English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700; English wit and humor; Great Britain -- Civilization -- 17th century -- Literary collections
[Footnote 76: Dr. John Lambe was an impostor who early in the
17th century practised fortune-telling, juggling, showing a
magic crystal, and recovering stolen goods. He was indicted
at Worcester for witchcraft, after which he removed to London,
where he got into trouble, and he was finally pelted to death
by an infuriated mob on 13th June 1628. There is a very
rare pamphlet on this subject--"A brief description of the
notorious life of John Lambe, otherwise called Dr. Lambe,
together with his ignominious death, with a wood-cut of the
populace pelting him to death in the City of London." 4^o
1628.]
[Footnote 77: Banks was a Scotchman, and his performing horse
had the rare honour of being alluded to by Shakspeare ("Love's
Labour's Lost" Act i. s. 2). Moth says to Armado. "Why Sir,
is this such a piece of study? Now here's three studied, ere
you'll thrice wink; and how easy it is to put years to the
word three, and study three years in two words, _the dancing
horse will tell you_." The horse was certainly wonderfully
trained, and is spoken of in Tarlton's Jests, as having picked
him out as being the biggest fool in the company. His tricks
were marvellous, but perhaps his most noted feat was riding up
the steeple of St. Paul's in the year 1600. This feat is
mentioned in the following books. Decker's Dead-Tearme--Owle's
Almanack, 1618--The Meeting of Gallants at an Ordinarie, or
the Walkes in Powles, 1604--The Blacke Booke, 1604--Northward
Hoe, 1607--Rowley's Search for Money, 1609--Decker's Gul's
Horn-book, 1609--and His Jests to make you merie, 1607. The
horse afterwards went a continental trip, where he excited
great wonder, and his high training was put down to
witchcraft. Indeed a rumour was spread about that both he and
his master were burnt for sorcery; but this was not so, for
in Charles I.'s reign mention is more than once made of Banks
being a vintner in Cheapside. The horse's name was Marocco,
and there was a very curious book printed in 1595, called
"Maroccus extaticus or Bankes Bay Horse in a Trance," etc.]
_The Tanner and the Butcher's dogge._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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