[17] An abundance of these amusing tracts eagerly bought up in their
day, but which came in the following generation to the
ballad-stalls, are in the present enshrined in the cabinets of
the curious. Such are the revolutions of literature! [It is by
no means uncommon to find them realise sums at the rate of a
guinea a page; but it is to be solely attributed to their
extreme rarity; for in many instances the reprints of such
tracts are worthless.]
[18] Poverty and the gaol alternated with tavern carouses or the
place of honour among the wild young gallants at the
playhouses. They were gentlemen or beggars as daily
circumstances ordained. When this was the case with such
authors as Greene, Peele, and Massinger, we need not wonder at
finding "a whole knot" of writers in infinitely worse plight,
who lived (or starved) by writing ballads and pamphlets on
temporary subjects. In a brief tract, called "The Downfall of
Temporising Poets," published 1641, they are said to be "an
indifferent strong corporation, twenty-three of you sufficient
writers, besides Martin Parker," who was the great ballad and
pamphlet writer of the day. The shifts they were put to, and
the difficulties of their living, is denoted in the reply of
one of the characters in this tract, who on being asked if he
has money, replies "Money? I wonder where you ever see poets
have money two days together; I sold a copy last night, and
have spent the money; and now have another copy to sell, but
nobody will buy it."--ED.
[19] Chatterton had written a political essay for "The North Briton,"
which opened with the preluding flourish of "A spirited people
freeing themselves from insupportable slavery:" it was,
however, though accepted, not printed, on account of the Lord
Mayor's death. The patriot thus calculated the death of his
great patron!
L s. d.
Lost by his death in this Essay 1 11 6
Gained in Elegies L2 2
---- in Essays 3 3
---- 5 5 0
---------
Am glad he is dead by L3 13 6