Widow’s Tears, a Comedy, often presented in the Black and White Fryars, printed in 4to.  London 1612; this play is formed upon the story of the Ephesian Matron.  These are all the plays of our author, of which we have been able to gain any account; he joined with Ben Johnson and Marston in writing a Comedy called Eastward-Hoe; this play has been since revived by Tate, under the title of Cuckolds Haven.  It has been said that for some reflections contained in it against the Scotch nation; Ben Johnson narrowly escaped the pillory.  See more of this, page 237.

[Footnote 1:  See the Life of Overbury.]

[Footnote 2:  Wood’s Athen.  Oxon.]

* * * * *

BEN JOHNSON,

One of the best dramatic poets of the 17th century, was descended from a Scots family, his grandfather, who was a gentleman, being originally of Annandale in that kingdom, whence he removed to Carlisle, and afterwards was employed in the service of King Henry VIII.  His father lost his estate under Queen Mary, in whose reign he suffered imprisonment, and at last entered into holy orders, and died about a month before our poet’s birth[1], who was born at Westminster, says Wood, in the year 1574.  He was first educated at a private school in the church of St. Martin’s in the Fields, afterwards removed to Westminster school, where the famous Camden was master.  His mother, who married a bricklayer to her second husband, took him from school, and obliged him to work at his father-in-law’s trade, but being extremely averse to that employment, he went into the low countries, where he distinguished himself by his bravery, having in the view of the army killed an enemy, and taken the opima spolia from him.

Upon his return to England, he applied himself again to his former studies, and Wood says he was admitted into St. John’s College in the university of Cambridge, though his continuance there seems to have been but short.  He had some time after this the misfortune to fight a duel, and kill his adversary, who only slightly wounded him in the arm; for this he was imprisoned, and being cast for his life, was near execution; his antagonist, he said, had a sword ten inches longer than his own.

While he lay in prison, a popish priest visited him, who found his inclination quite disengaged as to religion, and therefore took the opportunity to impress him with a belief of the popish tenets.  His mind then naturally melancholy, clouded with apprehensions, and the dread of execution, was the more easily imposed upon.  However, such was the force of that impression, that for twelve years after he had gained his liberty, he continued in the catholic faith, and at last turned Protestant, whether from conviction or fashion cannot be determined; but when the character of Ben is considered, probability will be upon the side of the latter, for he took every occasion to ridicule religion in his