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THE TRAGEDY OF DOCTOR LAMB
men, was at length battered with stones and otherwise, and so slaine. The devill is dead." In October he noted that "a booke is come forth of Doctor Lambe." A copy of this book is preserved in the British Museum (C. 30. d. 18). It is called A Briefe Description of the Notorious Life of John Lambe, otherwise called Doctor Lambe. Together with his Ignominious Death. [Cut.] Printed in Amsterdam, 1628. The following passage (pp. 20-21) may be quoted:
Vpon Friday being the 13. of Iune, in the yeare of our Lord 1628. hee went to see a Play at the Fortune, where the boyes of the towne, and other vnruly people hauing obserued him present, after the Play was ended, flocked about him, and (after the manner of the common people, who follow a Hubbubb, when it is once a foote) began in a confused manner to assault him, and offer violence. He in affright made toward the Citie as fast as he could out of the fields, and hired a company of Sailors, who were there present to be his guard. But so great was the furie of the people, who pelted him with stones, and other things which came next to hand, that the Sailors (although they did their endeauour for him) had much adoe to bring him in safetie as farre as Moore-gate. The rage of the people about that place increased so much, that the Sailors for their owne safetie, were forced to leaue the protection of him; and then the multitude pursued him through Coleman street to the old Iurie, no house being able, nor daring to giue him protection, though hee had attempted many. Foure Constables were there raised to appease the tumult; who all too late for his safety brought him to the Counter in the Poultrey, where he was bestowed vppon the commaund of the Lord Maior. For before hee was brought thither, the people had had him downe, and with stones and cudgels, and other weapons had so beaten him, that his skull was broken, one of his eyes hung out of his head, and all partes of his body bruised and wounded so much, that no part was left to receiue a wound. Whereupon (although Surgeons in vaine were sent for) hee neuer spoke a word, but lay languishing vntill Eight a clocke the next morning, and then dyed. This lamentable end of life had Doctor Iohn Lambe, who before prophecied (although hee were confident hee should escape Hanging,) that at last he should die a violent death. On Sunday following, hee was buried in the new Church-yard neere Bishops-gate.
In a long account of Lamb's death Dr Joseph Mead (The Court and Times of Charles I, 1, 367 f.) informed a friend that "a ballad being printed of him [Lamb], both printer, and seller, and singer, are laid in Newgate." Beyond much doubt Mead was referring to the ballad by Parker here reprinted.
The tune of Gallants, come away is used also for Richard Climsal's ballad of "The Essex Man Cozened" (Pepys, 1, 290). It does not, so far as I can find, occur among the Roxburghe Collection, and the music is apparently unknown. |
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