A reference to
Jonson
's journey to
Scotland
, by
John
Taylor (1580-1653), 'the water poet'
, including a meeting between them
at
John Stuart
's house in
Leith
, 1618 .
Eugene Giddens
[fol. A3]
To all my louing Aduenturers, by what
name or title so euer, my generall salutation.
REader, these Trauailes of
mine into
Scotland
, were not vndertaken, neither in
imitation, or emulation of any man, but onely deuised by my selfe, on purpose to
make triall of my friends, both in this Kingdome of
England
, and that of
Scotland
, and because
I would be an eye witnesse of diuers things which I had heard of that Country; and
whereas many shallow-brain'd Critickes, doe lay an aspersion on me, that I was set
on by others, or that I did vndergoe this proiect, either in malice, or mockage of
Maister Beniamin Ionson , I vow by the faith of a
Christian, that their imaginations are all wide, for he is a Gentleman, to whom I
am
so much obliged for many vndeserued courtesies that I haue receiued from him, and
from others by his fauour, that I durst neuer to be so impudent or ingratefull, as
either to suffer any mans perswasions, or mine owne instigation, to incite me, to
make so bad a requitall, for so much goodnesse formerly
receiued;
[fol. F3v]
Now the
day before I came from Edinbrough, I went to Leeth, where I found my long approoued and assured good
friend Master Beniamin Iohnson, at one Master Iohn Stuarts house: I thanke him for his great kindnesse
towards mee: for at my taking leaue of him, hee gaue mee a piece of golde of two and
twentie shillings to drinke his health in
England
. And withall, willed mee to
remember his kinde commendations to all his friendes: So with a friendly farewell,
I
left him, as well, as I hope neuer to see him in a worse estate: for hee is amongst
Noble-men and Gentlemen that knowes his true worth, and their owne honours, where
with much respectiue loue hee is worthily entertained.
Bibliography
Masson (1893), 794-6
JAB, 109-10
H&S, 11.381-3
After naval service, Taylor became a Thames waterman, but subsequently derived his income from his occasional poetry and his travels, accounts of which were published by subscription. He walked to Edinburgh (and beyond) in 1618, the account of which journey he published as The Pennyles Pilgrimage (1618). He published a collected edition of his works in 1630.
'He was...a very well-known person indeed to the Leith and Edinburgh people of that day, holding as he did the office of Water-Bailie of Leith , and owning a ship called The Post of Leith , of which one hears as employed sometimes in the Government service. He must have been a substantial Leith householder' (Mason, 1893, 796)
Leith is the principal port of Scotland , located on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, 2 miles north of Edinburgh .