Thomas Lodge - Broadview Press Publisher's Blog

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[these] acts were more certainly published” (2.260). In
contrast, Lodge gives William a gallows’ speech where
he admits the murder of Arthur Brown, noting that for
this crime, if for no other, he deserves his death. The
incident of the “pollution” of St Mary-le-Bow’s
Church is never specifically mentioned in Lodge,
although he refers more vaguely to the church’s desecration:
“That church which was sacred to prayer was
now made a den of rebels; those places which were
reserved to holy uses were now soiled with dishonest
abuses; where before Our Lady was prayed to, lewdness
was played withal” (p. 39). The verse scattered throughout
Lodge’s history/romance also complicates the portrait
of William, and are entirely of Lodge’s invention,
based on Holinshed’s simple statement that “he was
somewhat learned and very eloquent: he had also a very
good wit but applied it rather to set dissention betwixt
the high estates and the low, than to any other good
purpose” (2.258). 1
from The Life and Death of William
Longbeard, the Most Famous and Witty
English Traitor, Born in the City of London. 2
To the Right Worshipful Sir William Web
Knight, Tho[mas] Lodge Wisheth Increase
of Worship in this Life, and Eternal Blessing
in the Life to Come.
The general care which you have had in the
fatherly government of the city and the worthy
forwardness in establishing all virtuous counsels
for common good have made me presumptuous
beyond my custom, in the behalf of my countrymen
to present your Worship with this short
model of histories, wherein you may both find
matter worthy the reading and circumstances of
deep consideration. I make you patron of these
1 For further information, see D. Keene, “William fitz Osbert (d.
1196),” DNB online; and Holinshed, Chronicles 2.258-60.
2 The title continues: “Accompanied with many other most pleasant
and pretty histories.” On the title page “T.L.” is identified as being
“of Lincoln’s Inn” and a “gentleman.”
T HOMAS L ODGE
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rare things, who are the very pattern and true Maecenas
3 of virtue, seeking by your wisdom to establish
the estate of poor citizens’ sons decayed, and
renew that by your care which they have lost
through unadvisedness. Accept, I beseech you, my
poor talent or my widow’s mite, 4 with as great
devotion as the heart can imagine or opinion
conceit, and command me who during life am
your Worship’s most bounden.
Thom[as] Lodge.
To the Gentlemen Readers.
The world is grown to that excellency nowadays,
gentlemen, that no conceits are held worthy commendations,
but such as have copy of new-coined
words, and matter beyond all marvel. For which
cause what shall I expect? who have neither the
style to indight 5 so high, neither the ability to
please curious ears? Truly my expectation shall be
answerable to my skill, so that I will expect no
more than I deserve, and desire no more than the
curious will afford. Tailors and writers nowadays
are in like estimate, if they want new fashions they
are not fancied, and if the style be not of the new
stamp, tut the author is a fool. In old time, men
studied to illustrate matter with words, now we
strive for words beside matter. Since, therefore,
the time is such and judgements are so singular,
since the manners are altered with men and are in
thraldom 6 to their fashionate manners, I will with
the dyer prepare myself to wash out the spots as
soon as they are spied, and borrow some cunning
of the drawer to colour an imperfection so well as
I can, till such time I have cunning to cut my
garment out of the whole cloth. And so resolved
3 Maecenas Gaius Maecenas (c. 70-8 BC), influential Roman aristocrat,
statesman and one of the emperor Augustus’ most trusted
friends; a patron of the arts, Maecenas supported the works of Virgil,
Horace, and Propertius; he introduced Virgil to Augustus; he became
an emblem in the Renaissance of the perfect patron.
4 widow’s mite Jesus observes a poor widow making a temple offering
that consists of a small coin; this “mite” represents all her wealth,
however, and Jesus praises her for her selflessness and faith.
5 indight write, compose.
6 thraldom enslavement; bondage.