Kemps nine daies wonder: performed in a daunce from London to Norwich / With an introduction and notes by the Rev. Alexander Dyce.

  • William Kempe
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Kemps nine daies wonder: performed in a daunce from London to Norwich / With an introduction and notes by the Rev. Alexander Dyce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    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 de- liuer 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 Trans- later 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. | * Smuth. 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 [le stand to nothing onlie but this. «“ Smith. But what? bear witnesse a giues me the But, and I am not willing to shoot. Cobler, I will talke with you: nay, my bellowes, my coletrough, and my water shall enter armes with you for our trade. O neighbour, I can not beare it, nor I wil not beare it.