Page:Surrey Archaeological Collections Volume 1.djvu/281

 smartly dressed female, crossing behind the principal party, is worthy of notice. The gay trio behind them are also remarkable objects in the picture.

The minister accompanying a lady is probably Thomas Marten, M. A., parson of the parish. The hawking party behind shows that the neighbourhood of Southwark was at that period sufficiently open for the enjoyment of the sport. The flagstaff or maypole in the left background is also noticeable, as well as the unfinished vessel under a shed at the river-side, and the unfortunate individual in the stocks.

Two young women and two serving men are bearing large brass dishes for the coming feast, while in the right foreground a party of five are dancing to the minstrelsy of three musicians seated under a tree. A party is approaching from the right headed by another minister, who may be Mr. Bond, minister of the parish, and one of the first governors nominated in the charter. I cannot help thinking, however, that it is probable it may represent a much more noted man; namely, the celebrated Robert Browne, a puritan minister and founder of the sect of Separatists, sometimes called Brownists, who was schoolmaster of St. Olave's Grammar School from 1586 till 1591.

He was connected by family ties with Lord Burleigh, who protected him in the various difficulties and dangers into which he was frequently led by his ardent zeal; and that circumstance may account for this picture being preserved at Hatfield, which was built by Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury, second son of Lord Burleigh.

Behind the musicians are two figures which deserve some attention. It has been suggested that the appearance of the foremost is much that of the portraits of the immortal Bard, and the head behind him is not unlike