Part 2

"_Smith._ And why, I pray? because I would haue put you from the Mace?

"_Miller._ [_Cobler._] No, not for that, but because he is no good fellow, nor he will not spend his pot for companie.

"_Smith._ Why, sir, there was a god of our occupation; and I charge you by vertue of his godhed to let me deliuer the petition.

"_Cob._ But soft you; your God was a Cuckold, and his Godhead was the horne; and thats the Armes of the Godhead you call vpon. Go, you are put down with your occupation; and now I wil not grace you so much as to deliuer the petition for you.

"_Smith._ What, dispraise our trade?

"_Cob._ Nay, neighbour, be not angrie, for Ile stand to nothing onlie but this.

"_Smith._ But what? bear witnesse a giues me the But, and I am not willing to shoot. Cobler, I will talke with you: nay, my bellowes, my coletrough, and my water shall enter armes with you for our trade. O neighbour, I can not beare it, nor I wil not beare it.

"_Mil._ Heare you, neighbour; I pray conswade yourself and be not wilful, and let the Cobler deliuer it; you shal see him mar all.

"_Smith._ At your request I will commit my selfe to you, and lay myselfe open to you lyke an Oyster.

"_Mil._ Ile tell him what you say. Heare you, naighbor: we haue constulted to let you deliuer the petition; doe it wisely for the credite of the towne.

"_Cob._ Let me alone; for the Kings Carminger was here, he sayes the King will be here anon.

"_Smith._ But heark, by the Mas he comes.

"_Enter the King, Dunston, and Perin._

"_King._ How now, Perin, who haue we here?

"_Cob._ We the townes men of Goteham, Hearing your Grace would come this way, Did thinke it good for you to stay-- But hear you, neighbours, bid somebody ring the bels-- And we are come to you alone, To deliuer our petition.

"_Kin._ What is it, Perin? I pray thee reade.

"_Per._ Nothing but to haue a license to brew strong Ale thrise a week, and he that comes to Goteham and will not spende a penie on a pot of Ale if he be a drie, that he may fast.

"_Kin._ Well, sirs, we grant your petition.

"_Cob._ We humblie thanke your royall Maiesty.

"_King._ Come, Dunston, lets away. _Exeunt omnes._"[xxiv:1]

Like the pieces already noticed, "Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham" have been inserted in the catalogue of his "works."[xxiv:2] But surely the words of the title-page mean nothing more than 'merriments in which Kemp had been applauded;' and since it is not easy to imagine that the scene, as preserved in the printed copy, could have been received with any unusual degree of approbation even by the rudest audience, the probability is, that he enlivened his part,[xxv:1] not only by his ever-welcome buffoonery, but also by sundry speeches of extemporal humour: see a passage in _The Travailes of The three English Brothers_, cited at p. xv. There can be no doubt that Kemp figured in other "merrimentes" besides those "of the men of Goteham," though they have not descended to our times: "But," says Nash to Gabriel Harvey, "by the meanes of his [Greene's] death thou art depriued of the remedie in lawe which thou intendedst to haue had against him for calling thy Father Ropemaker. Mas, thats true, what Action will it beare? _Nihil pro nihilo_, none in law; what it will doe vpon the stage I cannot tell, for there a man maye make action besides his part, when he hath nothing at all to say: and if there, it is but a clownish action that it will beare; for what can bee made of a Ropemaker more than a Clowne? Will Kempe, I mistrust it will fall to thy lot for a _merriment_ one of these dayes." _Strange Newes, Of the intercepting certaine Letters_, &c. 1592.[xxv:2]

I have only to add, that the present edition of the _Nine daies wonder_ exhibits faithfully the text of the original 4to, which is preserved in the Bodleian Library,[xxvi:1] and which Gifford declared to be "a great curiosity, and, as a rude picture of national manners, extremely well worth reprinting."[xxvi:2]

A. DYCE.

FOOTNOTES:

[v:1] Heywood's _Apology for Actors_, Sig. E 2, 1612, 4to.--Tarlton died in Sept. 1588. A tract by Nash, entitled _An Almond for a Parrat_, n. d. but published about 1589, is dedicated "To that most Comicall and conceited Caualeire Monsieur du Kempe, Jestmonger and Vice-gerent generall to the Ghost of Dicke Tarlton."

[v:2]

"_Letoy._--But you, Sir, are incorrigible, and Take licence to yourselfe to adde unto Your parts your owne free fancy; and sometimes To alter or diminish what the writer With care and skill compos'd; and when you are To speake to your coactors in the Scene, You hold interloquutions with the Audients.

_Byplay._--That is a way, my Lord, has bin allow'd On elder stages to move mirth and laughter.

_Letoy._--Yes, in the dayes of Tarlton and _Kempe_, Before the stage was purg'd from barbarisme, And brought to the perfection it now shines with; Then fooles and jesters spent their wits, because The Poets were wise enough to save their owne For profitabler uses."

--Brome's _Antipodes_, 1640, Act ii. sc. 1, Sig. D. 3.

The passage on this subject in _Hamlet_, Act iii. sc. 2, must be familiar to every reader.

[v:3] The term _Jig_ will be afterwards explained.

[vi:1] _A Knack to know a Knaue._--Alleyn was concerned in several theatres: the Company mentioned above seems to have acted at the Rose.

[vi:2] Collier's _Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet._ i. 297, 298.

[vi:3] In the second 4to. of the former play, 1599, and in the only 4to. of the latter, 1600, "_Kemp_" is prefixed to some speeches of Peter and Dogberry.

[vii:1] What character is uncertain: see the names of "The principall Comoedians" at the end of the play in B. Jonson's _Workes_, 1616, fol.

[vii:2] See pp. 1, 2, 19.

[vii:3] Liber C. fol. 58 b.

[viii:1] Act iv. sc. 4.--_Works_, ii. 165, ed. Gifford.

[viii:2] _On the Famous Voyage_, Ibid. viii. 242.

[viii:3] Sig. F. 8.--In Dekker's _Owles Almanacke_, 1618, 4to, under "A memoriall of the time sithence some strange and remarkeable Accidents vntill this yeare 1617," we find "Since the horrible dance to Norwich ... 14 [years]." Sig. B. 4,--a mistake either of the author or printer. Allusions to Kemp's morris may also be found in Dekker and Webster's _Westward Ho_, 1607, Act v. sc. 1,--see my ed. of Webster's _Works_, iii. 103; and in _Old Meg of Herefordshire for a Mayd Marian, and Hereford Towne for a Morris Daunce_, &c. 1609, 4to.,--see p. 10 of reprint in _Miscell. Ant. Anglic._ 1816.

[ix:1] P. 20.

[ix:2] The passages in _The Retvrne from Pernassus_ (see p. xi.) "What, M. Kempe, how doth the Emperour of Germany?" and "Welcome, M. Kempe, from dancing the morrice ouer the Alpes," are, I conceive, only sportive allusions to his journey to Norwich.

[ix:3] Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 198.

[ix:4] Sig. B. 2.--Malone chose to read "played the clownes _part_ more naturally," &c.

[ix:5] Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 490--Yet the name _William Kemp_ appears to have been not uncommon; for Chalmers (_ubi supra_) mentions that he found "in the parish register of St. Bartholomew the Less, the marriage of William Kempe unto Annis Howard, on the 10th of February, 1605-6;" and I shall presently shew that another individual so called has been confounded with the actor.

[x:1] It was probably written about 1602,--certainly before the death of Queen Elizabeth.

[xi:1] George Chalmers, who cites the present passage, observes, that Kemp "was as illiterate, probably, as he was certainly jocose. The Cambridge scholars laughed at his _gross illiterature_." Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 491. What folly to take the measure of Kemp's acquirements from such a scene as this! He may have had no classical learning; but assuredly, as the _Nine daies wonder_ shews, he was not grossly illiterate.

[xi:2] i. e. ay.

[xi:3] An allusion to B. Jonson's _Poetaster_, _Works_, ii. 525, _seq._ ed. Gifford: the words "Shakespeare hath given him a purge," &c. have occasioned considerable discussion; see Gifford's _Memoirs of Jonson_, p. lx. and p. cclv.

[xi:4] i. e. hindrances.

[xi:5] See note p. ix.

[xii:1] i. e. St. Leger's Round, an old country dance.

[xii:2] Terms used in the Buttery Books at the universities: see Minsheu in v. v. _Size_ and _Cue_.

[xii:3] An allusion to Dekker's _Satiromastix, or The Vntrussing of the Humorous Poet_.

[xii:4] A character in Kyd's _Spanish Tragedy_. The speech here given by Studioso from that celebrated piece (and which Burbage of course ought previously to recite), begins in the earlier 4tos.

"_What outcries pluck me_ from _my_ naked bed;"

and in the later--

"_What outcry calls_," &c.

See Dodsley's _Old Plays_, iii. 130, last ed.

[xii:5] From this passage it has been conjectured that Kemp acted Justice Shallow.

[xiii:1] Sigs. G. 2, 3.

[xiv:1] Their names are attached to the Dedication.

[xiv:2] It must have been produced, however, at an earlier date. It is not divided into Acts.

[xiv:3] As early as 1589, in the Dedication to a tract already cited (p. v.), Nash had fabled that Kemp was known by reputation in Italy:--"Comming from Venice the last Summer, and taking Bergamo in my waye homeward to England, it was my happe soiourning there some foure or fiue dayes, to light in felowship with that famous Francatrip' Harlicken, who, perceiuing me to bee an English man by my habit and speech, asked me many particulars of the order and maner of our playes, which he termed by the name of representations: amongst other talke he enquired of me if I knew any such Parabolano here in London as Signior Chiarlatano Kempino. Very well (quoth I), and haue beene oft in his company. He hearing me say so, began to embrace me a new, and offered me all the courtesie he colde for his sake, saying, although he knew him not, yet for the report he had hard of his pleasance, hee colde not but bee in loue with his perfections being absent."--_An Almond for a Parrat_, Sig. A. 3.

[xiv:4] Dr. W. Marriott, the editor of _A Collection of English Miracle Plays_, &c. Basel, 1838, has been led into a strange mistake by this passage, which, in his Introductory Essay, p. lxii. he cites from _Bibliographical Memoranda_, Bristol, 1816. After observing that according to the stage direction in one of the Chester Plays, Adam and Eve _stabunt nudi et non verecundabuntur_, he continues, "Perhaps our forefathers thought it no indecency to give such representations, considering they had the authority of Scripture for such exhibitions; but it must, nevertheless, strike us as not a little extraordinary, that at least as late as the close of the sixteenth century such scenes were to be found in England. We learn this fact [!!] from a play entitled _The Trailes of The three English Brothers_, 1607," &c.

[xv:1] This piece was an allegorical representation of some of the chief events of the reign of Elizabeth, who was personated under the character of _England's Joy_: the author was named Vennard: see Collier's _Hist. of Eng. Dram. Poet._ iii. 405. _The Plot of the Play called England's Joy. To be playd at the Swan this 6. of Nov. 1602_, is reprinted (from a broadside) in _The Harl. Miscell._ x. 198, ed. Park.

[xvii:1] Sigs. E. 4., F.

[xviii:1] iii. 28.

[xix:1] P. 19.

[xix:2] "_The Education of Children in learning; declared by the dignitie, vtilitie, and methode thereof, by W. K._ (Wm. Kempe, who seems to have been a schoolmaster at Plymouth). Dedicated to Maister Wm. Hawkins, Esq. maior of Plymouth, &c. Quarto, 1588." Ames's _Typ. Antiq._ by Herbert, ii. 1242.

I may here observe that Herbert (ii. 1046) has given by mistake the following prose piece to "W. Kempe," in consequence, probably, of having seen it bound up with the "Dvtiful Invective," in a volume of the Royal Library: _The Censure of a loyall Subiect: Vpon certaine noted Speach and behauiours, of those fourteene notable Traitors, at the place of their executions, the xx. and xxi. of September last past. Wherein is handled matter of necessarye instruction for all dutifull Subiectes: especially, the multitude of ignorant people. Feare God: be true to thy Prince: and obey the Lawes. At London. Printed by Richarde Jones, dwelling at the Signe of the Rose and Crowne, neere Holborne bridge_, 1587, 4to. The author was George Whetstone. An Address to the Reader signed T. C. [Thomas Churchyard] sets forth that "my good friend M. G. W. at his departure into the Country, left this most honest work to be censured by me; being right well assured, by the continuance of our true friendshippes, that I would not deceiue him with a flattering iudgement: and (trust me) vpon a considerate reading, I found it a little booke, containing a large testimony of his loyaltie to his prince and countrie," &c. Then follows the Dedication "To the Right honorable, Sir William Cicill, knight, Baron of Burleigh," &c. signed G. W., who trusts that this piece "will merite the acceptance of my former bookes."

[xx:1] See Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell) iii. 135, seq., Collier's _Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet._ iii. 378, seq.

[xx:2] Liber B. fol. 282 b.

[xx:3] Liber B. fol. 132.

[xxi:1] So in MS.

[xxi:2] Liber C. fol. 3 b.

[xxi:3] P. xix.

[xxi:4] P. 2.

[xxii:1] Lib. iii. Sat. xi. p. 225. ed. 1764.--"Orchestra" is an allusion to Sir J. Davies's poem of that name.

Augustine Phillips, an actor contemporary with Kempe, has also been mentioned as "an author," in consequence of the following entry in the Stationers' Books:

"xxvi^to Maii [1595]

"Raffe Hancock Entred for his copie vnder the } handes of the Wardens, Phillips } vi^d." his gigg of the slyppers.... }

(_Liber_ B. fol. 132 b.)

George Chalmers erroneously makes the date of this entry "1593," Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 469.

[xxii:2] Pp. 10. 13.

[xxii:3] Liber B. fol. 304. As this entry is nearly in the words of the title-page, I have not cited it at length. In Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 197, and Collier's _Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet._ iii. 27, the date is wrongly given "_Sept._ 7."

[xxii:4] Malone's _Shakespeare_ (by Boswell), iii. 299.

[xxiv:1] Sig. F.--This play is not divided into acts.

[xxiv:2] Ritson (vide _Bibl. Poet._) was evidently not aware that these "Merriments" formed part of an extant drama.

[xxv:1] He played, I presume, the Cobler.

[xxv:2] Sig. E. 4.--Mr. Collier's conjecture (_Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet._ iii. 33) that Nash "refers possibly" to the "Merrimentes of the men of Goteham" was thrown out, I think, somewhat hastily.

[xxvi:1] Among the books given to it by Robert Burton. No other copy is extant. Blomefield mistook it for a MS.: "In 1599 ... one Kemp came dancing the whole Way from London to Norwich, and there is a MSS. in the Bodleian Library containing an Account of it."--_Hist. of Norf._ ii. 250.

[xxvi:2] Note on B. Jonson's _Works_, ii. 166.

Kemps nine daies vvonder. Performed in a daunce from London to Norwich.

_Containing the pleasure, paines and kinde entertainment_ of _William Kemp_ betweene _London_ and that Citty in his late Morrice.

Wherein is somewhat set downe worth note; to reprooue the slaunders spred of him: many things merry, nothing hurtfull.

_Written by himselfe to satisfie his friends._

LONDON

Printed by _E. A._ for _Nicholas Ling_, and are to be solde at his shop at the west doore of Saint Paules Church 1600.

To the true Ennobled Lady, and his most bountifull Mistris, Mistris Anne Fitton, Mayde of Honour to the most sacred Mayde, Royall Queene Elizabeth.{1:2}

Honorable Mistris, in the waine of my litle wit I am forst to desire your protection, else euery Ballad-singer will proclaime me bankrupt of honesty. A sort{1:6} of mad fellows, seeing me merrily dispos'd in a Morrice, haue so bepainted mee in print since my gambols began from London to Norwich, that (hauing but an ill face before) I shall appeare to the world without a face, if your fayre hand wipe not away their foule coulors. One hath written _Kemps farewell_ to the tune of Kery, mery, Buffe;{1:11} another, His desperate daungers in his late trauaile; the third, His entertainement to New-Market; which towne I came neuer neere by the length of halfe the heath. Some sweare, in a Trenchmore{1:14} I haue trode a good way to winne the world; others that guesse righter, affirme, I haue without good help daunst my selfe out of the world; many say many thinges that were neuer thought. But, in a word, your poore seruant offers the truth of his progresse and profit to your honorable view: receiue it, I beseech you, such as it is, rude and plaine; for I know your pure iudgement lookes as soone to see beauty in a Blackamoore, or heare smooth speech from a Stammerer, as to finde any thing but blunt mirth in a Morrice dauncer, especially such a one as Will Kemp, that hath spent his life in mad Iigges{2:2} and merry iestes. Three reasons mooue mee to make publik this iourney: one to reproue lying fooles I neuer knew; the other to commend louing friends, which by the way I daily found; the third to shew my duety to your honorable selfe, whose fauours (among other bountifull friends) makes me (dispight of this sad world) iudge my hart Corke and my heeles feathers, so that me thinkes I could flye to Rome (at least hop to Rome, as the olde Prouerb is) with a morter on my head.{2:8} In which light conceite I lowly begge pardon and leaue, for my Tabrer strikes his huntsup{2:11}, I must to Norvvich: Imagine, noble Mistris, I am now setting from my Lord Mayors, the houre about seauen, the morning gloomy, the company many, my hart merry.

Your worthy Ladiships most vnworthy seruant, WILLIAM KEMP.

KEMPS NINE DAIES WONDER,

PERFORMED IN A MORRICE FROM LONDON TO NORWICH.

Wherein euery dayes iourney is pleasantly set downe, to satisfie his friends the truth against all lying Ballad-makers; what he did, how hee was welcome, and by whome entertained.

* * * * *

The first daies iourney, being the first Munday in cleane Lent, from the right honorable the Lord Mayors of London.

The first mundaye in Lent, the close morning promising a cleere day, (attended on by Thomas Slye{3:10} my Taberer, William Bee my seruant, and George Sprat, appointed for my ouerseer, that I should take no other ease but my prescribed order) my selfe, thats I, otherwise called Caualiero Kemp, head-master of Morrice-dauncers, high Head-borough of heighs, and onely tricker of your Trill-lilles and best bel-shangles{3:15} betweene Sion and mount Surrey,[3:1] began frolickly to foote it from the right honorable the Lord Mayors of London towards the right worshipfull (and truely bountifull) Master Mayors of Norwich.

My setting forward was somewhat before seauen in the morning; my Taberer stroke up merrily; and as fast as kinde peoples thronging together would giue mee leaue, thorow London I leapt. By the way many good olde people, and diuers others of yonger yeers, of meere kindnes gaue me bowd sixepences and grotes, blessing me with their harty prayers and God-speedes.

Being past White-chappell, and hauing left faire London with all that North-east Suburb before named, multitudes of Londoners left not me: but eyther to keepe a custome which many holde, that Mile-end is no walke without a recreation at Stratford Bow with Creame and Cakes, or else for loue they beare toward me, or perhappes to make themselues merry if I should chance (as many thought) to giue over my Morrice within a Mile of Mile-end; how euer, many a thousand brought me to Bow; where I rested a while from dancing, but had small rest with those that would haue vrg'd me to drinking. But, I warrant you, Will Kemp was wise enough: to their ful cups, kinde thanks was my returne, with Gentlemanlike protestations, as "Truely, sir, I dare not," "It stands not with the congruity of my health." Congruitie, said I? how came that strange language in my mouth? I thinke scarcely that it is any Christen worde, and yet it may be a good worde for ought I knowe, though I neuer made it, nor doe verye well understand it; yet I am sure I have bought it at the word-mongers at as deare a rate as I could haue had a whole 100 of Bauines{4:18} at the wood-mongers. Farwell, Congruitie, for I meane now to be more concise, and stand upon eeuener bases; but I must neither stand nor sit, the Tabrer strikes alarum. Tickle it, good Tom, Ile follow thee. Farwell, Bowe; haue ouer the bridge, where I heard say honest Conscience was once drownd: its pittye if it were so; but thats no matter belonging to our Morrice, lets now along to Stratford Langton.

Many good fellows being there met, and knowing how well I loued the sporte, had prepared a Beare-bayting; but so unreasonable were the multitudes of people, that I could only heare the Beare roare and the dogges howle; therefore forward I went with my hey-de-gaies{4:30} to Ilford, where I againe rested, and was by the people of the towne and countrey there-about very very wel welcomed, being offred carowses in the great spoon,[4:1] one whole draught being able at that time to haue drawne my little wit drye; but being afrayde of the olde Prouerbe (He had need of a long spoone that eates with the deuill), I soberly gaue my boone Companyons the slip.

From Ilford, by Moone-shine, I set forward, dauncing within a quarter of a myle of Romford; where, in the highway, two strong Iades (hauing belike some great quarrell to me vnknowne) were beating and byting either of other; and such through Gods help was my good hap, that I escaped their hoofes, both being raysed with their fore feete ouer my head, like two Smithes ouer an Anuyle.

There being the end of my first dayes Morrice, a kinde Gentleman of London lighting from his horse, would haue no nay but I should leap into his saddle. To be plaine with ye, I was not proud, but kindly tooke his kindlyer offer, chiefely thereto vrg'd by my wearines; so I rid to my Inne at Romford.

In that towne, to giue rest to my well-labour'd limbes, I continued two dayes, being much beholding to the townsmen for their loue, but more to the Londoners that came hourely thither in great numbers to visite me, offring much more kindnes then I was willing to accept.

The second dayes iourney, beeing Thursday of the first weeke.

Thursday being Market day at Burnt-wood, Tom Slye was earlyer up then the Lark, and sounded merrily the Morrice: I rowsed my selfe, and returned from Romford to the place wher I tooke horse the first night, dauncing that quarter of a myle backe againe thorow Romford, and so merily to Burnt-wood. Yet, now I remember it well, I had no great cause of mirth, for at Romford townes end I strained my hip, and for a time indured exceeding paine; but being loath to trouble a Surgeon, I held on, finding remedy by labour that had hurt mee, for it came in a turne, and so in my daunce I turned it out of my seruice againe.

The multitudes were so great at my comming to Burntwood, that I had much a doe (though I made many intreaties and staies) to get passage to my Inne.

In this towne two Cut-purses were taken, that with other two of their companions followed mee from London (as many better disposed persons did): but these two dy-doppers{6:9} gaue out when they were apprehended, that they had laid wagers and betted about my iourney; wherupon the Officers bringing them to my Inne, I iustly denyed their acquaintance, sauing that I remembred one of them to be a noted Cut-purse, such a one as we tye to a poast on our stage, for all people to wonder at, when at a play they are taken pilfring{6:13}.