PHILIP MASSINGER. 63 yard, we shall find a dreary spot, which the green garb of nature appears to have entirely forsaken. We value the spot, notwithstanding, for beneath its desolation lies PHILIP MASSINGER. This dramatist was born at Salisbury in 1584, and at the age of eighteen was entered a fellow-conmoner of St. Alban's Hall, Oxford, which he quitted, however, without taking any degree. Repairing to London, he applied himself to writing for the stage, which his pen furnished with nearly forty plays. He soon rose into high reputation, but combined with lofty endowments an unassuming modesty, which endeared him to all his contemporaries, many of whom joined with him in the composition of their works—of which number may be mentioned Dekker, Field, Rowley, and Middleton. Massinger was the more immediate successor of Shakspeare, to whom he is allowed to have approached as closely as any of his competitors. Notwithstanding the celebrity enjoyed by Massinger's productions in their earlier day, but few of them are known to the present race of playgoers. A New Way to Pay Old Debts is occasionally performed; whilst The Fatal Dowry and Riches (altered from The City Madam) have been found amongst the modern revivals. Massinger's days are thought to have been passed in comfort, though conflicting statements have been given as to many circumstances connected with his career. For a length of time the period of his demise was a problem ; but this was at length solved by the records of this church, which contain the melancholy line, "March 20, 1639, buried Philip Massinger, a stranger," that is, a nonparishioner. In graves unmarked were buried Sir Edward Dyer, the poet, in the chancel, May 11th, 1607: he lived and died in Winchester House adjoining. Lawrence Fletcher, one of the leading shareholders of the Globe and Blackfriars Theatres, and Shakspeare's "fellow," was buried in the church, September 12th, 1608; and Philip Henslowe, the well-known theatrical manager, was buried in the chancel, January, 1615-16. Leaving Massinger's unmarked grave, we ascend the steps which conduct us to the busy thoroughfare of the Borough. Taking a parting glance at the exterior of St. Mary Overie, we cross the Thames, and find ourselves in the heart of the busy city. In a brief walk the spire and tower of many a church are to be distinguished, though the number is far less than it once was. The Reformation thinned the ranks of these sacred edifices; whilst the Great Fire, a century later, destroyed many that have not been rebuilt. Several that are still spared us are rich in historic associations. At the church of Allhallows, Barking, for instance, the headless body of the poet Surrey was temporarily deposited after his execution on Tower Hill. St. Andrew Undershaft has the honoured ashes of the fine old chronicler, Stow; whilst the church of St. Catharine Cree, Leadenhall Street, according to Strype, is the resting-place of Hans Holbein. This "great and inimitable" painter was born at Grünstadt, and on visiting England rose high in the favour of Henry VIII. Holbein died in London, of the plague, in 1554. From the living stream constantly flowing through ST. GILES, CRIPPLEGATE. 65 the city we first turn, for quietude, into the picturesque old church of ST. GILES, CRIPPLEGATE. "Softly tread, 'tis hallow'd ground." The name of this locality is derived from a gate which formerly stood in the vicinity of the church, near to which a number of cripples were accustomed to assemble for the solicitation of alms. Cripplegate appears to be of great age; and Maitland, in his "Survey," gives it as his opinion that in 1010 the gate then standing here was the only one in the north wall of the city. A record of its antiquity is preserved in an account of the translation of the relics of King Edmund the Martyr from their original place of repose to London. This occurred about sixty years before the Norman Conquest. It is stated that in their transit the bearers conveyed their precious burden into the city through this gate, which was supposed to have derived from the circumstance a miraculous virtue; and the lame and impotent resorted thither, trusting to be cured of their maladies by the contact of its consecrated pavement. The church was founded about 1090 by Alfunc, the first master of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. It is dedicated to St. Giles, the patron of the mendicant fraternity, which tutelage he divides with St. Martin. The building, with the exception of the tower, was destroyed by fire in 1545, and numerous alterations have been since effected. This is one of the few city churches which escaped the Great Fire of 1666; but, with the exception of the tower, little of the old church remains. F Among other associations of the pla that it was to this church the stu Elizabeth Bourchier, who at this al to "love, cherish, and to obey." nicler, rests here from his learned John Fox, from whom we received t But our present thoughts are with when Protector, bestowed his favou the centre aisle, and on the nort which invites our attention, for b mains of our great poet, JOHN MILTO The register of baptisms of All Street, contains the earliest notice 66 man: The 20th day of Decem John, the sonne of John Mylton, the preceding 9th of December t Bread Street. After receiving ins tutor he was sent to St. Paul's Sch Christ's College, Cambridge. At t was so eminently handsome, with hi ing in curls upon his shoulders, t lady of the college." Being a go age of fifteen he versified two psalm but gave evidence of no remarkabl turn from Cambridge-where a m his own hands, is still growing in he wrote his beautiful masque of acted at Ludlow by the sons and d 66 JOHN MILTON. 66 67 Bridgewater. In 1638 he visited the Continent, but returned home on hearing of the dissension between Charles I. and his parliament. From lodgings in St. Bride's churchyard he removed to a pretty garden-house in Aldersgate-street, than which, at this period, there were few streets in London more free from noise. After a short time spent in giving scholastic instruction, he began to take part in the controversies of the times, enlisting himself on the side of the Puritans. In 1645 Milton's Allegro" and Penseroso" made their appearance, amongst a collection of his Latin and English poems. Under Cromwell's control of the nation our poet became secretary of foreign tongues to the council of state, and took up his residence at Whitehall. During the Protectorate the whole of the communications between England and foreign states were made in Latin, and those written by Milton were expressed in language remarkable for its nervous strength and classic elegance. When about forty-four he lost his sight. This was a terrible calamity; yet in one of his sonnets, addressed to Cyriack Skinner, he thus records his spirit of resignation: "I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot In Liberty's defence, my noble task, Of which all Europe rings from side to side: This thought might lead me through the vain world's mask, In 1652 Milton left Whitehall, and went to reside in |