ABSTRACT
From Don Zara del Fogo. A Mock-Romance (1656), pp. 101-2: The fire of Emulation burnt fiercely in every angle of this Paradise; the British Bards (forsooth) were also ingaged in quarrel for Superiority; and who think you, threw the Apple of Discord amongst them, but Ben Johnson, who had openly vaunted himself the first and best of English Poets; this Brave was resented by all with the highest indignation, for Chawcer (by most there) was esteemed the Father of English Poesie, whose onely unhappiness it was, that he was made for the time he lived in, but the time not for him: Chapman was wondrously exasperated at Bens boldness, and scarce refrained to tell (his own Tale oj a Tub) that his Isabel and Mortimer was now compleated by a Knighted Poet, whose soul remained in Flesh; hereupon Spencer (who was very busie in finishing his Fairy Queen) thrust himself amid the throng, and was received with a showt by Chapman, Harrington, Owen, Constable, Daniel, and Drayton, so that some thought the matter already decided; but behold Shakespear and Fletcher (bringing with them a strong party) appeared, as if they meant to water their Bayes with blood, rather then part with their proper Right, which indeed Apollo and the Muses (had with much justice) conferr'd upon them, so that now there is like to be trouble in Triplex: Skelton, Gower and the Monk of Bury were at Daggers-drawing for Chawcer: Spencer waited upon by a numerous Troop of the best Book-men in the World: Shakes pear and Fletcher surrounded with their Life-Guard, viz. Goffe, Massinger, Decker, Webster, Suckling, Cartwright, Carew, &c.
