English Lands, Letters and Kings, vol. 1: From Celt to Tudor

[1]

[2] London was possibly a British settlement before the Romans built there; though latest investigators, I think, favor the contrary opinion.

[3]

[4] Lady Charlotte Elizabeth Schreiber (née Guest) made the first translations which brought these Welsh romances into vogue. Among them is Geraint, the son of Erbin, which in our day has developed into the delightful Geraint and Enid. Mr. W. F. Skene has published the texts of various poems (from original MSS.) attributed to Taliesin, Aneurin, and others, with translations by D. Sylvan Evans and Robert Williams.

[5] There was a sort of Christianizing of Britain in later Romish times, but not much warmth or spending force in it; and Wright assures us that amid all the Roman remains thus far brought to light of mosaics and vases, only one Christian symbol has been found. This is on a tessellated pavement of a Roman villa at Frampton, in Dorsetshire. Lysons published an engraving of this pavement.

See also Green (introduction to Making of England) in reference to Christian inscriptions and ornaments of Roman date. He makes no allusion to the Frampton symbol.

[6] Green: Making of England, p. 337. A church he erected at Bradford-on-Avon stands in almost perfect preservation to-day. Murray’s Alph. Eng. Handbook. The Editor of Guide Book makes an error in date of the erection.

[7] Sonnet composed or suggested during a tour in Scotland, in summer of 1833.

[8] Of late years, owing to the difficulty of working, the mining and manufacture of the jet has nearly gone by—other carbon seams in Spain offering better and more economic results; these latter, however, still bear the name of Whitby Jet.

[9] I ought to mention that recent critics have questioned if all the verse usually attributed to Cædmon was really written by him: nay, there have been queries—if the picture of Satan itself was not the work of another hand. An analysis of the evidence, by Thomas Arnold, may be found in Ency. Br. See, also, Making of England, Chap. VII., note, p. 370.

[10] “During his last days verses of his own English tongue broke from time to time from the master’s lip—rude runes that told how before the ‘need-fare,’ Death’s stern ‘must go,’ none can enough bethink him what is to be his doom for good or ill. The tears of Beda’s scholars mingled with his song. So the days rolled on to Ascension tide,” etc.

[11] It is of record in Matthew of Westminster, a Benedictine monk of the fourteenth century—Flores Historiarum—first printed in 1567. “Nuda equum ascendens, crines capitis et tricas dissolvens, corpus suum totum, prater crura candidissima inde velavit.” The tradition is subject of crude mention in the Poly-olbion of Drayton; I also refer the reader to the charming Leofric and Godiva of Landor.

[12] Harold: the Last of the Saxon Kings; first published in 1848 and dedicated to the Hon. C. T. D’Eyncourt, M.P., whose valuable library—says Bulwer—supplied much of the material needed for the prosecution of the work.

[13] Geoffrey of Monmouth (Bishop of St. Asaph), d. 1154. His Cronicon, sive Historia Britonum first printed in 1508: translated into Eng., 1718. Vid. Wright’s Essays Arch. Sub., 1861.

[14] Such exception as the name warrants, must be made in favor of Nennius, § 50, A.D. 452.

[15] Other important Arthurian localities belong to the north and west of England; and whoso is curious in such matters, will read with interest Mr. Stuart Glennie’s ingenious argument to prove that Scotland was the great cradle of Arthurian Romance. Early English Text Society, Part iii., 1869.

[16] The fable is Scandinavian. The Anglo-Saxon version, dating probably from the seventh century, makes it a very important way-mark in the linguistic history of England. Eng. editions are numerous: among them—those of Kemble, 1833-7: Thorpe, 1855 and 1875: Arnold, 1876: also (Am. ed.) Harrison, 1883: Translations accompany the three first named: a more recent one has appeared (1883) by Dr. Garnett of Md.

[17] Walter Map, or Mapes, was born on the borders of Wales about 1143, and was living as Archdeacon at Oxford as late as 1196: possibly this was the Walter who supplied material to Geoffrey of Monmouth; there was however another Walter (Calienus) who was also Archdeacon at Oxford.

[18] Layamon’s work supposed to date (there being only internal evidence of its epoch) in the first decade of the thirteenth century. Vid. Marsh: English Language and Early Literature. Lecture IV. An edition, with translation, was published by Sir Frederic Madden in 1857.

[19] Among other direct Arthurian growths may be noted Morris’s Defence of Guinevere; Arnold’s Tristram and Issult; Quinet’s Merlin, Wagner’s Operatic Poems, and Smith’s Edwin of Deira.

[20] Orderic Vitalis, b. 1075; d. 1150. Of Abbey of St. Evroult, in Normandy. An edition of his Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy was published in 1826, with notice of writer, by Guizot.

[21] William of Malmsbury: dates uncertain; his record terminates with year 1143.

[22] Matthew Paris, 1200-1259, a monk of St. Albans. His Historia Major extends from 1235 to 1259.

[23] William of Newburgh, b. 1136; d. 1208. New edition of his record (Hist. Rerum Anglicarum), edited by Richard Howlet, published in 1884.

[24] Roger de Hoveden of twelfth century, (date uncertain.) His annals first published in 1595.

[25] I do not mean to say that Scott’s portraitures may be taken as archæologic data, or that one in search of the last and minutest truths respecting our Welsh or Saxon progenitors should not go to more recondite sources; meantime you will get very much from the reading of Scott to aid you in forming an image of those times; and, what is better still, you will very likely carry from the Romancer’s glowing pages a sharpened appetite for the more careful but duller work of the historians proper.

[26] I give fragment of one, of the reign of Edward II., cited by Mr. Marsh: p. 247, English Language and Early Literature.

[27] Robert of Gloucester lived in the latter part of the thirteenth century, perhaps surviving into the fourteenth. In addition to his Chronicle of England, he is thought to have written Lives and Legends of the English Saints.

[28] Il milione di Messer Marco Polo, Veneziano. Florence, 1827. Marco Polo d. 1323.

[29] Odoric, a priest of Pordenone in Friuli, who went on Church mission about 1318. His narrative is to be found in the Ramusio Col., 2d Vol. 1574. Carpini (Joannes de Plano), was a Franciscan from near Perugia, who travelled East about 1245. Hakluyt has portions of his narrative: but full text is only in Recueil de Voyages, Vol. IV., by M. D’Avezac.

[30] Messrs. Nicholson and Yule, who are sponsors for the elaborate article in the Br. Ency.

[31] Page 407, chap. viii.

[32] An abbot presided over monasteries—sometimes independent of the bishop—sometimes (in a degree) subject. Priors also had presidence over some religious houses—but theirs was usually a delegated authority. An æsthetic abbot or prior was always building—or always getting new colors for the missal work in the scriptorium: hunting abbots were thinking more of the refectory. At least six religious services were held a day, and always midnight mass. It was easy, but not wholly a life of idleness. A bell summoned to breakfast, and bells to mass. Of a sunny day—monks were teaching boys one side of the cloister—artistic monks working at their missals the other; perhaps under such prior as he of Jorvaulx (Scott’s Ivanhoe) some young monk would be training his hawks or dogs. An interesting abstract of the Rule of the Benedictines may be found under Monachism, Br. Ency., Vol. xvi.

[33] College Statutes of Merton date from 1274; those of University from 1280; and of Balliol from 1282. Paper of George C. Broderick, Nineteenth Century, September, 1882.

[34] The story of the Black Prince meets with revival in our day, by the recent publication of “Le Prince Noir, Poeme du Herault d’Armes Chandos,” edited, translated, etc., by Francisque Michel, F.A.S. Fotheringham: London, 1884. The original MS. is understood to be preserved in the Library of Worcester College, Oxford.

[35] Precise dates are wanting with respect to Langlande. Facts respecting his personal history are derived from what leaks out in his poem, and from interpolated notes (in a foreign hand) upon certain MS. copies. Of three different texts (published by the E. E. Text Soc.) Mr. Skeat dates one about 1362—a second in or about 1377, and the third still later. The first imprint has date of 1550.

[36] Not that he is specially free from foreign vocables: Marsh (Lec. VI., Eng. Language) gives his percentage of Anglo-Saxon words in Passus XIV. at only 84. See also Skeat’s Genl. Preface, p. xxxiii.

[37] In saying this I follow literal statement of the poem (Pass. xviii., 12,948), as do Tyrwhit, Price, and Rev. Mr. Skeat, whose opinions overweigh the objections of Mr. Wright, (Introduction, p. ix., note 3, to Wright’s Piers Plowman.) The Christian name William seems determined by a find of Sir Frederic Madden on the fly-leaf of a MS. in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.

Piers Plowman’s Creed, often printed with the Vision, is now by best critics counted the work of another hand.

[38] Church chroniclers who were contemporaries of Wyclif, girded at him as a blasphemer. Capgrave: Cron. of Eng. (Rolls Series), speaks of him as “the orgon of the devel, the enmy of the Cherch, the confusion of men, the ydol of heresie,” etc. Netter collected his (alleged) false doctrines under title of Bundles of Tares (Fasciculi Zizaniorum), Ed. by Shirley, 1858. Dr. Robt. Vaughan is author of a very pleasant monograph on Wyclif, with much topographic lore. Dr. Lechler is a more scholarly contributor to Wyclif literature; and the Early Eng. Text Soc. has published (1880) Mathews’ Ed. of “hitherto unprinted Eng. works of Wyclif, with notice of his life.” Rudolph Buddenseig, (of Dresden) has Ed. his polemical works in Latin (old) besides contributing an interesting notice for the anniversary just passed. Nor can I forbear naming in this connection the very eloquent quin-centenary address of Dr. Richard S. Storrs, of Brooklyn, N. Y.

[39] Those who love books which are royal in their dignities of print and paper, will be interested in Forshall & Madden’s elegant 4to. edition of the Wyclifite versions of the Bible.

[40] The biographers used to say 1328: this is now thought inadmissible by most commentators. Furnival makes the birth-year 1340—in which he is followed by the two Wards, and by Professor Minto (Br. Ency.). Evidence, however, is not as yet conclusive; and there is an even chance that further investigations may set back the birth-year to a date which will better justify and make more seemly those croakings of age which crept into some of the latter verse of the poet. For some facts looking in that direction, and for certain interesting genealogic Chaucer puzzles, see paper in London Athenæum for January 29, 1881, by Walter Rye.

[41] House of Fame, Book II.

[42] There is question of the authenticity of the translation usually attributed to Chaucer—of which there is only one fifteenth century MS. extant. Some version, however, Chaucer did make, if his own averment is to be credited. Prof. Minto (Br. Ency.) accepts the well-known version; so does Ward (Men of Letters); Messrs. Bradshaw (of Cambridge) and Prof. Ten Brink doubt—a doubt in which Mr. Humphrey Ward (Eng. Poets) seems to share.

[43] Sandras: Étude sur Chaucer.

[44] A notable edition is that of Prof. Lounsbury (Ginn & Heath, 1877); and it is much to be hoped that the same editor will bring his scholarly method of estimating dates, sources, and varying texts, to some more important Chaucerian labors.

[45] Another possible epoch of meeting with Petrarch may have been in the year 1368, when at the junketings attending the wedding of Prince Lionel (in Milan), Petrarch was present; also—perhaps—Chaucer in the suite of the Prince. Froissart makes note of the Feste, but without mention of either poet, or of his own presence. Chap. ccxlvii., Liv. I.

Walter Besant (Br. Ency., Art. Froissart), I observe, avers the presence of all three—though without giving authorities. Muratori (Annali) mentions Petrarch as seated among the princely guests—tanta era la di lui riputazione—but there is, naturally enough, no naming of Chaucer or Froissart.

[46] “Nous lui lairrons toute seule faire les honneurs; nous ne irons ni viendrons en nulle place ou elle soit,” etc.—Chroniques de Sire Jean Froissart (J. A. Buchon), tome iii., p. 236. Paris, 1835.

[47] “In the spandrils are the arms of Chaucer on the dexter side, and on the sinister, Chaucer impaling those of (Roet) his wife.”—Appendix III. to Furnival, Temporary Preface, etc.

[48] Some MSS. have this poem with title of Supplication to King Richard.

[49] This—in the engraving; the autotype published by the Chaucer Society gives, unfortunately, a very blurred effect to the upper part of the face: but who can doubt the real quality of Chaucer’s eye?

[50] The name, indeed, by some strange metonymy not easily explicable, had become “Talbot.” There is a later “Tabard,” dreadfully new, on the corner of “Talbot Inn Yard,” 85 High Street, Borough.

[51] Dean Stanley, without doubt in error, in measuring the pilgrimage by twenty-four hours. See Temp. Pref. to Six Text Edit. Furnival.

[52] Nov. VI. Giorn. IX. It may be open to question if Chaucer took scent from this trail, or from some as malodorous Fr. Fabliau—as Tyrwhitt and Wright suggest. The quest is not a savory one.

[53] His dethronement preceded his death, by a twelvemonth or more.

[54] Edited by Dr. Reinhold Pauli, London, 1857. Henry Morley (Eng. Writers, IV., p. 238) enumerates a score or more of existing MSS. of the poem. The first printed edition was that of Caxton, 1483.

[55] A more modern and accepted translation—by a wealthy Welsh gentleman, Thos. Johnes—was luxuriously printed on his private press at Hafod, Cardiganshire, in 1803.

[56] There is a manuscript copy in the (so-called) Bibliothèque du Roi at Paris. A certain number—among them, the Espinette Amoureuse—appear in the Buchon edition of the Chroniques; Paris, 1835.

[57] John Lydgate: dates of birth and death unsettled.

[58] The Storie of Thebe and the Troy booke were among his ambitious works. Skeat gives his epoch “about 1420,” and cites London Lickpenny—copying from the Harleian MS. (367) in the British Museum.

[59] James I. (of Scotland), b. 1394 and was murdered 1437.

The King’s Quair, from which quotation is made, was written in 1423. It is a poem of nearly 1400 lines, of which only one MS. exists—in the Bodleian Library.

An edition by Chalmers (1824) embodies many errors: the only trustworthy reading is that edited by the Rev. Walter Skeat for the Scottish Text Soc. (1883-4). A certain modernizing belongs of course to the citation I make—as well as to many others I have made and shall make.

[60] Priest at Diss in Norfolk, b. (about) 1460; d. 1529. Best edition of works edited by Rev. A. Dyce, 1843.

[61] Bedford (when Regent of France) is supposed to have transported to England the famous Louvre Library of Charles V. (of France). There were 910 vols., according to the catalogue drawn up by Gilles Mallet—“the greater number written on fine vellum and magnificently bound.”

[62] 1455 to 1485.

[63] Miss Halsted in her Richard III., chap. viii. (following the Historic Doubts of Horace Walpole), makes a kindly attempt to overset the Shakespearean view of Richard’s character—in which, however, it must be said that she is only very moderately successful. See also a more recent effort in the same direction by Alfred O. Legge (The Unpopular King, etc. London, 1885).

[64] Caxton had been concerned, in company with Colard Mansion, in printing other books, on the Continent, at an earlier date than this. The first book “set up” in England, was probably Caxton’s translation—entitled “The Recuyle of the Histories of Troye.” Vid. Blade’s William Caxton: London, 1882.

[65] Noticeable among these Louis de Bruges, Seigneur de la Gruthuyse—afterward made (by Edward IV. of England) Earl of Winchester.

[66] More frequently called Juliana Berners—supposed relative of the Lords Berners and Abbess of Sopwell. Rev. Mr. Skeat, however—a very competent witness—confirms the reading given. For discussion of the question see the Angler’s Note Book, No. iv. (1884) and opinions of Messrs. Quaritch & Westwood.

[67] The authenticity of these letters, published by John Fenn, Esq., F.A.S., has been questioned by Herman Merivale and others; James Gairdner, however (of the Record office), has argued in their favor, and would seem to have put the question at rest.

[68] Fuller, in his Worthies of England, says “The comedian is not excusable by some alteration of his name, seeing the vicinity of sounds intrench on the memory of a worthy Knight; and few do heed the inconsiderable difference in spelling their names.”

[69] The equipment of a parsonage house in Kent in those days, is set forth in full inventory (from MS. in the Rolls House) by Mr. Froude.—History of England, chap. i, p. 47.

[70] Not to be confounded with William Lilly the astrologer of the succeeding century. William Lilly of St. Paul’s was b. 1468; d. (of the plague) in 1532. His Latin Grammar was first published in 1513.

[71] William Camden, antiquary and chronicler; b. 1551; d. 1623. Annales Rerum Anglicarum et Hibernicarum regnante Elizabetha, pub. 1615. In 1597 he published a Greek Grammar—for the Westminster boys; he being at the time head-master of the school.

[72] Erasmus: by Robert Blackley Drummond (chap. vii.) London, 1873.

[73] Cranmer, b. 1489; d. 1556.

Complete edition of his works published 1834 (Rev. H. Jenkyns). Cranmer’s Bible so called, because accompanied by a prologue, written by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop, etc.

[74] There are many reasons for doubting if these lines were from Shakespeare’s own hand. Emerson (Representative Men)—rarely given to Literary criticism, remarks upon “the bad rhythm of the compliment to Queen Elizabeth” as unworthy the great Dramatist: so too, he doubts, though with less reason—the Shakespearean origin of the Wolsey Soliloquy. See also Trans. New Shakespere Society for 1874. Part I. (Spedding et al.)

[75] William Tyndale, b. about 1480; d. (burned at the stake) 1536. G. P. Marsh (Eng. Language and Early Lit.) says “Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament has exerted a more marked influence upon English philology than any other native work between the ages of Chaucer and of Shakespeare.”

[76] Latimer (Hugh) b. 1491; d. (at the stake) 1555. He was educated at Cambridge—came to be Bishop of Worcester—wrote much, wittily and strongly. A collection of his Sermons was published in 1570-71; and there have been many later issues.

[77] John Foxe, b. 1517; d. 1587. He was a native of Boston, Lincolnshire; was educated at Oxford; his History of the Acts and Monuments of the Church was first published in England in 1563. There was an earlier edition published at Strasbourg in 1554.

[78] Born near Haddington, Scotland, in 1505 (d. 1572); bred a friar; was prisoner in France in 1547; resided long time at Geneva; returned to Scotland in 1559. Life by Laing (1847) and by Brandes (1863); Swinburne’s Bothwell, Act iv., gives dramatic rendering of a sermon by John Knox. See also Carlyle’s Heroes and Hero-worship, Lecture IV.

[79] In the issue of Sternhold and Hopkins’ Psalmody of 1549 one year after Sternhold’s death, there were 37 psalms by Sternhold, and 7 by Hopkins. In subsequent editions more of Hopkins’ work was added.

[80] 34 and 35 Henry VIII.: A.D. 1542-43. The full text (Statutes of the Realm, Vol. III., pp. 895-7) gives some alleviating provisions in respect to “Noble women and gentle women, who reade to themselves;” and the same Statute makes particular and warning mention of the “Craftye, false and untrue translation of Tyndale.”

[81] A coarse comedy written (probably) by John Still, one time Bishop of Bath. Its title on the imprint of 1575 runs thus:—“A ryght pithy, pleasant and merie Comedy, intytuled Gammer Gurton’s Nedle; played on the Stage not longe ago in Christes Colledge, in Cambridge, made by Mr. S., Master of Art.”

[82] Sir Thomas Wyatt (or Wyat), b. 1503; d. 1542. The Earl of Surrey (Henry Howard, and cousin to Catharine Howard, one of the wives of Henry VIII.), b. about 1517, and beheaded 1547.

[83] Understood to be based on the relations of a certain Unfortunate Traveller (Jack Wilton) by Nash, 1595. The story was credited by Drayton, Winstanley, the Athenæ Oxonienses of Wood (edition of 1721), by Walpole (Noble Authors), and by Warton: The relations spoken of, however, show anachronisms which forbid their acceptance.

[84] B. 1515; d. 1568. His works (in English) were collected and edited by Bennett in 1761. Fuller (of the Worthies) writes of Ascham: “He was an honest man and a good shooter. His Toxophilus is a good book for young men; his Scholemaster for old; his Epistles for all men.”

[85] Report of Giacomo Soranzo (Venetian Ambassador) under date of 1554: Rawdon Brown’s Calendar State Papers, 1534-54.

[86] Rawdon Brown’s Calendar State Papers, 1554. From Venetian Archives.

[87] A Thomas Sackville, b. 1527; d. 1608, was author of a portion of Mirror for Magistrates; also associated with Thomas Norton, in production of the Tragedy of Gorboduc.

[88] Thomas Tusser, b. about 1527; d. 1580.

[89] Raphael Holinshed, d. about 1580. First edition of his Chronicle was published in 1577.

[90] William Cecil, b. 1520; d. 1598. Biography by Nares, 1828-31.

[91] Richard Hooker (1553-1600). Edition of his works (by Keble) first appeared 1836. First book of Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity has been edited for Clarendon Press Series by R. W. Church, 1868.

[92] Grosart, in his Life of Spenser (pp. 236-37), gives good reasons for doubting this story which is based mainly on the Jonson-Drummond interviews. Grosart also questions—as Prof. John Wilson had done before him—all the allegations of Spenser’s extreme indigence.

[93] Philip Sidney, b. 1554; d. 1586.

[94] The first edition of Rinaldo was printed at Venice in 1562: this great epic was completed at Padua in 1575.

[95] John Lyly, b. 1554; d. 1606.

[96] The style of Lyly has been traced by Dr. Landmann, an ingenious German critic, to the influence of Don Antonio de Guevara, a Spanish author, who wrote El Libro Aureo de Marco Aurelio, 1529. It was translated into English by Lord Berners in 1531 (published in 1534).

[97] James Spedding, b. 1803; d. 1881. His chief work was the Bacon life; and there is something pathetic in the thought of a man of Spedding’s attainments, honesty of purpose, and unflagging industry, devoting thirty of the best years of his life to a vindication of Bacon’s character. His aggressive attitude in respect to Macaulay is particularly shown in his Evenings with a Reviewer (2 vols., 8vo), in which he certainly makes chaff of a good deal of Macaulay’s arraignment.

[98] We are disinclined, however, to accept the same biographer’s over-mild treatment of the bribe-taking, as a “moral negligence”—coupling it with Dr. Johnson’s moral delinquency of lying a-bed in the morning! See closing pages of Evenings with a Reviewer.

[99] The extraordinary habits of Hobbes are made subject of pleasant illustrative comment in Sydney Smith’s (so-called) Sketches of Moral Philosophy, Lecture XXVI.

[100] Hobbes’ Thucydides was first published in the year 1628. An earlier English version (1550) was, in effect, only a translation of a translation, being based upon the French of Claude de Seyssel, Bishop of Marseilles. Hobbes sneers at this, and certainly made a better one—very literal, sometimes tame—sometimes vulgar, but remaining the best until the issue of Dean Smith’s (1753).

[101] Among the best known with which Chapman’s name is connected (jointly with Ben Jonson’s and Marston’s) is “Eastward Hoe!” containing a good many satirical things upon the Scotch—which proved a dangerous game—under James; and came near to putting the authors in limbo.

[102] B. 1564; d. 1593.

[103] Henceforth one who would know of Marlowe, and read what he wrote, in text which comes nearest the dramatist’s own (for we can hardly hope for absolute certainty) should consult the recent scholarly edition, edited by A. H. Bullen (Nimmo, 1884), in three volumes. We doubt, however, if such popular re-establishment of the poet’s fame can be anticipated as would seem to be foreshadowed in the wishes and glowing encomiums of his editor.

[104] B. about 1556; d. 1625.

[105] Thomas Nashe, b. about 1564; d. 1601.

[106] B. 1560(?); d. 1592. See Grosart’s edition of his writings (in Huth Library) where Dr. G. gives the best color possible to his life and works.

[107] B. 1558 or thereabout; and d. 1598.

[108] Thomas Dekker, b. about 1568; d. about 1640. Best edition of his miscellaneous works that of Grosart (Huth Library), which is charming in its print and its pictures—even to the poet in his bed, busy at his Dreame.

[109] Drayton, b. 1563; d. 1631. An edition of his works (still incomplete) by Rev. R. Hooper is the most recent.

[110] There is an exquisite sonnet usually attributed to him beginning—“Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part;” but this is so very much better than all his other sonnets, that I cannot help sharing the doubts of those who question its Drayton origin. If Drayton’s own, the sonnet certainly shows a delicacy of expression, and a romanticism of hue quite exceptional with him.

[111] Ben Jonson, b. 1573; d. 1637.

[112] Prefacing the edition of Jonson’s works of 1816; also in the elegant re-issue of the same—under editorship of Colonel Cunningham in 1875. Gifford seems to have spent his force (of a biographic sort) in picking up from various contemporary authors whatever contained a sneer at Jonson, and exploding it, after blowing it up to its fullest possible dimensions;—reminding one of those noise-loving boys who blow up discarded and badly soiled paper-bags, only to burst them on their knees.

[113] Ward (Ency. Br.) is inclined to doubt his going at all to Cambridge: I prefer, however, to follow the current belief—as not yet sufficiently “upset.”

[114] The facts regarding this “felony” of Jonson’s have been subject of much and varied averment: recent investigation has brought to light the “Indictment” on which he was arraigned, and some notes of the “Clerk of the Peace.” See Athenæum, March 6, 1886.

[115] In his Discoveries (De Shakespeare) Jonson says, “The players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing (whatsoever he penned) he never blotted out a line. My answer hath been, would he had blotted a thousand. Which they thought a malevolent speech.… I loved the man, and do honour his memory, on this side idolatry as much as any.”

[116] John Stow, b. 1525; d. 1605. His Survey published in 1598: reprinted over and over. Edition of 1876 has illustrations.

[117] Richard Hakluyt, b. about 1558; d. 1616.

[118] Thomas Coryat, b. 1577; d. 1617. Full title of his book is—Coryat’s Crudities hastily gobbled up in Five moneths Travells in France, Savoy, Italy, Rhetia, commonly called the Orisons Country, Helvetia, alias Switzerland, and some parts of Germany and the Netherlands.

[119] First published in 1589.

[120] Dates of birth and death uncertain. His Anatomie of Abuses first published in 1583.

[121] George Puttenham, b. about 1532: the book printed 1589.

[122] Nichols, in his Progresses of Queen Elizabeth, vol. i. (Preface), says: “She was twelve times at Theobalds, which was a very convenient distance from London, … the Queen lying there at his Lordship’s charge, sometimes three weeks, or a month, or six weeks together.”

[123] George Gascoigne (b. 1530; d. 1577) published a tract, in those days, entitled The Princely Pleasures of Kenelworth Castle, which appears in Nichol’s Progresses of Queen Elizabeth; as does also Laneham’s Account of the Queen’s Entertainment at Killingworth [sic] Castle.