well as their red and white, and you cannot imagine a more ugly Sight, then a Troop of lean-cheek'd Moors. The Spanish and Venetian Ambassadors were both present, and sate by the king in State; at which Monsieur Beaumont quarrells so extreamly, that he saith the whole Court is Spanish. But by his Favour, he should fall out with none but himself, for they were all indifferently invited to come as private Men, to a private Sport; which he refusing, the Spanish Ambassador willingly accepted, and being there, seeing no Cause to the contrary, he put off Don Taxis, and took upon him El Señor Embaxadour, wherein he outstript our little Monsieur. . . . The Night's Work was concluded with a Banquet in the great Chamber, which was so seriously assaulted, that down went Table and Tresses before one bit was touched. [Winwood State Papers, 1725, ii, 43–44.] The Venetian Ambassador, 1605. Nicolo Molin, Venetian Ambassador in England, to the Doge and Senate, January 27 [O.S. 17], 1605. On the 16th [O.S. 6th] of this month, (Epiphany old style, the King created his second son Duke of York, and made twelve Knights of the Bath, so called because at their creation they are dipped. The morning of that day, the Chamberlain sent to say that if I cared to see the Queen's masque [Jonson's Masque of Blackness] that evening he would secure a convenient seat for myself and three or four of my suite. He explained that all the Ambassadors were being invited privately, so as to avoid quarrels for precedence. I said I would gladly attend. Meantime the Spanish Ambassador hearing that the French Ambassador was confined to his bed made vigorous representations at Court to secure for himself a public invitation; and he succeeded. Sir Lewis Lewkenor presently went to visit the French Ambassador, who having got wind of what the Spaniard was about, received Lewkenor very haughtily. [Calendar of State Papers, Venetian, x, 212. Cf. also State Papers, Domestic, James I, xii, nos. 6, 16; xiv, nos. 59, 60.] Title-page, 1605. Eastward Hoe. As It was playd in the Black-friers. By The Children of her Maiesties Revels. Made by Geo: Chapman. Ben: Ionson. Ioh: Marston. At London Printed for William Aspley. 1605. [Three quarto editions of the play appeared in 1605, with slight variation in title-pages.] George Chapman, 1605. To His Most Gratious Majestie: Vouchsafe most Excellent Soveraigne to take mercifull notice of the submissive and amendfull sorrowes of your two most humble and prostrated subjects for your highnes displeasure [at Eastward Hoe?]: Geo: Chapman and Ben Jhonson; whose chief offences are but two clawses, and both of them not our owne; much less the unnaturall issue of our offenceles intents: I hope your Majestie's universall knowledge will daigne to remember: That all Authoritie in execution of Justice especiallie respects the manners and lives of men commanded before it; And accordinge to their generall actions censures anythinge that hath scapt them in perticular; which cannot be so disproportionable that one being actuallie good, the other should be intentionallie ill; if not intentionallie (howsoever it may lie subject to construction) where the whole founte of our actions may be justified from beinge in this kind offensive; I hope the integrall partes will taste of the same loyall and dutifull order: which to aspire from your most Cesar-like Bountie (who conquered still to spare the conquered, and was glad of offences that he might forgive). In all dijection of never-inough itterated sorrowe for your high displeasure, and vowe of as much future delight as of your present anger; we cast our best parts at your highnes feete, and our worst to hell. George Chapman. [Reproduced in The Athenæum, March 30, 1901, p. 403. See also Joseph Q. Adams, Shakespearean Playhouses, pp. 216–18. M. Castelain doubts that Eastward Hoe is the play alluded to in these letters.] George Chapman, 1605. [Letters to the Lord Chamberlain.] Most Worthely Honord: Of all the oversights for which I suffer, none repents me so much as that our unhappie booke [Eastward Hoe?] was presented without your Lordshippes allowance, for which we can plead nothinge by way of pardon: but your Person so farr removed from our requirde attendance; our play so much importun'de, and our cleere opinions, that nothinge it contain'd could worthely be held offensive; and had your good Lordshippe vouchsafte this addition of grace to your late free bounties, to have heard our reasons for our well wayd Opinions; And the wordes truly related on which both they and our enemies Complaints were grounded; I make no question but your Impartial Justice, wolde have stoode much further from their clamor then from our acquittall; which indifferent favoure, if yet your no less than Princelye respect of vertue shall please to bestowe on her poore observant, and commaunde my Appearaunce; I doubt not but the Tempest that hath dryven me into this wrackfull harbor will cleere with my Innocence; And withall the most sorrow inflicting wrath of his Excellent Majestie; which to my most humble and zealous affection is so much the more stormye, by how much some of my obscured laboures have striv'd to aspire in stead therof his illustrate favoure: And shall not be the least honor to his most Royall vertues. To the most worthy and honorable Protector of vertue: The Lord Chamberlain. George Chapman. [To The Lord Chamberlain:] Notwithstandinge your lordshipps infinite free bountie hath pardon'd and grac't when it might justlie have punisht; and remembered our poore reputations when our acknowledged dewties to your lordshippe might worthely seeme forgotten; yet since true honor delightes to encrease with encrease of goodness; & that our habilities and healths fainte under our yrcksome burthens; we are with all humilitie enforc't to solicite the propagation of your most noble favours to our present freedome; And the rather since we heare from the Lord Dawbney, that his highnes hath remitted one of us wholie to your Lo: favoure; And that the other had still youre Lo: passinge noble remembrance for his jointe libertie; which his highnes selfe would not be displeas'd to allow; And thus with all gratitude admyringe youre no lesse then sacred respect to the poore estate of vertue, never were our soules more appropriate to the powers of our lives, then our uttmost lives are consecrate to your noblest service. George Chapman. [Reproduced in The Athenæum, March 30, 1901, p. 403.] Thomas Thorpe The Stationers' Registers, 1605. 6. Augusti Entred for his copy by assignement of Edward Blunt vjd [Arber's Transcript, iii, 297.] Title-page, 1605. Seianus his fall. Written by Ben: Ionson. At London, Printed by G. Elld, for Thomas Thorpe. 1605. George Chapman, 1605. In Sejanum Ben. Jonsoni Et Musis, et sibi in Deliciis. So brings the wealth-contracting Jeweller Pearles and deare Stones, from richest shores & streames, As thy accomplisht Travaile doth confer From skill-inriched soules, their wealthier Gems; So doth his hand enchase in ammeld Gould, Cut, and adornd beyond their Native Merits, As thy Wealth will their wished Libraries; His ventrous foote, for his illustrious Prise; And through wilde Desarts, armd with wilder Beasts, Upon the boggy and engulfed brests Of Hyrelings, sworne to finde most Right, most rude: Nor in vast Desarts, amongst Woolves, more danger; To this strange length; Onely that Jewels are, And thy worke, in it selfe, is deare and Rare. Had she, by it, her sacred Loomes advanc't, And through thy subject woven her graphicke Thread, For, though thy hand was scarce addrest to drawe Thy Muse yet makes it the whole Sphære, and Lawe, Least profane Feete should wrong it, and rude Gales; But finding happy Channels, and supplies Of other Fordes mixe with his modest course, He growes a goodly River, and descries The strength, that mannd him, since he left his Source; Then takes he in delightsome Meades, and Groves, And, with his two-edg'd waters, flourishes Before great Palaces, and all Mens Loves So thy chaste Muse, by vertuous selfe-mistrust, In Virgin feare of Mens illiterate Lust, Shut her soft wings, and durst not showe her spirit; |