| “28 December [1591] | |||
| “Thomas Gosson | Entred for his copie vnder thandof Mr Watkins, the Thirde and lastparte of Kempes Iigge, soe ytapperteyne not to anie other.”[xx:2] | vid.” | |
| “11do die Maii [1595] | |||
| “William Blackwall | Enterd for his copie vnder Mr wardenBinges hande, a ballad, of MrKempes Newe Jigge of theKitchen stuffe woman.[xx:3] | vid.” | |
| “21 October [1595] | |||
| “Tho. Gosson | Entred for his copie vnder thande ofthe Wardenes, a Balladcalled Kemps J[xxi:1] newe Jyggebetwixt a souldior and a Miserand Sym the clown.[xxi:2] | vid.” |
These entries are quoted (imperfectly) by several antiquarian writers who have enumerated the comedian’s “works;” but his own express declaration, which has already[xxi:3] removed the Dvtiful Invective from the list, can only be evaded, in the present case, by weakly arguing—that he did not consider a Jig as a pamphlet, or that the preceding entries relate to pieces which had been conveyed to the printer without his permission. My belief is that the Jigs in question were composed by regular dramatists, and that they were called “Kemp’s” merely because he had rendered them popular by his acting, and probably by flashes of extemporal wit. He tells us that he had “spent his life in mad Jigges[xxi:4]”; and to one of those many entertainments Marston alludes in The Scovrge of Villanie, 1599:
“Praise but Orchestra and the skipping Art,
You shall commaund him; faith, you haue his hart
Even capring in your fist. A hall, a hall,
Roome for the spheres! the orbes celestiall
Will daunce Kempes Jigge.”[xxii:1]
I may also remark, that, if Kemp had been a practised jig-maker, he would hardly have required the assistance of a friend to furnish him with verses for the Nine daies wonder.[xxii:2]
A most pleasant and merie new Comedie, Intituled, A Knacke to knowe a Knaue. Newlie set foorth, as it hath sundrie tymes bene played by Ed. Allen and his Companie. With Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham, in receiuing the King into Goteham, was printed in 1594, 4to., having been entered in the Stationers’ Books[xxii:3] to Rich. Jones, 7th January of the preceding year. The accounts of Henslowe shew that it was performed, not as a new piece, 10th June, 1592[xxii:4]; and there is no doubt that it was originally produced several years before that date. The name of its author has not been ascertained. That portion of it which the title-page distinguishes as “Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham” is comprehended in the following scene:
“Enter mad men of Goteham, to wit, a Miller, a Cobler, and a Smith.
“Miller. Now let vs constult among our selues how to misbehaue our selues to the Kings worship, Iesus blesse him! and when he comes, to deliuer him this peticion. I think the Smith were best to do it, for hees a wise man.
“Cobler. Naighbor, he shall not doe it as long as Jefferay the Translater is Maior of the towne.
“Smith. And why, I pray? because I would haue put you from the Mace?
“Miller. [Cobler.] No, not for that, but because he is no good fellow, nor he will not spend his pot for companie.