We cannot certainly fix the time that Sir John died, but it is reasonable to suppose that it was about the middle, or rather towards the latter end of James I’s reign.  I shall subjoin an epigram of his as a specimen of his poetry.

  In CORNUTUM.

  What curl’d pate youth is he that sitteth there,
  So near thy wife, and whispers in her eare,
  And takes her hand in his, and soft doth wring her. 
  Sliding his ring still up and down her finger? 
  Sir, ’tis a proctor, seen in both the lawes,
  Retain’d by her in some important cause;
  Prompt and discreet both in his speech and action,
  And doth her business with great satisfaction. 
  And think’st thou so? a horn-plague on thy head! 
  Art thou so-like a fool, and wittol led,
  To think he doth the bus’ness of thy wife? 
  He doth thy bus’ness, I dare lay my life.

[Footnote 1:  Muses Library, p. 296.]

[Footnote 2:  Ubi supra.]

* * * * *

THOMAS DECKER,

A poet who lived in the reign of King James I. and as he was cotemporary with Ben Johnson, so he became more eminent by having a quarrel with that great man, than by all his works.  Decker was but an indifferent poet, yet even in those days he wanted not his admirers; he had also friends among the poets; one of whom, Mr. Richard Brome, always called him Father; but it is the misfortune of little wits, that their admirers are as inconsiderable as themselves, for Brome’s applauses confer no great honour on those who enjoy them.  Our author joined with Webster in writing three plays, and with Rowley and Ford in another; and Langbaine asserts, that these plays in which he only contributed a part, far exceed those of his own composition.  He has been concerned in eleven plays, eight whereof are of his own writing, of all which I shall give an account in their alphabetical order.

I. Fortunatus, a comedy, printed originally in 4to but with what success, or when acted, I cannot gain any account.

II.  Honest Whore, the first part; a comedy, with the humours of the Patient Man, and the Longing Wife, acted by the Queen’s Servants, 1635.

III.  Honest Whore, the second part, a comedy; with the humours of the Patient Man, the Impatient Wife; the Honest Whore persuaded by strong arguments to turn Courtezan again; her refusing those arguments, and lastly the comical passage of an Italian bridewel, where the scene ends.  Printed in 4to, London 1630.  This play Langbaine thinks was never exhibited, neither is it divided into acts.

IV.  If this be not a good play the devil is in it; a comedy, acted with great applause by the Queen’s majesty’s servants, at the Red-Bull, and dedicated to the actors.  The beginning of this play seems to be writ in imitation of Machiavel’s novel of Belphegor, where Pluto summons the Devils to council.