It appears wholly unknown to Herbert, and to all the
biographers of Drayton." It is unnoticed by Ritson also. Chalmers, in
his _Series of English Poets_, has referred to this communication, but
he has not printed the poem amongst Drayton's works.
The expression "a Flemish account" is probably not of very long
standing, as it is not found in the most celebrated of our earlier
dramatists, unless, indeed, Mrs. Page's remark on Falstaff's letter may
be cited as an illustration:--"What an unweighed behaviour hath this
Flemish drunkard _picked out of my conversation_, that he dares in this
manner assay me."
If the habit of drinking to excess prevailed in the Low Countries in the
sixteenth century to the extent represented, may not the expression have
arisen from that circumstance, and been equivalent to the contempt which
is usually entertained for the loose or imperfect statements made by a
tipsy or drunken man?
When quoting opinions upon Burnet, we must not forget the brief but
pregnant character which Burke has given of the Bishop's _History of his
Own Times_. In his admirable speech at Bristol, previous to the election
if 1780, Burke says, "Look into the History of Bishop Burnet; _he is a
witness without exception_."
Dr. Johnson was not so laudatory:--"Burnet is very entertaining. The
style, indeed, is mere chit-chat. I do not believe that he intentionally
lied; but he was so much prejudiced, that he took no pains to find out
the truth.
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