John Clavell
Encyclopedia
John Clavell was a highwayman, author, lawyer, and doctor.
He is known for his poem A Recantation of an Ill Led Life, and his play The Soddered Citizen
. His life is mainly split into two parts: his early life in England, where he grew up, lived as a highwayman, and started his reformation, and the latter part of his life in England and Ireland where he was a lawyer and physician.
, England where he spent 18 years of his life. Clavell's heritage comes from a 14th century family known as the Dorsetshire family.
John Clavell's parents were Frances and John Clavell Senior. Clavell's father was plagued by a life of financial trouble; he borrowed money from his son-in-law Robert Freake, but never paid off the loan. He was said to have attended "Spiritual Court" for "moral bisheavior"; allegedly he engaged in an affair while married to Frances. Clavell Sr. played an important role in pardoning his son later in life.
Clavell's mother, Frances, married three times and outlived all of her children. Unlike her husband, she did not take part in requesting a pardon her son when was jailed. Frances also disapproved of John's first wife, Joyce, which led Clavell to address his mother in the second edition of "A Recantation of an Ill Led Life," where he asks both her and his sister Elizabeth to accept Joyce as a good wife.
John Clavell's uncle was Sir William Clavell (1568–1643). He was a knight banneret
and gained this title in 1599. He was active in commercial and industrial ventures, and was John Clavell's connection to Ireland, where Clavell spent part of his life.
from 1619 to 1621. In 1621, he left the college without a degree. During this period, Clavell is noted to have stolen a golden or silver plate. He was sentenced to time in jail, but was pardoned in April 1621 and released without bail. It is theorized that his uncle Sir William played a major role in his receiving the pardon, and that the theft is the reason Clavell left Bransenose without a degree.
In 1625 Clavell was imprisoned in King's Bench Prison
as a convicted felon. In 1627 he was apprehended, found guilty and sentenced to death. It is said that he owed his pardon in 1627 to the King and Queen.
Eventually, Clavell found his way to Ireland. Some think he went there in 1631, but the actual date is disputed. On 14 April 1635, Clavell married a Dublin heiress, who was noted to be younger than ten years old. Clavell's records of cures from his times as a doctor are recorded in a manuscript, Bodleian MS. Rawl, D. 399, which dates from 1636 and places Clavell in Ireland around this time.
In 1638, a lawsuit over money owed to Clavell's brother-in-law Robert Freake places Clavell back in England.
The exact date of John Clavell's death is unknown. One document says he died in 1642 where another document says he died in 1643.
The first edition was entered into the Stationers' Register on September 22nd, 1627, and was first published in 1628.
The second edition was also published in 1628, but is slightly different because of the aforementioned address to his mother and sister, asking them to accept his first wife, Joyce. The third edition was written in 1634 and contains everything except the address to his mother and sister. All three volumes were published in Clavell's lifetime by Richard Meighen, who also published "The Soddered Citzen".
In his poem, Clavell provides details of the activities of the "knights of the roads." At one point he specifies the disguises they employed:
"The Soddered Citzen" is a comedic play which is thought to have been written between 1629 and 1634. It was acted by the King's Men
at the Blackfriars Theatre
in 1630
. That play was lost for three centuries, known only by its title. A surviving manuscript was then discovered in 1932, edited by W. W. Greg
and J. H. P. Pafford, and published by the Malone Society in 1936.
Until the discovery of the manuscript in 1932 the play was generally ascribed to Shackerley Marmion
. However, Clavell's signature was found on the maunscript, and events in his life match up with the prologue. Also, he was assumed to be in Ireland at the same time as the manuscript was produced. Other sources believe that John Clavell could not have written it, because they trace the date that it is written before 1630 (with the death of actor Richard Sharp) - before John Clavell traveled to Ireland.
John Clavell and Shakespeare's Falstaff
Some sources speculate that John Clavell was influenced by Shakespeare's character Sir John Falstaff from Henry IV as a source for ideas in "A Recantation". Both Henry IV and "A Recantation" reference Gad's Hill, the place of the robbery in Henry IV, but there is no documentation of Clavell actually being at Gad's Hill. Clavell claims that the first robbery was at Gad's Hill.
He is known for his poem A Recantation of an Ill Led Life, and his play The Soddered Citizen
The Soddered Citizen
The Soddered Citizen is a Caroline era stage play, a city comedy now attributed to John Clavell. The play was lost for three centuries; the sole surviving manuscript was rediscovered and published in the twentieth century....
. His life is mainly split into two parts: his early life in England, where he grew up, lived as a highwayman, and started his reformation, and the latter part of his life in England and Ireland where he was a lawyer and physician.
Early life and family
John Clavell was the youngest of six children. He was baptized at Wooten Glanville and grew up in SherborneSherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...
, England where he spent 18 years of his life. Clavell's heritage comes from a 14th century family known as the Dorsetshire family.
John Clavell's parents were Frances and John Clavell Senior. Clavell's father was plagued by a life of financial trouble; he borrowed money from his son-in-law Robert Freake, but never paid off the loan. He was said to have attended "Spiritual Court" for "moral bisheavior"; allegedly he engaged in an affair while married to Frances. Clavell Sr. played an important role in pardoning his son later in life.
Clavell's mother, Frances, married three times and outlived all of her children. Unlike her husband, she did not take part in requesting a pardon her son when was jailed. Frances also disapproved of John's first wife, Joyce, which led Clavell to address his mother in the second edition of "A Recantation of an Ill Led Life," where he asks both her and his sister Elizabeth to accept Joyce as a good wife.
John Clavell's uncle was Sir William Clavell (1568–1643). He was a knight banneret
Knight banneret
A knight banneret, sometimes known simply as banneret, was a Medieval knight who led a company of troops during time of war under his own banner and were eligible to bear supporters in English heraldry.The military rank of a knight banneret was...
and gained this title in 1599. He was active in commercial and industrial ventures, and was John Clavell's connection to Ireland, where Clavell spent part of his life.
Education
John Clavell attended Brasenose College, OxfordBrasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
from 1619 to 1621. In 1621, he left the college without a degree. During this period, Clavell is noted to have stolen a golden or silver plate. He was sentenced to time in jail, but was pardoned in April 1621 and released without bail. It is theorized that his uncle Sir William played a major role in his receiving the pardon, and that the theft is the reason Clavell left Bransenose without a degree.
Adult years
After he left school in 1621, Clavell spent the next five years in London, where he lived a life of crime, poverty and ill health. In 1623 he became the administrator to his father's estate. In 1625 he married his first wife, Joyce. It is believed that she was of low standing and little inheritance; in the second edition of "A Recantation of an Ill Led Life" Clavell appealed to his mother and sister to accept Joyce as a good woman.In 1625 Clavell was imprisoned in King's Bench Prison
King's Bench Prison
The King's Bench Prison was a prison in Southwark, south London, from medieval times until it closed in 1880. It took its name from the King's Bench court of law in which cases of defamation, bankruptcy and other misdemeanours were heard; as such, the prison was often used as a debtor's prison...
as a convicted felon. In 1627 he was apprehended, found guilty and sentenced to death. It is said that he owed his pardon in 1627 to the King and Queen.
Eventually, Clavell found his way to Ireland. Some think he went there in 1631, but the actual date is disputed. On 14 April 1635, Clavell married a Dublin heiress, who was noted to be younger than ten years old. Clavell's records of cures from his times as a doctor are recorded in a manuscript, Bodleian MS. Rawl, D. 399, which dates from 1636 and places Clavell in Ireland around this time.
In 1638, a lawsuit over money owed to Clavell's brother-in-law Robert Freake places Clavell back in England.
The exact date of John Clavell's death is unknown. One document says he died in 1642 where another document says he died in 1643.
A Recantation of an Ill Led Life
A Recantation of an Ill Led Life is a metrical autobiography and a poem in which Clavell apologizes about all his misdealings. In it, Clavell writes about being a highway man and sends a warning to travelers. In this piece, Clavell also writes to everyone who helped him reach a pardon from his death sentence.The first edition was entered into the Stationers' Register on September 22nd, 1627, and was first published in 1628.
The second edition was also published in 1628, but is slightly different because of the aforementioned address to his mother and sister, asking them to accept his first wife, Joyce. The third edition was written in 1634 and contains everything except the address to his mother and sister. All three volumes were published in Clavell's lifetime by Richard Meighen, who also published "The Soddered Citzen".
In his poem, Clavell provides details of the activities of the "knights of the roads." At one point he specifies the disguises they employed:
-
- "But first pluck off your vizards, hoods, disguise,
- Masks, muzzles, mufflers, patches from your eyes,
- Those beards, those heads of hair, and that great wen,
- Which is not natural, that I may ken
- Your faces as they are....
The Soddered Citzen
"The Soddered Citzen" is a comedic play which is thought to have been written between 1629 and 1634. It was acted by the King's Men
King's Men (playing company)
The King's Men was the company of actors to which William Shakespeare belonged through most of his career. Formerly known as The Lord Chamberlain's Men during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became The King's Men in 1603 when King James ascended the throne and became the company's patron.The...
at the Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre
Blackfriars Theatre was the name of a theatre in the Blackfriars district of the City of London during the Renaissance. The theatre began as a venue for child actors associated with the Queen's chapel choirs; in this function, the theatre hosted some of the most innovative drama of Elizabeth and...
in 1630
1630 in literature
The year 1630 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:* English literature, drama, and education lose a major patron and benefactor when William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke and Lord Chamberlain of England, dies on April 10.-New books:...
. That play was lost for three centuries, known only by its title. A surviving manuscript was then discovered in 1932, edited by W. W. Greg
Walter Wilson Greg
Sir Walter Wilson Greg was one of the leading bibliographers and Shakespeare scholars of the 20th century....
and J. H. P. Pafford, and published by the Malone Society in 1936.
Until the discovery of the manuscript in 1932 the play was generally ascribed to Shackerley Marmion
Shackerley Marmion
Shackerley Marmion , also Shakerley, Shakerly, Schackerley, Marmyon, Marmyun, or Mermion, was an early 17th-century dramatist, often classed among the Sons of Ben, the followers of Ben Jonson who continued his style of comedy...
. However, Clavell's signature was found on the maunscript, and events in his life match up with the prologue. Also, he was assumed to be in Ireland at the same time as the manuscript was produced. Other sources believe that John Clavell could not have written it, because they trace the date that it is written before 1630 (with the death of actor Richard Sharp) - before John Clavell traveled to Ireland.
John Clavell and Shakespeare's Falstaff
Some sources speculate that John Clavell was influenced by Shakespeare's character Sir John Falstaff from Henry IV as a source for ideas in "A Recantation". Both Henry IV and "A Recantation" reference Gad's Hill, the place of the robbery in Henry IV, but there is no documentation of Clavell actually being at Gad's Hill. Clavell claims that the first robbery was at Gad's Hill.
Further reading
- “Clavell, John”. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. Ed. Margaret Drabble. 6th ed. New York: Oxford UP, 200.
- Lawless, Donald. “John Clavell, 1603-42 Highwayman, Author, Lawyer and Quack Doctor”. Notes and Queries. Jan. 1957: 9.
- Pafford, John, ed. John Clavell, 1601-43: Highwayman, Author, Lawyer and Doctor—with a reprint of his poem, A Recantation of an Ill Led Life, 1634. Oxford: Leopard’s Head PL, 1993.
- Pafford, John, ed. ”The Soddered Citizen”. The Soddered Citizen. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1936. 2-111.
- Pafford, John. “An Early Falstaff Echo?” Notes and Queries. Dec. 1988: 467.