CHARACTER STUDIES AND

HE

SKETCHES

JOHN STOW

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE

E was more skilful in all points of navigation, than any that ever was before his time or since his death, he was also of a perfect memory, great observation, eloquent by nature, skilful in artillery, expert and apt to let blood and give physic to his people according to the climates. He was low of stature, of strong limbs, broad breasted, round headed, brown hair, full bearded, his eyes round, large and clear, well favoured, fair, and of a cheerful countenance.

His name was a terror to the French, Spaniard, Portugal and Indians. Many princes of Italy, Germany, and others as well enemies as friends in his life time desired his picture. He was the second that ever went through the Streights of Magellan and the first that ever went round about the world: he was lawfully married unto two wives, both young; yet he himself and ten of his brethren died without issue. He made his youngest brother his heir who was with him in most and chiefest of his employments. In brief he was as famous in Europe and America as Tamburlaine in Asia and Africa. In his imperfections he was ambitious for honour, unconstant in amity, greatly affected to popularity.

JOHN LYLY

ENGLISH WOMEN

THERE did I behold them of pure complexion exceeding the lily and the rose, of favour (wherein the chiefest beauty consisteth) surpassing the pictures that were feigned, or the Magician that could feign, their eyes piercing like the sunbeams, yet chaste, their speech pleasant and sweet, yet modest and courteous, their gait comely, their bodies straight, their hands white, all things that men could wish or women would have, which how much it is none can set down, when as the one desireth as much as may be, the other more.

Is

JOHN EARLE

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S the dregs of wit; yet mingled with good drink may have some relish. His inspirations are more real than others; for they do but feign a God, but he has his by him. His verses run like the tap, and his invention as the barrel, ebbs and flows at the mercy of the spigot. In their drink he aspires not above a ballad, but a cup of sack inflames him, and sets his muse and nose afire together. The press is his mint, and stamps him now and then a sixpence or two in reward of the baser coin his pamphlet. His works would scarce sell for three halfpence, though they are given oft for three shillings, but for the pretty title that allures the country gentleman; and for which the printer maintains him in ale a fortnight. His verses are like his clothes, miserable Centos and patches, yet their pace is not altogether so hobbling as an almanacs. The death of a great man or the burning of a house furnish him with an argument, and the nine Muses are out straight in

a mourning gown, and Melpomene cries Fire, Fire.

other poems are but briefs in rhyme, and like the poor Greek's collections to redeem from captivity. He is a man now much employed in commendations of our navy, and a bitter inveigher against the Spaniard. His frequent'st works go out in single sheets, and are chanted from market to market, to a vile tune, and a worse throat: whilst the poor country wench melts like her butter to hear them. And there are the stories of some men of Tyburn, or a strange monster out of Germany; or sitting in a bawdy house, he writes God's Judgments. He ends at last in some obscure painted cloth, to which himself made the verses, and his life, like a can too full, spills upon the bench. He leaves twenty shillings on the score, which my hostess loses.

BEN JONSON

DOMINUS Verulamius. One, though he be excellent, and

the chief, is not to be imitated alone: for no imitator ever grew up to his author; likeness is always on this side truth. Yet there happened in my time one noble speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking. His language (where he could spare or pass by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man ever spake more neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech, but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke; and had his judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was, lest he should make an end.

Scriptorum Catalogus. Cicero is said to be the only wit that the people of Rome had equalled to their empire. Ingenium par imperio. We have had many, and in their several ages (to take in but the former seculum) Sir Thomas

Moore, the elder Wyatt, Henry Earl of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, Bishop Gardiner, were for their times admirable; and the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir Nicholas Bacon was singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time. Sir Philip Sidney, and Mr Hooker (in different matter) grew great masters of wit and language, and in whom all vigour of invention and strength of judgment met. The Earl of Essex, noble and high; and Sir Walter Raleigh, not to be contemned, either for judgment or style. Sir Henry Savile, grave and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys excellent in both; Lord Egerton, the chancellor, a grave and great orator, and best when he was provoked. But his learned and able (though unfortunate) successor, is he who hath filled up all numbers, and performed that in our tongue, which may be compared or preferred either to insolent Greece, or haughty Rome. In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits born, that could honour a language, or help study. Now things daily fall, wits grow downward, and eloquence grows backward; so that he may be named, and stand as the mark and acme of our language.

Lord St Alban.

De augmentis scientiorum. Julius Cæsar. I have ever observed it to have been the office of a wise patriot, among the greatest affairs of the state, to take care of the commonwealth of learning. For schools, they are the seminaries of state; and nothing is worthier the study of a statesman, than that part of the republic which we call the advancement of letters. Witness the case of Julius Cæsar, who, in the heat of the civil war, writ his books of Analogy, and dedicated them to Tully. This made the late Lord St Alban entitle his work Novum Organum: which though by the most of superficial men, who cannot get beyond the title of nominals, it is not penetrated, nor understood, it really openeth all defects of learning whatsoever, and is a book.

Qui longum noto scriptori proroget avum.

My conceit of his person was never increased toward him by

his place or honours; but I have and do reverence him, for the greatness that was only proper to himself, in that he seemed to me ever, by his work, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration, that had been in many ages. In his adversity I ever prayed that God would give him strength; for greatness he could not want. Neither could I condole in a word or syllable for him, as knowing no accident could do harm to virtue, but rather help to make it manifest.

JOHN TAYLOR

THE LADY-SHIP WITH HER REGIMENT

THIS 'HIS Lady-Ship was a very comely ship to the eye, set out with most excessive and superfluous cost, she was most richly adorned and beautified with flags, streamers, pennons and waistcloths. There was more time spent in rigging of her, than in all the rest of the fleet one after another. Her cordage and tackling was of fine silver twist, only her entering rope was pure gold; her sails were silk of all the colours of the rainbow; her masts and yards were strong and serviceable; her guys, bowlines, sheets, tacks, braces, ties, and lifts, were all very costly; her gaskets, marlines, cables, hawsers, fish and cat rope, buoy rope, and boat rope, bolt rope and top rope, the guest-rope, bucket rope and foot rope, shrouds, laniards, ratlines, halliards, rope yarns, sounding lines, were all of rare stuffs of great price and small profit. And contrary to any other ship, she had neither forestay or backstay, for the wind lay in her will, and if she please to sail any whither, there was no command had power to stop her, or cable and anchors strength to hold her. In a word, she was a fine timbered vessel, and had the virtue to sail without any compass, and indeed she was altogether for fair weather, for if it stormed, rained, or blew, or sun shined too hot, she would lie at anchor, and keep her harbour a month together