John Webster.*

Though this writer must certainly be placed among and considering their our second-rate dramatistsmerit, this is no slight praise - we know not when he was born or when he died. He is said to have been clerk of St. Andrew's, Holborn, and a member of the Merchant Tailors' company. The first statement, however, may be doubted; no record of his name exists, either in the registers of that church, or in the MSS. belonging to the Parish Clerks' Hall. Nor is it certain that he was one of the guild of Merchant Tailors. There are, indeed, entries relating to three persons named John Webster, in the books of the company; Probably but which of them was the John Webster? not one. And in the Prerogative Office there are two wills made by a John Webster; but the dates of neither supposing that the testator was near the end of his days when the instrument was signed those of the dramatist.

will

with agree His life must therefore remain

in obscurity, unless his future be more successful than his past biographers in their researches.

The earliest notices of this author are to be found in the Memoranda of Henslowe. From them it appears that, in 1602, he was joined with Decker, Drayton, Middleton, and Munday, in the composition of The Two Harpies. The same year he assisted four other writers in the tragedy of Jane Shore. Both these dramas are lost. In 1604, he was employed to make some additions to the Malcontent of Marston; but these cannot be distinguished from the rest of the drama. In 1607, three dramas, Sir Thomas Wyatt, Westward Ho! and Northward Ho! were given to the press. These were the joint composition of Webster and Decker. There is much animation in these pieces; but there is also Biographia Dramatica Lamb's Dramatic Poets; Dodsley's Old Plays;

"Flam. No; the devil was in your dream.

"Vit. Cor. When to my rescue there arose, methought A whirlwind, which let fall a massy arm

From that strong plant;

And both were struck dead by that sacred yew,

In that base shallow grave that was their due.

"Flam. Excellent devil! she hath taught him in a dream

To make away his dutchess and her husband."

There is some power in this description; and it is no less graphic. The churchyard with its gloomy yew, its open grave, and fated diggers, is brought before us with a fidelity almost equal to the real scene.

Brachiano suddenly learns that his duchess, with her brother, Francisco de' Medicis, duke of Florence, are in Rome. He likes not this interruption of his amour, and when reproached for it by his brother-in-law, he becomes quarrelsome, and it is with difficulty a reconciliation is effected. The scene with his duchess, Isabella, an amiable, virtuous, and affectionate woman, shows the utter brutality of his nature. Her patient endurance, her sweetness of composure, though her heart is broken by his cruelty, render her an interesting object of attention. She returns to Padua, to wait the return of her husband, whenever it may suit his pleasure to leave the guilty pleasures of Rome. But she is to see him no more. Through the contrivance of Brachiano and his infamous agent Flamineo, a doctor is sent after her; and that very night Camillo is also to be removed by death. The victims are not murdered

"Enter suspiciously JULIO and CHRISTOPHERO: they draw a curtain where Brachiano's picture is; they put on spectacles of glass, which cover their eyes and noses, and then burn perfumes afore the picture, and wash the lips of the picture; that done, quenching the fire, and putting off their spectacles, they depart laughing.

"Enter ISABELLA in her night-gown, as to bed-ward, with lights after her, COUNT LODOVICO, GIOVANNI, GUID-ANTONIO, and others waiting on her: she kneels down as to prayers, then draws the curtain of the picture, does three reverences to it, and kisses it thrice: she faints, and will not suffer them to

"Enter FLAMINEO, MARCELLO, CAMILLO, with four more, as captains: they drink healths, and dance; a vaulting horse is brought into the room; Marcello and two more whispered out of the room, while Flamineo and Camillo strip themselves into their shirts, as to vault; they compliment who shall begin; as Camillo is about to vault, Flamineo pitcheth him upon his neck, and, with the help of the rest, writhes his neck about; seems to see if it be broke, and lays him folded double, as 't were under the horse; makes shews to call for help; Marcello comes in, laments; sends for the Cardinal and Duke, who come forth with armed men; wonder at the act; command the body to be carried home; apprehend Flamineo, Marcello, and the rest, and go, as were, to apprehend Vittoria.

"Brach. 'T was quaintly done; but yet each circumstance I taste not fully.

"Con. O, 't was most apparent!

You saw them enter, charg'd with their deep healths

To their boon voyage; and, to second that,

Flamineo calls to have a vaulting horse

Maintain their sport; the virtuous Marcello

Is innocently plotted forth the room;

Whilst your eye saw the rest, and can inform you

The engine of all.

"Brach. It seems Marcello and Flamineo

Are both committed.

"Con. Yes, you saw them guarded;