A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 75

--_Steevens._

[217] "Is this the origin of epilogues by the characters?"--_MS. note in former edit._

[218] "This is a very lively and pleasant comedy; crude and careless, but full of life, humour, &c."--_MS. note in former edit._

ALb.u.mAZAR.

_EDITIONS._

(1.) _Alb.u.mazar. A Comedy presented before the Kings Maiestie at Cambridge, the ninth of March, 1614. By the Gentlemen of Trinitie Colledge. London, Printed by Nicholas Okes for Walter Burre, and are to be sold at his Shop, in Pauls Church-yard._ 1615. 4.

(2.) _Alb.u.mazar. A Comedy presented before the Kings Maiesty at Cambridge. By the Gentlemen of Trinity Colledge. Newly revised and corrected by a speciall Hand. London, Printed by Nicholas Okes_ 1634.

4.

[There is a third 4 printed in 1668, with an epilogue by Dryden.]

[REEDS PREFACE.]

[John] Tomkis,[219] [or Tomkins, son of Thomas Tomkins, a celebrated musician of the reign of James I.], the author of this play, was of Trinity College, Cambridge.

In what part of the kingdom he was born, and what became of him after he quitted the University, are all circ.u.mstances alike unknown. That no memorials should remain of a person to whom the world is obliged for a performance of so much merit as "Alb.u.mazar" is allowed to possess, cannot but create surprise, and at the same time will demonstrate that genius is not always sufficient to excite the attention of contemporaries or the curiosity of posterity. Dryden [whose ignorance of our earlier literature is well known] not only seems to have been unaware to whom the world owed this piece, but also the time in which it was first represented. He has without any authority a.s.serted that Ben Jonson--

"Chose this As the best model of his masterpiece.

_Subtle_ was got by our _Alb.u.mazar_, That _Alchymist_ by this _Astrologer;_ Here he was fas.h.i.+on'd, and, we may suppose, He lik'd the fas.h.i.+on well who wore the cloaths."

But in this particular he was certainly mistaken. The "Alchemist" was printed in 1612, and "Alb.u.mazar" was not performed until the year 1614, as will appear from the following particulars:--

"King James," says a writer in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for May 1756, p. 224, "made a progress to Cambridge and other parts in the winter of the year 1614, as is particularly taken notice of by Rapin, vol. ii. p.

156, who observes that the play called 'Ignoramus' was then acted before his Majesty at Cambridge, and gave him infinite pleasure. I found in the library of Sir Edward Deering a minute in ma.n.u.script of what pa.s.sed at Cambridge for the five days the king stayed there, which I shall here transcribe, for it accords perfectly with the account given by the historian, both of the king's progress and the play ent.i.tled "Ignoramus," and at the same time will afford us the best light to the matter in hand:--

"On Tuesday the 7th of March 1614, was acted before the King, in Trinity College Hall--

"1. aemilia: A Latin Comedy, made by Mr Cecill Johannis.

"On Wednesday night--

"2. Ignoramus the Lawyer[220]: Latine and part English. Composed by Mr Ruggle Clarensis.

"On Thursday--

"3. Alb.u.mazar the Astronomer, in English. By Mr Tomkis, Trinit.

"On Friday--

"4. Melanthe[221]: A Latin Pastoral. Made by Mr [S.] Brookes (mox doctor) Trinitatis.

"On the next Monday--

"5. The Piscatory, an English Comedy, was acted before the University, in King's College, which Master Fletcher[222] of that College had provided, if the King should have tarried another night."

Part of the above account is confirmed in a letter from John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carlton, at Turin, dated 16th March 1614, lately printed in "Miscellaneous State Papers, from 1501 to 1726," i. 395: "The King and Prince lay at Trinity College, where the plays were represented; and the hall so well ordered for room, that above 2000 persons were conveniently placed. The first night's entertainment was a comedy, and acted by St John's men, the chief part consisting of a counterfeit Sir Edward Ratcliffe, a foolish tutor of physic, which proved but a lean argument; and, though it were larded with pretty shows at the beginning and end, and with somewhat too broad speech for such a presence, yet it was still dry. The second night was a comedy of Clare Hall, with the help of two or three good actors from other houses, wherein David Drummond, in a hobby-horse, and Brakin the recorder of the town, under the name of Ignoramus,[223] a common lawyer, bare great parts. The thing was full of mirth and variety, with many excellent actors (among whom the Lord Compton's son,[224] though least, was not worst), but more than half marred with extreme length. The third night was an English comedy called ALb.u.mAZAR, of Trinity College's action and invention; but there was no great matter in it, more than one good clown's part. The last night was a Latin Pastoral, of the same house, excellently written, and as well acted, which gave great contentment, as well to the King as to the rest."

After the Restoration, "Alb.u.mazar" was revived, and Mr Dryden wrote a prologue to it, which is printed in every edition of his works.

Although it does not appear to have been upon the list of acting plays, yet the reputation which it had obtained induced Mr Ralph to build upon it a comedy which, after ten years' application, was performed at Drury Lane in 1744, under the t.i.tle of "The Astrologer." It was acted, however, only one night, when the receipts of the house amounted but to twenty-one pounds. On the second night, the manager was obliged to shut up his doors for want of an audience. (See advertis.e.m.e.nt prefixed to the play.)

It cannot be denied that "Alb.u.mazar" has not been a favourite play with the people in general. About the year 1748, soon after Mr Garrick became manager of Drury Lane Theatre, he caused it to be revived, and gave it every advantage which could be derived from the a.s.sistance of the best performers; but though admirably acted, it does not appear to have met with much success. It was again revived at the same theatre in 1773, with some alterations, and was again coldly received, though supported by the best comic performers of the times. The piece, on this revival, received some alterations from the pen of Mr Garrick, and was published in 8, 1773.

FOOTNOTES:

[219] This is the name given to the author of "Alb.u.mazar" in the MS.

of Sir Edward Deering. I am, however, of opinion that it should be written TOMKINS, and that he is the same person who is addressed by Phineas Fletcher by the names of Mr _Jo. Tomkins_, in a copy of verses, wherein he says--

"To thee I here bequeath the courtly joyes, _Seeing to court my Thomalin is bent:_ Take from thy Thirsil these his idle toyes; Here I will end my looser merriment."

--"Poetical Miscellanies," printed at the end of "The Purple Island,"

1633, p. 69.

If this conjecture is allowed to be founded in probability, the author of "Alb.u.mazar" may have been John Tomkins, bachelor of music, who, Wood says, "was one of the organists of St Paul's Cathedral, and _afterwards gentleman of the Chapel Royal_, then in high esteem for his admirable knowledge in the theoretical and practical part of his faculty. At length, being translated to the celestial choir of angels, on the 27th Sept. an. 1626, aged 52, was buried in the said cathedral." It may be added that Phineas Fletcher, who wrote a play to be exhibited in the same week with "Alb.u.mazar," celebrates his friend Tomkins's skill in music as well as poetry.

[220] I have seen no earlier edition of this play than one in 12, 1630--"Ignoramus Comoedia coram Regia Majestate Jacobi Regis Angliae, &c. Londini Impensis, I.S. 1630." The names of the original actors are preserved in the Supplement to Granger's "Biographical History of England," p. 146.

[221] "Melanthe, fabula pastoralis, acta c.u.m Jacobus, Magnae Brit.

Franc. et Hiberniae Rex, Cantabrigiam suam nuper inviserat, ibidemque musarum atque animi gratia dies quinque commoraretur. Egerunt Alumni Coll. San. et individuae Trinitatis Cantabrigiae, 1615."

[222] This was Phineas Fletcher, son of Dr Giles Fletcher, and author of "The Purple Island," an allegorical poem, 4, 1633; "Locustae vel Pietas Jesuitica," 4, 1627; "Piscatory Eclogues;" and other pieces.

The play above-mentioned was, I believe, not published until 1631, when it appeared under the t.i.tle of "Sicelides, a Piscatory, as it hath beene acted in King's College, in Cambridge."

[223] The list printed by Mr Granger a.s.signs this part to Mr Perkinson, of Clare Hall.

[224] Mr Compton of Queen's College performed the part of _Vince_. See Granger.

DRAMATIS PERSONae.

ALb.u.mAZAR,[225] _an astrologer_.