Lord Chamberlain, for juftice: who
eſpouſing the cauſe of the Actors, with the affiſtance of Sir
Robert Howard, finding their complaints juft, procur'd from
King William a feperate Licenfe for Mr. Congreve, Mr. Bet-
terton, Mrs. Bracegirdle, Mrs. Barry, and others, to ſet up a
new Company, calling it The New Theatre in Lincoln's-
Inn Fields; and the Houfe being fitted up from a Tennis-
Court, they open'd it the laft day of April, 1695, with a
new Comedy, call'd,
Love for Love, wrote by Mr. Congreve; this play was
fuperior in fuccefs to moft of the precedent plays: Valentine,
acted by Mr. Betterton; Scandal, Mr. Smith*; Forefight, Mr.
Sandford; [Sir] Sampfon, Mr. Underhill; Ben, the Saylor,
Mr. Dogget; Jeremy, Mr. Bowen; Mrs. Frail, by Madam
Barry; Tattle, Mr. Boman; Angelica, Mrs. Bracegirdle:
This Comedy being extraordinary well acted, chiefly the
part of Ben, the Sailor, it took 13 days fucceffively.
The principal new plays that fucceeded this from April,
1695, to the year 1704, were
Lovers Luck, wrote by Captain Dilks, which fill'd the
Houfe 6 days together, and above 50. the 8th, the day it
was left off.
The
§ This was the first part Smith acted after having left the ftage for
fome years. Neither Downes or Cibber give any character of Smith as
an actor; but Booth, in a very elegant Latin epitaph, praiſes him
highly: he ftiles him a man of much humanity, and one greatly beloved
by the players, and the people in general. As an actor he fays Smith
was almost equal to Betterton.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANU S.
59
The Grand Cyrus, wrote by Mr. Banks; it was a good play;
but Mr. Smith having a long part in it, fell fick upon the
fourth day and died* ; upon that it lay by, and ne'er has bin
acted fincell.
The Mourning Bride, a Tragedy, wrote by Mr. Congreve ;
had fuch fuccefs, that it continued acting uninterrupted 13
days together.
Boadicia, the British Queen, wrote by Mr. Hopkins; 'twas a
well writ play, in an Ovidean Stile in verfe; it was lik'd and
got the company money.
Heroic Love, wrote by Mr. George Greenvil; fuperlatively
writ; a very good Tragedy, well acted, and mightily
pleas'd the Court and City§.
· Love's a feft, a Comedy, done by Mr. Motteux; fucceeded
well, being well acted, and got the company reputation and
money.
H 2
The
* He was feized with the cramp in the night time, and to relieve
himſelf from the violence of the pain, he jumped out of bed;
mained fo long in the cold, that it occafioned his death.
but re-
D. ---
"Cyrus the Great. Whoſe was that? Banks's, which the Players
dain'd and wou'd not act of a great while; but at length it was
acted, and damn'd then in manner and form".
“A Compariſon between the Two Stages.” 1702,P. 24.
"Here's Pyrrhus King of Epire. Whofe is that? Charles Hopkins's,
an Iriſh gentleman of good fenfe, and an excellent Ovidian. What
was it's fate? Damn'd".
Ibid.
"Boadicia. This is Cha. Hopkins's, and did very well."
Idem. P. 31.
W.
"Heroic Love. That I think is Mr. Granvill's: 'Tis fo, and the
language is very correct; but with fubmiffion to him, his fable is not
well chofen; there's too little buſineſs in't for fo long a reprefent-
ation: but if Mr. G. had taken the ftory at a greater length, and con-
triv'd the incidents to furprize, he had made it an admirable tragedy.'
"A Comparison, &c.” P. 31.
W.
60
ROSCIUS ANGLICANU S.
The Anatomift, or Sham Doctor; had profperous fuccefs,
and remains a living play to this day; 'twas done by Mr.
Ravenscroft.
Don Quixot, both parts made into one, by Mr. Durfey,
Mrs. Bracegirdle acting, and her excellent finging in't, the
play in general being well perform'd, 'tis little inferior to any
of the preceding Comedies*.
The She-Gallants, a Comedy,wrote by Mr. Greenvil, when
he was very young: extraordinary witty, and well acted;
but offending the ears of fome Ladies who fet up for
Chaſtity, it made its Exit. And gave place to,
Iphigenia, a Tragedy, wrote by Mr. Dennis, a good Tra
gedy and well acted; but anſwer'd not the expences they
were at in cloathing it.
The
$The Anatomift has, for many years, been reduced to a Farce. Mr.
Blakes gave a new life to it by making the Doctor a Frenchiman. D.
There is a good print extant of Blakes, in the character of Monfieur
Le Medicin, in The Anatomift.
W.
*In "A Compariſon, &c." P. 25,is the following dialogue concerne
ing Durfey and his Don Quixote.
S. The third Part of Don Quixote.
R. Oh, the overunning ftreams of Helicon! by all that's poetical,
my friend Durfey; well, in the name of impudence, what luck?
S. Damn'd, damn'd to all intents and purpofes.
R. His first and fecond Part did well.
S. Thanks to honeft Miguel Cervantes, who gave him not only the
ftary, but the very words."
W.
↑
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
6t
The Fate of Capua, wrote by Mr. Southernt, better to read
than act; 'twas well acted, but anfwer'd not the Companies
expectation.
Juftice Bufy, a Comedy, wrote by Mr. Crown; 'twas well
acted, yet proved not a living play. However Mrs. Brace-
girdle, by a potent and magnetic charm in performing a fong
in't, caus'd the Stones of the Streets to fly in the Men's
Faces.
The Way of the World,a Comedy, wrote by Mr. Congreve‡,
twas curioufly acted; Madam Bracegirdle performing her
Part fo exactly and juſt, gain'd the applaufe of Court and
City; but being too keen a Satyr had not the Succeſs the
Company expected.*
The Ambitious Step-mother, done by Mr. Rowe; 'twas very
well acted, eſpecially the Parts of [by] Mr. Betterton, Mr.
Booth, and Madam Barry; the Play anſwer'd the Companies
expectation.
Tamerlane§, wrote by the fame Author; in general well
acted; but chiefly the Parts of [by] Mr. Betterton, [ Mr. ]
Vanbruggen, Mr. Powel, Madam Bracegirdle and [Madam]
Barry; which made it a Stock-Play.
the
‡‡ Mr. Southern, Mr. Congreve. ]Thefe Authors and their
writings are praifed, and criticifed, with proper difcrimination, in
"A Compariſon, &c.”
W.
*Some part of this play, I think it was the last act, was much
hiffed by the critics; the author never after wrote any thing for the
ftage, though he lived to fee his comedy a very favorite entertain-
ment of the public.
See the laſt note, P. 37.
D.
W.
+ Vanbruggen] Or Verbruggen, as his name is fpelt in the Dramatis
Perfonæ of feveral plays. No Stage-Hiftorian has taken notice of
the particular merit of this actor; and Cibber, who is large enough in
the accounts of others, has only juſt mentioned his name, as an actor
ef
624
ROSCIUS ANGLLCANUS.
The Fair Penitent, by the fame Author; a very good play
for three Acts: but failing in the two laft, anſwer'd not
their expectation.
The Bitert, a Farce; wrote by the fame Author: it had
a fix days run; the fix days running it out of breath, it fick-
en'd and expir'd.
Abra-mule, wrote by Mr. Trap of Oxford; a very good
play, and exceedingly well acted.
Thefe being all the chiefeft new Plays, that have been acted
by, Mr. Betterton's Company, fince its feparation from Mr.
Rich in the Year 1695. The Names of feveral of the. Actors
I have not mention'd or offer'd to your view, as in the others,
by reaſon the late acting of them makes them live in
your memories.
Note, In the ſpace of Ten years paft, Mr. Betterton, to
gratify the defires and Fancies of the Nobility and Gentry ;
procur'd
of ſome merit, tho' inferior to others: but that he was an actor of
great merit we learn from Southern, in his dedication of Oronooko to
the firft duke of Devonſhire.
D.
The following extract from "A Compariſon, &c." will fhew the
opinion entertained of Verbruggen, by a contemporary writer.
“Batt. [ Batterton or Betterton] wears away apace; his activity is
at an end, and his memory begins to die.
But there's a young one to fucceed him, Verbruggen.
A fellow with a crackt voice: he clangs his words. as if he ſpoke'
out of a broken drum." P. 198 and 199.
+
W.
Nobody, it has been faid, was merry at this force but the
author; who was feen to laugh heartily at the performance, while
the audience round him were grave and filent. Rowe, it ſeems, had
attacked the comedies of Wycherly, who in revenge wrote fome lines
on this farce; one of which I remember was,
"Damns the Plain-Dealer, and writes the Biter."
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
63
procur'd from Abroad the beſt Dancers and Singers,as Mon-
fieur L'Abbe, Madam Sublini, Monfieur Balon, Margarita
Delpine, Maria Gallia, and divers others; who being exorbi-
tantly expenfive, produc'd fmall Profit to him and his Com-
pany, but vaſt Gain to themſelves; Madam Delpine ſince her
arrival in England, by modeft computation; having got by
the Stage and Gentry, above 10,000 Guineas.
Note, From Candlemas 1704, to the 23d, of April 1706,
there were 4 Plays commanded to be acted at Court at St.
James's, by the Actors of both Houfes, viz.
Firſt, All for Love; Mr. Betterton acting Marc. Antony;
Mr. Vanbruggen, Ventidius; Mr. Wilks, Dolabella; Mr. Booth,
Alexas the Eunuch; Mrs. Barry, Cleopatra; Mrs. Bracegirdle,
Octavia; All the other Parts being exactly done, and the
Court very
very well pleas'd.
The Second was Sir Solomon, or The Cautious Coxcomb :
Mr. Betterton acting Sir Solomon; Mr. Wilks, Peregrine;
Mr.
1
* Mr. Betterton acting Sir Solomon.] Nothing fhews the richnefs of
this actor's genius fo much as the variety of different characters which
he reprefented. The firft tragedian of the age, acting the folemn
coxcomb would appear furprizing to us, had we not feen Mr. Gar.
rick perform Sir Anthony Branville, in The Difcovery. The accom-
plish'd actor is maſter of the whole bufinefs of his profeffion; and no
one, excepting Mr. Garrick, performed fuch a number of different
characters as Betterton.
:
D.
Whether Betterton or Garrick was moſt excellent in the per-
formance of Hamlet, Richard, Macbeth, Lear, &c. cannot be afcer-
tained; but the latter, we are fure, far exceeded the former, in the va-
riety of characters he appeared in the moſt fublime, terrible, or
pathetic in tragedy; the moft humourous,vacant, or vivacious in com-
edy; the arduous medium between both, of which his chef d'ouvres,
Kitely, was a perfect inſtance; the moſt abject and ridiculous of farce;
the hero, the lunatic, the villain, the lover, the rake, the fop, the
drunkard, the valet, the clown, the ideot; the hoary monarch, or
playful ſchool-boy: all were to him as himſelf, and he to his audi-
ence as them all !
W.
64
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
Mr. Booth, Young Single; Mr. Dogget, Sir Arthur Addle;
Mr.Johnson, Juftice Wary; Mr. Pinkethman, Ralph ; Mr. Un-
derhill, Timothy; Mrs. Bracegirdle, Julia; Mrs. Mounfort,
Betty; The whole being well perform'd, it gave great
Satisfaction.
The next was The Merry Wives of Windfor, acted the
23d of April, the Queen's Coronation-Day: Mr. Betterton,
acting Sir John Falstaff; Sir Hugh, by Mr. Dogget; Mr.
Page, by Mr. Vanbruggen; Mr. Ford, by Mr. Powel; Dr. Caius,
Mr. Pinkethman; the Hoft, Mr.Bullock; Mrs. Page, Mrs. Barry;
Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Bracegirdle; Mrs. Ann Page, Mrs. Bradshaw.
The laft was, The Anatomift, or Sham-Doctor; it was per-
formed on Shrove-Tuesday, the Queen's Birth-Day, it being
done by the Actors of both Houſes, and perfectly perform'd;
there being an Additional Entertainment in't of the beſt
Singers and Dancers, Foreign and English: As Margarita
D'elpine, Maria Gallia, Mrs. Lindſey, Mrs. Hudſon, and Mr.
Leveridge, and others; The Dances were perform'd by
Monfieur L'Abbe; Mr. Ruel; Monfieur Cherrier; Mrs. El-
ford; Mifs Campion; Mrs. Ruel, and [ the, or a ] Devonshire
Girl: 'Twas very well lik'd by the whole Court.
About the end of 1704, Mr. 'Betterton affign'd his Li-
cenfe, and his whole Company over to Captain Vantbrugg to
Act under His, at the Theatre in the Hay-Market.
And upon the 9th of April, 1705. Captain Vantbrugg
open'd his new Theatre in the Hay-Market, with a Foreign
Opera, Perform'd by a new Set of Singers, arriv'd from Italy;
(the worst that e'er came from thence) for it lafted but 5
Days, and they being lik'd but indifferently by the Gentry;
they in a little time marcht back to their own Country,
The
ROSCIUS ANGLICANU S.
6.5
Then The
The firſt Play acted there, was The Gamefter.
Wanton Wife. Next, Duke and no Duke. After that, She
wou'd if She Cou'd ; and half a Score of their old Plays, acted
in old Cloaths, the Company brought from Lincoln's-Inn
Fields. The Audiences falling off extremely with enter-
taining the Gentry with fuch old Ware, whereas, had they
open'd the Houfe at firft, with a good new English Opera, or
a new Play, they wou'd have preferv'd the Favour of Court
and City, and gain'd Reputation and Profit to themfelves.
The firſt new Play acted there, was The Conquest of
Spain; the beginning of May 1705, written by Mrs. Pix: it
had not the life of a Stock-Play, for it expir'd the 6th day.
>
The next new one was Ulyffes, wrote by Mr. Row: The
Play being all newCloath'd, and excellently well perform'd,
had a fucceſsful run; but fell fhort of his Ambitious Step-
Mother, and his Tamerlane.
Then was acted a Comedy call'd The Confederacy, wrote by
Captain Vanbrugg; an excellent Witty Play, and all Parts
very well acted: But the nice Criticks Cenfure was, it wanted
juft Decorum, made it flag at laft.
Trelooby, a Farce, wrote by Captain Vantbrugg, Mr. Con-
greve, and Mr. Walsh; Mr. Dogget acting Trelooby fo well,
the whole was highly Applauded.
The Miftake, wrote by Captain Vantbrugg; a very divert-
ing Comedy, Witty and good Humour in't, but will ſcarce
be enroll❜d a Stock-Play.
The next new Play was, The Revolution of Sweden; wrote
by Mrs. Trotter: fhe kept cloſe to the Hiftory, but wanting
the juſt Decorum of Plays, [it] expir'd the Sixth Day.
Then a new Opera, call'd The British Enchanters, wrote
by the Honourable Mr. George Greenvil; very exquifitely
done, efpecially the Singing Part; making Love the Acme
of all Terreftrial Blifs: Which infinitely arrided both Sexes,
I
and
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
and pleas'd the Town as well as any English Modern
Opera.
After this was perform'd an Opera, call'd The Temple of
Love; confifting all of Singing and Dancing: The Singing
Compoſed by Monfieur Sidgeon: The Verfion into English,
by Monfieur Moteux from the Italians The Singing per-
form'd by Mr. Laurence, Mr. Laroon, Mr. Cook, Mrs. Brace
girdle, Maria Gallia, and feveral other Men and Women for
the Chorus's: The Dances, made and perform'd all by
French-Men; it lafted but Six Days, and anfwer'd not
their Expectation.
The laft Opera was, The Kingdom of Birds; made by Mr.
Durfey, perform'd in July, 1706. The Singers in't were, Mr.
Cook, Mr. Laroon, Mr. Laurence, Mrs. Hudfon and others:
Dancers were Monfieur De Bargues, Monfieur L'Abve's
Brother, Mr. Fairbank, Mrs. Elford and others: It lafted only
Six Days, not anſwering half the expences of it.
After this,Captain Kantbrugg gave leave to Mr.Verbruggen
and Mr. Booth, and all the Young Company to Act the re-
mainder of the Summer, what Plays they cou'd by their In-
duſtry get up for their own Benefit; continuing till Bartho-
lomew-Eve, 23d of August, 1706, ending on that Day, with
The London Cuckolds: But in all that time their Profit amount-
ed not to half their Salaries, they receiv'd in Winter.
From Bartholomew-Day, 1706, to the 15th of O. fol.
lowing, there was no more Acting there.
In this Interval Captain Fantbrugg by Agreement with
Mr. Swinny, and by the Concurrence of my Lord Cham
berlain, Transferr'd and Inveſted his Licenſe and Govern
ment of the Theatre to Mr. Swinny; who brought with him
from Mr. Rich, Mr. Wilks, Mr. Cyber, Mr. Mills, Mr. John-
fon, Mr. Keene, Mr. Norris, Mr. Fairbank, Mrs. Oldfield and
others; United them to the Old Company; Mr. Betterton
and
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS
and Mr. Underhill, being the only reniains of the Duke of
York's Servants, from 1662, till the Union In October, 1706.
Now having given an Account of all the Principal Actors
and Plays, down to 1706. I with the faid Union conclude
my Hiſtory.
Next follows the Account of the prefent Young Company,
(which United with the Old, in October, 1706.) Now Acting
at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane; Her Majefty's Com-
pany of Comedians, under the Government of Col. Brett.
MR. in Ptation;
癟
​R. Wilks, proper and comely in Perfon, of graceful
Port, Mein and Air; void of Affectation; his Eleva-
tions and Cadencies juft, Congruent to Elocution; efpeci-
ally in Gentile Comedy; not inferior in Tragedy. The
emiffion of his Words free, eafy, and natural; attracting
attentive filence in his Audience, (I mean the Judicious>
except where there are Unnatural Rants, As,
I'le mount the Sky,
And kick the G-d's like Foot-balls, as I fly
As Poet D-rfey has it,
Which put the Voice to fuch obftreperous fretch,
Requires the Lungs of a Smith's Bellows to reach.
He is indeed the finifht Copy of his famous predeceffor,
Mr. Charles Hart*.
Mr. Cyber, A Gentleman of his time has arriv'd to an ex-
ceeding Perfection, in hitting juftly the Humour of ftarcht
Beau or Fop; as the Lord Fopington, Sir Fopling and Sir
Courtly,
I 2
* Here honeft Downes forgets himſelf ſtrangely. Wilks did not leave
Dublin till about the year 1690, confequently he could not have ſeen
Mr. Hart, who died in 1682. Nor can I couceive how a man could
copy another whom he had never ſeen. Cibber with more truth tells
us that Wilks's Model was Montford.
D.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
2
Courtly, equalling in the laft, the late eminent Mr. Moun→
fort, not much inferior in Tragedy, had Nature given him
Lungs ftrenuous to his finifht Judgment.
Mr. Eftcourt, Niftrio Natus; he has the Honour (Na-
ture enduing him with an eafy, free, unaffected Mode of
Elocution) in Comedy always to Lætificate his Audience,
eſpecially Quality, (Witneſs Serjeant Kyte) He's not ex-
cellent only in that, but a fuperlative Mimick.
Mr. Booth, A Gentleman of liberal Education, of form
Venuft; of mellifluent Pronunciation, having proper Geſti-
culations, which are graceful Attendants of true Elocution:
of his time a moft compleat Tragedian.
Mr. Johnfons, He's fkilful in the Art of Painting,
which is a great adjument, very Promovent to the Art of
true Elocution, which is always requirable in him that bears
the name of an Actor; he has the happineſs to gain applauſe
from the Court and City: Witnefs, Morofe, Corbaccio, Mr.
Hothead and feveral others; he is a true Copy of Mr. Under-
bill, whom Sir William Davenant judg'd 40 Years ago, in
Lincoln's-Inn Fields, the trueft Comedian in the Company.
Mr.
+ Mr. Eftcourt, Hiftrio Natus.] Cibber denies this, but Sir Richard
Steele gives a very favourable character of him, not only as a moſt fa-
cetious Companion, but as an excellent Comedian, though he admits
that the Actors would not allow his Theatrical Merit. D.
*Booth was at this time kept under by the jealoufy of Wilks,who with
a high hand put Mills, a very inferior Actor over his head. D.
$ Johnson was a very correct and chafte Comedian. He was the
moft exact copy of Nature I ever faw. But he wanted that warmth
of Colouring which Cibber gave to his comic characters, and which
Mr. Garrick has fince carried ſtill higher. Wefton was another Johnfon.
D.
+ Painting] I apprehend this means the painting of the face, and
marking it with dark lines to imitate the wrinkles of old age; a cuf-
tom formerly carried to excefs on the ftage, tho' now a good deal dif-
ufed: I have ſeen actors who were really older than the characters
they were to reprefent, mark their faces with black lines of Indian
ink, to fuch a degree, that they appeared as if looking through a maſk
of wire. Mr.Garrick's fkilt in the neceffary preparation of his face for
the aged and venerable Lear and Lufignan, was as remarkable, as his
performance of thoſe characters was admirable.
W.
.
ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
69
*
Mr. Dogget, On the Stage he's very afpectabund, wearing
a Farce in his Face; his Thoughts deliberately framing his
utterance congruous to his looks: He is the only Comic Ori-
ginal now extant; Witneſs, Ben, Solon, Nikin, The Jew of
Venice, &c.
Mr. Pinkethman§, He's the darling of Fortunatus, he has
gain'd more in Theatres and Fairs in Twelve Years, than
thoſe that have tugg'd at the Oar of Acting theſe 50.
Next Mr. Mills, Mr. Powel, Mr. Bullock; the 2 first ex-
cel in Tragedy, the other in Comedy, &c.‡
I muſt not omit Praiſes due to Mr. Betterton, the firſt and
now only remain of the old Stock, of the Company of Sir
William Davenant in Lincoln's-Inn Fields; he like an old-
ftately ſpreading Oak now ftands fixt, environ'd round with
brave
§ Pinkethman died in 1725, or there abouts, he was not unlike
Shuter in his manner, and took fimilar liberties with the Audience,
who pardon'd them for the fake of his general power of pleaſing, as
they afterwards did honeft Ned.
D.
At the conclufion of "A Compariſon, &c.” P. 199, is the follow-
ing Dialogue.
"R. Ay, but Powel.
C. Is an idle Fellow, that neither minds his Buſineſs, nor lives qui-
etly in any Community.
R. And Mrs. Bracegirdle
C. Is a haughty conceited Woman, that has got more Money by
diffembling her Lewdnefs, than others, by profefling it.
R. But prithee look o'this fide; there's Cibber, a Poet, and a fine
Aftor.
C. And one that's always repining at the Succefs of others, and
upon the Stage makes all his fellow Actors uneaſy.
>
S. But Penkethman, the Flower of
G. Bartholomew-Fair, and the Idol of the Rabble.
A fellow that
over-does every thing, and ſpoils many a part with his own ftuff.
R. Then there's the Noble Ben's Namefake-
C. Is or might be a good Comedian,but he has the Vice of allActors,
he's too fond of his own merit.-
S. Oh, but Bullock
C. Is the beft Comedian that has trod the Stage fince Nokes and Lee,
Leigh and a fellow that has a very humble Opinion of himſelf.
R. There's Mrs Rogers, Mrs. Oldfield, Mrs. Verbruggen
C. The laft is a Miracle; but the others mere Rubbish, that ought
to be fwept off the Stage with the Filth and Duſt."
Mrs. Verbruggen was at this time in her zenith, as a comic actrefs;
Mrs--Oldfield in her novitiate, which was not very promiling. W.
78
Rosers ANGLICANUS:
brave young growing, flourifhing Plants; there needs nothing
to ſpeak his Fame more than the following Parts.
Pericles, Prince of Tyre.
The Bondman.
Cæfar Borgia.
The Loyal Subject.
Hamlet.
Macbeth.
Timon of Athens.
Othello.
Oedipus.
King Henry the Eighth.
The Mad Lover.
Richard the Third.
King Lear.
Solyman, the Magnificent.
Faffeir.
Sir John Falstaff.
Mr. Dryden a little before his Death in a Prologue, rendering
him this Praiſe.
He like the Setting Sun ftill fhoots a glimmery Ray,
Like Antient ROME Majeftic in decay.
FINI S.
ERRAT A.
Page 31. Note, line 7 and 8. To avoid the inelegant recurrence of a
word, for there is, however, no fuch character, &c. read tho' there is
no fuch character, &c.
•
P. 33. In confequence of falfe pointing in the original, the three laſt
lines of this page have been mifunderſtood; the Friend who, P, 17.
corrected a miſtake in P. 13, having explained this paffage alfo,
the reader is requested to read as follows.
7
After this, my Lord Orrery writ two Comedies, the first
call'd Gufman; the other, Mr. Anthony: Gufman took very
well; the other but indifferent.
A very few typographical errors which may occur, it is unneceffary
to particularize
HAV
AVING at length gone through Downes's Hiftorical
Review of the Stage, I fhall detain the Reader no
longer than to requeſt his indulgence for whatever may ap-
pear amifs in this edition; the original is in many refpects
fo faulty, that to have endeavoured to amend it in any mate-
rial degree, would have been to re-write, not re-print it:
I have therefore made no alteration of the leaft confequence
without appriſing the Reader by a note, or fome other cuf
tomary fign.
The Ms. containing Mr. Davies's notes has been faithfully
followed, the correction of two or three cafual inaccuracies,
and the omiffion of a trifling notice of one living Performer,
excepted; it having been determined by me, not to men-
tion throughout the tract any Actor or Actress now exift-
ing: this being a hiſtory of paſt, not prefent, times. I might
have fwell'd the book confiderably by extracts from the Tat-
ler, Spectator, and Guardian ( which contain a fund of
Stage-Anecdote, and liberal criticifm); various Stage-Tracts,
Lives, Apologies; the Biographia Dramatica; the late edi-
tions of Shakespeare; Mr. Malone's Supplement; Beat-
mont and Fletcher, Maffinger, Old-Plays, &c. but, ex-
cepting the tracts relating to Milton, and Granger's Bio-
graphical Hiſtory, I have been very fparing of quotations
from books in every body's hands. A Comparifon be-
tween the Two Stages," being rather a fcarce tract, and con-
taining (tho' written in fome places in too bold and rude a
ftile) much good fenfe, juft obfervation, and agreeable
anecdote, I have made pretty free with.
?
Inaccuracies of ſpelling titles of, or names in, the various
pieces mentioned, will, it is hoped, be pardon'd; exaċtneſs
therein requiring more books of the kind than were in my
poffeffion.
A critically-correct work was not intended by this repub-
lication; if it preferve the original from extinction, and
yield a harmleſs relaxation from matters of more moment,
will anſwer the end propofed by
The Public's
March 26,
1789.
Moſt Obedient Servant,
F. G. WALDRON.
On His Majeſty's Happy Recovery.
·
W
HEN Phoebus fets we never mourn;
We know with Morning he'll return:
Of waning Phoebe ne'er complain;
Affured fhe'll-fhortly wax again:
The ebbing Tide we ne'er lament,
"Twill flow again, and yield content:
The yellow leaves no forrow bring,
Of verdure certain in the Spring.
But when the Health of Man is flown,
Or Reafon loft, we juftly moan!
The body's fickneſs may remain,
Till Death relieve the fufferer's pain;
And mental malady we find
Too feldom quit a once-hurt mind!
How poignant was our anguiſh, when
"The beſt of hufbands, fathers, men";
Or, if high rank addition brings
To a good man, the beſt of Kings;
Lay on the bed of racking pain,
And burn'd 'with fever of the brain!
Small is our joy when Day appears,
Or Night's pale Regent nature cheers;
When flowing Tides enrich the land,
Or young-eyed Spring comes, hand-in-hand
With Peace and Plenty, Smiles and Loves;
To that full blifs each Briton proves,
His King, fo late by all deplored,
To Sanity by Heaven reſtored!
Reftored to Reaſon, and his Crown!
While all true hearts their forrows 'drown
In cheerful bowls; and gaily fing
Long live Great George! God fave the King!
1
APPENDIX
то
DOWNES's ROSCIUS ANGLICANUS.
Edition 1789.
Page 5.
"the Globe."
The Globe playhoufe, fituate on the Bank-fide,
which was thatch'd with reeds, was burnt down in
1613.
The following are the names of other of our early
playhouſes. The Theatre; The Curtain; The Cockpit,
or Phenix; The Swan; The Rofe; The Hope.
Ibid.
See Malone's Shakſpere, V. 1. pt. 2. p. 41 ſeq.
From Rymer's M. S. we learn that there
were no leſs than 23 Theatres in the Metropolis."
See this idea exploded in idem, V. 1. pt. 2.
p. 48, n. 6.
Ibid. "By the fall of the Play-Houfe in Black-Fryars
81 Perfons of Quality were killed.
Camden's Annals of James I."
See this refuted in idem, p. 50.
P. 9. Add to the exoneration of Milton the follow-
ing memoranda; which, tho' Caviare to the Million,
to the critical reader of his profe-works may not
be unacceptable.
B
A copy
( 2 )
A copy of Milton's EICONOCLASTES, "publish'd
now the fecond time, and much enlarg'd," 4to. 1650,
formerly in the collection of Edward Wynne, Efq.
lately in my poffeffion; at preſent in that of the
learned and ingenious Dr. Farmer; was a prefenta-
tion-book from the author: in the title-page is writ-
ten G. Dury. 1650. Ex dono Authoris. and in the mar-
gin of p. 217 are written the additions included
between brackets in the following extract; which
(however ſmall) ſhould, if Milton's, be preſerved.
"If God himſelf fay to Kings, Touch not mine
anointed, meaning his chos'n people, as is evident in
that Pfalme, yet no man will argue thence, that he
protects them from Civil Laws if they offend, then
certainly, though David as a privat man, and in his
own cauſe, feard to lift his hand againſt [Saul becauſe
outwardly] the Lords Anointed, much lefs can (dele
this) [Davids privat reafons] forbidd the Law, or
difarm juftice from having legal power againſt any
King, [Whenas the immediat word of God forbidding to
touch his trueft anointed wch are his Saints, shall be
judged no forbidding to touch them legally, if they
tranfgreffe the Law. No other fupreme Magiftrate
in what kind of Goverment foever laies claim to
any fuch enormous Privilege; wherfore then ſhould
any King, who is but one kind of Magiſtrat, and ſet
over the people for no other end then they?
Milton, like Spenfer, was attached to peculiarities
in fpelling. In the table of " Faults efcaped in the
Print." annexed to the first edition of THE FAERIE
QUEENE, 1590, renowned is corrected renowmed;
fo, in p. 89 of this copy of EICONOCLASTES, over-
pread is (with a pen) corrected overfpredd: a con-
vincing proof to me that the book had been reviſed,
and all the MS. additions and corrections therein
made by Milton himſelf; for, furely, none but the
author could think fuch a correction as overfpredd
neceffary.
In
( 3 )
In p. 173 folicited and foliciting are alfo (with
a pen) corrected follicited and folliciting. In p. 82,
1. 18, " Injuftice to appeach them for fo con-
fenting," (See Baron's edition, 8vo. 1770, p. 114,
1. 19.) confenting is (with a pen) altered to protesting ;
which undoubtedly-right reading is neither in To-
land's, Birch's, or Baron's edition. Various other
MS. corrections occur in the book; but, as they are
adopted, however acquired, by Toland, Birch, and
Baron, it is needlefs to notice them. Baron's edition.
is a very valuable one; and the only one, the 2d
edition 1650 excepted, which contains the entire
tract.
In EICONOCLASTES, 4to. 1650, p. 214. l. 16; in
Toland's edition thereof, folio, 1698, p. 521, 1. 36;
in Birch's, 4to. 1753, V. I. p. 483, l. 10; and in
Baron's, 8vo. 1770, p. 275. 1. 4; ſhould not " who
accepts," be who excepts? if fo, a few lines preceding,
for no accepting of perfons, we muft read no excepting
of perfons.
P. 19. To the note concerning Mrs. Marſhall, add
the following extract from "Memoirs of the Life
of Count de Grammont," tranflated by Mr. Boyer,
8vo. 1714, p. 246 feq.
"The Earl of Oxford [Aubrey de Vere] fell in
love with a handfome, graceful Player, belonging to
the Duke's Theatre*, who acted to perfection, parti-
cularly the part of Roxana, in the Rival Queens, info-
much that the afterwards was called by that name.
* "Le Comte d'Oxford devint amoureux d'une Comédienne §
de la troupe du Duc," &c.
§ Mademoiſelle Barker.
Text and note in Memoires du Comte de Grammont, par
Monfieur le Compte Antoine Hamilton. Nouvelle Edition, Aug-
mentée de Notes & d'Eclairciffemens neceffaires, par M. Horace
Walpole. A Londres: chez J. Dodfley, 1783. 4to. See p. 2026
This name Barker is undoubtedly a miſtake for Marſhall, there
being no actreſs of that name at the period adverted to.
B 2
The
( 4 )
This creature being ftrictly virtuous, (which is very
rare in her calling 樂
​or, if you pleaſe, wonderfully
obftinate, proudly rejected the addreffes and prefents
of the Earl of Oxford. This unexpected refiftance
inflaming his paffion, he had recourfe to invectives,
and even to ſpells: and all in vain. He could nei-
ther eat nor drink upon it: which, however, was nò
great matter for him; but, what's more, his paffion
grew fo violent, that he could neither play nor fmoke.
In this extremity Love had recourfe to Hymen. The
Earl of Oxford, who is firft peer of the realm, is, you
know, a portly man, and his Garter does not a little
heighten his noble air. In fhort, to all outward`ap-
pearance, one would take him to be fomething: but,
if you hear him talk, you'll find there's nothing in
him. This paffionate lover having offer'd her a
promife of marriage fign'd with his own hand, in
due form, fhe would not give into this expedient:
but, the next morning, fhe thought ſhe run no ha-
zard, when he went to her lodgings attended with a
parſon, and another man; in the prefence of whom,
and of one of her fellow-players, they were marry'd,
and fo forth. Now, you think, perhaps, that the
new Counteſs had nothing to do, but to appear at
Court, according to her rank, and fet up the Earl's
coat of arms in her chariot? Not at all. When
This illiberal parenthefis is not in the original. See 4to
edit. 1783, p. 202: it is, nevertheleſs, continued in an Engliſh
edition, publifhed by Payne, 1760, which I have been favoured
with by the ingenious Mr. Ritfon.
And difplay the Earl's coat of arms upon her chariot ?"
Payne's edition, 12mo. 1760.
As the tranflations of Count Grammont's Memoirs are rather
ſcarce, the reader may not be difpleafed to learn, that Boyer's,
and the one publiſhed by Payne, differ only in a few corrections
and variations fimilar tot he above. There is alfo, I am informed,
an edition, publiſhed by Vaillant, in 1754; of which Payne's is
an exact copy.
Befides Mr. Walpole (now Earl of Orford 4to edition of
the original, quoted above, he had another moſt elegant one,
printed at Strawberry-Hill.
it
( 5 )
it came to that, it was found that ſhe was not mar-
ry'd; that is, it appear'd that the pretended parfon
was one of my Lord's trumpeters, and the witneſs
his kettle-drummer, who vanifhed out of fight, as
foon as the ceremony was over; and as for the other
witneſs, ſhe was fac'd down, that Queen Roxana un-
doubtedly fancy'd fhe was really marry'd in fome
part or other of a Play. 'Twas to no purpoſe the
poor creature claim'd the protection of the laws of
God and man, both which were violated and abus'd,
as well as herſelf, by that cheat; [" by fo grofs an
impoſition." edit. 1760.] in vain did fhe throw her-
felf at the King's feet, to demand juftice: fhe was
fain to rife up again without redrefs, and to be con-
tented with an annuity of three hundred pounds for
her dowry*, and to refume the name of Roxana, in-
ſtead of that of Countefs of Oxford."
Mr. Malone conjectures that Mrs. Marſhall was
the firſt Engliſh actress who appeared in any regular
drama on a public ftage. Defdemona in Shakspeare's
Othello was the character then reprefented.
་
See Malone's Shakfpere, V. I. Pt. 2. p. 108 feq.
where a Prologue on the occafion is inferted from
A Royal Arbor of Loyal Poefie, by Tho. Jordan. no
date, but printed, I believe, [fays Mr. M.] in 1662.
N. B. A copy of this fcarce Mifcellany in my poffef-
fion is dated 1664.
I rather fuppofe Mrs. Hughs to have been the per-
fon, her name being annexed to the character of
Desdemona, in the earlieſt lift we have of the per-
formers in Othello. See Rofcius Anglicanus, 1708,
P. 7, and edit. 1789, p. 15. According to which,
this circumftance did not take place until the year
1663; tho', from the arrangement of the prologue
adverted to in Jordan's Mifcellany, it appears to
"Une penfion de mille écus pour douaire." Edit. 4to.
1783. p. 203.
have
( 6 )
have been either in 1660 or 1661: I incline to think
it was in 1660.-Before the civil war of Charles I.
Boys were trained to act Women's characters: dur-
ing the fufpenfion of the Theatres, they had outlived
and outgrown the proper age and fize for female
perfonification; the introduction of women, there-
fore, on the ſtage (its greateſt beauty and ornament)
ſeems to have refulted from mere neceffity.
•
In "A Prologue to the King," in Jordan's " Royal
Arbor," p. 12, is the following paffage.
"For doubting we ſhould never play agen,
"We have play'd all our Women into Men,
"That are of fuch large fize for fleſh and bones,
They'l rather be taken for Amazons
66
"Then [than] tender Maids."
And, in the Prologue for Defdemona, this :
"Our women are defective, and ſo fiz’d
.. You'd think they were fome of the Guard difguiz'd;
"For (to ſpeak truth) men act, that are between
Forty and fifty, Wenches of fifteen;
""
"With bone fo large, and nerve fo incomplyant,
"When you call Desdemona, enter Giant.
The anecdote of K. Charles II. waiting till the
Heroine of a Play was fhaved is well known.
"The Parfon's Wedding [By Thomas Kelligrew].
met with the moft general approbation. It is re-
markable that no woman appeared upon the Stage
before the Reſtoration, and that this comedy was
acted by women only."
Granger's Biog. Hift. of Eng. V. 4. p. 45.
P. 21, at the bottom,
"F. Damport.
"Betty Damport."
In the Dramatis Perfonæ to Dryden's Maiden
Queen, 1669, theſe females are ftiled
Mrs. Frances Davenport."
and
"Mrs. Eliz. Davenport."
P. 28.
•
( 7 )
P. 28. Add to the bottom note.
The earlieſt inſtance I recollect of the title of Mifs,
or Mis, is in the following lines; the ſubject of which,
I have no doubt, was Mifs or Madam Davis, the ce-
lebrated performer of Celania, in The Rivals.
"To Mis: Davies, on her excellent dancing.
"Dear Mis: delight of all the nobler fort,
"Pride of the Stage and darling of the Court,
"Who wou'd not think to ſee thee dance fo light,
"Thou wer't all air? or elfe all foul and fpirit?
"Or who'd not fay to fee thee only tread,
(6
Thy feet were feathers! others feet but lead?
"Athlanta well cou'd run, and Hermes flee,
"But none e'er mov'd more gracefully than thee;
"And Circe charm'd with wand and magick lore,
"But none, like thee, e'er charm'd with Feet before,
"Thou Miracle! whom all men muſt adınire
"To fee thee move like air, and mount like fire.
"Whoe'er wou'd follow thee or come but nigh
"To thy perfection, muſt not dance but fly.'
Epigrams of all Sorts. I Book. Written by
Richard Flecknoe. London, Printed for
the Author. 1669. P.5.
P. 33. note. After Richmond, 1779, add the figna-
ture W.
P. 40. Add to the laſt note,
"Rivals, a Tragi-comedy in quarto, which at
prefent I have not; but have heard Mr. Cademan,
for whom (as I think) it was printed, fay it was writ
by Sir Will. D'Avenant, '
Langbaine's Account of the English Dramatick
Poets, 1691, p. 547.
I think, from what we may gather from Downes
and Langbaine, there can be no doubt of D'Avenant
being the alterer of The Rivals from the Two Noble
Kinfmen; though he did not think the alteration worth
owning.
P. 43°
!
( 8 8)
)
P. 43. In the fecond note, for "the former, I be-
lieve, by Smith," read the former by Smith.
line 22, for
P. 44,
all things perform'd," read all
things were performed.
In the original it is, erroneouſly, all was things
perform❜d.
P. 45. Add to the laſt note this trifling anecdote.
66
Jevon, the Comedian, coming into a Club of his
acquaintance with dirty fhoes, contentedly took a
clean napkin from the table to wipe them; when the
waiter defiring him to ſtay till he could fetch him a
coarſe cloth, Jevon gently replied, No! no! thank
you, my good lad; this will ferve me well enough.
The Egotift; or, Colley upon Cibber. 8vo. 1743, p.44.
P. 51. To note* add,
"There was at Court [in Charles 2d's reign] a
certain Italian, famous for the Guitar; he had a Ge-
nius for Mufic, and was the only Man who could
make any thing of a Guitar. His Compofitions were
fo full of Grace and Tendernefs, that he would have
given Harmony to the moſt ſtubborn of Inſtruments.
The Truth is, nothing was more difficult than to
fucceed in his way of playing. The King's Reliſh
for his Compofitions had brought the Inftrument fo
much in Vogue, that every body play'd on it, well
or ill; and one was as fure to fee a Guitar on the
Toilets of the Fair, as either Carmine or Patches.
The Duke of York play'd upon it tolerably well, and
the Earl of Arran like Francifco himſelf. This Fran-
cifco had lately compos'd a Saraband, which either
charm'd or infatuated every body, for all the Guitar-
players at Court fell to practifing it."
Memoirs of Count de Grammont,
Payne's edition, 1760, p. 160.
P. 51, 2, note. It is obferved that Granger ufes the
epithet, "Moll Davies."
The
) و (
The following extract fhews that he was not the
firſt who spoke of this celebrated actreſs in fuch coarſe
terms. Mr. Boyer has made free to uſe this vulgarifm
in his tranflation of Count Grammont's Memoirs,
for which the original gives him no authority; and
in which he is followed by Payne's edition, 1760.
"Hereupon he [K. Charles 2d.] difcarded all his
other miftreffes of the fecond rate, fuch as the Nell
Gwins, Moll Davises, and the merry and jolly train
of Singers and Dancers in his Majefty's Theatre."
8vo. edit. 1714, P. 344.
"Les Nell Gwyns, les Miffes Davis, & la troupe
joyeuſe des Chanteufe & des Danfeufes des menus
plaifirs de Sa Majefté furent congediées." 4to. edit.
1783, p. 281.
P. 52. Inſtead of the paffage between brackets near
the bottom of the page, fubftitute the following:
A remarkable inftance is recorded of her, when,
upon the "Bearers" preparing to carry her off the
ftage, after ſhe had died in the character of Valeria,
in Dryden's Tyrannick Love; or, The Royal Martyr:
ſhe ſtarted up, and exclaimed,
"Hold, are you mad, you damn'd confounded dog,
"I am to rife, and ſpeak the Epilogue."
This very extravagant flight, however, Dryden is
accountable for; the couplet being printed as the
beginning of his Epilogue to that Play.]
P. 70. In the table of Errata, for P. 33, read P. 37.
Page following the advertiſement annexed to Rofcius
Anglicanus. In the lines On his Majesty's Happy
Recovery, "The beſt of huſbands, fathers, men.
is, I was informed, what The Queen faid of her
beloved Confort during His Illneſs.
Some of the fubfequent extracts, &c. relate to
Rofcius Anglicanus ftill lefs, perhaps, than the forego-
C
ing
( 10 )
ing ones; but, being of a congenial nature, it is pre-
fumed the addition of them will not be difpleafing.
"he [the earl of Rochefter] was forbid the
court for the third time. He carry'd the difgrac'd
Governefs down with him to his Country-Seat; and
uſed all his endeavours to cultivate in her Niece
fome Difpofitions fhe had for the Stage; but tho'
the did not improve fo much that way, as by his
other inftructions, after he had entertain'd both the
Niece and the Aunt for fome Months in the Country,
he got the firſt to be enter'd in the Company of the
King's Comedians, the next Winter; and the publick
was oblig'd to him for the prettiest, but at the fame
time the worst Player in the Kingdom."
Memoirs of Count Grammont, edition 1760,
p. 243.
Who is meant by this prettiest but worst Player?
In the original the is called "Mifs Sara."" la plus
jolie mais la plus mauvaiſe Comédienne du Roy-
aume."
4to. 1783.-P. 215
and 217.
"The Queen having fent for a Company of Co-
medians [to Tunbridge Wells] either to leave no gap
in the diverfions of the place, or perhaps, to give back
to Mrs. St——————†*, by the prefence of Nell Gwin,
part of the uneafinefs fhe received from hers; Prince
Rupert found charms in the perfon of another Player,
call'd Fs, which brought to reaſon, and alinoſt
fubdu'd his natural fiercenefs."
Memoirs of Count De Grammont, 1714, P. 294.
"Charles
Mademoiſelle Stewart," 4to. 1783, P. 240.
This lady was afterwards married to the duke of Richmond.
A mifprint for Hs, i. e. Hughes; fuppofed above to
have been the firft female performer of Defdemona.
"le frince Robert trouva des charmes dans la figure d'une
autre petite Comédienne, appellée Hughes, qui mirent à la raiſon
tout ce que fcs penchans naturels avoient de plus fauvage."
4to. 1783, P. 240.
1. Mlle.
(II)
"Charles 2, was not offended at his [Dr. Thomas
Kenn] religious intrepidity, on peremptorily refufing
to admit Nell Gwynn into his lodgings, when the
court was at Winckefter: on the contrary he foon
after made him a biſhop.'
>>
Granger's Biog. Hift. V. 4. P. 290. Note.
"The good-natur'd King Charles 2d, began, by
this time, to be fomewhat peevish: nor was it alto-
gether without reafon; for he diſturb'd no body in
their amours; and yet, fome were often fo prefuming,
as to encroach upon his. My Lord Dorſet, firit Gen-
tleman of the Bed-chamber, had lately got from him
the Player, Nell Gwin; &c.*"
P. 343.
Memoirs of Count De Grammont, 1714,
"The Author of theſe Memoirs is fomewhat
miſtaken in this particular; for Nell Gwin was my
Lord Dorfer's Miſtreſs, before the King fell in Love
with her and I was told by the late Mr. Dryden, that
the King having a mind to get her from his Lord-
fhip, fent him upon a fleeveless errand to France.
However, it is not improbable, that Nell was after-
wards kind to her firft Lover."
Mr. Boyer (the Tranflator)'s Note on the fore-
going paffage. Ibid.
"Charles Hart, who, I believe, was our poet
[Shakfpere]'s great nephew, is faid to have been
Nell Gwin's firſt lover, and was the moſt celebrated
tragedian of his time."
Malone's Shakspere. V. 1. Pt. 2. P. 278.
"Mlle. Marguerite Hughes eut du Prince Rupert, une fille,
nommée Ruperta, qui epoufa M. Howe, & mourût fort agée à
Somerfet-Houfe, vers l'aunée 1740."
Mr. Walpole's note
Ibid.
Mitrefs (or Mifs) Margaret Hughes had a daughter by Prince
Rupert, named Ruperta; who married Mr. Howe, and died
very old at Somerfer-Houle. about the year 1740.
Payne's edition, 1760, calls this favourite of Prince Rupert,
Willis; a flagrant mifnomer.
* "Milord Dorfet, premier Gentilhomme de la Chambre,
venoit de lui débaucher la Comédienne Nell Gwynn."
4to. edit. P. 280, 1.
ì
C 2
The
( 12 )
The following. Memoirs, publiſhed a few years fince
in a fugitive Mifcellany, are not unworthy of pre-
fervation.
Memoirs of Nell Gwynn, the celebrated Mistress of
Charles II.
ELLEN GWYNN, or GUYN, fo far as appears
to us from all accounts hitherto known, had no edu-
cation at all. What we learn of her is, that the was
born in a night-cellar (State Poems) fold fiſh about
the ſtreets, rambled from tavern to tavern, entertain-
ing the company after dinner and ſupper with fongs
(her voice being very agreeable); was next taken
into the houfe of Madam Rofs, a noted courtezan ;
admitted afterwards into the theatre-royal as early as
the year 1667; (fee the drama of the Maiden Queen,
and others of Dryden's plays for ten years fucceffive-
ly) was miftrefs both to Hart and Lacey, two famous
actors (State P'oeins) and kept by Buckhurst (ſee a
note in Boyer's tranflation of Grammont's Memoirs,
which Mr. Dryden told Boyer) if I miſtake not,
whom Charles the Second fent on a fleeveleſs errand
to France, in order to pave his approach to her.
From that period fhe began to be pretty well known,
and is mentioned by Burnet and other hiftorians.
Memoirs may be found concerning her in the fol-
lowing books, and many others: Ant. Wood's Ath.
Oxon. Memoirs de la Cour d'Angleterre par Madame
Dumois, and Memoirs de la Vie du Compte Gram-
mant, English tranflation.
As this giddy and diffipated creature gave rife to
a noble and moft worthy family, one would have
nothing devifed against her by way of romance; fhe
had fome very good qualities to contraſt againſt her
bad education and vicious habits.
Without proofs and citations, one can pay but
a proportionable regard to many facts reported of
her in a late pamphlet, which is certainly well writ-
ten; nevertheless, many affertions there claſh with
accounts
3
( 13 )
accounts better known, and offend againſt proba-
bility.
As fhe entered on the ſtage about the year 1667,
I cannot well fee how fhe could apply to Betterton at
that time, as a fort of protector; fince Betterton then,
far from being a manager, or having any confidera-
ble intereft in the play-houfe, had hardly paffed his
theatrical noviciate; having firft played in the year
1659, when he was apprentice to Mr. Rhodes, book-
feller, at the fign of the fhip, Charing-crofs, and under
his mafler's direction, who had a fhare in the patent,
accompanied by Mr. Kynafton, his fellow-apprentice,
who played the women's parts, and Mr. Betterton
thofe of the men. Sir William Davenant must have
been the perfon applied to, who was then patentee at
the King's houſe. Betterton was then a mere youth,
and juft inaking his fortune, under the actors of the
old ſtock; fuch as Angel, Cademan, and others, who
were the remnants of Black-friars, and who vaniſhed
almoſt entirely about the year 1665; whether through
chagrin or accident, cannot now be aſcertained.
What concludes ftronger is, that Betterton left the
theatre-royal, and acted at the Duke's before and at
the time when Nelly appeared on the former ftage.
Behold another feeming contradiction in theatrical
chronology: Nelly's amiable lover is faid to be the
perfon who acted Creon; which, by the way, was
Sandford, a man of a remarkable hard vifage, de-
formed, and who had the air of an affaffin. More-
over, this event is fuppofed to happen before Nelly
came upon the ftage, 1667; and Edipus was not
reprefented till about the year 1677, long after fhe
was the King's miftrefs; nay, it may be queried if
fhe acted fo late as the year 1677.
It no ways appears that Lord Rochefter was ever
enamoured of her. Mrs. Barry was his paffion, and
Mrs. Bowtel antecedently to Mrs. Barry, at the time.
when Mrs. Gwynn trod the ftage; and as to the
King's
( 14 )
King's never feeing her till at a certain nobleman's
houfe, it is well known that he had feen her uninter-
ruptedly on the ſtage from 1667 till about 1671, and
fell in love with her on her fpeaking the epilogue of
Tyrannic Love, which feems to have been written by
Dryden on purpoſe. 'Tis doubtful too if the ever
played at Dorfet-garden.
Nelly was highly favoured by Dryden. For many
years he gave her the moft fhowy and fantastic parts
in his comedies It looks as if he played her at the
Monarch for a confiderable time; fince, not to mention
the epilogue laſt ſpoken of, he wrote on purpoſe for her
an equally whimsical and fpirited prologue, prefixed, I
think, to Aureng-zebe. At the other houfe (viz. the
Duke's, under Killegrew's patent) Nokes had ap-
peared in a hat larger than Piftol's, which gave the
town wonderful delight, and fupported a bad play by
its pure effect (perhaps Mamamouchi; or, the Citizen
turned Gentleman; a comedy, by Ravenscroft.)
Dryden, piqued at this, caufed a hat to be made the
circumference of a hinder coach-wheel, and as Nelly
was low of ftature, and what the French call mignonne
& piquante, he made her fpeak under the umbrella of
that hat, the brims thereof being ſpread out horizon-
tally to their full extenfion. The whole theatre was
in a convulfion of applaufe; nay, the very actors
giggled, a circumftance none had obſerved before.
Judge, therefore, what a condition the merrieft Prince
alive was in at fuch a conjuncture. 'Twas beyond
odfo and odsfif, for he wanted little of being fuffo-
cated with laughter.
In a word, Madam Ellen (as the drama often ſtyles her
after fhe was declared the King's miflrefs) had no great
turn for tragedy, nor do I recollect her in any part of
moment but that of Valeria in Tyrannic Love, to
which Dryden raiſed her partly through partiality,
and partly as it was neceffary for her to die in that play
in order tarife and fpeak the epilogue. In comedy fhe
was
( 15 )
was more excellent: nevertheless, fhe muft not be
ranked as an actreſs with the Quins, Davenports,
Marſhalls, Bowtels, Bettertons, and Lees, du fiecle.
d'or de Charles II. which held in its high luftre from
1665 to 1678. But of what the French call enjoue,
fhe was a complete miftrefs; airy, fantaftic, coquet,
fprightly, finging, dancing; made for flight fhowy
parts, and filling them up, as far as they went, moit
effectually; witnefs Florimel, in the Maiden Queen
(to which the fpoke the epilogue). Jacinta, in the
Mock Aftrologer, &c.
It is highly probable that Madam Ellen might
have made a more decent figure in life, had her birth
been fortunate and her education good. A feminary
like the ftreets and cellars of London is infinitely
worfe than crawling in woods and converfing with
favages. We make this remark, becauſe the poſ-
feffed many good qualities, which no human difad-"
vantages could quite deſtroy. She had no avarice;
when her power encreafed, the ferved all her theatri-
cal friends. She fhewed particular gratitude to Dry-
den; and valued eminent writers, as L-e, Otway,
&c. She was almoſt the only miſtreſs of the King
who was guilty of no infidelity towards him; nor did
fhe relapfe after his deceafe Endued with natural
fagacity and wit, fhe made no ill ufe of them at court,
paid no attention to minifters, nor ever acted as their
creature. Her charities were remarkable; and, what
was fingular, fhe piqued herſelf on a regard for the
church of England, contrary to the genius of the.
then court *.
Once as he was driving up Ludgate-hill, in a fu-
perb coach, fome bailiffs were hurrying a clergyman
to priſon, ſhe ſtopped, fent for the perfons whom the
*When Cromwell's tall Porter, Daniel, was in Bedlam, and
had his library allowed him, it is faid that the moft confpicuous
part of his books was a large bible, given him by Nell Gwynn.
clergyman
( 16 )
1
clergyman mentioned as atteftators to his character,
and finding the account a juſt ſubject for pity, paid
his debt inftantly, and procured him a preferment.
She was the moſt popular of all the King's miſtref-
fes, and moſt acceptable to the nation. An eminent
goldſmith, who died about fifteen years ago, in the
feventy-ninth year of his age, affured me, that when
he was an apprentice, his mafter made a most expen-
five fervice of plate (the King's prefent) for the
Duchefs of P.
He remembered well that an
infinite concourfe of people crouded to the fhop out
of mere curiofity; that they threw out a thoufand ill
wiſhes againſt the Ducheſs, and wifhed the filver was
melted and poured down her throat; but faid it was
ten thouſand pities his Majefty had not beftowed this
bounty on Madam Ellen.
Her picture, painted by Lely and others, pro-
nounce her to be very handfome, though low in fta-
ture and red-haired: there is a buft of her now to be
feen at Bagnigge-wells, which, though coarfely exe-
cuted, fhews her to be what the French call en bon
point. This place was formerly one of her country-
houfes, where the King and Duke of York frequently
vifited, and where the often entertained them with
concerts, breakfaſts, &c.
While the foregoing account of Nell Gwynn was at the
prefs, the following one appeared in THE LONDON
EVENING POST, Dec. 27, 1791; which, though it
contains many circumftances already related, is fo
different, and well-written, that I am perfuaded no
one will be difpleafed with it being fubjoined.
ANECDOTES OF NELL GWYN.
The origin of this celebrated woman was, without
doubt, of the loweſt rank, and her employment in that
City where one of her defcendants enjoys the emolu-
ments of the Prelacy, of the moft inferior kind;-
indeed, it is there, or in the neighbourhood, that the
tradition
1
( 17 ) ·
tradition of the place fuppofes her to have been born.
From thence, by one of the many tranfitions which
tranfplant individuals of the labouring clafs from one
place to another, fhe became an inhabitant of the
Metropolis, and the fervant to a fruiterer, who was,
probably, one of thoſe who attended upon the Play-
houſes, as it appears that in this character fhe firſt
obtained admiffion into the Theatre in Drury-lane.
What favour of fortune advanced her from this
humble fituation to the Stage, whether from the ge-
neral recommendation her natural humour and viva-
city gave her, or a paffion which Mr. Hart the
Player had for her, is difficult to afcertain. We find
her, however, a few years afterwards, a great favourite
of the public, as a Theatrical character, and that ſhe
had no inconfiderable reputation in the parts of
Almabide, in the Conqueft of Grenada; Florimel, in the
Maiden Queen; Donna Jacintha, in the Mock Aſtrolo-
ger; Valeria, in the Royal Martyr, &c. &c.
Dryden was her profeffed patron, and, as he is
known to have been a man of gallantry, was fuppofed
to have been fuccefsful in his addreffes to her. How-
ever that may have been, it is a certain fact that he
gave her the moft fhowy and alluring parts in his
Comedies, and wrote feveral Prologues and Epi-
logues exprefsly for her. But the more immediate
caufe of her becoming an object of the Monarch's
favour and affections was the following whimſical cir-
cumftance, which, while it marks the diffipation of
Charles II. gives no indifferent picture of the ftate of
the Stage, and the taste of the Audience of that day.
At the Duke's Houfe, under Killigrew's patent, the
celebrated Nokes had appeared in a hat larger than
Piftol's, which pleaſed the audience fo much, as to
help off a bad play merely by the effect of it.—Mr.
Dryden, whoſe neceffities very often made him ftoop
to the whim of the times, caufed a hat to be made of
the circumference of a large coach-wheel; and as
•D
Mrs.
( 18 )
Mrs. Gwyn was low in ftature, made her fpeak an
Epilogue under the umbrella of this hat, with its brim
ftretched out in its utmoft horizontal extenfion. No
fooner did ſhe appear in this ftrange drefs, than the
houſe was in convulfions. Among the reft, the King
gave the fulleft proof of his approbation of her, by'
going behind the ſcenes immediately after the Play, and
taking her home in his own coach to fupper with him.
After this elevation fhe ftill continued on the
Stage; but being now at liberty to follow the bent of
her original genius, fhe never afterwards appeared
in tragic characters. In general Comedy, the cer-
tainly did not rate with Betterton, Marſhall, Lee, Bou-
tell, &c. &c. but for the airy, fantaftic, fprightly
exhibitions of the Comic Mufe, her genius was aptly
calculated; and, according to the tafte of thofe times,
fhe was confidered as the beft Prologue and Epilogue
Speaker on either Theatre.
She muft now, however, be no longer confidered in
the light of a Player, but as the Miftrefs of a King,
and here fhe nobly belied the bafenefs of her origin,
and that feminary of vice in which fhe was bred,
Mrs. Gwyn met and bore good fortune as if ſhe had
been bred to it ;-fhe difcovered neither avarice,
pride, or oftentation; ſhe remembered all her Thea-
trical Friends, and did them ſervice;fhe generouſ-
ly paid off her debt of gratitude to Mr. Dryden, and
was the patronefs of thofe eminent writers, Otway and
Lee.
When he became more immediately connected
with the King, that gay Monarch was already fur-
rounded with miftreffes;-the Ducheffes of Portf
mouth and Plymouth, with Mifs Davis, and others,
were confidered to be in that capacity; but theſe
were known to be unreftrained in their conduct.
Mrs, Gwyn preferved her character of fidelity to the laft;
and being once folicited by Sir John Germain, to whom
he had loft a confiderable fum of money at play, to
exchange
( 19 )
exchange the debt for other favours, the no leſs
honeſtly than wittily replied," No, Sir John, I am
"too good a ſportfwoman to lay the dog where the
"deer fhould lie.”.
She was not only the favourite of the Monarch,
but of the people; and though that age abounded
with fatires and lampoons againſt all the reft of the
King's miſtreffes, as the caufe of political diſaſters,
Mrs. Gwyn, except in the inftance of a few lines
written by Lord Rocheſter, not only eſcaped, but
met with their approbation, as ſhe never troubled hér-
felf with politics, but was contented with private plea-
fures and amufements. She was no lefs munificent
in her charities; fociable with her friends, and, what
was very fingular, piqued herfelf on a regard for the
Church of England, contrary to the genius and dif-
pofition of the Court.
As a proof how much fhe was in the favour of the
people, an eminent goldfmith who died about twen-
ty-five years ago, in the 79th year of his age, has
often been heard to relate, that, when he was an ap-
prentice, his mafter made a moſt expenſive ſervice of
plate, as a prefent from the King to the Duchefs of
P- and that great numbers of people uſed to
crowd the ſhop to gratify their curiofity, and throw
out curfes againſt the Duchefs, but that all were unani-
mous in wiſhing the preſent had been for Mrs. Gwyn.
"
In her perfon, according to her picture by Lely,
fhe was low in ftature, red hair, and what the
French call en bon point. There is a buſt now to be
feen of her at Bagnigge Wells, formerly her country-
houſe, which, though badly executed, confirms the
likeneſs of Lely's pencil. She had remarkable lively
eyes, but fo fmall that they became almoſt inviſible
when he laughed. Her foot was of the moſt dimi-
nutive fize, and ufed to be the fubject of much mirth
to her merry paramour.
D 2
As
(20)
As to her underſtanding, the whole of her conduct,
but particularly in the latter part of her life, evidently
illuftrates it. She was humourous, witty, and pof-
feffed the talents fo neceffary to enliven converfation
in an eminent degree; and generally kept her place
at table with the King, the Lords Rochefter, Shaftf-
bury, &c. till they left the bounds of decency, when
the never failed to retire.
She lived long enough to fee, and, without doubt,
to lament the decline of that family which had raiſed
her to rank and fortune; having the good fenfe to
avoid intermeddling with the politics of the times.
After the King's death, fhe purchaſed a houſe in Pall-
mall, where ſhe lived many years with a moft unble-
miſhed reputation. Here fhe died in the year 1691,
and was buried with great funeral folemnity in the
parish church of St. Martin's in the Fields; to the
ringers of which, among many valuable donations to
others, ſhe left a fum of money, to fupply them with
weekly entertainment, which they enjoy to this day.
Dr. Tennifon, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury,
preached her funeral fermon, or, according to the ma-
lice and prejudices of fome envious and ill-natured
perfons, a fulfome panegyric upon her and her pro-
feffion; nay, this circumftance was urged as an ob-
jection to Dr. Tennifon's promotion; but Queen
Mary defended his conduct and merit, by replying-
"that it was a fign this unfortunate woman died a
penitent; for, had fhe not made a truly pious and
chriftian end, the Doctor could never have been in-
duced to fpeak fo well of her."
4
In short, this celebrated actreſs, and no lefs cele-
brated woman, had the peculiar merit of turning the
original ftream of her fortune from poverty and vice
to rank and character; a merit which few, very few,
are capable of practifing; fo it is but juftice to thefe
few to have that merit recorded.
In
:
( 21 )
In An Account of the modern Rofcius," first pub.
liſhed in THE HERALD, and reprinted in THE Li-
TERARY MAGAZINE; or, Univerfal Review; 1758,
v. 3. p. 20; is the following paffage.
"His [Gar-
rick's] powers often fail him in the flow of elocution;
infomuch that he is forced to make reftings in utter-
ance where no ftops are to be found in his authors.”
See the whole criticism on him (filling nearly fix
pages), as actor, author, and manager; in which he is
feverely handled and a reply to it, in idem, p. 69,
feq. See alfo a "Critical Examen of Mr. GARRICK'S
Abilities as an ACTOR," in "THE THEATRICAL RE-
VIEW; or, Annals of the Drama," 8vo. 1763, p. 74,
feq. in which, through careleffneſs or accident, a paſ-
fage is printed in a deranged ftate, that would, I con-
ceive, if regulated, read thus:
"The voice of this performer is clear, impreffive,
and affecting; agreeable, though not harmonious;
ſharp, though not diffonant; ftrong, though not ex-
tenfive. In declamation, it is uncommonly forcible;
in narrative, unaffectedly fimple. Wanting power at
the top, it fometimes finks where the paffions meet
with any violent agitation; yet, in general, Mr. Gar-
rick has fo peculiar a method of adapting it, that we
fcarcely perceive it ſhould rife where it is unhappily
limited and we are almoft induced to believe, that
it ought to rife no farther than the particular key to
which he has the power of extending it."
This "Examen," which is neither rude fatire, nor
fulfome adulation, contains alſo the following obſer-
vations. "A great objection has been raiſed by the
critics to the propriety of Mr. Garrick's paufes
(
There are,' fays Aaron Hill, refts and paufes, as
well as breaks, both in fpeech and action, which are
not only natural and proper in themſelves, but infi-
nitely beautiful in the fpectator's eye.'
"That the generality of this great performer's paufes
come within this defcription is moft certainly true; how.
ever we muſt admit that we have feen him make ufe
of
( 22 )
of them where judgment could not warrant the adop-
tion; fometimes as a trap for applaufe where he could
reaſonably expect none; fometimes indeed they have
been occafioned by the too great length of a period,
where he would have rendered himſelf abfolutely in-
articulate, had he endeavoured implicitly to conform
to exact propriety; though thus much may be faid,
that, in this cafe, fome degree of knowledge is re-
quired in a ſpeaker, in paufing where the fenfe is leaſt
affected, and that as feldom as his breath will permit.”
Perfection is not the lot of human nature! and it
is praiſe enough for even a GARRICK, to ſay that, as
an actor, "take him for all in all," he approached as
nearly to it as, perhaps, it is poffible: the following
(I believe hitherto-unprinted) letter from him to a
friendly critic, (the original of which, in Mr. Gar-
rick's hand-writing, is in the editor's poffeffion) is fo
modeft an extenuation of fome of the faults and de-
fects imputed to him, [Many fimilar ones are parti-
cularized in fome letters to the Craftſman, reprinted
in "An Enquiry into the real merit of a certain Popular
Performer." that the fevereft cenfor could not but
have been fatisfied with.
It is hoped that this publication of fo ingenuous an
apology, will preferve it from the oblivion into
which it had nearly fallen; it having been written
many years fince to, and lain-by forgotten among the
papers of my reſpected and lamented friend, the late
Rev. P. Whalley*, the learned editor of Ben Jonfon.
Tueſday, March 15th.
Sir,
I ſhould have anfwer'd your obliging
Letter fooner; but your directing it to the Bedford
*Peter Whalley, L. L. B. Vicar of Horley, in Surrey; and
Rector of the United Pariſhes of St. Margaret Pattens, Rood-
Lane, and St. Gabriel, Fenchurch-Street, London; died June 12,
1791, aged 69 years. Under the Portrait of this Gentleman,
publiſhed fince his death by my ingenious friend, Mr. Sylvefter
Harding, among the other Commentators on Shakspeare, he is
erroneouſly ſtyled A. M. The above was his proper addition.
C
Coffee-
( 23 )
Coffee-houſe kept it from me two Days.-I affure
you, Sir, it is no fmall Pleaſure to me, that I am
thought worthy of your Advice; the candid Remarks
of a true Critick are to me the greateſt Favours; my
Ears are always open to Conviction; I willingly kifs
the Rod, and would ſhake the Hand that adminifters
fuch wholeſome Correction as yours has done. The
Faults you mention I am afraid I have been guilty
of; becauſe the 'Bye-ftander will always be a better
Judge of the Game than the Party concern'd-but I
am furpriz'd that I fhould be thought to regard the
Meaſure of Verſes fo injudiciously as to disjoin the
Members of the Sentence, when at my firft fetting
out in the Buſineſs of an Actor, I endeavour'd to
hake off the Fetters of Numbers, and have been
often accus'd of neglecting the Harmony of the Ver-
fification, from a too clofe Regard to the Paffion,
and the Meaning of the Author.
I am fenfible (notwithſtanding what I have faid)
that the Inftances you have given from Hamlet are
juft, and the manner of ſpeaking them (acquir'd at
firft by Inadvertency) is confirm'd by Habit; but it
fhall be alter'd, and I hope for the future my Friends
will not be offended again at the fame Paffages. I
cannot but think you have miftook me in the Pro-
logue to Henry the 5th-furely the little Paufe was
made at Fire! and I connected the fubfequent
Relative, Verb, and Accufative Cafe (that would
afcend the brightest Heav'n, &c.) in one Breath? I
know in the general I fpeak it fo, but may have
fail'd the Night you heard me. Your Remark from
Venice Preferv'd is likewife true-When in your Bri-.
gantine, &c. but I am in Hopes the other Slips you
fpeak of in the fame Play, were owing to my Illneſs
on Mrs. Cibber's Benefit Night; I could fcarce
bring my Words out, and all the Time did not
know whether I ftood on my Head or Heels-the
Part of Jaffier is a moft difficult, laborious Charac-
ter,
(24)
ter, and will take me up much Time, before I have
attain'd what I imagine may be done with it. I muſt
now beg leave to mention a Circumftance, which
may, in fome Meafure be my Excufe for thoſe many
feeming Errors of Judgment; I am often troubled
with Pains in my Breaft, arifing from Colds; and
at fuch Times I have it not in my Power to ſpeak as
I would; my Breath often fails me, and I am oblig'd
to ftop in wrong Places, to enable me to finish the
Sentence this has the Air of an Excufe for my
Failings; fuppofe it fo, it is a very natural one;
and Nobody can blame me for trying all Means to
appear well in the Eyes of One, whofe Opinion I
regard; this is my preſent Situation with you; and
if
you think I have Merit enough to deferve your
future Animadverfions, you will honour and oblige
me.
I am, Sir,
Your moft obedt.
humble fervant,
D. G.
P. S. If you favour me with more Thoughts on
the fame Subject, as I hope you will, pray direct for
me in King's Street, Covent-Garden. Once more
I thank you.
An elegant eulogy on One who followed Mr.
Garrick, "non pafibus æquis", written in a copy of
Sir Thomas Hanmer's edition of Shakeſpear, 4to.
Ox. 1770, in Mr. Henderfon's collection, may be
not improperly preferved here.
"Sir Walden Hanmer prefents his compliments to
Mr. Henderſon, defires his acceptance of his Rela-
tion's Edition of Shakespear. Mr. Henderfon will
find the text pure, with a moft excellent gloffary
for the words fuppofed to be obfolete; but Sr. Thos,
Hanmer has proved they are expreffive and proper.
Mr.
1
( 25 )
:
Mr. Henderson's character, tafte, and abilities,
do great honor and credit to Shakeſpear.
It is no fmall pleaſure to Sr. Wn. to ſee ſo much
juftice done to the Favourite Author of his Rela-
tion.
Upper Groſvenor Street, Feb. 16, 1779.”
Whatever degree of merit may have been allowed :
to Mr. Henderſon as an actor, his character as a
man reflected the higheſt luftre on his profeffion. If
there be any whofe mifconduct has given reaſon for
derogatory ideas of the profeffion of a Player, I
could with them to confider and remember this ex-
cellent obfervation: "In proportion to the fmall-
nefs of its numbers, the character of fociety may be
affected by the virtues and vices of the perfons who
compofe it; and every member is engaged to
watch with the moſt vigilant attention over his own
behaviour, and over that of his brethren: fince, as
he muft expect to incur a part of the common dif-
grace, he may hope to enjoy a fhare of the com-
mon reputation."
Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
To actors and their cenfurers the following ex-
tract from Heywood's "Apology for Actors," 4to.
1612, is fubmitted.
* Tho' Henderſon fell infinitely fhort of the admirable model
on which he formed.himſelf, in Hamlet, Richard, Macbeth,
Lear, Benedict, Don John, Bayes, &c. yet was he truly excel-
lent in fome characters never exhibited by Garrick; Falſtaff was
his chef d'ouvres: Dominick, the Spaniſh Fryar, he was alfo
very capital in ; nor was he without great merit in Iago, Shylock,
and Sir Giles Overreach. One ſtriking trait of the goodneſs of his
difpofition ought not to be forgotten; that, poffeffing the powers
of mimickry in a fuperlative degree, he never diſplayed them on
the ftage: difdaining fo illiberal a practice, which has embittered
the life of many a worthy man; driven fome performers of con-
fiderable abilities from the theatre; and, as in the cafe of Delane,
eventually killed one of the greateſt ornaments of the Drama!
E
"I alfo
(26)
"I alfo could with, that fuch [actors] as are
condemned for their licentioufneffe, might by a
generall confent bee quite excluded our fociety:
for as we are men that ſtand in the broad eye of the
world, fo fhould our manners, geftures, and beha-
viours, favour of fuch government and modefty, to
deferve the good thoughts and reports of all men,
and to abide the ſharpeft cenfures even of thoſe that
are the greateſt oppofites to the quality. [i. e. the
profeffion of an actor. So in Hamlet, " give us a
taſte of your quality."] Many amongſt us, I know
to be of ſubſtance, of government, of fober lives,
and temperate carriages, houfe-keepers, and con-
tributary to all duties enjoyned them, equally with
them that are rank't with the moft bountifull; and
if amongſt ſo many of fort, there be any few dege-
nerate from the reſt in that good demeanor, which
is both requifite & expected at their hands, let me
entreat you not to cenfure hardly of all for the miſ-
deeds of fome, but rather to excufe us, as Qvid
doth the generality of women.
Parcite paucarum diffundere crimen in omnes,
Spectetur meritis quæq; puella fuis.
For fome offenders (that perhaps are few)
Spare in your thoughts to cenfure all the crew,
Since every breaſt containes a fundry fpirit,
Let every one be cenfur'd as they merit."
On
( 27 )
On a Shower of Rain falling in the Vicinity of Lon-
don on the Morning of April 23, 1789, being the
Day appointed for the General Thankſgiving for
His Majeſty's Happy Recovery.
Nature in tears on this glad Day,
When every face throughout the Ifle,
For George's Health reſtored, doth fmile?
Thy forrow's cauſe, I pr'ythee, fay !
Alas! upon this hapleſs day,
Yearly I've on it wept and figh'd!
And ever ſhall this tribute pay;
My darling Son, fweet Shakespeare, died!
No longer mourn, dejected Dame!
Tho' Shakespeare's gone, thy favorite Boy!
Thou ſtill may'ſt feel a Mother's joy
In Bards yet all-unknown to Fame:
Painting and Mufic George has cheriſh'd long;
Now Reaſon reigns He'll cheer the Poet's Song.
Theſe lines were firſt printed on the wrapper of No. 1.
of the intended new edition of Ben Jonfoh, May 1, 1789,
being the Specimen contained in this Mifcellany; a few
copies of which were fold feparately: they are here reprint-
ed, as in fome degree connected with the other three effays
on the Royal Indifpofition, &c. The fubject being now,
happily, not a recent one, they have not even the charm of
novelty to recommend them; yet, however trifling, and un-
worthy of prefervation they all may be, the editor, who
feldom attempts verfification, prefumes that they may be
permitted to remain; as memorials of his loyalty, refpect,
and duty, tho' not of his tafte, or genius for Poetry.
1792.
F. G. W.
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