entitled The Seven deadly Sins, written by Tarleton, of which the MS. plot or fcheme is in my poffeffion, he represented Sardanapalus. I have not been able to learn what parts he performed in our author's plays; but believe that he was in the fame clafs as Kempe, and Armine; for he appears, like the former of thefe players, to have published a ludicrous metrical piece, which was entered on the Stationers' books in 1595. Philips's production was entitled The Jigg of the Slippers.

WILLIAM KEMPE

was the fucceffor of Tarleton. "Here I muft needs remember Tarleton, (fays Heywood, in his Apology for Actors,) in his time gracious with the queen his foveraigne, and in the people's general applause; whom fucceeded Will. Kemp, as well in the favour of her majestic, as in the opinion and good thoughts of the general audience." From the quarto editions of fome of our author's plays, we learn that he was the original performer of Dogberry in Much Ado about Nothing, and of Peter in Romeo and Juliet. From an old comedy called The Return from Parnaffus, we may collect that he was the original Justice Shallow; and the contemporary writers inform us that he ufually acted the part of a Clown; in which character, like Tarleton, he was celebrated for his extemporal wit. * Launcelot in The Merchant of Venice, Touchftone in As you like it, Launce in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and the Grave-digger

4 See p. 143. n. 7.

in Hamlet, were probably also performed by this comedian. He was an author as well as an actor. S

So early as in the year 1589 Kempe's comick talents appear to have been highly estimated, for an old pamphlet called An Almond for a Parrot, written, I think, by Thomas Nashe, and published about that time, is dedicated "to that most comicall and conceited Cavaleire Monfieur du Kempe, Jeftmonger, and vice-gerent generall to the Ghoft of Dicke Tarleton."

1. See The Return from Parnaffus, a comedy, 1606. "Indeed, M. Kempe, you are very famous, but that is as well for workes in print as your part in cue." Kempe's New Jigg of the Kitchenftuff Woman was entered on the books of the Stationers' company in 1595. and in the fame year was licensed to Thomas Goffon, "Kempes New Jigge betwixt a Souldier and a Mifer and Sym the Clowne."

Sept. 7. 1593. was entered on the Stationers' books, by R. Jones, "A comedie entitled A Knack how to know a Knave, newly fet forth, as it hath been fundrye times plaied by Ned Allen and his company, with Kempes applauded merryment of The Men of Gotham."

In the Bodleian Library, among the books given to it by Robert Burton, is the following tract, bound up with a few others of the fame fize, in a quarto volume marked L. 62d. art.:

66

Kemps nine daies wonder performed in a daunce from London to Norwich. Containing the pleasure, paines and kind entertainment of William Kemp between London and that city, in his late morrice. Wherein is fomewhat fet downe worth note; to reprooue the flaunders fpred of him : many things merry, nothing hurtfull. Written by himselfe, to fatisfie his friends." (Lond. E. A. for Nicholas Ling. 1600. b. l. With a wooden cut of Kempe as a morrisdancer, preceded by a fellow with a pipe and drum, whom he (in the book) calls Thomas Slye, his taberer.) It is dedicated to "The true ennobled lady, and most bountifull miftris, miftris Anne Fitton, mayde of honour to the most facred mayde royall queene Elizabeth.",

From a paffage in one of Decker's tracts it may be prefumed that this comedian was dead in the year 1609. 6

In Braithwaite's Remains, 1618. he is thus commemorated:

"UPON KEMPE AND HIS MORICE, WITH HIS EPITAPH.

Welcome from Norwich, Kempe: all joy to see
Thy fafe return morifcoed luftily.

But out alas! how foone's thy morice done,
When pipe and tabor, all thy friends be gone;
And leave thee now to dance the fecond part
With feeble nature, not with nimble art!
Then all thy triumphs fraught with ftrains of mirth,
Shall be cag'd up within a cheft of earth:

Shall be? they are; thou haft danc'd thee out of breath;
And now muft make thy parting dance with death."

This actor likewife performed the part of a He died before the year 1600.

Clown.

GEORGE BRY A N.

'I have not been able to gather any intelligence concerning this performer, except that in the ex

6 Tufh, tufh, Tarleton, Kempe, nor Singer, nor all the litter of fooles that now come drawling behind them, never played the clownes part more naturally than the arranteft fot of you all." Guls Hornebooke, 1609.

7 66

what meanes Singer then,

‹‹ And Pope, the clowne, to fpeak fo borifh, when They counterfaite the clownes upon the ftage?"

Humours Ordinarie, where a Man may be verie merie and exceeding well ufed for his Sixpence. (No date.) Heywood's Apology for Actors.

hibition of The Seven deadly Sins he reprefented the Earl of Warwick. He was, I believe, on the stage before the year 1588.

is faid by Roberts the player to have been a comedian, but he does not mention any other authority for this affertion but ftage-tradition. In Webster's Dutchess of Malfy he originally acted the part of the Cardinal; and as, when that play was printed in 1623. another performer had fucceeded him in that part, he had certainly before that time retired from the ftage. He ftill, however, continued to have an intereft in the theatre, being mentioned with the other players to whom a licence was granted by King Charles the Firft in 1625. He had probably a confiderable portion of the shares or property of the Globe and Blackfriars theatres. This actor as well as Heminge lived in Aldermanbury, in which parish he ferved the office of Sideman in the year 1606. I have not been able to ascertain his age; but he appears to have married about the year 1598. and had eight children, the eldest of whom was born in Feb. 1598-99. and died an infant. Three only of his children appear to have furvived him; Henry, born in 1600. Elizabeth in 1606. and William, baptized May 26. 1611. Before his death he refided for fome time at Fulham, but he died in London, and was buried in his parish church in Aldermanbury, Dec. 29. 1627. On the 13th of that month he made his will, of which I fubjoin a copy, extracted from the registry of the Prerogative Court.

"In the name of God, Amen, I Henry Cundall of London, gentleman, being fick in body, but of perfect mind and memory, laud and praise be therefore given to Almighty God, calling to my remembrance that there is nothing in this world more fure and certain to mankind than death, and nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof, do therefore make and declare this my laft will and teftament in manner and form following; that is to fay, first I commend my foul into the hands of Almighty God, trufting and affuredly believing that only by the merits of the precious death and paffion of my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift I fhall obtain full and free pardon and remiffion of all my fins, and fhall enjoy everlafting life in the kingdom of heaven, amongst the elect children of God. My body I commit to the earth, to be decently buried in the night-time in fuch parish where it fhall please God to call me. My worldly fubftance I difpofe of as followeth. And firft concerning all and fingular my freehold meffuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever, with their and every of their appurtenances, whereof I am and stand seized of any manner of eftate of inheritance, I give, devife and bequeath the fame as followeth:

Imprimis, I give, devife and bequeath all and fingular my freehold meffuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever, with their and every of their appurtenances, fituate, lying and being in Helmett-court in the Strand, and elsewhere, in the county of Middlefex, unto Elizabeth my well beloved wife, for and during the term of her natural life; and from and immediately after her