parts; a practice much in use in former times among the Greekes and Romans, who had their Mime, their Scenicæ mulieres, or woman-Actors (who were all notorious impudent prostituted Strumpets) especially in their Floralian Enterludes; as they have now their female-Players in Italy, and other forraigne parts, and as they had such French-women Actors in a Play not long ago [In Michael-Terme, 1629] personated in Black-friers Play-house, to which there was great resort," &c.— It will be readily conceded by the unprejudiced mind, that the expressions in the above paragraphs, which were magnified into such gross calumnies, are, in verity, nothing more than the plain relation of historical facts, and in no respect allusive either to Charles or his Queen. It is, consequently, in the highest degree improbable, that Prynne should ever have made those acknowledgements of intentional scandal which the Retractation' ascribes to him. On this point, therefore, the evidence of the forgery is almost complete. But we have a yet stronger proof, namely, the positive denial of Prynne himself, as printed on " a very large sheet like a posting-bill, or rather a posting-bill itself," the contents of which are thus detailed in the 2d volume of Collier's "Poetical Decameron,” p. 321. "The Vindication of William Prynne, Esq. from some scandalous Papers and imputations newly printed and published to deduce and defame him in his reputation. . Whereas a scandalous Paper have [has] been newly printed and published in my name by some of the imprisoned Stage-Players, or agents of the Army, intituled Mr, William Prynn, his Defence of Stage-Playes, or a Retractation of a former booke of his, called HIS TRIOMASTIX, of purpose to traduce and defame me, I do hereby publicly declare to all the world the same to be a meere Forgery and imposture, and that my judgment and opinion concerning Stage Plays, and the Common Actors of them, and their intollerable mischeivousnesse in every Christian State, is still the same as I have more amply manifested it to be in my Histriomastix, &c. &c. WILLIAM PRYNNE. From the King's Head in the Strand, Jan. 10, 1648." By comparing a few dates and circumstances, we shall be enabled to ascertain almost the exact period at which the false Retractation' was published. In the copy in the Museum, over the date 1649, on the titlee-page, is written in an old hand, "Jan. 10th, 1648;" which, probably, has an immediate reference to Prynne's Vindication.' Now, previously to the alteration of the Style, in 1752, the new year did not, legally, commence until the 25th of March, although it was customary with many, to regard it as in modern times, viz. as beginning on the 1st of January. Hence, both the Retractation' and the reply, although issued within a few days of each other, and in the same month, (as will soon be shewn) are dated in different years it is curious, that the Vindication' bears the prior date; but the date ought, in both instances, to have been printed thus-1648-49. The false Tract bears internal evidence of having been composed after Colonel Pride,—to use the language of the day,-had purged the House of Commons, which was on the 6th of December, 1648. It also mentions the seizure of the Players as a fresh concern," which had excited the writer's just indignation against the Army which had taken them away "from their Houses, being met there to discharge the duty of their callings." That event took place on New-year's Day, 1648-49, as appears from the following passage in the "Moderate Intelligencer," No. 198, from December the 28th, to January the 4th, 1649. "Jan. 1. This day the Souldiers seized the Players (or bains of civility) in Salisbury Court, and the Cockpit, got some of the Players money, and more from the Ladies and Gentlewomen by way of gift to gard them safe home." The result is obvious,—for as Prynne's ‹ Vindication' is dated on the 10th of January, and the Players were arrested on the 1st of that month, the Retractation must have been published in the intervening period. ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, SOUTHWARK. The following instance of sudden Death is recorded in Stow's "Summarie of the Chronicles of England, imprinted in 1604," to have occurred in this fabric, in the 20th year of Queen Elizabeth's reign, anno 1577-78. "The 17 of Januarie one Simon Pembroke dwelling in Southwarke being vehemently suspected to be a Conjurer, by commandement of the ordinarie Judge for those parts, appeared at the Parish Church of Saint Sauiour, at the court holden there, which Simon busied in entertaining a Proctor, and hauing money in his hand, leaned his head upon the pew wherein the Proctor stood, which after he had done a certaine space, the Proctor began to lift up his head to see what hee aylde, and found him departed out of life, and straight way the said Simon fell downe ratling a little in the throat, and never spake word after. This was done even as the iudge came into the Church, who said it was the iust iudgment of God towards those that used Sorcery, and a great example to admonish other to feare the iustice of God. After his cloathes being opened, there were found about him diuellish books of coniuration and abominable practices, a picture of a man having three Dice in his hand, and this writing, Chance dice fortunately, and diuers papers of such like matters as he had dealt in for men such as are mentioned in Leuiticus, the 20 Chapter, the sixt verse. • If any soule turne himselfe after such as worke with spirits, and after Southsaiers, to goe a whoaring, (saith the Lord) I will put my face against that soule, and will cut him off from among my people.'" On a Monument for Richard Humble, Alderman of London, and his two wives, in St. Saviour's Church, erected in 1616, is the following Epitaph. "Like to the damaske rose you see, The gourd consumes; the Man he dies PRESSING FOR SOLDIERS. England, says Roger Ascham, the tutor of the unfortunate Jane Grey, "need fear no outward enemies, the lustie lads verilie be in England; I. have seen on a Sunday more likelie men walking in St. Paul's Church than I ever yet saw in Augusta (Augsburgh) where lieth an Emperor with a garrison, three Kings, a Queen, three Princes, a number of Dukes," &c.It was, probably, this display of lusty lads,' that led to the frequent pressing for Soldiers, in London, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, during the wars with Spain; and of which Stow records the following particulars under the year 1596. “The 9 of Aprill being good Friday, in the after noone the Lord Maior and Alderme were fet from the sermo in Paules Church yard, and forthwith upon precept from the Councell, pressed 1000 men, which was done by eight of the clocke the same night, and before the next morning, they were purueyed of all manner of furniture for the warres, readie to haue gone towards Douer, and so to the aide of Caleys against the Spaniards, but in the afternoone of the same day, they were all discharged. And on the xi. of Aprill being Easter day about x of the clocke, come a new charge, so that all men being in the Parish Churches ready to haue received the communion, the Aldermen, their Deputies and Constables, were faine to close up the church dores, till they had pressed so many to be souldiers that by xii of the clocke they had in the whole Citie 1000. men, and they were forthwith furnished of armour, weapons &c. And they were for the most part that night, and the rest the next morning sent away to Douer, as the like out of other |