Chapter 9

I do not wonder, _Coriat_, that thou hast Over the _Alps_, through _France_, and _Savoy_, past, Parcht on thy skin, and founder'd in thy feet, Faint, thirsty, lousie, and didst live to see't. Tho' these are _Roman_ sufferings, and do show What Creatures back thou hadst, could carry so; All I admire is thy return, and how Thy slender pasterns could thee bear, when now Thy observations with thy brain ingendred, Have stufft thy massy and volumnious head With Mountains, Abbeys, Churches, Synagogues, Preputial Offals, and _Dutch_ Dialogues: A burthen far more grievous than the weight Of Wine or Sleep, more vexing then the freight Of Fruit and Oysters, which lade many a pate, And send folks crying home from _Billings-gate_. No more shall man with Mortar on his head Set forward towards _Rome_: no, Thou art bred A terror to all Footmen, and to Porters, And all Lay-men that will turn _Jews_ Exhorters, To fly their conquer'd trade: Proud _England_ then Embrace this luggage, which the man of men Hath landed here, and change thy Welladay Into some home-spun welcome Roundelay. Send of this stuff thy Territories thorough, To _Ireland_, _Wales_, and _Scottish Edenborough_; There let this Book be read and understood, Where is no theme, nor writer half so good.

He from a Student in, became Dean of _Christchurch_, then Bishop of _Oxford_, being of a courteous carriage, and no destructive nature to any who offended him, counting himself plentifully repaired with a Jest upon him. He afterwards was advanced Bishop of _Norwich_, where he died _Anno_ 1635.

* * * * *

Mr. _BENJAMIN JOHNSON_.

This _renowned Poet_, whose Fame surmounts all the Elogies which the most learned Pen can bestow upon him, was born in the City of _Westminster_, his Mother living there in _Harts-horn-lane_, near _Charing-cross_, where she married a _Bricklayer_ for her second Husband. He was first bred in a private School in St. _Martin's_-Church, then in _Westminster_-School, under the learned Mr. _Cambden_, as he himself intimates in one of his Epigrams.

_Cambden_, most reverend head, to whom I owe All that I am in Arts, all that I know. How nothings that, to whom my Country owes, The great _renown_ and _name_ wherewith she goes.

Under this _learned Schoolmaster_ he attained to a good degree of learning, and was statutably admitted in St. _John's_-Colledge in _Cambridge_, (as many years after incorporated a honorary Member of _Christ-Church_ in _Oxford_) here he staid but some small time, for want of maintainance; for if there be no Oyl in the Lamp, it will soon be extinguish'd: And now, as if he had quite laid aside all thoughts of the University, he betook himself to the Trade of his Father-in-law; And let not any be offended herewith, since it is more commendable to work in a lawful Calling, then having one not to use it. He was one who helped in the building of the new Structure of _Lincolns-Inn_, where, having a Trowel in his hand, he had a Book in his pocket, that as his work went forward, so his study went not backward.

But such _rare Parts_ as he had could be no more hid, than the Sun in a serene day, some Gentlemen pitying such rare Endowments should be buried under the rubbish of so mean a Calling, did by their bounty manumise him freely to follow his own ingenious inclinations. Indeed his Parts were not so ready to run of themselves, as able to answer the spur; so that it may be truly said of him, that he had an elaborate wit wrought out by his own industry; yet were his Repartees for the most part very quick and smart, and which favour'd much of ingenuity, of which I shall give you two instances.

He having been drinking in an upper room, at the _Feathers_-Tavern in _Cheap side_, as he was coming down stairs, his foot slipping, he caught a fall, and tumbling against a door, beat it open into a room where some Gentlemen were drinking _Canary_; recovering his feet, he said, _Gentlemen, since I am so luckily fallen into your company, I will drink with you before I go_.

He used very much to frequent the _Half-Moon_-Tavern in _Aldersgate-street_, through which was a common _Thorough fare_; he coming late that way, one night, was denied passage, whereupon going through the _Sun_-Tavern a little after, he said,

_Since that the_ Moon _was so unkind to make me go about, The_ Sun _hence forth shall take my Coin, the_ Moon _shall go without_.

His constant humour was to sit silent in learned Company, and suck in (besides Wine) their several Humours into his observation; what was _Ore_ in others, he was able to refine unto himself.

He was one, and the chief of them, in ushering forth the Book of _Coriats Crudities_, writing not only a Character of the Author, an explanation of his Frontispiece, but also an Acrostick upon his Name, which for the sutableness of it, (tho' we have written something of others mock Verses) we shall here insert it.

T_ry and trust_ Roger, _was the word, but now_ H_onest_ Tom Tell-troth _puts down_ Roger, How? O_f travel he discourseth so at large_, M_arry he sets it out at his own charge_; A_nd therein (which is worth his valour, too)_ S_hews he dare more than_ Paul's _Church-yard durst do._

C_ome forth thou bonny bouncing Book then, daughter_ O_f_ Tom of Odcombe, _that odd jovial Author_, R_ather his son I should have call'd thee, why_? Y_es thou wert born out of his travelling thigh_ A_s well as from his brains, and claim'st thereby_ T_o be his_ Bacchus _as his_ Pallas: _he_ E_ver his Thighs_ Male _then and his Brains_ She.

He was paramount in the Dramatick part of Poetry, and taught the Stage an exact conformity to the Laws of Comedians, being accounted the most learned, judicious, and correct of them all, and the more to be admired for being so, for that neither the height of natural parts, for he was no _Shakespear_, nor the cost of extraordinary education, but his own proper industry, and addiction to Books, advanced him to this perfection. He wrote fifty Plays in all, whereof fifteen Comedies, three Tragedies, the rest Masques and Entertainments. His Comedies were, _The Alchimist_, _Bartholomew Fair_, _Cynthia's Revels_, _Caseis alter'd_, _The Devil is an Ass_, _Every Man in his humour, every Man out of his humour_, _The Fox_, _Magnetick Lady_, _New Inn_, _Poetaster_, _Staple of News_, _Sad Shepherd, Silent Woman_, and _A Tale of a Tub_. His Tragedies were, _Cateline's Conspiracy, Mortimer's Fall_, and _Seianus_. His Masques and Entertainments, too long here to write, were thirty and two, besides a Comedy of _East-ward, hoe_? in which he was partner with _Chapman_.

These his Plays were above the vulgar capacity, (which are onely tickled with down-right obscenity) and took not so well at the first _stroke_, as at the _rebound_, when beheld the second time, yea, they will endure reading, and that with due commendation, so long as either ingenuity or learning are fashionable in our Nation. And although all his Plays may endure the test, yet in three of his Comedies, namely, _The Fox, Alchymist_, and _Silent Woman_, he may be compared in the judgment of the learned men, for _decorum, language_ and _well-humouring_ parts, as well with the chief of the ancient _Greek_ and _Latine_ Comedians, as the prime of modern _Italians_, who have been judged the best of _Europe_ for a happy vein in Comedies; nor is his _Bartholomew Fair_ much short of them. As for his other Comedies, _Staple of News, Devil's an Ass_, and the rest, if they be not so sprightful and vigorous as his first pieces, all that are old will, and all that desire to be old, should excuse him therein; and therefore let the Name of _Ben Johnson_ sheild them against whoever shall think fit to be severe in censure against them. Truth is, his Tragedies, _Seianus and Cateline_ seem to have in them more of an artificial and inflate, than of a pathetical and naturally Tragick height; yet do they every one of them far excel any of the _English_ ones that were writ before him; so that he may be truly said to be the first reformer of the _English_ Stage, as he himself more truly than modestly writes in his commendatory Verses of his Servants _Richard Broom_'s Comedy of the _Northern Lass_.

Which you have justly gained from the Stage, By observation of those Comick Laws, Which I, your Master, first did teach the Age.

In the rest of his Poetry, (for he is not wholly Dramatick) as his _Underwoods_, _Epigrams_, &c. he is sometimes bold and strenuous, sometimes Magisterial, sometimes lepid and full enough of conceit, and sometimes a man as other men are.

It seems the issue of his brain was more lively and lasting than the issue of his body, having several Children, yet none living to survive him; This he bestowed as part of an Epitaph on his eldest Son, dying an Infant.

Rest in soft peace, and ask'd, say, Here doth lye _Ben Johnson_ his best piece of Poetry.

But tho' the immortal Memory still lives of him in his learned Works, yet his Body, subject to mortality, left this life, _Anno_ 1638. and was buried about the Belfrey in the Abbey-Church at _Westminster_, having only upon a Pavement over his Grave, this written:

_O Rare_ Ben Johnson.

Yet were not the Poets then so dull and dry, but that many expressed their affection to his Memory in Elegies and Epitaphs; amongst which this following may not be esteemed the worst.

The Muses fairest Light in no dark time, The Wonder of a learned Age; the line That none can pass: the most proportion'd Wit To Nature; the best Judge of what was fit: The deepest, plainest, highest, clearest Pen: The Voyce most eccho'd by consenting men; The Soul which answer'd best to all well said By others; and which most requital made: Tun'd to the highest Key of ancient _Rome_; Returning all her Musick with her own; In whom with Nature, Study claim'd a part, And yet who to himself ow'd all his Art; Here lies _Ben Johnson_, every Age will look With sorrow here, with Wonder on his Book.

* * * * *

_FRANCIS BEAUMONT_ and _JOHN FLETCHER_.

These two joyned together, made one of the happy _Triumvirate_ (the other two being _Johnson_ and _Shakespear_) of the chief Dramatick Poets of our Nation, in the last foregoing Age; among whom there might be said to be a symmetry of perfection, while each excelled in his peculiar way: _Ben Johnson_ in his elaborate pains and knowledge of Authors, _Shakespear_ in his pure vein of wit, and natural Poetick height; _Fletcher_ in a Courtly Elegance and Gentile Familiarity of Style, and withal a Wit and Invention so overflowing, that the luxuriant Branches thereof were frequently thought convenient to be lopt off by Mr. _Beaumont_; which two joyned together, like _Castor_ and _Pollux_, (most happy when in conjunction) raised the _English_ to equal the _Athenian_ and _Roman_ Theaters; _Beaumont_ bringing the Ballast of Judgment, _Fletcher_ the Sail of Phantasie, both compounding a Poet to admiration.

These two admirable Wits wrote in all two and fifty Plays, whereof three and forty were Comedies; namely, _Beggars Bush_, _Custom of the Country_, _Captain Coxcomb_, _Chances_, _Cupid's Revenge_, _Double Marriage_, _Elder Brother_, _Four Plays in one_, _Fair Maid of the Inn_, _Honest man's Fortune_, _Humorous Lieutenant_, _Island Princess_, _King and no King_, _Knight of the burning Pestle_, _Knight of_ Malta, _Little_ French _Lawyer_, _Loyal Subject_, _Laws of_ Candy, _Lovers Progress_, _Loves Cure_, _Loves Pilgrimage_, _Mad Lover_, _Maid in the Mill_, _Monsieur_ Thomas, _Nice Valour_, _Night-Walker_, _Prophetess_, _Pilgrim_, _Philaster, Queen of_ Corinth, _Rule a Wife and have a Wife_, Spanish _Curate_, _Sea-Voyage_, _Scornful Lady_, _Womans Prize_, _Women pleased_, _Wife for a Month_, _Wit at several weapons_, and a _Winters Tale_. Also six Tragedies; _Bonduca_, the _Bloody Brother_, _False One_, the _Maids Tragedy_, _Thiery and Theodoret_, _Valentinian_, and _Two Noble Kinsmen_, a Tragi-Comedy, _Fair Shepherdess_, a Pastoral; and a _Masque of_ Grays-Inn _Gentlemen_.

It is reported of them, that meeting once in a Tavern, to contrive the rude Draught of a Tragedy, _Fletcher_ undertook to _kill the King_ therein, whose Words being over-heard by a Listner (though his Loyalty not to be blamed herein) he was accused of High Treason, till the Mistake soon appearing, that the Plot was only against a Dramatick and Scenical King, all wound off in Merriment.

Yet were not these two Poets so conjoyned, but that each of them did several Pieces by themselves, Mr. _Beaumont_, besides other Works, wrote a Poem, entituled, _Salmacis_ and _Hermaphroditus_, a Fable taken out of _Ovid's Metamorphosis_; and Mr. _Fletcher_ surviving Mr. _Beamont_, wrote good Comedies of himself; so that it could not be laid to his Charge what _Ajax_ doth to _Ulysses_;

_Nihil hic_ Diomede _remoto_,

When _Diomedes_ was gone, He could do nought alone.

Though some think them inferior to the former, and no wonder if a single thread was not so strong as a twisted one, Mr. _Fletcher_ (as it is said) died in _London_ of the Plague, in the first year of King _Charles_ the First, 1625.

* * * * *

_WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR_.

This eminent Poet, the Glory of the _English_ Stage (and so much the more eminent, that he gained great applause and commendation, when able Wits were his Contemporaries) was born at _Stratford_ upon _Avon_ in _Warwickshire_, and is the highest honour that Town can boast of. He was one of the _Triumvirate_, who from Actors, became Makers of Comedies and Tragedies, _viz. Christopher Marlow_ before him, and Mr. _John Lacy_, since his time, and one in whom three eminent Poets may seem in some sort to be compounded, 1. _Martial_, in the warlike sound of his Sirname, _Hastivibrans_, or _Shakespear_; whence some have supposed him of military extraction. 2. _Ovid_, the most natural and witty of all Poets; and hence it was that Queen _Elizabeth_ coming into a Grammar-School, made this extemporary Verse.

_Persius_ a Crab-staff, Bawdy _Martial_, _Ovid_ a fine Wag.

3. _Plautus_, a most exact Comedian, and yet never any Scholar, as our _Shakespear_ (if alive) would confess himself; but by keeping company with Learned persons, and conversing with jocular Wits, whereto he was naturally inclin'd, he became so famously witty, or wittily famous, that by his own industry, without the help of Learning, he attained to an extraordinary height in all strains of Dramatick Poetry, especially in the Comick part, wherein we may say he outwent himself; yet was he not so much given to Festivity, but that he could (when so disposed) be solemn and serious; so that _Heraclitus_ himself might afford to smile at his Comedies, they were so merry, and _Democritus_ scarce forbear to sigh at his Tragedies, they were so mournful.

Nor were his Studies altogether confined to the Stage, but had excursions into other kinds of Poetry, witness his Poem of the _Rape of Lucrece_, and that of _Venus and Adonis_; wherein, to give you a taste of the loftiness of his Style, we shall insert some few Lines of the beginning of the latter.

Even as the Sun with purple-colour'd face Had tane his last leave of the weeping Morn, Rose-cheek'd _Adonis_ hy'd him to the Chase, Hunting he lov'd, but Love he laught to scorn. Sick thoughted _Venus_ makes amain unto him, And like a bold-fac'd Suiter 'gins to woo him. Thrive fairer than my self (thus she begins) The fields chief flower, sweet above compare, Stain to all Nymphs, more lovely than a man; More white and red than Doves or Roses are: Nature that made thee with herself at strife, Says that the world hath ending with thy life, &c

He was an eminent instance of the truth of that Rule, _Poeta non fit, sed nascitur_; one is not made, but born a Poet; so that as _Cornish Diamonds_ are not polished by any Lapidary, but are pointed and smoothed even as they are taken out of the Earth, so Nature itself was all the Art which was used on him.

He was so great a Benefactor to the Stage, that he wrote of himself eight and forty Plays; whereof 18 Comedies, _viz._ _As you like it_, _All's well that ends well_, _A Comedy of Errors_, _Gentleman of_ Verona, _Loves Labour lost_, London _Prodigal_, _Merry Wives of_ Windsor, _Measure for measure_, _Much ado about Nothing_, _Midsummer Nights Dream_, _Merchant of_ Venice, _Merry Devil of_ Edmonton, _Mucedorus, the Puritan Widow_, _the Tempest_, _Twelf-Night_, or _what you will_, _the taming of the Shrew_, and _a winters Tale_. Fourteen Tragedies, _viz._ _Anthony and Cleopatra_, _Coriolanus_, _Cymbeline_, _Hamlet_, _Julius Cæsar_, _Lorrino_, _Leir and his three Daughters_, _Mackbeth_, _Othello the Moor of_ Venice, _Romeo and Juliet_, _Troylus and Cressida_, _Tymon of_ Athens, _Titus Andronicus_, and _the Yorkshire Tragedy_. Also fifteen Histories, _viz._ Cromwel's _History_, _Henry_ 4. in two parts, _Henry_ 5. _Henry_ 6. in three parts, _Henry_ 8. _John King of_ England, in three parts, _Pericles Prince of_ Tyre, _Richard_ 2. _Richard_ 3. and _Oldrastes Life and Death_. Also _the Arraignment of Paris_, a Pastoral.

Many were the Wit-combats betwixt him and _Ben Johnson_, which two we may compare to a _Spanish great Gallion_, and an _English Man of war_: Mr. _Johnson_, (like the former) was built far higher in Learning, solid, but slow in his performances; _Shakespear_, with the _English Man of war_, lesser in Bulk, but lighter in sayling, could turn with all Tides, tack about, and take advantage of all Winds, by the quickness of his Wit and Invention. His History of _Henry_ the Fourth is very much commended by some, as being full of sublime Wit, and as much condemned by others, for making Sir _John Falstaffe_ the property of Pleasure for Prince _Henry_ to abuse, as one that was a _Thrasonical Puff_, and emblem of mock Valour; though indeed he was a man of Arms every inch of him, and as valiant as any his Age, being for his Martial Prowess made Knight of the Garter by King _Henry_ the 6th.

This our famous Comedian died _An. Dom_. 16--and was buried at _Stratford_ upon _Avon_, the Town of his Nativity; upon whom one hath bestowed this Epitaph, though more proper had he been buried in _Westminster Abbey_.

Renowned _Spencer_, lie a thought more nigh To learned _Chaucer_, and rare _Beaumont_ lie A little nearer _Spencer_ to make room For _Shakespear_, in your threefold, fourfold Tomb, To lodge all four in one Bed make a shift Until Doomsday, for hardly will a fifth Betwixt this day and that, by Fates be slain For whom your Curtains may be drawn again. If your precedency in Death do bar A fourth place in your sacred Sepulcher, Under this sacred Marble of thine own, Sleep rare Tragedian _Shakespear_! sleep alone, Thy unmolested Peace in an unshar'd Cave, Possess as Lord, not Tenant of thy Grave, That unto us, and others it may be Honour hereafter to be laid by thee.

* * * * *

_CHRISTOPHER MARLOW_.

_Christopher Marlow_ was (as we said) not only contemporary with _William Shakespear_, but also, like him, rose from an Actor, to be a maker of Comedies and Tragedies, yet was he much inferior to _Shakespear_ not only in the number of his Plays, but also in the elegancy of his Style. His Pen was chiefly employ'd in Tragedies; namely, his _Tamberlain_ the first and second Part, _Edward_ the Second, _Lust's Dominion_, or _the Lascivious Queen_, the _Massacre of_ Paris, his _Jew of_ Malta, a Tragi-comedy, and his Tragedy of _Dido_, in which he was joyned with _Nash_. But none made such a great Noise as his Comedy of _Doctor Faustus_ with his Devils, and such like tragical Sport, which pleased much the humors of the Vulgar. He also begun a Poem of _Hero_ and _Leander_; wherein he seemed to have a resemblance of that clear and unsophisticated Wit which was natural to _Musæus_ that incomparable Poet. This Poem being left unfinished by _Marlow_ who in some riotous Fray came to an untimely and violent end, was thought worthy of the finishing hand of _Chapman_, as we intimated before; in the performance whereof, nevertheless he fell short of the Spirit and Invention with which it was begun.

* * * * *

_BARTON HOLYDAY_.

_Barton Holyday_, an old Student of _Christ-Church_ in _Oxford_, who besides his Translation of _Juvenal_ with elaborate Notes, writ several other things in _English_ Verse, rather learned than elegant; and particularly a Comedy, called _The Marriage of the Arts_: Out of which, to shew you his fluent (but too Satyrical Style) take these Verses made by him to be spoken by _Pocta_, as an Execration against Women.

O Women, Witches, Fayries, Devils, The impure extract of a world of Evils; Natures great Errour, the Obliquity Of the Gods Wisdom; and th'Anomaly From all that's good; Ile curse you all below The Center, and if I could, then further throw Your cursed heads, and if any should gain A place in Heaven, Ile rhyme 'em down again To a worse Ruine, _&c._

* * * * *

_CYRIL TURNER_.

_Cyril Turner_ was one who got a Name amongst the Poets, by writing of two old Tragedies, the _Athei'st's Tragedy_, and the _Revenger's Tragedy_; which two Tragedies, saith one,

His Fame unto that Pitch so only raised, As not to be despised, nor too much prais'd.

* * * * *

_THOMAS MIDLETON_.

_Thomas Midleton_ was one who by his Industry added very much to the _English_ Stage, being a copious Writer of Dramatick Poetry. He was Contemporary with _Johnson_ and _Fletcher_ and tho' not of equal Repute with them, yet were well accepted of those times such Plays as he wrote; namely, _Blurt Mr. Constable, the chaste Maid in Cheapside, Your fine Gallants, Family of Love, More Dissemblers than Women_, the _Game at Chess,_ the _Mayor of_ Quinborough, _a mad world my Masters, Michaelmas Term, No Wit like a womans_, the _Roaring Girl, any thing for a quiet Life_, the _Phenix_ and _a new Trick to catch the old one_, Comedies; _The world toss'd at Tennis_, and _the Inner Temple_, Masques; and _Women beware Women_, a Tragedy. Besides what, he was an Associate with _William Rowley_ in several Comedies and Tragi-Comedies; as, _the Spanish Gypsies, the Changeling, the Old Law, the fair Quarrel, the Widow_: Of all which, his _Michaelmas Term_ is highly applauded both for the plot and neatness of the style.

* * * * *

_WILLIAM ROWLEY_.

_William Rowley_ was likewise a great Benefactor to the _English_ Stage, not only in those Plays mentioned before with _Thomas Midleton_, but also what he wrote alone; as, _A Woman never vext_ a Comedy; _A Match at Midnight_, and _All's lost by Lust_, Tragedies; and joyn'd with _Webster_, two Comedies, _The Thracian wonder_, and _A Cure for a Cuckold_, with _Shakespere, The Birth of_ Merlin, a Tragi-Comedy; and _The Travels of the three_ English _Brothers_, a History, wherein he was joyn'd with _Day_ and _Wilkins_.

* * * * *

_THOMAS DECKER_.

_Thomas Decker_, a great pains-taker in the Dramatick strain, and as highly conceited of those pains he took; a high-flyer in wit, even against _Ben Johnson_ himself, in his Comedy, call'd, _The untrussing of the humorous Poet_. Besides which he wrote also, _The Honest Whore_, in two Parts; _Fortunatus; If this ben't a good Play the Devil's in't; Match me in_ London; _The Wonder of a Kingdom; The Whore of_ Babylon, all of them Comedies. He was also an associate with _John Webster_ in several well entertain'd Plays, _viz. Northward, hoe? The Noble Stranger; New trick to cheat the Devil; Westward, hoe? The Weakest goes to the Wall_; And _A Woman will have her will_: As also with _Rowley_ and _Ford_ in _the Witch of Edmunton_, a Tragi-Comedy; And also _Wiat's History_ with _Webster_.