So early as in the year 1589 Kempe's comick talents appear to have been highly eftimated, for an old pamphlet called An Almond for a Parrot, written, I think, by Thomas Nashe, and published about that time, is dedicated " to that most comicall and conceited Cavaleire Monfieur du Kempe, Jeftmonger, and vice-gerent generall to the Ghost of Dicke Tarleton." From a paffage in one of Decker's tracts it may be prefumed that this comedian was dead in the year 1609." In Braithwaite's Remains, 1618, he is thus commemorated: "Kempes New Figge betwixt a Souldier and a Mifer and Sym the Clowne." Sept. 7, 1593, was entered on the Stationers' books, by R. Jones, "A comedie entitled A Knack how to know a Knave, newly fet forth, as it hath been fundrye times plaied by Ned Allen and his company, with Kempes applauded merryment of The Men of Gotham." In the Bodleian Library, among the books given to it by Robert Burton, is the following tract, bound up with a few others of the fame fize, in a quarto volume marked L, 62d. art.: "Kemps nine daies wonder performed in a daunce from London to Norwich. Containing the pleasure, paines and kind entertainment of William Kemp between London and that city, in his late morrice. Wherein is fomewhat fet downe worth note; to reprooue the flaunders fpred of him: many things merry, nothing hurtfull. Written by himfelfe, to fatisfie his friends." (Lond. E. A. for Nicholas Ling. 1600. b. 1.-With a wooden cut of Kempe as a morris-dancer, preceded by a fellow with a pipe and drum, whom he (in the book) calls Thomas Slye, his taberer.) It is dedicated to The true ennobled lady, and most bountifull miftris, miltris Anne Fitton, mayde of honour to the most facred mayde royall queene Elizabeth." 66 6 « Tush, tush, Tarleton, Kempe, nor Singer, nor all the litter of fooles that now come drawling behind them, never played the clownes part more naturally than the arranteft fot of you all." Guls Horne booke, 1609. "UPON KEMPE AND HIS MORICE, WITH HIS EPITAPH. "Welcome from Norwich, Kempe: all joy to fee Thy fafe return moriscoed luftily. "But out alas! how foone's thy morice done, "Then all thy triumphs fraught with strains of mirth, "Shall be they are; thou haft danc'd thee out of breath; THOMAS POPE. This actor likewife performed the part of a Clown. He died before the year 1600.8 GEORGE BRYAN. I have not been able to gather any intelligence concerning this performer, except that in the exhibition of The Seven deadly Sins he reprefented the Earl of Warwick. He was, I believe, on the stage before the year 1588. HENRY CUNDALL is faid by Roberts the player to have been a comedian, but he does not mention any other authority what meanes Singer then, "And Pope, the clowne, to fpeak fo borish, when 8 Heywood's Apology for Actors. for this affertion but stage-tradition. In Webster's Dutchefs of Malfy he originally acted the part of the Cardinal; and as, when that play was printed in 1623, another performer had fucceeded him in that part, he had certainly before that time retired from the ftage. He ftill, however, continued to have an intereft in the theatre, being mentioned with the other players to whom a licence was granted by King Charles the First in 1625. He had probably a confiderable portion of the barcs or property of the Globe and Blackfriars theatres. This actor as well as Heminge lived in Aldermanbury, in which parish he ferved the office of Sideman in the year 1606. I have not been able to afcertain his age; but he appears to have married about the year 1598, and had eight children, the eldeft of whom was born in Feb. 1598-99, and died an infant. Three only of his children appear to have furvived him; Henry, born in 1600; Elizabeth in 1606; and William, baptized May 26, 1611. Before his death he refided for fome time at Fulham, but he died in London, and was buried in his parish church in Aldermanbury, Dec. 29, 1627. On the 13th of that month he made his will, of which I fubjoin a copy, extracted from the registry of the Prerogative Court. "In the name of God, Amen, I Henry Cundall of London, gentleman, being fick in body, but of perfect mind and memory, laud and praise be therefore given to Almighty God, calling to my remembrance that there is nothing in this world more fure and certain to mankind than death, and nothing more more uncertain than the hour thereof, do therefore make and declare this my laft will and teftament in manner and form following; that is to fay, firft I commend my foul into the hands of Almighty God, trusting and affuredly believing that only by the merits of the precious death and paffion of my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift I fhall obtain full and free pardon and remiffion of all my fins, and shall enjoy everlasting life in the kingdom of heaven, amongst the elect children of God. My body I commit to the earth, to be decently buried in the night-time in fuch parish where it shall please God to call me. My worldly fubftance I difpofe of as followeth. And first concerning all and fingular my freehold meffuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatfoever, with their and every of their appurtenances, whereof I am and ftand feized of any manner of eftate of inheritance, I give, devife and bequeath the fame as followeth : Imprimis, I give, devife and bequeath all and fingular my freehold meffuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever, with their and every of their appurtenances, fituate, lying and being in Helmett-court in the Strand, and elsewhere, in the county of Middlefex, unto Elizabeth my well beloved wife, for and during the term of her natural life; and from and immediately after her decease, unto my fon Henry Cundall, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for want of fuch iffue unto my fon William Cundall, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten; and for default of fuch iffue unto my daughter Elizabeth Finch, and to her heirs and affigns for ever. Item, I give, devife and bequeath all and fingular my freehold meffuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments, whatsoever, with their and every of their appurtenances, fituate, lying and being in the parish of St. Bride, alias Bridgett, near Fleet-ftreet, London, and elsewhere in the city of London, and the suburbes thereof, unto my well beloved wife Elizabeth Cundall and to her affigns, untill my faid fon William Cundall his term of apprenticehood fhall be fully expired by effluxion of time; and from and immediately after the faid term of apprenticehood fhall be fo fully expired, I give, devife and bequeath the fame meffuages and premises situate in the city of London, and the fuburbes thereof, unto my faid fon William Cundall, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for default of fuch iffue, unto my said son Henry Cundall, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for default of fuch iffue unto my faid daughter Elizabeth Finch, and to her heirs and affigns for ever. And as concerning all and fingular my goods, chattels, plate, household ftuff, ready money, debts, and personal estate, whatsoever and wherefoever, I give, devife, and bequeath the fame as followeth: viz. Imprimis, Whereas I am executor of the laft will and teftament of John Underwood, deceased, and by force of the fame executorfhip became poffeffed of fo much of the personal estate of the faid John Underwood, which is expreffed in an inventory thereof, made and by me exhibited in due form of law into the ecclefiaftical court. And whereas also in discharge of my faid executorship I have from time to time disbursed divers fums of money in the education and bringing up of the children of the faid John Underwood deceased as by my accompts kept in that behalf appeareth. Now in discharge of my confcience, and in full performance of the truft reposed in me by the said John Underwood, I do charge my executrix faithfully to pay to the furviving children of the faid John Underwood all and whatsoever shall be found and appear by my accompts to belong unto them, and to deliver unto |