Kemps Nine Daies Wonder | Page 8

the authority of Scripture for such exhibitions; but it must, nevertheless, strike us as not a little extraordinary, that at least as late as the close of the sixteenth century such scenes were to be found in England. We learn this fact [!!] from a play entitled The Trailes of The three English Brothers, 1607," &c.
[xv:1] This piece was an allegorical representation of some of the chief events of the reign of Elizabeth, who was personated under the character of England's Joy: the author was named Vennard: see Collier's Hist. of Eng. Dram. Poet. iii. 405. The Plot of the Play called England's Joy. To be playd at the Swan this 6. of Nov. 1602, is reprinted (from a broadside) in The Harl. Miscell. x. 198, ed. Park.
[xvii:1] Sigs. E. 4., F.
[xviii:1] iii. 28.
[xix:1] P. 19.
[xix:2] "The Education of Children in learning; declared by the dignitie, vtilitie, and methode thereof, by W. K. (Wm. Kempe, who seems to have been a schoolmaster at Plymouth). Dedicated to Maister Wm. Hawkins, Esq. maior of Plymouth, &c. Quarto, 1588." Ames's Typ. Antiq. by Herbert, ii. 1242.
I may here observe that Herbert (ii. 1046) has given by mistake the following prose piece to "W. Kempe," in consequence, probably, of having seen it bound up with the "Dvtiful Invective," in a volume of the Royal Library: The Censure of a loyall Subiect: Vpon certaine noted Speach and behauiours, of those fourteene notable Traitors, at the place of their executions, the xx. and xxi. of September last past. Wherein is handled matter of necessarye instruction for all dutifull Subiectes: especially, the multitude of ignorant people. Feare God: be true to thy Prince: and obey the Lawes. At London. Printed by Richarde Jones, dwelling at the Signe of the Rose and Crowne, neere Holborne bridge, 1587, 4to. The author was George Whetstone. An Address to the Reader signed T. C. [Thomas Churchyard] sets forth that "my good friend M. G. W. at his departure into the Country, left this most honest work to be censured by me; being right well assured, by the continuance of our true friendshippes, that I would not deceiue him with a flattering iudgement: and (trust me) vpon a considerate reading, I found it a little booke, containing a large testimony of his loyaltie to his prince and countrie," &c. Then follows the Dedication "To the Right honorable, Sir William Cicill, knight, Baron of Burleigh," &c. signed G. W., who trusts that this piece "will merite the acceptance of my former bookes."
[xx:1] See Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell) iii. 135, seq., Collier's Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet. iii. 378, seq.
[xx:2] Liber B. fol. 282 b.
[xx:3] Liber B. fol. 132.
[xxi:1] So in MS.
[xxi:2] Liber C. fol. 3 b.
[xxi:3] P. xix.
[xxi:4] P. 2.
[xxii:1] Lib. iii. Sat. xi. p. 225. ed. 1764.--"Orchestra" is an allusion to Sir J. Davies's poem of that name.
Augustine Phillips, an actor contemporary with Kempe, has also been mentioned as "an author," in consequence of the following entry in the Stationers' Books:
"xxvi^to Maii [1595]
"Raffe Hancock Entred for his copie vnder the } handes of the Wardens, Phillips } vi^d." his gigg of the slyppers.... }
(Liber B. fol. 132 b.)
George Chalmers erroneously makes the date of this entry "1593," Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 469.
[xxii:2] Pp. 10. 13.
[xxii:3] Liber B. fol. 304. As this entry is nearly in the words of the title-page, I have not cited it at length. In Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 197, and Collier's Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet. iii. 27, the date is wrongly given "Sept. 7."
[xxii:4] Malone's Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 299.
[xxiv:1] Sig. F.--This play is not divided into acts.
[xxiv:2] Ritson (vide Bibl. Poet.) was evidently not aware that these "Merriments" formed part of an extant drama.
[xxv:1] He played, I presume, the Cobler.
[xxv:2] Sig. E. 4.--Mr. Collier's conjecture (Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet. iii. 33) that Nash "refers possibly" to the "Merrimentes of the men of Goteham" was thrown out, I think, somewhat hastily.
[xxvi:1] Among the books given to it by Robert Burton. No other copy is extant. Blomefield mistook it for a MS.: "In 1599 ... one Kemp came dancing the whole Way from London to Norwich, and there is a MSS. in the Bodleian Library containing an Account of it."--Hist. of Norf. ii. 250.
[xxvi:2] Note on B. Jonson's Works, ii. 166.

Kemps nine daies vvonder. Performed in a daunce from London to Norwich.
Containing the pleasure, paines and kinde entertainment of William Kemp betweene London and that Citty in his late Morrice.
Wherein is somewhat set downe worth note; to reprooue the slaunders spred of him: many things merry, nothing hurtfull.
Written by himselfe to satisfie his friends.
[Illustration]
LONDON
Printed by E. A. for Nicholas Ling, and are to be solde at his shop at the west doore of Saint Paules Church 1600.

To the true Ennobled Lady, and his most bountifull