Posted by Jan den Breejen (145.53.141.105) on June 30, 2003 at 13:13:05:
Dear Rich,
This one could be Dramatic Style gossip-king?
JDB
text citation:
Of News-forging, or Rumour-spreading
FAME-SPREADING, is a devising of deeds and words at the fancy or pleasure of the Inventer. A News-monger he is, who meeting with his acquaintance, changing his countenance and smiling, asketh whence come you now ? How go the rules now? Is there any news stirring? And still spurring him with questions, tells him there are excellent and happy occurrents abroad. Then, before he answereth, by way of preven tion asketh, have you anything in store? why then I will feast you with my choicest intelligence. Then hath he at hand some cast Captain, or cassierd Souldier, or some Fifes boy lately come from war, of whom he hath heard some very strange stuff, I warrant you: always producing such authors as no man can control. He will tell him, hee heard that Polyspherchon and the King discomfited and overthrew his enemies, and that Cassander was taken prisoner. But if any man say unto him, Do you believe this? Yes marry do believe it, replyeth he: for it is bruited all the Town over by a general voice. The rumor spreadeth, all generally agree in this report of the war; and that there was an exceeding great overthrow. And this he gathereth by the very countenance and carriage of these great men which sit at the stern. Then he proceedeth and tells you further, That hee heard by one which came lately out of Macedonia, who was present at all which passed, that now these five days he hath bin kept close by them. Then he falleth to terms of commiseration. Alas, good, but unfortunate Cassander! O carefull desolate man! This can misfortune do. Cassander was a very powerfull man in his time, and of a very great commannd: but I would entreat you to keep this to your self; and yet he runneth to every one to tell them of it. I do much wonder what pleasure men shuld take in devising and dispersing those rumours. The which things, that I mention not the basnesse and deformity of a lie, turne them to many inconveniences.
For, it fals out oftentimes that while these, mountebanklike, draw much company about them, in the Baths and such like places, some good Rogues steal away their clothes, others, sitting in a porch or gallery, while they over-come in a sea, or a land-fight are fined for not appearance. Others, while with their words they valiantly take Cities, loose their suppers. These men lead a very miserable and wretched life. For what Gallery is there, what shop, wherein they waste not whole days, with the penance of those whose eares they set on the Pillory with their tedious unjointed tales?