Kemps Nine Daies Wonder | Page 5

still!"
As the comedian expressly declares that the Nine daies wonder was the "first Pamphlet that euer Will Kemp offred to the Presse,"[xix:1] there can be no doubt that this Dvtiful Invective was written by some other individual of the name; perhaps by the William Kempe who published in the following year a book entitled The Education of Children in learning, and who is supposed to have been a schoolmaster at Plymouth.[xix:2]
During the earlier period of the English stage, after the play was concluded, the audience were commonly entertained by a Jig. As no piece of that kind is extant, we are unable to ascertain its nature with precision; but it appears to have been a ludicrous metrical composition, either spoken or sung by the Clown, and occasionally accompanied by dancing and playing on the pipe and tabor. More persons than one were sometimes employed in a jig; and there is reason to believe that the performance was of considerable length, occupying even the space of an hour.[xx:1] The following entries are given verbatim from the Stationers' Books:
"28 December [1591]
"Thomas Gosson Entred for his copie vnder thand } of M^r Watkins, the Thirde and last } vi^d." parte of Kempes Iigge, soe yt } apperteyne not to anie other."[xx:2] }
"11^do die Maii [1595]
"William Blackwall Enterd for his copie vnder M^r warden } Binges hande, a ballad, of M^r } Kempes Newe Jigge of the } vi^d." Kitchen stuffe woman.[xx:3] }
"21 October [1595]
"Tho. Gosson Entred for his copie vnder thande of } the Wardenes, a Ballad } called Kemps J[xxi:1] newe Jygge } vi^d." betwixt a souldior and a Miser } and Sym the clown.[xxi:2] }
These entries are quoted (imperfectly) by several antiquarian writers who have enumerated the comedian's "works;" but his own express declaration, which has already[xxi:3] removed the Dvtiful Invective from the list, can only be evaded, in the present case, by weakly arguing--that he did not consider a Jig as a pamphlet, or that the preceding entries relate to pieces which had been conveyed to the printer without his permission. My belief is that the Jigs in question were composed by regular dramatists, and that they were called "Kemp's" merely because he had rendered them popular by his acting, and probably by flashes of extemporal wit. He tells us that he had "spent his life in mad Jigges[xxi:4]"; and to one of those many entertainments Marston alludes in The Scovrge of Villanie, 1599:
"Praise but Orchestra and the skipping Art, You shall commaund him; faith, you haue his hart Even capring in your fist. A hall, a hall, Roome for the spheres! the orbes celestiall Will daunce Kempes Jigge."[xxii:1]
I may also remark, that, if Kemp had been a practised jig-maker, he would hardly have required the assistance of a friend to furnish him with verses for the Nine daies wonder.[xxii:2]
A most pleasant and merie new Comedie, Intituled, A Knacke to knowe a Knaue. Newlie set foorth, as it hath sundrie tymes bene played by Ed. Allen and his Companie. With Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham, in receiuing the King into Goteham, was printed in 1594, 4to., having been entered in the Stationers' Books[xxii:3] to Rich. Jones, 7th January of the preceding year. The accounts of Henslowe shew that it was performed, not as a new piece, 10th June, 1592[xxii:4]; and there is no doubt that it was originally produced several years before that date. The name of its author has not been ascertained. That portion of it which the title-page distinguishes as "Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham" is comprehended in the following scene:
"Enter mad men of Goteham, to wit, a Miller, a Cobler, and a Smith.
"Miller. Now let vs constult among our selues how to misbehaue our selues to the Kings worship, Iesus blesse him! and when he comes, to deliuer him this peticion. I think the Smith were best to do it, for hees a wise man.
"Cobler. Naighbor, he shall not doe it as long as Jefferay the Translater is Maior of the towne.
"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