User:Rich Farmbrough/DNB/J/o/John Singer

John Singer||| John Singer (fl. 1594–1602), actor and dramatist, was with Queen Elizabeth's company and the admiral's (Lord Charles Howard, earl of Nottingham) at the Rose Theatre from 1594 to 1602. He played the part of Assinego the clown in 'Tamar Cham' on 2 October 1602, and received from Philip Henslowe on 13 January 1602 the sum of 5l. for his 'playe called Syngers Vollentarye'. He is said by Collier to have been 'a great popular favourite, and the leader of a company of comedians, not at the Globe or Blackfriars, but at some theatre where[at] he was well known and greatly applauded' (Engl. Dram. Pœt. iii. 209, ed. 1879). Collier credits him with the authorship of a collection of his merry sallies and improvisations given to the world under the title of 'Quips upon Questions, or a Clownes Conceite on Occasion offered, bewraying a morallised Metamorphosis of Changes upon Interrogatories, shewing a little Wit, with a great deale of Will; or, indeed, more desirous to please in it, then to profit by it. Clapt up by a Clowne of the Towne in this last Restraint, having little else to doe to make a little use of his fickle Muse, and careless of Carping. By Clunnyco de Curtaneo Snuffe.

    Like as you list, read on and spare not, Clownes judge like clownes, therefore I care not.
    Or thus: Floute me, I'l floute thee; it is my profession To jest at a jester, in his transgression.

Imprinted at London for W. Ferbrand, and are to be sold at the sign of the Crowne over against the Mayden head near Yeldhall, 1600', quarto, 24 leaves (Hazlitt, Handbook). The ascription of this work to Singer, probable enough from internal evidence, rests upon the unsupported authority of Collier. The book, which is sad rather than comic, and consists of a series of moral platitudes conveying the idea that the writer was a thoughtful, serious, and kindly man, is of excessive rarity. A copy of it having come into the hands of Mr. F. Ouvry, a very limited reprint, now only less unattainable than the original volume, was issued (London, 1875, quarto).^{[DNB 1][1]}

References

1. [[Template:Cite DNB|vb=yes|author=Template:DNB JK|title=Singer, John (DNB00)|work=Dictionary of National Biography|volume=52|pages=0|url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Singer,_John_(DNB00)]]

DNB references

These references are found in the DNB article referred to above.

1. All that is known of Singer is contained in half a dozen extracts from Henslowe's Diary. These have been used by Collier himself in his English Dramatic Poetry, and reservedly by Mr. Fleay in his History of the Stage. Reasons for doubting Collier, strong enough in themselves, are fortified by what is said in Notes and Queries, 8th ser. x. 235, 321, 357. Hazlitt's Bibliography and Halliwell's Dictionary of Old Plays.

External links

Singer, John (DNB00)|Singer, John

date=August 2014 date=August 2014 [[Template:Person data |name=Singer, John |alternative names= |short description=actor and dramatist |date of birth= |place of birth= |date of death= |place of death= ]] Singer, John NoCategory:Year of birth missing NoCategory:Year of death missing date=August 2014