[ix:1] P. 20.
[ix:2] The passages in The Retvrne from Pernassus (see p. xi.) “What, M. Kempe, how doth the Emperour of Germany?” and “Welcome, M. Kempe, from dancing the morrice ouer the Alpes,” are, I conceive, only sportive allusions to his journey to Norwich.
[ix:3] Malone’s Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 198.
[ix:4] Sig. B. 2.—Malone chose to read “played the clownes part more naturally,” &c.
[ix:5] Malone’s Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 490—Yet the name William Kemp appears to have been not uncommon; for Chalmers (ubi supra) mentions that he found “in the parish register of St. Bartholomew the Less, the marriage of William Kempe unto Annis Howard, on the 10th of February, 1605-6;” and I shall presently shew that another individual so called has been confounded with the actor.
[x:1] It was probably written about 1602,—certainly before the death of Queen Elizabeth.
[xi:1] George Chalmers, who cites the present passage, observes, that Kemp “was as illiterate, probably, as he was certainly jocose. The Cambridge scholars laughed at his gross illiterature.” Malone’s Shakespeare (by Boswell), iii. 491. What folly to take the measure of Kemp’s acquirements from such a scene as this! He may have had no classical learning; but assuredly, as the Nine daies wonder shews, he was not grossly illiterate.
[xi:2] i. e. ay.
[xi:3] An allusion to B. Jonson’s Poetaster, Works, ii. 525, seq. ed. Gifford: the words “Shakespeare hath given him a purge,” &c. have occasioned considerable discussion; see Gifford’s Memoirs of Jonson, p. lx. and p. cclv.
[xi:4] i. e. hindrances.