When was Ben Jonson born and what school did he attend?
Benjamin Jonson was born in June 1572 possibly on the 11th day of that month. He attended Westminster School where William Camden taught him.
Questions about Ben Jonson
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What legal trouble did Ben Jonson face in September 1598?
Ben Jonson faced legal trouble in September 1598 when he killed actor Gabriel Spenser in a duel at Hogsden Fields. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter but gained leniency by reciting a Bible verse known as the neck-verse which required him to forfeit all goods and chattels while receiving a Tyburn T brand on his left thumb.
How much money did Ben Jonson receive from the royal family by 1616?
By 1616 Ben Jonson received an annual pension of one hundred marks worth roughly sixty pounds from the royal family. This financial support led some historians to identify him as England's first Poet Laureate even though no formal title was granted.
Why did Ben Jonson convert back to the Church of England in May 1610?
Ben Jonson rejoinned the Church of England in May 1610 after King Henry IV of France was assassinated. He demonstrated this renunciation by drinking a full chalice of communion wine at the eucharist ceremony.
What criticisms did Ben Jonson make about Shakespeare's plays according to William Drummond?
William Drummond reported that Ben Jonson scoffed at two absurdities in Shakespeare's plays during their conversations including a nonsensical line in Julius Caesar and questioned the setting of The Winter's Tale on Bohemia's non-existent seacoast. Drummond also recorded Jonson saying Shakespeare wanted art meaning he lacked technical skill.