Is such a marke whereat each tongue doth shoot
That my good name, is pluckt up by the root,


[Footnote 1: Winst. 61.]

* * * * *


JOHN HEYWOOD

One of the first who wrote English plays, was a noted jester, of some
reputation in poetry in his time. Wood says, that notwithstanding he
was stiled Civis Londinensis, yet he laid a foundation of learning at
Oxford, but the severity of an academical life not suitng with his
airy genius, he retired to his native place, and had the honour to
have a great intimacy with Sir Thomas More. It is said, that he had
admirable skill both in instrumental and vocal music, but it is not
certain whether he left any compositions of that sort behind him. He
found means to become a favourite with King Henry VIII on account
of the quickness of his conceits, and was well rewarded by that
Monarch.[1] After the accession of Queen Mary to the throne, he
was equally valued by her, and was admitted into the most intimate
conversation with her, in diverting her by his merry stories, which he
did, even when she lay languishing on her death-bed. After the decease
of that princess, he being a bigotted Roman Catholic, and finding the
protestant interest was like to prevail under the patronage of the
renowned Queen Elizabeth, he sacrificed the enjoyment of living in his
own country, to that of his religion: For he entered into a voluntary
exile, and settled at Mechlin in Brabant.