= Whalley believed this to be an allusion to the
'boy of Bilson,' but, as Gifford points out, this case did not occur
until 1620, four years after the
production
of the present play.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
'--G.
The passage from Shakespeare is _Merch. of Ven._ 4. 1. 398:
In christening, shalt thou have two godfathers:
Had I been judge, thou should'st have had ten more,
To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.
Cf. also _Muse's Looking Glass_, _O. Pl._ 9. 214: 'Boets!
I had rather zee him remitted to the jail, and have his twelve
godvathers, good men and true contemn him to the gallows.'
=5. 5. 50, 51 A Boy O' thirteene yeere old made him an Asse=
=But t'toher day.
= Whalley believed this to be an allusion to the
'boy of Bilson,' but, as Gifford points out, this case did not occur
until 1620, four years after the
production
of the present play.
Gifford believes Thomas Harrison, the 'boy of Norwich,' to be alluded
to. A short account of his case is given in Hutchinson's _Impostures
Detected_, pp. 262 f. The affair took place in 1603 or 1604, and it
was thought necessary to 'require the Parents of the said Child, that
they suffer not any to repair to their House to visit him, save such
as are in Authority and other Persons of special Regard, and known
Discretion.' Hutchinson says that Harrison was twelve years old. It
is quite possible, though not probable, that Jonson is referring
again to the Boy of Burton, who was only two years older.
See note 5. 3. 6.
=5. 5. 58, 59 You had some straine 'Boue E-la?= Cf. 1593 Nash,
_Christ's Tears_, _Wks._ 4.
