that title.[1] If inference were not sufficient, testimony might be adduced to shew that the puppets were clothed as nearly as possible like the actors at the regular theatres in those plays which were thought fit subjects for the "motions." The minute fidelity of Ben Jonson to the manners of his day, in depicting the "humours" of his characters, has led him in several places to introduce the name of a principal proprietor of puppet-shows, who was known by the title of Captain Pod. He mentions him in his "Every Man out of his Humour,"[2] as well as in his "Epigrams,"[3] from which last it also appears that the word "motion," which properly means the representation by puppets, was sometimes applied to the figures employed in the performance.[4]
The formidable rivalship of puppet-plays to the regular drama at a later date is established by the fact, that the proprietors of the theatres in Drury Lane, and near Lincoln's Inn Fields, formerly petitioned Charles II. that a puppet-show stationed on the present site of Cecil Street in the Strand, might not be allowed to exhibit, or might be removed to a greater distance, as its attractiveness materially interfered with the prosperity of their concerns. It is not unlikely that burlesque and ridicule were sometimes aimed at the productions of the regular stage by the exhibitors of "motions."
There is little doubt that the most ancient puppet-shows, like the Mysteries, dealt in stories taken from the Old and New Testament, or from the lives and legends of Saints. Towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth, as we have seen, historical and other fables began to be treated by them; but still scriptural subjects were commonly exhibited, and- ↑ See the Dedication to Webster's "White Devil," as quoted in note, ‡ in the new edition of "Dodsley's Old Plays," vol. 6, 207.
- ↑ "Nay rather let him be Captain Pod, and this his motion, for he does nothing but shew him." (Act 4, scene 4.)
- ↑ The title of the Epigram is "On the new motion"—
"See you yond' motion? not the old fa-ding,
Nor Captain Pod, nor yet the Eltham thing," &c. - ↑ Thus also Speed, in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona," exclaims, "O excellent motion! O exceeding puppet! now will he interpret to her." (Act 2, scene 1.)
