1604-8, and his Parliament of Bees are of finer literary quality than this early record would suggest. But Ben Jonson classed him to Drummond in 1619 amongst the 'rogues' and 'base fellows' who were 'not of the number of the faithfull, i.e. Poets' (Laing, 4, 11). He must have lived long, as John Tatham, who included an elegy on him as his 'loving friend' in his Fancies Theater (1640), was then only about twenty-eight. He appears to have been still writing plays in 1623, but there is no trace of any substantial body of work after 1608. Fleay, i. 115, suggests from the tone of his manuscript pamphlet Peregrinatio Scholastica that he took orders.
Collection 1881. A. H. Bullen, The Works of John Day.
The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green. 1600
S. R. 1657, Sept. 14. 'A booke called The pleasant history of the blind beggar of Bednall Greene, declaring his life and death &c.' Francis Grove (Eyre, ii. 145). 1659. The Blind-Beggar of Bednal-Green, with The merry humor of Tom Strowd the Norfolk Yeoman, as it was divers times publickly acted by the Princes Servants. Written by John Day. For R. Pollard and Tho. Dring.
Editions by W. Bang (1902, Materialien, i) and J. S. Farmer (1914, S. F. T.). The Prince's men of the title are probably the later Prince Charles's (1631-41), but these were the ultimate successors of Prince Henry's, formerly the Admiral's, who produced, between May 1600 and Sept. 1601, three parts of a play called indifferently by Henslowe The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green and Thomas Strowd. Payments were made for the first part to Day and Chettle and for the other two to Day and Haughton. On the assumption that the extant play is Part i, Bullen, Introd. 8 and Fleay, i. 107, make divergent suggestions as to the division of responsibility between Day and Chettle. At l. 2177 is the s.d. 'Enter Captain Westford, Sill Clark'; probably the performance in which this actor took part was a Caroline one.
Law Tricks, or Who Would Have Thought It. 1604
S. R. 1608, March 28 (Buck). 'A booke called A most wytty and merry conceited comedie called who would a thought it or Lawe-*trykes.' Richard Moore (Arber, iii. 372).
1608. Law-Trickes or, who would have Thought it. As it hath bene diuers times Acted by the Children of the Reuels. Written by John Day. For Richard More. [Epistle by the Book to the Reader; Epilogue.]
The name given to the company suggests that the play was on the stage in 1605-6. But I think the original production must have been in 1604, as the dispute between Westminster and Winchester for 'terms', in which Winchester is said to have been successful, 'on Saint Lukes day, coming shalbe a twelue-month' (ed. Bullen, p. 61)
