Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/98

 82 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and afterwards, at the expense of the famous Camden, who was then the second master, to Westminster School. Camden's great work, the " Britannia," was pubHshed in 1586, during the time he was befriending Jonson, and passed through eight editions before 1590. Jonson was ever grateful for his generosity and instruction. " Every Man in his Humour " is dedicated to him ; he is mentioned with honour in two of the "Masques," and to him No. 14 of the "Epigrams" is addressed, well worth citing for the sake of both : — " Camden I most reverend head, to whom I owe All that I am in arts, all that I know ; (How nothing's that !) to whom my country owes The great renown and name with which she goes ! Than thee the age sees not that thing rndre grave, More high, more holy, that she more would crave. What name, what skill, what faith hast thou in things ! What sight in searching the most antique springs ! What weight, and what authority in thy speech I Men scarce can make that doubt, but thou canst teach. Pardon free truth, and let thy modesty, Which conquers all, be once o'ercome by thee. Many of thine this better could than I ; But for their powers, accept my piety." It is said that from Westminster he went to Cam- bridge, an exhibition having been procured for him ; but there is no clear evidence on the point. If he did go, he did not matriculate, for he told Drummond that he was Master of Arts in both the Universities by their favour, not his study. When he returned home his stepfather took him into his own business, and many a mean sneer was afterwards flung at Ben for his bricklaying, by those of his contemporaries with whom he was at feud. He seems to have kept,