MADRIGAL This world a hunting is, The prey poor man, the Nimrod fierce is Death; 5 With all those ills which haunt us while we breathe. Now, if by chance we fly Of these the eager chase, Old age with stealing pace Casts up his nets, and there we panting die. John Stow 1525-1605 10 SPORTS AND PASTIMES OF OLD LON DON (From A Survey of London, 1598) arms, some their legs, but youth desirous of glory in this sort exerciseth itself against the time of war. Many of the citizens do delight themselves in hawks and hounds; for they have 5 liberty of hunting in Middlesex, Hertfordshire, all Chiltern, and in Kent to the water of the Cray." Thus far Fitzstephen of sports. These, or the like exercises, have been continued till our time, namely, in stage plays, 10 whereof ye may read in anno 1391, a play by the parish clerks of London at the Skinner's Well besides Smithfield, which continued three days together, the king, queen, and nobles of the realm being present. And of another, in 15 the year 1419, which lasted eight days, and was of matter from the creation of the world, whereat was present most part of the nobility and gentry of England. Of late time, in place of those stage plays, hath been used comedies "Let us now," saith Fitzstephen,1 1 66 come to 20 tragedies, interludes, and histories, both true the sports and pastimes, seeing that it is fit that a city should not only be commodious and serious, but also merry and sportful. . "But London, for the shows upon theatres, and comical pastimes, hath holy plays, repre- 25 sentations of miracles, which holy confessors have wrought, or representations of torments wherein the constancy of martyrs appeared. Every year also at Shrove Tuesday,2 that we may begin with children's sports, seeing we all 30 have been children, the schoolboys do bring cocks of the game to their master, and all the forenoon they delight themselves in cockfighting: after dinner all the youths go into the fields to play at the ball. "The scholars of every school have their ball, or baton, in their hands; the ancient and wealthy men of the city come forth on horseback to see the sport of the young men, and to take part of the pleasure in beholding their agility. . . . and feigned; for the acting whereof certain public places, as the Theatre, the Curtain,3 etc., have been erected. Also cocks of the game are yet cherished by divers men for their pleasures much money being laid on their heads, when they fight in pits, whereof some be costly made for that purpose. The ball is used by noblemen and gentlemen in tennis courts, and by people of meaner sort in the open fields and streets... Thus much for sportful shows in triumphs may suffice. Now for sports and pastimes yearly used. First, in the feast of Christmas, there was in the King's house, wheresoever he was lodged, a 35 lord of misrule, or master of merry disports, and the like had ye in the house of every nobleman of honor or good worship, were he spiritual or temporal. Amongst the which the mayor of London, and either of the sheriffs, had their 40 several lords of misrule, ever contending, without quarrel or offence, who should make the rarest pastimes to delight the beholders. These lords beginning their rule on Alhollon eve, continued the same until the morrow after "When the great fen, or moor, which watereth the walls of the city on the north side, is frozen, many young men play upon the ice; some striding as wide as they may, do slide swiftly; others make themselves seats of ice, as 45 the Feast of the Purification, commonly called great as millstones; one sits down, many hand 2. e.. shriving Tuesday. The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Candlemas Day. In all which space there were fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and mummeries, with playing at cards for counters, nails, and points, in every house more for pastime than for gain. Against the feast of Christmas every man's house, as also the parish churches, were decked with holm, ivy, bays, and whatsoever the The Theatre (1576) and The Curtain, the earliest English play-houses, were situated in the fields, not far beyond the London walls. All-hallows Eve, i. e., the eve of November 1st, or All-Saints Day. The feast of the presentation of Christ in the temple, February 2d. It takes its name from the custom of carrying lighted candles in the procession at the service. season of the year afforded to be green. The conduits and standards in the streets were likewise garnished; amongst the which I read, in the year 1444, that by tempest of thunder and lightning, on the 1st of February, at night, Paule's Steeple was fired, but with great labor quenched; and towards the morning of Candlemas Day, at the Leadenhall in Cornhill, a standard of tree being set up in midst of the pavement, fast in the ground, nailed full of holm and ivy, for disport of Christmas to the people, was torn up, and cast down by the malignant spirit (as was thought), and the stones of the pavement all about were cast in the streets, and into divers houses, so that the 15 and other commoners, Lydgate the poet, that I find also, that in the month of May, the citizens of London of all estates, lightly in every parish, or sometimes two or three parishes joining together, had their several 5 mayings, and did fetch in maypoles, with divers warlike shows, with good archers, morris dancers, and other devices, for pastime all the day long; and toward the evening they had stage plays, and bonfires in the streets. Of 10 these mayings we read, in the reign of Henry VI. that the aldermen and sheriffs of London, being on May-day at the Bishop of London's woods, in the parish of Stebunheath, and having there a worshipful dinner for themselves people were sore aghast of the great tempests. In the week before Easter, had ye great shows made for the fetching in of a twisted tree, or with, as they termed it, out of the woods into the king's house; and the like into 20 every man's house of honor or worship. was a monk of Bury, sent to them, by a pursuivant, a joyful commendation of that season, containing sixteen staves of meter royal, beginning thus: "Mightié Flora! goddess of fresh flowers,—" &c. These great mayings, and May games, made by the governors and masters of this city, with the triumphant setting up of the great shaft (a principal maypole in Cornhill, before the parish church of St. Andrew therefore called Undershaft) by means of an insurrection of youths against aliens on May-day, 1517, the 9th of Henry VIII., have not been so freely Sir Thomas North 1535-1601 THE DEATH OF CÆSAR In the month of May, namely, on May-day in the morning, every man except impediment, would walk into the sweet meadows and green woods, there to rejoice their spirits with the 25 beauty and savor of sweet flowers, and with the harmony of birds, praising God in their kind; and for example hereof, Edward Hall' hath noted, that King Henry VIII, as in the 3rd of his reign, and divers other years, so 30 used as afore, and therefore I leave them. namely in the 7th of his reign, on May-day in the morning, with Queen Katherine his wife, accompanied with many lords and ladies, rode a-maying from Greenwich to the high ground of Shooter's Hill, where, as they passed by the 35 way, they espied a company of tall yeomen, clothed all in green, with green hoods, and bows and arrows, to the number of two hundred; one being their chieftan, was called Robin Hood, who required the king and his 40 company to stay and see his men shoot; whereunto the king granting, Robin Hood whistled, and all the two hundred archers shot off, loosing all at once; and when he whistled again they likewise shot again; their arrows whistled by craft of the head, so that the noise was strange and loud, which greatly delighted the king, queen, and their company. Moreover, this Robin Hood desired the king and queen, with their retinue, to enter the greenwood, where in 50 harbors made of boughs, and decked with flowers, they were set and served plentifully with venison and wine by Robin Hood and his men, to their great contentment, and had other pageants and pastimes, as ye may read in my 55 said author. 45 (From translation of Plutarch's Lives, 1597) Now a day being appointed for the meeting of the Senate, at what time they hoped Casar would not fail to come: the conspirators determined then to put their enterprise in execution, because they might meet safely at that time without suspicion; and the rather, for that all the noblest and chiefest men of the city would be there. Who, when they should see such a great matter executed, would every man then set to their hands, for the defence of their liberty. Furthermore, they thought also, that the appointment of the place where the council should be kept, was chosen of purpose by divine providence, and made all for them. For it was one of the porches about the Theatre, in 8 Usually. St. Andrews' Undershaft was in Leadenhall street. The shaft (or May pole) which was higher than the church steeple, was set up before it for the last time in 1517, after which it was hung on iron hooks over the doors in a neighboring alley. In 1550, a young curate declared that this shaft had been made an idol, and to show the superstitious subjection of the parish to the old relic, spoke of the church as St. Andrew's "Under-that-shaft." the which there was a certain place full of seats for men to sit in, where also was set up the image of Pompey, which the city had made and consecrated in honor of him: when he did beautify that part of the city with the Theatre he built, with divers porches about it. In this place was the assembly of the Senate appointed to be; just on the fifteenth day of the month of March, which the Romans call, Idus Martias: so that it seemed some god of purpose had 10 brought Cæsar thither to be slain, for revenge of Pompey's death. So when the day was come, Brutus went out of his house with a dagger by his side under his long gown, that nobody saw nor knew, but his wife only. The other con- 15 plucked Cæsar's gown over his shoulders, and spirators were all assembled at Cassius' house, to bring his son into the market place, who on that day did put on the man's gown, called Toga Virilis, and from thence they came all in a troop together unto Pompey's porch, looking 20 that Caesar would straight come thither. . . . When Casar came out of his litter: Popilius Lana, that had talked before with Brutus and Cassius, and had prayed the gods they might bring this enterprise to pass: went unto Cæsar 25 him to have fled, saw Brutus with a sword where the Senate sat, and held him with a long talk without. When Cæsar was come into the house, all the Senate rose to honor him at his coming in. So when he was set, the conspira5 tors flocked about him, and amongst them they presented one Tullius Cimber, who made humble suit for the calling home again of his brother that was banished. They all made as they were intercessors for him, and took him by the hands, and, kissed his head and breast. Cæsar at the first simply refused their kindness and entreaties: but afterwards, perceiving they still pressed on him, he violently thrust them from him. Then Cimber with both his hands Casca that stood behind him, drew his dagger first, and struck Cæsar upon the shoulder, but gave him no great wound. Cæsar feeling himself hurt, took him straight by the hand he held his dagger in, and cried out in Latin: O traitor Casca, what doest thou? Casca on the other side cried in Greek, and called his brother to help him. So divers running on a heap together to fly upon Casar, he looking about drawn in his hand ready to strike at him: then he let Casca's hand go, and casting his gown over his face, suffered every man to strike at him that would. Then the conspirators thronging one upon another because every man was desirous to have a cut at him, so many swords and daggers lighting upon one body, one of them hurt another, and among them Brutus caught a blow on his hand, because he would make one in murdering of him, and all the rest also were every man of them bloodied. Cæsar being slain in this manner, Brutus standing in the midst of the house, would have spoken, and stayed the other Senators that were not of and kept him a long time with a talk. Cæsar gave good ear unto him. Wherefore the conspirators (if so they should be called) not hearing what he said to Cæsar, but conjecturing by that he had told them a little before, that his 30 talk was none other but the very discovery of their conspiracy: they were afraid every man of them; and one looking in another's face, it was easy to see they all were of a mind, that it was no tarrying for them till they were apprehended, 35 but rather that they should kill themselves with their own hands. And when Cassius and certain other clapped their hands on their swords under their gowns to draw them: Brutus marking the countenance and gesture of 40 the conspiracy, to have told them the reason Lana, and considering that he did use himself rather like an humble and earnest suitor than like an accuser: he said nothing to his companion (because there were many amongst them that were not of the conspiracy), but with a 45 pleasant countenance encouraged Cassius. And immediately after, Lana went from Casar, and kissed his hand: which showed plainly that it was for some matter concerning himself that he had held him so long in talk. 50 Now all the Senators being entered first into this place or chapter house where the council should be kept, all the other conspirators straight stood about Cæsar's chair, as if they had had something to have said unto him. And 55 (From A Chronicle of England and Scotland, some say that Cassius casting his eyes upon Pompey's image, made his prayer unto it, as if it had been alive. Trebonius on the other side, drew Antonius aside, as he came into the house why they had done this fact. But they as men both afraid and amazed, fled one upon another's neck in haste to get out at the door, and no man followed them. For it was set down and agreed between them, that they should kill no man but Cæsar only, and should entreat all the rest to look to defend their liberty. Raphael Holinshed d. 1580 MACBETH'S MEETING WITH THE WEIRD SISTERS 1578) Shortly after happened a strange and uncouth wonder, which afterward was the cause of much trouble in the realm of Scotland, as ye "All hail Makbeth, thane of Glammis!" (for he had lately entered into that office by 2 Westminster, that fruitful nursery, it was my hap to visit the chamber of Mr. Richard Hakluyt, my cousin, a gentleman of the Middle Temple, well known unto you, at a time when 5I found lying open on his board certain books of cosmography, with a universal map. He, seeing me somewhat curious in the view thereof, began to instruct my ignorance by showing me the division of the earth into three parts after the old account, and then according to the latter, and better distribution, into more. He pointed with his wand to all the known seas, gulfs, bays, straits, capes, rivers, empires, kingdoms, dukedoms, and territories of each 10 the death of his father Sinell). The second then 15 part with declaration also of their special com said: "Hail Makbeth, thane of Cawder!" But the third said: "All hail Makbeth, that hereafter shall be King of Scotland!" modities, and particular wants, which, by the benefit of traffic and intercourse of merchants, are plentifully supplied. From the map he brought me to the Bible, and turning to the 20 107th Psalm, directed me to the 23rd and 24th verses, where I read, that they which go down to the sea in ships and occupy by the great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep, etc. Which words of the prophet, together with my cousin's discourse (things of high and rare delight to my young nature), took in me so deep an impression that I constantly resolved, if ever I were preferred to the university, where better time and more convenient place might be ministered for these studies, I would by God's assistance prosecute that knowledge and kind of literature, the doors whereof, after a sort, were so happily opened before me. Then Banquho: "What manner of women (saith he) are you that seem so little favorable unto me, whereas to my fellow here, besides high offices, ye assign also the kingdom, ap- 25 pointing forth nothing for me at all?" "Yes," (saith the first of them), "we promise greater benefits unto thee than unto him; for he shall reign indeed, but with an unlucky end; neither shall he leave any issue behind him to succeed 30 in his place, when certainly thou indeed shalt not reign at all, but of thee those shall be born which shall govern the Scottish kingdom by long order of continual descent." Herewith the foresaid women vanished immediately out 35 of their sight. This was reputed at the first but some vain fantastical illusion by Makbeth and Banquho, insomuch that Banquho would call Makbeth in jest, King of Scotland; and Makbeth again would call him in sport likewise, 40 father of many kings. But afterwards the common opinion was, that these women were either the weird sisters, that is (as ye would say) the goddesses of destiny, or else some nymphs or fairies, indued with knowledge of 45 lately reformed maps, globes, spheres, and prophecy by their necromantical science, because everything came to pass as they had spoken. According to which my resolution, when, not long after, I was removed to Christ Church in Oxford, my exercises of duty first performed, I fell to my intended course, and by degrees read over whatsoever printed or written discoveries and voyages I found extant either in the Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, Portugal, French, or English languages, and in my public lectures was the first that produced and showed both the old imperfectly composed, and the new other instruments of this art for demonstration in the common schools, to the singular pleasure ployed on various diplomatic missions, and was one of the Commissioners to try Mary, Queen of Scots, v. pp. 721, 764. 2 One of the oldest and best of the London "Grammar Schools." Founded by Henry VIII., it was so reorganized by Queen Elizabeth in 1560, that its revenues were sufficient to provide for some 40 "free," or "Queen's scholars." Besides Hakluyt, George Herbert, Dryden, and Warren Hastings were among its free, or foundation, scholars. 3 This implies that he belonged to the legal profession, as the Middle Temple was one of the legal societies of London. 4 Hakluyt is believed to have lectured at Oxford, shortly after taking his degree of M. A. in 1577. These were probably the first public lectures on geography ever given at an English University. which our nation do indeed deserve: it cannot be denied, but as in all former ages they have been men full of activity, stirrers abroad, and searchers of the remote parts of the world, so 5 in this most famous and peerless government of her most excellent Majesty, her subjects, through the special assistance and blessing of God, in searching the most opposite corners and quarters of the world, and to speak plainly, in and general contentment of my auditory. In continuance of time, and by reason principally of my insight in this study, I grew familiarly acquainted with the chiefest captains at sea, the greatest merchants, and the best mariners of our nation; by which means having gotten somewhat more than common knowledge, I passed at length the narrow seas into France with Sir Edward Stafford, her Majesty's careful and discreet Ligier, where during my five 10 compassing the vast globe of the earth more years' abode with him in his dangerous and changeable residence in her Highness' service, I both heard in speech, and read in books other nations miraculously extolled for their discoveries and notable enterprises by sea, but the 15 hath ever dealt with the emperor of Persia as English of all others for their sluggish security, and continual neglect of the like attempts, expecially in so long and happy a time of peace, either ignominiously reported, or exceedingly condemned; which singular opportunity, if 20 some other people, our neighbors, had been blessed with, their protestations are often and vehement, they would far otherwise have used. . . . than once, have excelled all the nations and people of the earth. For which of the kings of this land before her Majesty had their banners ever seen in the Caspian sea? Which of them her Majesty hath done, and obtained for her merchants large and loving privileges? who ever saw, before this regiment, an English Ligier in the stately porch of the Grand Signor at Constantinople? who ever found English consuls and agents at Tripolis in Syria, at Aleppo, at Babylon, at Balsara, and which is more, who ever heard of Englishmen at Goa before now? what English ships did heretofore ever anchor in the mighty river of Plate? pass and repass the unpassable (in former opinion) Strait of Magellan, range along the coast of Chili, Peru, and all the backside of Nova Hispania, further than any Christian ever passed, traverse the mighty breadth of the South Sea, land upon the Luzones in despite of the enemy, enter into alliance, amity, and traffic with the princes of the Moluccas and the isle of Java, double the famous cape of Bona Thus both hearing and reading the obloquy 25 of our nation, and finding few or none of our own men to reply herein; and further, not seeing any man to have care to recommend to the world the industrious labors and painful travels of our countrymen: for stopping the 30 mouths of the reproachers, myself being the last winter returned from France with the honorable the Lady Sheffield, for her passing good behavior highly esteemed in all the French court, determined notwithstanding all 35 Speranza, 10 arrive at the isle of St. Helena, and difficulties to undertake the burden of that work wherein all others pretended either ignorance or lack of leisure, or want of sufficient argument, whereas (to speak truly) the huge toil and the small profit to ensue were the 40 chief causes of the refusal. I call the work a burden in consideration that these voyages lay so dispersed, scattered, and hidden in several hucksters' hands, that I now wonder at myself to see how I was able to endure the delays, 45 curiosity, and backwardness of many from whom I was to receive my originals, so that I have just cause to make that complaint of the maliciousness of divers in our time, which last of all return home most richly laden with the commodities of China, as the subjects of this now flourishing monarchy have done? THE LOSS OF SIR HUMPHREY (From a report of the voyage and success thereof, attempted in the year of our Lord, 1583, by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, knight, with other gentlemen assisting him in that action, 7 In Asiatic Turkey. 8 On the west coast of India. The regions governed by the Viceroys of New Spain. Pliny made of the men of his age: At nos 50 It included originally Mexico, the West Indies, and elaborata iis abscondere atque supprimere cupimus et fraudare vitam etiam aliensis bonis, etc." To harp no longer upon this string, and to speak a word of that just commendation 55 (The same as leiger, and ledger, q. v.) A resident agent, or ambassador. But we are anxious to steal away from them and suppress the result of their labors, and even to beguile the very life from the goods of others. various adjacent Spanish possessions. 10 Cape of Good Hope. 1 Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583) was one of the great English navigators in the age of Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher. He was half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh, and like other great sailors of the time, he was born in Devon. He started from Plymouth on what proved to be his last voyage of discovery, June 11th, 1583. After landing in Newfoundland, which he took possession of in the name of the Queen, he lost his largest ship, and was forced to return home, with the only two vessels left him, the Golden Hind and the Squirrel or, as it is called in the text the Frigate. |