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ROBERT CHESTER'S

"LOVES MARTYR,

OR,

ROSALINS COMPLAINT"

(1601)

WITH ITS SUPPLEMENT,

BY

SHAKSPERE, BEN JONSON, GEORGE CHAPMAN, JOHN MARSTON, ETC.

EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,

BY THE

REV. ALEXANDER B. GROSART, LL.D., F.S.A.,

ST. George's, blackburn, Lancashire.

PUBLISHT FOR

BY N. TRUBNER & CO., 57, 59, LUDGATE HILL,

LONDON, E.G., 1S78.

SmcsVIII. Do. 2.

CLAY AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BUNQAT.

■ *

To

F. J. FURNIVALL, Esq.,

M.A.,

AND THE

COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF

»yO YOU CO-WORKERS ON OUR ANCIENT BOOKS OF TIMES ELIZABETHAN, I HERE GIVE

CHESTER'S OLD TOME. O MAY IT ONCE MORE LIVE BENEATH YOUR EYES, THRO' INSIGHT THAT NOR BROOKS NOR FEARS DULL FOLLY'S SUPERCILIOUS LOOKS,

WHEN FROM REMOTER DAYS, THINGS FUGITIVE

AND LONG-FORGOTTEN, WE WOULD FAIN REVIVE. 'LOVE'S martyr; that I BRING FROM HIDDEN NOOKS,

A QUICK KEEN MESSAGE BEARS FOR US TO-DAY : AS I, BY HAPPY FORTUNE, FIRST HAVE PROV'D ;

FOR IT INTERPRETS 'BIRD OF LOUDEST LAY'— TELLING, HOW GREAT ELIZABETH, ESSEX LOV'D.

TURN THEN, GOOD FRIENDS, TO THESE LONG-SEALED PAGES :

YOUR KIND APPROVAL MORE THAN COUNTED WAGES.

ALEXANDER. B. GROSART.

*^t* See page xxiv. on my friend Dr. Brinsley Nicholson's independent arrival at the same conchisions. By 'give' I mean simply furnish, as the gift is only partial, viz., permission to the Society to stereotype the book as set up for my own Occasional Issues of unique or extremely rare books (50 copies). — G.

	6*
	CONTENTS	«
Dedication, Contents, and Argument I. Introduction ...	PAGH I*— 15* V — lxxxiv
o.	Who was Robert Chester ? ...	V X
b.	Who was Sir John Salisburie? (with extracts from Robert Parry's Sineiies, 1597, p. xiii — xx)	X — xxi
c.	Who were meant by the PkcEiiix and the Ttirtlc-Dove of these Poems? (with extracts from Churchyard's Challenge, 1 593, p. xxv — xxxiv, and all his Fortunate Farewell, 1599, p. xxxix — xliii) ...	xxi — xlv
d.	What is the message or motif oi the Poems .-*	xlv — Ivi
e.	What is the relation between the verse-contributions of Shakspere and the other "moderne writers" to Loves lilartyr ?	Ivi — Ixi
/■	Was the 1611 issue only a number of copies of the original of 1601, less the preliminary matter, with a new title-page .''	Ixi — Ixii
g-	Is there poetical worth in the book .f*	Ixii — Ixviii
h.	Who was TORQUATO Coeliano? (with Dr. Tod- hunter's englishing of some of Livio Cceliano's poems) ... ... ... ... ... ■	xviii--Ixxii
i.	Postscript : Notes, p. Ixxiv — Ixxxii. Errata, p. Ix.xxii — Lxxxiv ... ... ... ... Ixxiv-lxxxiv
II. Chester's Loves Martyr, or, Rosalins Complaint :
	Title-page of ist edition of 1601 ...	A2
I.	Dedication to Sir John Salisburie ; The Authors request to the Phoenix (No. i) ; To the kind Reader {all 3 left out of the copies issued in 1611)	A3, A 4
	New Title-page to the remaining copies of the 1601 edition issued in 161 1	As

Contents. 7*

PACE

2. Rosalins Complaint (describing the parts of her body, the

isle of Paphos, and ' Honors louely Squire' (Turtle-Dove No. i), the lover of Phcenix No. Ill.t (p. 9, st. 4), who is also Turtle-Dove No. 111. (p. 125, st. 3) ; and foretelling the rise of Phoenix No. IV. (p. 12, st. 2) ... ... i — I2j:

An Introduction to the Prayer (for Phoenix No. i = Turtle- Dove No. 2, p. 13, 1. 3) ... ... ... ... 12—13

3. A Prayer made for the prosperitie of a siluer-coloured

Doue, applyed to the beauteous Phoenix (No. I = Turtle- Dove No. II.) ... ... ... ... ... 13—15

To those of hght beleefe. (An Introduction to) ... 15—16

A meeting Dialogue-wise betweene Nature, the Phoenix

(No. I, or Turtle-Dove II.), and the Turtle Doue (No. I.) 16— 131

(i. The troubles of the Phoenix I, &c. &c. ... ... 16—25)

(ii. A description of the chief cities in England, & the

Castle of Maidens in Scotland ... ... 26—29)

(iii. An account of the Nine Worthy Women ... ... 29—32)

(iv. A description of Windsor Castle; and anent this, ... 33—34)

Here followeth the Birth, Life and Death of honourable

Arthur, King of Brittaine ... ... ... ... 34 — 80

(v. A rymed Catalogue of the Plants & Herbs in Paphos 81—95)

(vi. A rymed Catalogue of the Trees in Paphos ... 95—98)

(vii. „ „ Fish in Paphos ... 99—100)

(viii. „ „ Precious Stones in Paphos loi — 107)

(ix. „ „ Beasts & Worms in Paphos 107 — 116)

(x. „ „ Birds in Paphos ... 116— 123)

(xi. A description of the male Turtle-Dove (No. i) who mourns for his Phoenix III. (p. 9, st. 4), his female "Turtle who is dead" (Turtle-Dove No. III.) ;§ and how the Phcenix I. resolves to share his sorrow, be one with him — Turtle-Dove II. with

Turtle-Dove I.— and die with him ... ... 123— 131)

Pellican (her Lament over the Deaths of the Turtle-Dove I.

& Phoenix I. or Turtle-Dove II.) ... ... ... 131 — 133

Conclusion (Description of Phoenix IV, &c.) ... ... I33 — 134

t Phoenix, No. II, is a male, the " Arabian Phoenix," p. 5, st. 3.

X The references are to the top-pagings, and not the foot ones as in Dr. Grosart s Notes.

^ p. 125, 1. 16, ?for hhn, read her. Will the male Turtle, left all alone, die for his female mate ; or does he speak of himself as ' him ' in the third person ?— F. J. F.

8*	Contents. 5. Cantoes Alphabet-wise to faire Phcenix (No. I.) made by		PAGB
	the Paphian Doue (Turtle-Dove I.). (A. i. to Z. 24.)	134-	— 140
	6. Cantoes Verbally written (from the Turtle-Dove I. to
III	the Phoenix I.)	141-	-167
Diverse Poeticall Essaies on the Turtle and
	Phcenix-)-	169-	-187
	a. Invocatio ad Apollinem & Pierides. CJwrus Vatum		171
	b. To the worthily honor' d Knight Sir lohn SaUsburie.
	Vatiini Chorus		172
	c. The first. The burning. Ignoto		173
	d. "Let the bird of lowdest lay." Threnos. William
	Sliake-speai-e ...		174-6
	e. A narration and description of a most exact wondrous
	creature, arising out of the Phoenix and Turtle
	Doues ashes, p. 177. The description of this
	Perfection, p. 178. To Perfection, A Sonnet, p.
	178-9. Perfection! Hymnus, p. 179 — 180. lolin
	Marston	177-	-180
	f. Peristeros : or the male Turtle. George Chapman ...		180
	g. Praeludium, p. 181. Epos, p. 182-6. Ben Johnson ...		181-6
	h. The Phcenix Analysde, p. 186. Ode ivBovamanKri.
	Ben Johnson, p. 186-7 •••		186-7
	\_Top page-numbers left ont.i from the Notes-A'i^i-. being
	run on by Dr. Grosart from the Text foot-numberings
	and 710 1 its top ones	189-	-196]
IV.	Notes and Illustrations (by Dr. Grosart, Dr.
	Nicholson, &c.)	197-	-245
V. t	Index ...	247—254 Turtle-Dove
That is, Turtle-Dove No. I. (male), and Phoenix No. I. (female) =
No.	II. (female).

Q*

THE ARGUMENT.

At a Parliament of the gods — present [? with others not mentioned] Jove, Vesta, Juno, Venus, Pallas, Bellona, and Cupid — Rosalin, in the person of Dame Nature, comes to beg assistance. She has established on earth the most perfect Phoenix* that ever existed — a maiden whose personal beauties she describes. Parenthetically, as it were, p. 5/13, tst. 3, she wishes that " Arabian Phoenix," J "love's Lord," would come and take possession of this incomparable beauty. Her fear is that her Phoenix will decay and that no other will arise from her ashes, because

" The Arabian fiers are too dull and base To make another spring within her place." — p. 7/15, st. 2.

She therefore begs Jove to pity her (Rosalin z=z Nature) and list to her laments.

The gods are somewhat startled and incredulous at her wondrous account of her Phoenix, but she confirms her statements by exhibit- ing a picture in which they

" behold

The rich wrought Phoenix of Arabian gold." — p. 8/i6, st. 3. Jove thereupon bids Nature

-hie thee, get thee Phoebus chaire

Cut through the skie, and leaue Arabia,

* Phoenix No. r, female.

t S/13 : 5 is the number at the top of the page ; 13, that at its foot.

X Phcenix No 2, male.

lo* The Argument.

Leaue that il working peece * of fruitlesse ayre

Leaue me the plaines of white Brytania,

These countries have no fire to raise that flame That to this Phoenix bird can yeeld a name."

p. 9/17, St. 3.

and fly to Paphos He,

" Where in a vale like Ciparissus groue Thou shalt behold a second Phoenix loue." — p. 9/17, st. 4.

i. e. the love or mate of another Phoenix. f — This lover of Phoenix No. 3, female, is the Turtle-dove described at p. 1 23/131, who is to die with Phoenix No. i, female, and with her produce Phoenix No. 4, female. — He is the hero of the Allegory: he is "true Honors louely squire ; " his name is *' Liberal honor," and he keeps for Nature's Phoenix "Prometheus fire," p. 11/19, st. 3, 4,

" Give him, "continues Jove, "this ointment to anoint his head This precious balme to lay unto his feet. These shall direct him to this Phoenix bed Wliere on a high hill he this bird shall meet And of their Ashes by my dome shall rise Another Phoenix J her to equalize." — p. 12/20, st. 2,

" This said the Gods and Goddesses did applaud The censure of this thundring Magistrate And Nature gave him euerlasting laud And quickly in the dayes bright coach she gate

Downe to the earth, she's whirled through the ayre; Joue joyne these fires, thus Venus made her prayer."

p. 12/20, St. 3.

Then follows "An Introduction to the Prayer" addressed to the "great Guider of the Sunne and Moone" craving guidance and tlie blotting out of offences, and

" Then arm'd with thy protection and thy loue lie make my prayer for thy Turtle-doue."

Qy. is this introductory prayer, and the prayer proper which

♦ Peece = place ; so used by Stowe, of London, and frequently by Fenton in his translation of Guiciardini's History of Italy, 1599. t Phcenix No. 3, female. % Phoenix No. 4, female. See Chester's "Conclusion," p. 133/141.

Tlie Argument. ii*

follows, made by Venus, or is Venus' s prayer confined to the four words quoted above: — "Joue joyne these fires" ? In either case the Turtle-dove here mentioned is Dame Nature's (Rosalin's) Phoenix, No, i. ' •

Then follows the prayer : "A Prayer made for the prosperitie of a siluer coloured Doue, applyed to the beauteous Phoenix."

This prayer is addressed to Jehova, Christ, the God of Israel, in favour of "the siluer coloured earthly Doue," "thy siluer Doue," /, e., of course, the Phoenix, and ends with —

" Let her not wither Lord without increase But blesse her with joyes offspring of sweet peace.

Amen. Amen." — p. 15/23, st. 2.

This prayer certainly proceeds from the same person as the introductory petition.

The author himself now addresses three stanzas to readers of "light beleefe," claiming their indulgence.

Then follows, p. 16/24, "A meeting Dialogue-wise betweene Nature, the Phoenix, and the Turtle Doue."

The last of these three personages of the Allegory does not appear on the scene till p. 1 23/131.

Nature arrives in her chariot and greets the Phoenix. It is not very clear where this meeting takes place. It is a place where "gross cloudie vapours" prevail (p. 18/26, st. 5); the air is "noysome" (p. 20/28, st. 2). It is a

" barren country. It is so saplesse that the very Spring Makes tender new-growne Plants be with'ring."

p. 21/29, St. 4.

" The noisome Aire is growne infectious, The very springs for want of moisture die. The glorious Sunne is here pestiferous," etc., etc.

p. 22/30, St. I.

Here the Phoenix has long suftered from the power of Envie =: Malice ; here, she says, —

" with Adders was I stuno:.

And in a lothsome pit was often fluni.

12

* The Aro;ument.

&'

My Beautie and my Vertues captiuate

To Loue, dissembling Loue that I did hate."

p. 22/30, St. 3.

She complains of Fortune —

" That she should place me in a desart Plaine, And send forth Enuie with a ludas kisse To sting me with a Scorpions poisoned hisse. From my first birth-right for to plant me heare, Where I haue alwaies fed on Griefe and Feare."

p. 23/31, St. 3.

And much more, more or less intelligible, to the same effect. She was about to take her flight from this horrid place when Nature met her, for, says she, —

'* Upon the Arabian mountaines I must die, And neuer with a poore yong Turtle graced."

p. 16/24, St. 3.

[Qy. what is meant by this "poore yong Turtle?" a son or a husband ?]

It would seem then that the place of meeting is not in Arabia ; indeed in st. 4, p. 21/29 Arabia is specially distinguished from this barren country —

" in Arabia burnes another Light,

A dark dimme Taper that I must adore.

This barren countrey makes me to deplore," etc.

and yet in the previous parts of the Allegory (see p. 7/15, st. 2 and p. 9/17, St. 3, both quoted above) it is evident that Arabia was intended as the place of meeting; and the Phoenix herself says when she meets the Turtle-dove in Paphos (p. 125/133, st. 4) that she had left Arabia for his sake.

However, be the place where it will. Nature consoles her Phoenix ; conjures up Envie and banishes him; and then Nature and the Phoenix together enter Phcebus' C3ach and set out on their travels.

Their course seems rather devious. We will, says Dame Nature, — •

The Argument. i^*

" ride

Ouer the Semi-circle of Europa And bend our course where we will see the '] ide, That partes the Continent of Affrica, Where the great Cham gouernes Tartaria And when the starrie Curtain vales the night In Paphos sacred He we meane to light."

p. 24/32, St. 4.

They behold the Pyramides and Euphrates, p. 25/33, st. 2. but in a very short time they are apparently hovering over Great Britain, several of the towns of which are described. The history of the nine female Worthies is also briefly given, and then, from p. 34/42 to p. 77/85, follows an account of the birth, life, and death of King Arthur. This done, they come in sight of the Tower of London, p. 77/85 : a few more stanzas on London and its glory, and then they each indulge in a song : Nature in dispraise of Love, the Phoenix in praise of it as a holy thing. This at last brings them to Paphos, and they

" are set on foote neere to that He,

In whose deep bottome plaines Delight doth smile.''

p. 8iy'89, St. I.

But Nature is inexhaustible, and from this point to p. 1 23/131 she amuses the Phoenix with an account of the plants, trees, fishes, minerals, beasts, reptiles, insects, and birds which are the denizens of Paphos. The account of the birds naturally leads up to the introduction of the hero of the Allegory, the Turtle-dove, who at last makes his appearance, and proves to be a " sad-mournefull dooping soule,"

" Whose feathers mowt off, falling as he goes, The perfect picture of hart pining woes."

p. 123/131, St. 3.

Nature having introduced the Phoenix to the Dove she had long'd so much to see, now takes her departure, leaving the unhappy pair together, p. 124/132, st. 3.

The Turtle-dove is stricken with admiration of the beauteous Phoenix, and soon lets her know that the cause of all his moan is

14* The Argument.

for his "Turtle that is dead," p. 125/133, st. 3. [We learned, p. 9/17, St. 4, that this lost mate of his was a "second Phoenix," Phoenix No. 3.]

To ease their pain, they share their griefs, and after mutually- vowing chaste love, they prepare a pyre on which, in a manner sacrificingly, they propose to burn both their bodies in order to revive one name, p. 128/136, st. 3 ; and they pray to Apollo to

" Send [his] hot kindling light into this wood That shall receive the Sacrifice of blood."

p. 129/137, St. I, 2, 3.

At this point the Phoenix spies a Pellican behind a bush ; but the Turtle-dove tells her this bird is quite harmless.

" Let her alone," says he, " to vew our Tragedy, And then report our Loue that she did see."

p. 130/138, St. I.

The Phoenix would now wish to sacrifice herself only, but the Turtle-dove will not hear of this, and sets the example of mounting the funeral pile ; when he is consumed, the Phoenix also enters the fire.

" I come sweet Turtle, and with my bright wings I will embrace thy burnt bones as they lye ; I hope of these another Creature springs That shall possesse both our authority : I stay to long, 6 take me to your glory, And thus I end the Turtle Doues true story."*

Finis. R. C.

The Pellican now comments on the tragic scene she has beheld ; praises the love and constancy of the two victims, and laments the degeneracy of lovers of these later times.

Chester then gives a "Conclusion" (p. 133/141), in which he describes Phoenix No. 4, foretold in p. 12/20, st. 2. He states that

/'From the sweetc fire of perfumed wood Another princely Phoenix vjDright stood :

• Ts this last line supposed to be uttered by the Phoenix or by R. Chester himself?

The Argument. 15*

Whose feathers purified did yecld more light Then her late burned mother out of siglit And in her heart restes a perpetuall loue, Sprong from the bosome of the Turtle-Doue. Long may the new uprising bird increase, Some humours and some motions to release, And thus to all I offer my devotion, Hoping that gentle minds accept my motion."

Finis. R. C.

Then follow a series of " Cantoes Alphabet-wise to faire Phoenix made by the Paphian Doue." And after them another series of " Cantoes verbally written " — the first words of each line forming a separate series of posies — all apparently addressed to the Phoenix.

[In the second stanza of canto 13, p. 154, is, I think, a misprint. "Not my dead Phoenix," etc. ; dear, or perhaps dread, should be substituted for dead.^

The book closes with the contributions of Shakespeare, Jonson, Marston, etc., all evidently " intended to celebrate precisely what Love's Martyr celebrated." — P. A. D.

CORRECTIONS.

[l. As a matter of interest to students of Ben Jonson, it should be noted that tlie changes in his " Prseludium " and "Epos," p. i8l-6, attributed to Gififord (p. l.\i Inti-oduction, and p. 245 Azotes), were really made by Jonson himself, when he gathered these two pieces into his Forest, in his Folio, 1616. He apparently did not consider " The Phcenix Analysde " and the " Ode " worthy of transplantation.

2. In his "Postcript" C, p. Ixxv — viii, Dr. Grosart inclines to attribute to Chester a series of poems called The Partheniades. It is — or should be — well known that these poems were certainly composed by the author of The Arte of Englishe Poesie, 1589 ; and George Puttenham is, I believe, universally accepted as the writer of the latter work. See Mr. Arber's Introduction, etc., to his reprint, 1869.— P. A. D.]

INTRODUCTION.

IN uie Notes and Illustrations appended to this our reproduction, in extcnso and in integrity, of Loves Martyr, everything that seemed to call for notice will be found — it is believed — noticed with less or more fulness. Thither the student-reader is referred on any point that may either interest or puzzle him. Here I wish to bring together certain wider things that could not well go into the Notes and Illustrations, so as to shew that, in the present strangely neglected book, we have a noticeable contribution to Eliza- bethan-Essex-Shakespeare literature.

I purpose an attempt to answer these questions : {a) Who was ROBERT CHESTER 1

ib) Who was SiR John Salisburie.?

(c) Who were meant by the Phcenix and the Turtle-dove of these Poems .?

{d) What is the message or motif oi \h& Poems?

(^) What is the relation between the verse-con- tributions of Shakespeare and the other "Moderne Poets" to Loves Martyr}

if) Was the 1611 issue only a number of copies of the original of 1601, less the preliminary matter and a new title-page .''

(g) Is there poetical worth in the book ?

{h) Who was TORQUATO CCELIANO >

(a) Who was Robert Chester ? His name, it will be observed, appears in full, * Robert Chester,' in the original title-page of 1601 ; as ' Ro. Chester' to the Epistle- dedicatory to Salisburie (p. 4); as ' R. Chester' to "The Authors request to the Phoenix" (p. 5); as ' R. Ch.' in address "To the kind Reader" (p. 6); as ' R. C to " Con-

A

vi Introduction.

elusion" (p. 142); and as 'R. Chester' at close of "Cantoes" (p. 167). I have sought almost in vain — and I have had cap- able and earnest fellow-seekers — for contemporary notices of either the man or his book. Even later, the bibliographical authorities, e.g., Ritson, Brydges, Lowndes, Collier, Hazlitt, beyond giving the title-pages and other details with (on the whole) fair accuracy, yield not one scintilla of light. Neither do the county-histories, nor editors as Gilford and Cunning- ham in their Ben Jonson, nor Mr. J. O. Halliwell-Phillipps in his natty little reprint (in ten copies) of the " new composi- tions."

I was thus shut up to an examination of the genealogies of a somewhat large and widely-distributed tribe, viz., the C HESTERS. I never doubted of finding in Mr. R. E. Chester Waters's most laborious and trustworthy work on the Chesters,* some " certain sound " on our poet as the soli- tary Chester, who, in poetry at any rate, has any fame or interest for us in this late day ; but even in his matterful tomes I was doomed to disappointment. Equally unex- pected was my failure to obtain from my many-yeared friend Dr. Joseph Lemuel Chester of Bermondsey — than whom one rarely meets with so thoroughly-furnished, unwearied, accurate, and generous a worker — anything approaching certainty of identification. After very con- siderable reading and comparison of authorities, I found only one member of the known families of Chester bearing the Christian name of ROBERT, whose position, circumstances and dates fitted in with the possible authorship of Loves Martyj'. From his dedicating his book to Sir John Salisburie, and many incidental evidences of familiarity in courtly and high circles, I fixed on him. On communicating my conclu- sion to Dr. Chester, he was inclined to doubt ; but since, he has conceded that there is nothing in the facts of his life against the identification, and that there really is no other claimant. Accordingly he has aided me with characteristic

• Alemoirs of the Chesters of Chicheley.

I ntrodiictio7i. vii

painstaking and ardour, from his abundant stores, in giving,; such data concerning him {ehcu ! meagre enough) as remain. I mean a Robert Chester, who became SiR Robert Chester. The first of his family chstinctly recognisable, was WilHam Chester of Chipping Barnett, Herts ; who died early in 1566. By his wife Maud (or Matilda) he was father of Leonard Chester, of Blaby, co. Leicester — whose family is embraced in the Heraldic Visitations of their County — and of Sir Robert Chester of Royston, Herts, who was the eldest son. The family is said to have des- cended from an ancient one in Derbyshire, where Chesters had large possessions, and members of which represented the town of Derby in Parliament, temp. Edward H and HL The Derbyshire estates were expended in supporting the claim of the Earl of Richmond (Henry VH) to the crown. This Sir Robert Chester was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1532, and is subsequently described in various MSS. as " Standard Bearer," " Gentleman Usher " and " Gentleman of the Privy Chamber" to King Henry VHI ; from whom he obtained a Grant of the Monastery of Royston, with its manors and possessions, in the counties of Herts and Cambridge. He was knighted by King Edward VI at Wilton, 2nd September 1552, and was High Sheriff of Herts and Essex in 1565. He died 25th November 1574, and was buried at Royston.* By his first wife Catherine, daughter of John Throgmorton, Tortworth, co. Gloucester, Esquire, he had a numerous issue.-|- He was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, Edward Chester Esquire of Royston, who was about thirty years old at his father's death. Curiously enough. Sir Robert Chester married as his second wife, Magdalen, widow of Sir James Granado, Knt., on the same day and at the same place, that his son Edward Chester,

* Among the "Nativities" in Ashmole's MSS. in Bodleian Library, pp. i66, 176, &c., is one which states that vSir Robert Chester was born 25th November, 1 5 10, and died on his birthday, aged 64.

t Ckitterbuck, s.n., describos her as daughter of Cliristopher Throckmorton of Coorse Court, co. Gloucester, Esq. Ci. Chauncy, s.n.

viii Introduction.

married Sir James Granado's only daughter and heiress. i.e., father and son married respectively mother and daughter. This took place at Royston on 27th November 1564. The wife of Edward Chester survived her husband and was again married, viz., to Alexander Dyer, Esq. He was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1562, and was subsequently in service as a Colonel in the Low Countries. Besides two daughters {a) Mary, who married an Edward Thornburgh, or Thornborough of Shaddesden, co. Southampton, Esq. {b) Another, who married an Edward Roberts — Edward Chester left a son Robert, who was declared heir to his father by Inquisition post mortem, dated 15th January 1578-9, being then aged twelve years, six months and sixteen days, which fixes his birth about the last of June 1566. This Robert Chester, I indentify with the author of Loves Martyr. In 1596 Henry Holland dedicated his Christiaji Exercise of Fasiijig to him, in grave and grateful and admiring words.* He was a J. P. for Herts and Sheriff of Herts in 1599. From NiCHOLS' Progresses of King James I, I glean the following slight notice of him : — " His Majestic being past Godmanchester, held on his waye towards Royston ; and drawing neere the Towne, the Shiriffe of Huntingtonshire [Sir John Bedell] humbly tooke his leave ; and there he was received by that worthy Knight Sir Edward Denny, High Shiriffe of Hartfordshire . . . and . . . in brave manner he conducted his Majestic to one Mafher Chester's house, where his Majestic lay that night on his owne Kingly charge."t On this Nichols annotates : — " Though ' Master Chester' was then owner of the Priorv at Royston, and attended on the King at his entrance into the Town, it was more probably at his mansion of Cocken- hatch (in the parish of Barkway, near Royston), that he had the honour of entertaining his Royal Master. A view of this house may be seen in Chauncy, p. I02.";[: The words that the King "lay" at "Master Chester's house" on "his

* .Sec Postscript A to this Introduction for this golden little Epistle-dedicatory, t Vol. i, pp. 104-5. X Ibid, p. 105.

Introdiiction, ix

owno Kingly charge" docs not seem to indicate lavish hospitality on the part of the host. But he must have given satisfaction to the King ; for he was knighted along with a shoal of others, at Whitehall, on 23rd July 1603.=*^ '^^^^ exact date of his marriage does not appear ; but his wife was Anne, daughter of Henry Capell, Esq., of Essex, by his wife, the Lady Catherine Manners, daughter of Thomas, first Earl of Rutland. She survived him not quite tv.-o years, residing at Hitchen, Herts.f They had issue at least six sons and six daughters ; and their issue in turn were for a time equally numerous, but the late Mr. Harry Chester (who died in 186S) believed himself the last representative of the race.^ He died on 3rd May 1640. On his death he was possessed of the manor and rectory of Royston, the manors of Nuthamsted, Cockenhatch, Hedley, &c., &c. His Will, dated 3rd May 1638, with codicils, i6th March and 7th April 1640, was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 3rd Februaiy 1640-1, by his eldest son and heir, Edward Chester, Esq., whose aga at his father's death was, according to the Inquisition, forty years and upwards. [}

On these facts I would note — {a) In 1601, when Loves Martyr was published, he was in his thirty-fifth year ; but the phrase in his Epistle-dedicatory to Salisbury, ' my long extected labour^ may carry its composition back some few years at least, {b) Specifically, while long portions were probably written much earlier, the 'Turtle-dove' being Essex and being in Ireland, ascertains date of composition of all referring to ' Paphos He' 1598-9 — the period of Essex's absence, {c) In 161 1 he was in his forty-fifth year, and no longer plain ' Robert Chester,' but Sir Robert Chester

* Vol. i, p. 218. Doubtless when the King afterwards built himself a residence at Royston there would be frequent intercourse.

t Her Will is dated I2th and was proved the 26th of March 1642.

X The chief line of descent of these Chesters was by this Edward, son of our Sir Robert, who was also knighted. The sons entered the various professions. I notice two of them onward. Harry Chester, above mentioned, was son of another Sir Robert Chester, well-remembered as Master of the Ceremonies during the reigns from George III to Victoria, j] See Postscript B for Abstract-

X introduction.

Knight, and husband of an Earl's daughter Hnkcd to the Sidneys. Is the explanation of the withdrawal of his name from the new title-page of 1611 that his early literary fervours had chilled with his social dignities ? {d) At his death he was in his seventy-fourth year. One longs to know more of a man who in his prime personally acquainted with Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Chapman, Marston and other of the 'mighties,' survived them all. The "new compositions'* for his own book, drawn from them, especially the fact that it stands alone in having a contribution from Shakespeare, would make any man remarkable.

{b) Who was Sir John Salisburie.? Loves Martyr is dedicated to him as "To the Honourable, and (of me before all other) honored Knight " and " one of the Esquires of the bodie to the Oueenes most excellent Maiestie" (p. 3), and in the title-jDage of the "diverse Poeticall Effaies" he is designated "the true-noble Knight" (p. 177). Even these slight descriptions guide us to the Salisburys or Salisburies of Lleweni, Denbighshire — long extinct. Dr. Thomas Nicholas, in his Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, commences his account of the Salusburys thus: — "The long standing and distinguished alliances of the Salusburys of Lleweni, in the Vale of Clwyd, and the high character borne by several of the line, render them a notable house, and awaken regret at their dis- appearance. The name is spelt differently in early writings — Salusbury, Salesbury, Salsbury ; Dzvnn almost always adopt- ing the phonetic method, spells this name " Salsberie." They were of Lleweni and Machymbyd. At what time they first came to Denbighshire, or how the surname originated, is not known, but it is believed that their origin was Welsh. John Salusbury, the third of the name known to us, was the founder of the Priory of White Friars at Denbigh, and died A.D. 12S9. lie must therefore have witnessed the great struggle of Llewelyn and Edward, which was very hot in those parts. His grandson, William Salusbury, was M.P.

Intj'oduction. xi

for Leominster 1332, long before members were appointed for "Wales. William's grandson, Sir Harry Salusbury (died circa, 1399), was a Knight of the Sepulchre, and his brother John was Master of the House for Edward HI, and suffered death in 1388." (p. 392.)

He thus continues : " Sir Harry's grandson, Sir Thomas Salusbury, Knt, the first mentioned in the pedigrees as of Lleiveni, was a man of great note as citizen and soldier. His consort was Jonet, daughter and heir of William Fychan of Caernavon. He took a distinguished part in the battle of Blackheath (1497) against Perkin VVarbeck's insurrection, for which he was rewarded by Henry VH. with the order of knighthood. H^e died 1505, and was buried at the White Friars, Denbigh (Whitchurch). Sir Rosfer, his son, married a Puleston of Emral, and wa3 followed by Sir John of Lleweni, who married a Myddleton of Chester, of the Gwaenynog line. He was constable of Denbigh Castle in 1530, and served in several parliaments for the county of Denbigh — died 1578. His son, John Salusbury, Esq., of Lleweni, was the member of this house who married the celebrated Catherine Tudor of Berain ; and his son by Catherine, Thomas Salusbury, Esq., married Margaret, daughter of Morys Wynn, Esq., of Gwyder, but had no male issue ; his second son, John, married Ursula, daughter of Henry Stanley, Earl of Derby, and was suc- ceeded by his son. Sir Henry Salusbury, Bart., who married Hester, daughter of Sir Thomas Myddelton, Knt., of Chirk Castle. His line terminated with his grandson Sir John, whose daughter and sole heir married Sir Robert Cotton, Bart., of Combermere, Cheshire, from whom the Combennae family are derived. Cotton-Hall, named after the Cottons, was the birth-place of the great General Lord Combermere. The Lleweni estate was sold by Sir Robert Cotton to the Hon. Thomas Fitzmaurice" (p. 392).

Turning back on these names, our Sir John Salisburie was John, second son of John Salusbury — who died in his father Sir John Salusbury's life-time — by (as above)

xii Introduction.

Catherine Tudor of Berain* He was born "about 1567"

— a portrait of him having been at Lleweny, dated 1591, set. 24. t He became heir of his brother Thomas, who was executed, in 1586, for conspiring to dehver Mary, Queen of Scots, from imprisonment. His wife was (as above) Ursula, a ' natural ' daughter of Henry, fourth Earl of Derby. The record of administration of her estate, as of the town of Denbigh, is dated 9th May 1636. They had four sons and three daughters. Henry, the eldest and only surviving son, was created a baronet, as of Lleweni, loth November 1619, and died 2nd August 1632. His only surviving son was Sir Thomas Salusbury, author of "Joseph," a poem (1636)

— who died in 1643.:!: Our Sir John was surnamed "the

** Dr. Nicholas, as before, gives an interesting account of this famous *' Catherine"; and I deem it well to avail myself of it, as follows: — "Catherine of Berain," the most noted of her race in this countiy, was of the clan or tribe of Marchwerthian, and was left sole heiress of Berain. She married four hus- bands, each of a high and honourable house, and had such a numerous offspring that the name was given her of Mam Cyinrtt-, "the mother of Wales." Her first husband was John Salisbury, Esq., of Llyweni, and her estate of Berain was inherited by her children gotten by him. The second was Sir Richard Clough of Denbigh, Knt. of the Sepulchre, who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land; the third, Morys Wynn, Esq., of Gwyder; and the fourth, Edward Thelwall of Plas-y-V^^ard. Catherine of Berain's father was Tudyr ap Robert ap levan ap Tudyr ap Gruffydd Lloyd ap Heilyn Frych, which Heilyn Frych was ninth in descent from Marchwerthian, Lord of Isaled, founder of the eleventh noble tribe." . . . "The portrait of Catherine, given in Yorke's Royal Tribes, marks a person of firmness and intelligence, and these qualities, added to her estate and numerous alliances and offspring, supplied her with a charm which the bardic heralds of the time knew not how to resist ; they spared no pains, accordingly, to provide her with a lineage whose antiquity would com- port with their idea of her merits. Tudyr was carried back to Urien Rheged, and he of course to Coel Godebog, who, although a reputed contemporary with Ilcrod the Great, was vouched by the bards to have a full blown heraldic coat

— 'Arg. , an eagle displayed with two heads, sable.' Coel was in the twelfth degree from Beli Mawr, King of Britain 72 B.C., who bore, they said, 'Az., three crowns Or in pale'; and he was about the fifteenth from Brutus, who, as the bards believed, came to Britain about B.C. 1136, bearing along with his father Sylvius, an escutcheon charged thus: — 'Quarterly: i. Or, a lion ram- pant passant Gu. ; 2, Az., three crowns Or in bend' ! " (p. 393.)

t Pennant's Tour m Wale:;, vol. ii, p. 145.

J The Bibliographers overlook that Sir John Salisbury has a longish j^oem prcfired to Erofiieva, 1632, folio.

Introductioji. xi i i

stroi\^"; and that explains Hugh Gryffith's playing on 'might' — of which anon. He was M.P. for co. Denbigh 43 EHzabeth (1600-1). All the authorities say he died in 161 3 ; but no Will nor administration of his estate has been found. A shadow of obscurity thus lies on the memory of Chester's " true-noble Knight " — unlifted even from his (exact) death-date. Spelling of names was so arbitrary and variant then, that I should have attached no difficulty to the family-spelling of ' Salusbuiy ' as against ' Salisburie ' of Loves Martyr. As I write this I am called upon to annotate a Sir Stephen Poll — according to one of Nicholas Breton's Epistles-dedicatory — while he really was Sir Stephen Powle, and so is it endlessly. But I am enabled absolutely to identify Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni with Chester's Salisburie. For this is placed beyond dispute by another Epistle-dedicatory addressed to him as — be it noted — {a) of ' Llewen,' {b) as ' Esquier for the Bodie to the Queene's most excellent Maiestie,' as in Chester ; and which, in the sorrowful absence of other information, is of peculiar interest. It is found in the following little volume of Verse, of which only a single exemplar (preserved at Isham) is known :

"SiNETES Paflions vppon his fortunes, offered for an Incenfe at the flirine of the Ladies which gui- ded his diflempered thoughtes. The Patrons patheticall Po- fies, Sonets, Maddrigals, and Roundelayes. Together with Sinetes Dompe. Plena verecundi culpa pudoris erat. By Robert Parry Gent. At London Printed by T. P. for William Holme, and are to be fould on Ludgate hill at the figne of the holy Lambe,

1597" (sm. i2mo)

B

38

xiv ' Introduction.

The Epistle-dedicatory shews (i) That being plain 'John Salisburie' in 1597 he must have been knighted between 1597 and 1 60 1, (2) That he was of the Queen's household ; and so could well introduce his friend Chester into court. It thus runs ;

^ " 7^ tJie right wovjliipfull John

Salisburie, of Llewen, Esquier,

for trie Bodie to the Queencs

mod excellent Maiestie.

*" ¥ "^Ile Hope of thefe, and glaffe of future times', I O Heros which eu'n enuie itfelfe admir's,

•*• Vouchfafe to guai'de, & patronize my rimes, My humble rime, which nothing elfe desir's ; But to make knowne the greatnes of thy minde To Honors throne that euer hath been inclyn'd.

Geue leaue a while vnto my breathing Muse, To pause vpon the accent of her fniarte, From the refpite of this fhort-taken truce. For to recorde the actions of my Harte ; Which vowed hath, to manifell thy worth, That noble fruit es to future age bringes foorth.

Eu'n thou alone,