Kemps Nine Daies Wonder | Page 7

in the only 4to. of the latter, 1600, "Kemp" is prefixed to some speeches of Peter and Dogberry.
[vii:1] What character is uncertain: see the names of "The principall Comoedians" at the end of the play in B. Jonson's Workes, 1616, fol.
[vii:2] See pp. 1, 2, 19.
[vii:3] Liber C. fol. 58 b.
[viii:1] Act iv. sc. 4.--Works, ii. 165, ed. Gifford.
[viii:2] On the Famous Voyage, Ibid. viii. 242.
[viii:3] Sig. F. 8.--In Dekker's Owles Almanacke, 1618, 4to, under "A memoriall of the time sithence some strange and remarkeable Accidents vntill this yeare 1617," we find "Since the horrible dance to Norwich ... 14 [years]." Sig. B. 4,--a mistake either of the author or printer. Allusions to Kemp's morris may also be found in Dekker and Webster's Westward Ho, 1607, Act v. sc. 1,--see my ed. of Webster's Works, iii. 103; and in Old Meg of Herefordshire for a Mayd Marian, and Hereford Towne for a Morris Daunce, &c. 1609, 4to.,--see p. 10 of reprint in Miscell. Ant. Anglic. 1816.
[ix:1] P. 20.
[ix:2] The passages in The Retvrne from Pernassus (see p. xi.) "What, M. Kempe, how doth the Emperour of Germany?" and "Welcome, M. Kempe, from dancing the morrice ouer the Alpes," are, I conceive, only sportive allusions to his journey to Norwich.
[ix:3] Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 198.
[ix:4] Sig. B. 2.--Malone chose to read "played the clownes part more naturally," &c.
[ix:5] Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 490--Yet the name William Kemp appears to have been not uncommon; for Chalmers (ubi supra) mentions that he found "in the parish register of St. Bartholomew the Less, the marriage of William Kempe unto Annis Howard, on the 10th of February, 1605-6;" and I shall presently shew that another individual so called has been confounded with the actor.
[x:1] It was probably written about 1602,--certainly before the death of Queen Elizabeth.
[xi:1] George Chalmers, who cites the present passage, observes, that Kemp "was as illiterate, probably, as he was certainly jocose. The Cambridge scholars laughed at his gross illiterature." Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 491. What folly to take the measure of Kemp's acquirements from such a scene as this! He may have had no classical learning; but assuredly, as the Nine daies wonder shews, he was not grossly illiterate.
[xi:2] i. e. ay.
[xi:3] An allusion to B. Jonson's Poetaster, Works, ii. 525, seq. ed. Gifford: the words "Shakespeare hath given him a purge," &c. have occasioned considerable discussion; see Gifford's Memoirs of Jonson, p. lx. and p. cclv.
[xi:4] i. e. hindrances.
[xi:5] See note p. ix.
[xii:1] i. e. St. Leger's Round, an old country dance.
[xii:2] Terms used in the Buttery Books at the universities: see Minsheu in v. v. Size and Cue.
[xii:3] An allusion to Dekker's Satiromastix, or The Vntrussing of the Humorous Poet.
[xii:4] A character in Kyd's Spanish Tragedy. The speech here given by Studioso from that celebrated piece (and which Burbage of course ought previously to recite), begins in the earlier 4tos.
"What outcries pluck me from my naked bed;"
and in the later--
"What outcry calls," &c.
See Dodsley's Old Plays, iii. 130, last ed.
[xii:5] From this passage it has been conjectured that Kemp acted Justice Shallow.
[xiii:1] Sigs. G. 2, 3.
[xiv:1] Their names are attached to the Dedication.
[xiv:2] It must have been produced, however, at an earlier date. It is not divided into Acts.
[xiv:3] As early as 1589, in the Dedication to a tract already cited (p. v.), Nash had fabled that Kemp was known by reputation in Italy:--"Comming from Venice the last Summer, and taking Bergamo in my waye homeward to England, it was my happe soiourning there some foure or fiue dayes, to light in felowship with that famous Francatrip' Harlicken, who, perceiuing me to bee an English man by my habit and speech, asked me many particulars of the order and maner of our playes, which he termed by the name of representations: amongst other talke he enquired of me if I knew any such Parabolano here in London as Signior Chiarlatano Kempino. Very well (quoth I), and haue beene oft in his company. He hearing me say so, began to embrace me a new, and offered me all the courtesie he colde for his sake, saying, although he knew him not, yet for the report he had hard of his pleasance, hee colde not but bee in loue with his perfections being absent."--An Almond for a Parrat, Sig. A. 3.
[xiv:4] Dr. W. Marriott, the editor of A Collection of English Miracle Plays, &c. Basel, 1838, has been led into a strange mistake by this passage, which, in his Introductory Essay, p. lxii. he cites from Bibliographical Memoranda, Bristol, 1816. After observing that according to the stage direction in one of the Chester Plays, Adam and Eve stabunt nudi et non verecundabuntur, he continues, "Perhaps our forefathers thought it no indecency to give such representations, considering they had