(Vol. v., p. 537.)
I doubt if _Alexander_ Brome was one of Ben. Jonson's adopted sons. It is
not improbable, however, that _Richard_ Brome (author of the comedies of
_The Northern Lass_ and the _Antipodes_) was one. In Ben. Jonson's
_Underwoods_ is a poem to Richard Brome "on his comedy of _The Northern
Lass_," which commences thus:
"I had you for a servant once, Dick Brome,
And you perform'd a servant's faithful parts;
Now you are got into a nearer room
Of fellowship, professing my old arts."
Thomas Randolph was certainly one of Jonson's sons. See in his _Poems_ (4th
edit. p. 17.): "A {589} gratulatory to M. Ben. Jonson for his adopting of
him to be his _son_."
In Jonson's _Underwoods_ is a poem "To my _dear Son_ and right learned
Friend Master Joseph Rutter." This is in praise of his "first play," but I
am unable to state what that play was; nor can I give further information
respecting Master Joseph Rutter, than that he is apparently the author of
"An Elegy upon Ben. Jonson" in _Jonsonus Viribus_.
Of William Cartwright Ben. Jonson used to say, "_My son_, Cartwright,
writes all like a man." (Campbell's _Specimens of the British Poets_, ed.
1841, p. 183.)
James Howell was another of Jonson's sons, and has, in _Jonsonus Viribus_,
some lines "Upon the Poet of his Time, Benjamin Jonson, his honoured Friend
and _Father_."
Shackerley Marmion seems to have been another son. See in _Jonsonus
Viribus_, "A Funeral Sacrifice to the sacred memory of _his thrice-honoured
father_ Ben. Jonson."
If Jonson really had twelve sons, it is not improbable that some of the
following were of the number: Sir Kenelm Digby, Thomas Carew, John
Cleveland, Sir John Suckling, Thomas May, Edward Hyde (afterwards Earl of
Clarendon), Owen Feltham, Jasper Mayne, Richard West, John Vaughan, Thomas
Hobbes.
I should have been disposed to have added to the above illustrious list the
name of Edmund Waller, but for a statement of Aubrey, who says, "He told me
he was not acquainted with Ben. Jonson" (Aubrey's _Lives_, p. 564.).
Aubrey (_Lives_, p. 413.), speaking of Ben. Jonson, says:
"Serjeant Jo. Hoskins, of Herefordshire, was his _father_. I remember
his sonne (S^r Bennet Hoskins, baronet, who was something poeticall in
his youth), told me, that when he desired to be adopted his son, 'No,'
sayd he, ''tis honour enough for me to be your brother; I am your
father's son, 'twas he that polished me, I do acknowledge it.'"
I observe that, prefixed to Randolph's _Poems_, are some lines by Richard
West, B.A., and student of Christ's Church: "To the pious Memory of my dear
_Brother-in-Law_, Mr. Thomas Randolph." As West must have been unmarried,
and as I believe Randolph was also unmarried, it is possible that West
calls him his brother-in-law from his being also an adopted son of Ben.
Jonson.