"Edwardes late Mayfter of the Children in the queenes "maiefties chapell." O happie house, O place Of Corpus Chrifti, thou That plantedst first, and gauft the root Plunge up a thousand fighes, for griefe Whilst Childe and Chapell dure*, • While the royal chapel and its finging-boys remain. In a puritanical pamphlet without name, printed in 1569, and entitled, "The Children of the Chapel ftript and "whipt," among bifhop Tanner's books at Oxford, it is faid, "Plaies will neuer "be fuppreft, while her maiefties un"fledged minions flaunt it in filkes and "fattens. They had as well be at their "popifh fervice, in the deuils garments, "&c." fol. xii. a. 12mo. This is perhaps the earliest notice now to be found in print, of this young company of comedians, at least the earlieft proof of their celebrity, From the fame pamphlet we learn, that it gave ftill greater offence to the puritans, that they were fuffered to act plays on profane fubjects in the royal chapel itself. "Even in her maiefties chap " pel do these pretty vpítart youthes pro"fane the Lordes Day by the lafcivious "writhing of their tender limbs, and gor geous decking of their apparell, in feign"ing bawdie fables gathered from the ido"latrous heathen poets, &c." ibid. fol. xiii. b. But this practice foon ceased in the royal chapels. Yet in one of Stephen Goflon's books against the ftage, written in 1579, is this paffage. "In playes, either those "thinges are fained that neuer were, as "CUPID AND PSYCHE plaid at PAULES, "and a great many comedies more at the "Black-friars, and in euerie playhoufe in "London, &c." SIGNAT. D4. Undoubt edly the actors of this play of CUPID AND PSYCHE were the choristers of faint Paul's cathedral: but it may be doubted, whether by Paules we are here to underftand the Cathedral or its Singing school, the laft of which was the ufual theatre of those chorifters. See Goffon's "PLAYES CONFUTED IN FIVE ACTIONS, &C. "Prouing that they are not to be fuffred in a chriftian common weale, by the waye both "the cauils of Thomas Lodge, and the "Play of Playes, written in their defence, and other objections of Players frendes, are truely fet downe and directly aun"fweard." Lond. Impr. for T. Goffon, no date. Bl. Lett. 12mo. We are fure that RELIGIOUS plays were prefented in our churches long after the reformation. Not to repeat or multiply inftances, fee SECOND AND THIRD BLAST OF RETRAIT FROM PLAIES, printed 1580, pag. 77. 12mo. And Goffon's SCHOOLE OF ABUSE, P. 24. b. edit. 1579. As to the exhibition of plays on SUNDAYS after the reformation, we are told by John Field, in his DECLARATION OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT at Paris Garden, that in the year 1580, “The "Magiftrates of the citty of London ob "teined Whilst court a court shall be ; Good Edwards, eche aftat" fhall much Both want and wish for thee! Thy tender tunes and rhymes Wherein thou wontst to play, Eche princely dame of court and towne Shall beare in minde away. Thy DAMON and his Friend *, "teined from queene Elizabeth, that all "heathenish playes and enterludes should "be banished upon fabbath dayes." fol. ix. Lond. 1583. 8vo. It appears from this pamphlet, that a prodigious concourse of people were affembled at Paris Garden, to fee plays and a bear-baiting, on Sunday Jan. 13, 1583, when the whole theatre fell to the ground, by which accident many of the spectators were killed. [See alfo Henry Cave's Narration of the Fall of Paris Garden, Lond. 1588. And D. Beard's Theater of Gods Judgements, edit. 3. Lond. 1631. lib. i. c. 35. pag. 212. Alfo Refutation of Heywood's Apologie for Actors, P. 43. by J. G. Lond. 1615. 4to. And Stubbs's Anatomie of Abuses, p. 134, 135. edit. Lond. 1595.] And we learn from Richard Reulidges's Monster lately found out and difcovered, or the Scourging of Tiplers, a circumstance not generally known in our dramatic history, and perhaps occafioned by these profanations of the fabbath, that "Many godly citizens and wel-disposed "gentlemen of London, confidering that "play-houfes and dicing-houfes were traps "for yong gentlemen and others,-made "humble fuite to queene Elizabeth and "her Privy-councell, and obtained leave "from her Majesty, to thrust the Players "out of the citty; and to pull downe all "Play-houfes and Dicing-houses within. "their Liberties which accordingly was "effected, and the Play-houses, in GRA. "CIOUS [Grace-church] STREET, BI"SHOPS GATE STREET,that nigh PAULES, "that on LUDGATE - HILL, and the "WHITE-FRIERS, were quite put downe "and fuppreffed, by the care of these religious fenators." Lond. 1628. pp. 2, 3, 4. Compare G. Whetstone's MIRROUR FOR MAGISTRATES OF CITTIES. Lond. 1586. fol. 24. But notwithstanding these precise measures of the city magistrates and the privy-council, the queen appears to have been a constant attendant at plays, especially thofe prefented by the children. of her chapel. "Eftate. Rank of life. w Hamlet calls Horatio, O Damon dear, in allufion to the friendship of Damon and Pythias, celebrated in Edwards's play. HAML, ACT iii. Sc 2. Pythias. I have faid above, that the first edition of Edwards's DAMON AND PYTHIAS was printed by William Howe in Fleet-ftreet, in the year 1570, "The "tragicall comedie, &c." See fupr. p. 285. But perhaps it may be neceffary to retract this affertion. For in the Register of the Stationers, under the year 1565, a receipt is entered for the licence of Alexander Lacy to print, "A ballat entituled tow [two] la mentable Songes PITHIAS and DA"MON." REGISTR. A. fol. 136. b. And again, there is the receipt for licence of Richard James in 1566, to print "A boke "entituled the tragicall comedye of Da"monde and Pithyas." Ibid. fol. 161. b. In the fame Register I find, under the year 1569-70, "An ENTERLUDE, a lamenta"ble Tragedy full of pleafant myrth," licenced to John Alde. Ibid. fol. 184. b. This I take to be the first edition of Pref ton's CAMBYSES, fo frequently ridiculed by his cotemporaries. ARCITE and PALAMON, With moe' full fit for princes eares, &c2. Francis Meres, in his "PALLADIS TAMIA, Wits Treasurie, "being the fecond part of WITS COMMONWEALTH," published in 1598, recites Maifter EDWARDES of her maiefties chapel as one of the best for comedy, together with "Edward earle of Oxforde, doctor Gager of Oxford, maister Rowly once a "rare scholler of Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge, eloquent and "wittie John Lillie, Lodge, Gafcoygne, Greene, Shakespeare, "Thomas Nash, Thomas Heywood, Anthony Mundye, our y More. z Ibid. fol. 78. b. And not to multiply in the text citations in proof of Edwards's popularity from forgotten or obfcure poet, I obferve at the bottom of the page, that T. B in a recommendatory poem prefixed to John Studley's English verfion of Seneca's AGAMEMNON, printed in 1566, ranks our author Edwards with Phaer the tranflator of Virgil, Jafper Haywood the tranflator of Seneca's TROAS and HERCULES FURENS, Nevile the tranflator of Seneca's OEDIPUS, Googe, and Golding the tranflator of Ovid, more particularly with the latter. With him alfo, as feemeth me, Our EDWARDS may compare; • A famous writer of Latin plays at Oxford. See fupr. vol. ii. 384. I have never feen any of Antony Munday's plays. It appears from Kemp's NINE DAIES WONDER, printed in 1600, that he was famous for writing ballads. In The Request to the impudent generation of Ballad-makers, Kemp calls Munday "one whose "employment of the pageant was utterly fpent, he being knowne to be Elder"ton's immediate heire, &c." SIGNAT. D 2. See the next note. He feems to have been much employed by the bookfellers as a publisher and compiler both in verfe and profe. He was bred at Rome in the English college, and was thence usually called the Pope's scholar. See his pamphlet The Englishman's Roman Life, or how Englishmen live at Rome. Lond. 1582. 4to. But he afterwards tu ned proteftant. He published "The Discoverie of Ed"mund Campion the Jefuit," in 1582. 12mo. Lond. for E. White. He published alfo, and dedicated to the earl of Leicester, Two godly and learned Sermons made by that famous and worthy inftrument in God's church M. John Calvin, tranflated into English by Horne bishop of Winchefter, during his exile. "Published by A. M." For Henry Car, Lond. 1584. 12mo. Munday frequently used his initials only. Also, a Brief CHRONICLE from the Creation to this time, Lond. 1611. 8vo. This feems to be cited by Hutten, ANTIQUIT. OXF. p. 281. edit. Hearne, See REGISTR. STATION. B. fol. 143. b. He was a city-poet, and a composer and contriver of the city-pageants. Thefe are, CHRYSO-TRIUMPHOS, &C. devised and written by A. Munday, 1611.-TRIUMPHS OF OLD DRAPERY, &c. by A. M. 1616. -METROPOLIS CORONATA, &c. by A. M. 1615. with the Story of ROBIN-HOOD. Printed by G. Purftowe.-CHRYSANALEIA, [The golden-fifhery] or the honor of fishmongers, concerning Mr. John Lemans being twice Lord-mayor, by A. M. 1616. 4to. -THE TRIUMPHS OF REUNITED BRITANNIA, &c. by A. Munday, citizen and draper of London, 4to. Frobably " beft plotter, Chapman, Porter, Wilfon, Hathway, and Henry "Chettle "." Puttenham, the author of the Arte of English 66 bly Meres, as in the text, calls him the best plotter, from his invention in these or the like fhows. William Webbe in the Difcourfe of ENGLISH POETRIE, printed in 1586, fays, that he has feen by Anthony Munday, an earnest traveller in this art, "very excellent works, efpecially upon "nymphs and fhepherds, well worthy to "be viewed, and to be esteemed as rare "poetry." In an old play attributed to Jonfon, called The Cafe is altered, he is ridiculed under the name of ANTONIO BALLADINO, and as a pageant-poet. In the fame fcene, there is an oblique ftroke on Meres, for calling him the BEST PLOT TER. "You are in print already for the BEST PLOTTER." With his city-pageants, I fuppofe he was DUMB-SHOW maker to the ftage. Munday's DISCOVERY OF CAMPION gave great offence to the catholics, and produced an anonymous reply called "A "True Reporte of the deth and martyr"dom of M. Campion, &c. Whereunto "is annexed certayne verfes made by fun" drie perfons." Without date of year or place. Bl. Lett. Never feen by Wood, [ATH. OXON. col. 166.] Pub.ifhed, I fuppofe, in 1583, 8vo. At the end is a CAUEAT, containing fome curious anecdotes of Munday. Munday was first a "ftage player; after an aprentise, which "time he well ferued by with deceeuing "of his master. Then wandring towards 66 66 Italy, by his owne reporte, became a "cofener in his journey. Coming to Rome, "in his shorte abode there, was charitably "relieued, but neuer admitted in the e"minary, as he plefeth to lye in the title "of his boke; and being wery of well doing, returned home to his firft vomite, "and was hift from his ftage for folly. "Being thereby discouraged, he set forth "a balet against playes,-tho he after"wards began again to ruffle upon the 66 66 ftage. I omit among other places his behaviour in Barbican with his good "mistres, and mother. Two thinges how "ever must not be paffed over of this boyes "infelicitie two feuerall wayes of late no"torious. First, he writing upon the death "of Everaud Haunfe was immediately con❝troled and difproued by one of his owe "hatche. And fhortly after fetting forth. "the Aprehenfion of Mr. Campion, &c." The laft piece is, "a breef Difcourfe of "the Taking of Edmund Campion, and di"vers other papists in Barkshire, &c. Ga"thered by A. M." For W. Wrighte, 1581. He published in 1618, a new edition of Stowe's SURVEY OF LONDON, with the addition of materials which he pretends to have received from the author's own hands. See DEDICATION. He was a citizen of London, and is buried in Coleman-ftreet church; where his epitaph gives him the character of a learned antiquary. SEYMOUR'S SURV. LOND. i. 322. He collected the Arms of the county of Middlefex, lately transferred from fir Simeon Stuart's library to the British Museum. Fol 282. I do not recollect to have feen any of Chettle's comedies. He wrote a little romance, with fome verfes intermixed, entitled, "PIERS PLAINNES fea 66 uen yeres Prentiship, by H. C. Nuda "Veritas. Printed at London by J. Danter "for Thomas Goffon, and are to be fold "at his fhop by London-bride gate, 1595.' 4to. Bl. Lett. He wrote another pamphlet, containing anecdotes of the petty literary fquabbles, in which he was concerned with Greene, Nafhe, Tarleton, and the players, called "KINDE-HARTS DREAME. Con"taining five Apparitions with their In"uectiues against abufes raigning. Deli"uered by feuerall Ghofts unto him to be pub"light after Piers Penileffe Poft had rejufed "the carriage. Inuita Inuidia. By H. C. Imprinted at London for William Wright." 4to. without date. Bl. Lett. In the Epistle prefixed, To the Gentlemen Readers, and figned Henrie Chettle, he says, "About three moneths fince died M. Ro"bert Greene, [in 1592] leaving many "papers in fundry Booke fellers handes, 66 among 1 Poefie, mentions the "earle of Oxford, and maister Edwardes "of her majefties chappel, for comedy and enterlude "." Among the books of my friend the late Mr. William Collins among others his GROATS WORTH OF "WIT, in which a letter written to diuers "PLAY-MAKERS is offenfibly by one or two "of them taken, &c." In the fame, he mentions an Epiftle prefixed to the fecond part of GERILEON, falfely attributed to Nafhe. The work confits of four or five Addreffes. The firft is an ironical Admɔnition to the Ballad-fingers of London, from Antonie Now Now, or Antony Munday, juft mentioned in the text, a great Ballad-writer. From this piece it appears, that the antient and refpectable profeffion of ballad-making, as well as of balladfinging, was in high repute about the metropolis and in the country fairs. SIGNAT. C. When I was liked, fays Anthonie, "there was no thought of that idle vp"ftart generation of ballad-fingers, nei"ther was there a printer fo lewd that "would fet his finger to a lafciuious line.” But now, he adds, " ballads are abufively "chanted in every ftreet; and from Lon"don this evil has overfpread Effex and "the adjoining counties. There is many "a tradesman, of a worship ull trade, yet "no stationer, who after a little bringing vppe apprentices to finging brokerie, "takes into his fhoppe fome fresh men, " and truftes his olde fervauntes of a two "months ftanding with a doffen groates "worth of ballads. In which if they prove "thriftie, he makes them prety chapmen, 6. able to fpred more pamphlets by the "state forbidden, than all the book fellers "in London, &c." The names of many ballads are here also recorded, WATKINS ALE, The CARMANS WHISTLE, CHOPPING-KNIVES, and FRIER FOX-TAILE. Out-roaringe Dick, and Wat Wimbars, two celebrated trebles, are faid to have got twenty fhillings a day by finging at Braintree fair in Effex. Another of thefe Addreffes is from Robert Greene to Peirce Pennileffe. SIGNAT. E. Another from Tarleton the Player to all maligners of boneft mirth. E 2. "Is it not lamentable, fays 66 66 he, that a man fhould fpende his two pence on plays in an afternoone !—If "players were fuppreffed, it would be to "the no fmal profit of the Powlinge Alleys "in Bedlam and other places, that were [are] wont in the afternoones to be left empty by the recourfe of good fellowes "into that vnprofitable recreation of stage"playing. And it were not much amiffe "woulde they ioine with the Diving"houfes to make fute againe for their "longer reftrainte, though the Sicknee "ceafe. While Playes are ufde, halfe the "daye is by moft youthes that haue liber"tie fpent vppon them, or at least the "greatest company draw ne to the places "where they frequent, &c." This is all in pure irony. The laft addrefs is from William Cuckowe, a famous mafter of legerdemain, on the tricks of juglers. I could not fuffer this opportunity, accidentally offered, to pafs, of giving a note to a forgotten old writer of comedy, whofe name may not perhaps occur again. But I must add, that the initials H. C. to pieces of this period do not always mean Henry Chettle. In ENGLAND'S HELICON are many pieces figned H. C. Probably for Henry Conftable, a noted fonnet-writer of thefe times. I have " DIANA, or the ex"cellent conceitfull Sonnets of H. C. "Augmented with diuers quatorzains of "honorable and learned perfonages, Di"uided into viij Decads. Vincitur a faci "bus qui jacit ipfe faces." At Lond 1596. 16mo. These are perhaps by Henry Conftable. The laft Sonnet is on a Lady born 1588. In my copy, thofe by H. C. are marked H. C. with a pen. Henry Conftable will be examined in his proper place. Chettle is mentioned, as a player I think, in the last page of Dekker's KNIGHTS CONJURING, printed in 1607. Lib. i. ch. xxxi. fol. 51. a. of |