NOTES. Note I. The first was he who stunk of that rank verse In which he wrote his Sodom farce. Stan. 8, p. 225. This infamous piece, which is destitute even of wit to palliate it's gross and abominable indecency, was written by Fishbourne, belonging to one of the inns of court. It was printed in 1680; and bore the initials E. R. the publisher being desirous it should pass for a work of lord Rochester. This was so highly resented by the noble lord, that he wrote a satire upon the author, which, in point of grossness, can not fall far beneath the play he disclaims. Note II. The City-Poet too was there, In a black satin cap and his own hair, &c. Stan. 8, p. 225. This was Elkanah Settle, an author whose works, though now almost forgotten, obtained, at one time, popularity sufficient to raise the spleen of Dryden. He became laureat to the city, and in that capacity composed pageants, or dramatic exhibitions for the lord mayor; an account of which may be seen in the "Biographia Dramatica." His various changes of party, more than his defect of poetical talent, exposed him to the contempt and ridicule of his contemporaries. He distinguished himself greatly at a popeburning, which will be mentioned in a following note, and was afterwards reduced to be assistant at a puppet-show in Bartholomew-fair; where, having a turn for ingenious_mechanism, he contrived a green case, in which he acted the part of a dragon. He died in the Charter-house in 1724. His black satin cap, which concealed a portion of his dark hair, is likewise alluded to by the correspondent in the Gentleman's Magazine: "Master Elkanah Settle, the citypoet, I knew, with his short-cut band, and satin cap." Gent. Mag. for 1745. Note III. There liv'd a widow'd witch, That us'd to mumble curses eve and morn, Stan. 9, p. 226. This description is much in Spenser's manner: A little cottage built of stickes and reedes, Far from all neighbours, that her divelish deedes . Her face most fowle and filthy was to see, And both the parts did speake, and both contended; That never thoght one thing, but doubly stil was guided. B. 4, c. 1. Note IV. Idolatry with her was held impure, Stan. 9, p. 227. This, as well as the rest of the description, applies to the presbyterian sect, which constituted the chief strength of the party opposed to Charles I. The verse quoted calls to mind the expression of Oliver Cromwell respecting the presbyterians: "I am the only man," he was often heard to say, "who has known how to subdue that insolent sect, which can suffer none but itself." The presbyterians had the reputation of being the most bitter enemies, and strenuous opposers of the kingly name and office. In a tract, printed in 1681, they are described as the first criers out against arbitrary government. "Who was it that animated the people to take up arms, for defence of liberty and property, against the king? The very same (the presbyterians). Who maintained, continued, and finished the war, and the tragedy of the king's murder? The same men, though now they had gotten new frocks and vizards on, and called themselves independents, or congregational churchmen; a name that comprehended all sects and opinions."-The complaint of liberty and property against arbitrary government. Somers' Tracts. Note V. A destroying angel was sent down To scourge the pride of this rebellious town, &c. Stan. 10, p. 227. That dire commission ended, down there came Another angel with a sword of flame. P. 227. The first distich refers to the plague which visited London in 1665: it's dreadful effects are described in the succeeding verses. It is stated, that about 100,000 persons were destroyed by this calamity. The parliament was held at Oxford, and the city was deserted by all who were able to leave it: so that grass actually grew in some of the streets. The latter verse alludes to the great fire which broke out on the 2d September in the following year; and, as the poet proceeds to mention, gave rise to new dissentions, and awakened the popular prejudice against the catholics, who were loaded with the infamy of originating it. Otway seems to adopt the tory doctrine, that it was a visitation from heaven, on account of the sins of the nation, especially the Londoners, and the crimes committed during the civil war and commonwealth. Note VI. And there for her support she found A wight, of whom Fame's trumpet much does sound, &c. Stan. 11, p. 228. Who was designed in this description, is not clear from the text. It might probably be sir William Waller, son of the famous parliamentary general. He was a justice of the peace, and rendered himself notorious for his zeal against popery, destroying popish chapels, and discovering of plots. His continual searchings after priests, obtained him the title of the priest-catcher. Note VII. All those who use religion for a fashion, All such as practise forms, and take great pains Stan. 11, p. 229. The outward semblance of religion was, at the period referred to, successfully employed to cloke the most criminal and dangerous purposes. This passage applies to the whig party, and especially to their leader, lord Shaftesbury, whose hypocrisy Dryden exposes in the " Medal:" He cast himself into the saint-like mould; Note VIII. Pamper'd their follies, and indulg'd their hopes, With May-day routs, November squibs, and burning paste board popes. Stan. 11, p. 229. During the rage and acrimony which characterized the politics of the latter part of Charles the Second's reign, every expedient was anxiously sought by the leaders of the whig faction, to support their influence over the populace, and inflame the nation against popery. Besides commemorating the discovery of the gunpowder-plot, by bonfires, fireworks, and other tokens of rejoicing, the ceremony of pope-burning, which took place with all possible solemnity on the 17th November, being the anniversary of queen Elizabeth's coronation, became a powerful engine in favour of the whigs. Vast sums of money were sometimes expended on these occasions, particularly in 1679, the year after the popish plot, when the effigy of sir Edmondsbury Godfrey, and all the paraphernalia of bloody massacre, as described in the wild tales of Titus Oates and his associates, formed part of the procession. [See an engraved representation of this procession in Walter Scott's Dryden, vol. 6.] It was on this occasion that Elkanah Settle, of whom mention has been made in a preceding note, distinguished himself, under the auspices of his new patron, the earl of Shaftesbury. Note IX. To spite the pillory, it had no ears. When straight the bawd cried out, 'twas surely kin says, To the blest family of Pryn. Stan. 12, p. 230. William Prynne, a most voluminous writer, of whom Wood " I verily believe, if rightly computed, he wrote a sheet for every day of his life, reckoning from the time when he came to the age of reason and the state of man." He was the author of the Histriomastix; in which, among other censures of dramatic amusements, he calls "women actors, notorious whores." It happened, unfortunately, that Henrietta-Maria, Queen of Charles I. had, a very short time before, supported a character in a pastoral at Somerset House. Prynne was, for this insult, prosecuted in the court of Star-chamber, and sentenced " to be fined 5000 to the king, expelled the university of Oxford and Lincoln's Inn, degraded, and disenabled from his profession in the laws, to stand in the pillory, first in the Palace-yard in Westminster, and three days after in Cheapside, in each place to lose an ear, (though this part of the censure was much moderated in the execution) to have his book called Histriomastix publicly burnt before his face by the hand of the hangman, and remain prisoner during life." This severity did not restrain him from a similar offence. He was again convicted in the same court, and sentenced to lose the remainder of his ears in the pillory, and be branded with the letters S. L. (schismatical libeller) &c. He died 24th October, 1669. The following verses are part of what were designed for his epitaph: Here lies the body of William Prynne, A bencher late of Lincoln's Inn, His brains career were never stopping, But pen with rheume of gall still dropping Till hand-o'er head brought ears to cropping, &c. Athen. Ox. vol. ii. Col. 434. |