Sir Thomas Browne and the Strolling Players in NorwichAuthor(s): Jeremiah S. FinchSource: The Review of English Studies, Vol. 15, No. 60 (Oct., 1939), pp. 468-470Published by: Oxford University PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/509468 .

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468 R. E. S., VOL. 15, 1939 (N9 60, OCT.)

purely the choice and congruity of the Persons united, without the Byasse of other Interests which usually bear a great sway in that Union. Now even here, unless the Love proceed to a Friendship, it is short of what it might come to, and of that Passion which the very Persons have towards others, if so be they are really and indeed Friends to any. There be many can adore one as a Mistresse, affect her for a Wife, and yet believe her not so proper for all the Relations of Friendship ; More that while she is a Mistresse believe her fit for all those offices, and find themselves afterwards deceived." More in this strain could be quoted. He concludes: "Your Friend (all Epithetes are needlesse and go lesse') Palakemon."

Finch's fame as a poet is slender, and rests upon two or three poems. This prose work seems of more importance: it gives the date of Orinda's poems addressed to him ; it has direct interest for the study of her Platonic Circle; furthermore, the author and his Discourse inspired the matchless Orinda in the two poems mentioned above.

Oh for a voice which loud as thunder were, That all mankind thy conqu'ring truths might hear i Sure the litigious as amaz'd would stand, As Fairy Knights touch'd with Cambina's wand, Drawn by thy softer, and yet stronger charms, Nations and armies would lay down their arms : And what more Honour can on thee be hurl'd, Than to protect a Virtue, save a World ?

Friendship, that Love's elixir, that pure fire Which burns the clearer 'cause it burns the higher.

'Twas he that rescu'd gasping Friendship when The bell toll'd for her funeral with men: 'Twas he that made Friends more than Lovers burn, And then made Love to sacred Friendship turn :

He's our Original, by whomn we see How much we fail, and what we ought to be.

W. G. HIscOCK.

1 Compare G. Herbert: The Church-Porch, stanzas 40 and 55.

SIR THOMAS BROWNE AND THE STROLLING PLAYERS IN NORWICH

IN Sir Thomas Browne's correspondence with his son Edward are two allusions to players in Norwich in 1679 and i680 not here- tofore noticed in studies of the Restoration stage. Although Edward Browne's attendance at plays has frequently been cited,2 Sir Thomas's

2 His notes in his memorandum book (MS. Sloane 19oo) list plays seen in Norwich and London. Cf. W. J. Lawrence, "A Forgotten Restoration Play-

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NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS 469

interest in drama has remained a matter of conjecture, based on his statement in Religio Medici that he could " weep most seriously at a Play."' That troupes of players appeared frequently in Norwich during the years following the Restoration is shown by the numerous entries relating to licensing of players in the Mayor's Court Book of Norwich.2 Affording a pleasant contrast to the bare, business-like entries in the Court Book, Sir Thomas's comments suggest that he shared his son's interest in plays.

The first reference is in a letter dated October 6, [I6791 : Wee heare that his Majestie was to leave Newmarket on last Saturday.

. . . butt most men are well contented that hee should not staye at Newmarket so long, as it was given out that hee intended, for the country is still sickly, the wether uncertaine and it rayneth allmost daylie, so that the cheif diversions are within doores by cockfighting & playes. The players being so numerous that they have sent out a colonie to Bury, of whom a Lady who was there at a play gave mee a very tragicall & lamentable description.3

This remark is difficult to interpret, for there is but one entry relating to players in the Court Book for the year 1679: 19 April 1679.

Cornelius Saffary hath lycence given him to make shew of part of playes Interludes &c. as in & by his patent is mentioned untill this day senight or further order.

Whether Sir Thomas meant that one company sent part of its number to Bury, or that one of several companies then in Norwich removed to Bury, is difficult to determine.4 If the Court Book is to be relied

house," E.S., xxxv (1905), 286; Leslie Hotson, The Commonwealth and Restora- tion Stage (Cambridge, 1928), pp. 178-9; Bernard M. Wagner, " John Rhodes and Ignoramus," R.E.S., v (1929), 48 (Edward is here mistakenly referred to as " Thomas " Browne) ; " George Jolly at Norwich," R.E.S., vi (193o), pp. 449-50. 1 The Works of Sir Thomas Browne (ed. Geoffrey Keynes, London, 1928- x93x), I. 8o. See Alwin Thaler, " Shakspere and Sir Thomas Browne," Shaks- pere's Silences (Cambridge, I929).

2 For printed extracts from the Court Book see Extracts from the Court Books of the City of Norwich, 1666-1678 (ed. Walter Rye, 1905), and Sybil Rosenfeld, "The Players in Norwich, 1664-1709," R.E.S., xi' (1936), p. 129-138.

The extracts in this article are taken from transcripts from the Court Book sent me by Miss M. Grace, Hon. Assistant Secretary, The Norfolk and Norwich Archieological Society.

* The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, vI. 152. The reference to the King's leaving Newmarket dates the letter, for John Evelyn (Diary, ed. Austin Dobson, London, 19o6, II. 37.) mentions the King's return from Newmarket on October 23, 1679.

' I have been unsuccessful in securing records of the period from the Town Clerk of Bury St. Edmunds.

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470 R. E. S., VOL. 15, 1939 (N9 60, OCT.)

on as an accurate record of the players performing in Norwich for that year, it would appear that Saffary had been so successful that he had remained in Norwich, augmented his company, and even sent a group of his men to Bury.

The second reference to players is easier to establish:

The players are at the Red lyon hard by & Tome goes sometimes to see a playe.1 The letter in which this comment appears is dated November 29, [i680o], and in the Court Book we find that on November 13 :

Mr. Robert Parker Master of Newmarket Companie of Players had. lycence to Act Playes &c. in ye City at ye redd lion for 14 dales from Monday next making use of ye City Musiq.

Although the license was prolonged into January, it appears from the entries in the Court Book, quoted below, that Parker had some difficulty in persuading the authorities to let his company remain during Christmas week:

27 November I68o The Players have lycence to stay in Towne Tenn dales from Monday

next. I December 1680

The Players have io dales further granted from Monday next. ii December 168o

The players are ordered to be gone upon Fryday next. i5 December 168o

The Players in respect of ye bad season of weather, have leave to stay io dales from ye 26th of y" month they absteyning every day next weeke except Monday next.

Although the attribution of Browne's first reference to Cornelius Saffary's Company is uncertain, there can be little doubt that it was to Parker's " Newmarket Company" he was referring in I680, and we may even suppose that he himself took " Tome " " some- times to see a playe." It is not hard to imagine the old doctor and his grandson strolling down a Norwich street to the " Red lyon hard by." JEREMIAH S. FINC. JEREMIAH S. FINCH.

1 The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, vI. 197. A reference to the election of " Mr. Welsh " to the House of Commons in place of " Sir Robert Reve " dates this letter. George Welch and Charles Fox were declared duly elected burgesses for the borough of Eye in the place of Sir Charles Gaudy and Sir Robert Reeve on December 8, I68o. (Journal of the House of Commons, cited in The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, ed. Simon Wilkin, London, 1836, i. 293, n.).

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