Preface. OF THOMAS NASH the noted controversialist, whose literary squabbles with Gabriel Harvey' are so full of bitter ribaldry, and whose apology for the character of his unhappy companion Robert Greene contains so many curious notices of the petty manners of the Metropolis, especially among hireling authors of his own time, much has been said in almost all the late publications which have any allusion to Elizabethan literature. The Editor thinks, therefore, that nothing less than novelty of material would justify an attempt to fill the pages of the present Preface with a Memoir of this author2. Nash took his degree of A. B. at St. John's College, in Cambridge, in 1585. It is said, that a life of extravagance and debauchery brought this imprudent man to extreme distress and misery. The present Tract was written, as he himself states, in his "Address to the Reader," in the sober hours of repentance, when experience and suffering taught him to look with horror on the madness of his former career. Nothing is there now," says he, "so much in my I 66 See an account of Nash's Have with you to Saffron-Walden, 1596; and of Lichfield's Trimming of Tom Nash, 1597, in RESTITUTA, ii. 358, 367. 2 See Cens. Lit. vii. 10, 152, 156, 169, 362. At p. 152 is reprinted Nash's Address to the Gentlemen Students of both Universities. This was prefixed to R. Greene's Arcadia, of which a reprint forms the Second Part of ARCHAICA. b. vows as to be at peace with all men, and make submissive amends where I have most displeased. Many things have I vainly set forth, whereof now it repenteth me. Into some splenetive veins of wantonness heretofore have I foolishly relapsed, to supply my private wants: of them no less do I desire to be absolved than the rest; and to God and man do I promise an unfeigned conversion." The principal interest which this Tract retains, is in the picture which it exhibits of London, about the close of the sixteenth century. The vices and follies of this Capital are painted in the most glowing colours. They are indeed so glaringly wrought, that a sober retrospect must pronounce them to be deformed by the most gross and tasteless exaggeration. A poetical picture on the same subject, drawn with happier skill, and in more affecting language, was exhibited in a dramatic piece of GREENE and LODGE, from which long extracts have been given at the commencement of the first volume of Excerpta Tudoriana, printed at the private press of Lee Priory. There are, however, many curious passages in the present composition, which it is unnecessary to point out to the Reader. Among the rest, the paragraph at p. 135, beginning," England, the Player's stage of gorgeous attire, the ape of all nations' superfluities, the continual masquer in outlandish habiliments, great plenty-scanting calamities art thou to await for wanton-disguising thyself against kind, and digressing from the plainness of thine ancestors:" and those passages which regard female luxury and dress, at p. 130, &c, beginning"First to Dinner," &c. Nash's style, it must be confessed, is too often inflated and laboured; but does not appear, to the present Editor, to deserve the unqualified stigma thrown upon it by Malone'. For here, as well as in his Pierce Pennilesse, there are exhibited many proofs of vigour, and even eloquence'. A former Edition of this Tract was printed by Andrew Wise, in 1594, dedicated to the same "Lady Elizabeth Carie," with an addition which puts her identity out of all question, for it calls her, “wife to the thrice magnanimous and noble discended Knight, Sir George Carie, Knight-Marshall;" which Sir George succeeded to the Barony of Hunsdon, in 1596. This Lady was daughter to Sir John Spencer of Althorpe, and sister to Alice, Countess of Derby. To this Lady Carie, Spenser dedicates his Muiopotmos, and in that dedication speaks of name and kindred sake by her vouchsafed to him3. 66 Nash seems to have been fond of courting the patronage of this Lady's alliances, At the end of his Pierce Pennilesse1 he panegyrizes her sister Alice's husband, the celebrated Ferdinand, Earl of Derby, whom he calls " Jove's Ganimed, thrice-noble AMYNTAS"." Here, heavenly SPENSER," says he, "I am most highly to accuse thee of forgetfulness, that in that honourable catalogue of our English heroes, which insueth the conclusion of thy famous Fairy Queen, thou wouldst let so special a pillar of nobility pass unsaluted. The very thought of his derived descent, and extraordinary parts, wherewith he astonisheth the world, and draws all See Art. NASI, in Theatr. Poet. Angl. 1800. 2 See Cens. Lit. ii. 236, 237, 311. 3 See Cens. Lit. i. 153, 154. * Mr. Gilchrist has lately announced a reprint of Pierce Pennilesse. › See Todd's Spenser, I. Life, xl. hearts to his love, would have inspired thy forewearied pace with new fury to proceed to the next triumphs of the stately goddess: but as I, in favour of so rare a scholar, suppose, with this counsel he refrained his mention in this first part, that he might with full sail proceed to his due commendations in the second. Of this occasion. long since I happened to frame a SONNET, which being wholly intended to the reverence of this renowned lord, (to whom I owe all the utmost powers of my love and duty) I meant here for variety of style to insert. SONNET. Perusing yesternight, with idle eyes, The FAIRY SINGER'S stately-tuned verse, Where, like the quaint comedians of our time, I read them all, and reverenc'd their worth; Nash also dedicated the scarcest of his tracts to the same family. It is entitled "The Terrors of the Night; or a Discourse of Appari tions. Post tenebras dies. London, Printed by John Danter, for Of this work says Todd, Wm. Jones. 1594. 4to." Of this work 66 no other copy at present is known to exist, except that which belonged to the late Duke of Bridgewater, and now belongs to the Marquis of Staf ford'." The dedication is "To the new-kindled clear Lampe of Virginitie, and the excellent adored high wonder of sharpe wit and sweet beauty, Mistres Elizabeth Carey, sole daughter and heire to the thrise noble and learned Sir George Carey, Knight Marshal." It speaks of her mother, as having "into the Muses' society herself lately adopted, and purchased divine Petrarch another monument in England." This daughter married Sir Thomas Berkeley, son and heir of Henry Lord Berkeley 2. In the Pierce Pennilesse already mentioned are those lines of Nash, so often quoted, descriptive of his despair, under poverty and neglect, after having " tired his youth with folly, and surfeited his mind with vanity." Why is't damnation to despair and die, When life is my true happiness' disease? The faulty means, that might my pain appease! Divines and dying men may talk of hell; But in my heart her several torments dwell. Ah, worthless wit, to train me to this woe! Vain thoughts, adieu! for now I will repent. Forgive me, God, although I curse my birth; And ban the air, wherein I breathe a wretch; And I am quite undone through promise-breach. 1 Todd's Spenser, I. Life, lxxiv. 2 See Memoirs of K. James's Peers. |