Biography of Ben Johnson 1572-1637
1603 The Entertainment at Althorp
1608 Masque of The Hue and Cry After Cupid
In 1572 Ben Johnson was born.
On 25 Jun 1603 the Ben Johnson (age 31) Masque The Entertainment at Althorp was performed at Althorp House, Northamptonshire [Map] to welcome the new Royal Family on their journey from Edinburgh to London following the death of Queen Elizabeth. The performance was attended by Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 28) and her son Henry Frederick Stewart Prince of Wales (age 9).
On 06 Jan 1605, Twelfth Night, the Ben Johnson (age 33) Masque of Blackness was performed at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map]. The performers included:
Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 30) played Euphoris.
Lucy Harrington Countess Bedford (age 25) played Aglaia.
Anne Lady Herbert (age 22) played Diaphane.
Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 29) played Eucampse.
Catherine Knyvet Countess Suffolk (age 41) played Kathare.
Penelope Devereux Countess Devonshire (age 42) played Ocyte.
Frances Knyvet Lady Bevill (age 39) played Notis.
Anne St John Lady Effingham (age 30) played Psychrote.
Elizabeth Howard Countess Banbury (age 22) played Glycyte.
Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 17) played Malacia.
Mary Sidney Lady Wroth (age 18) played Baryte.
Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 36) played Periphere.
On 10 Jan 1608 the Ben Johnson (age 36) Masque of Beauty was performed at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] to celebrate the completion of its refurburbishment. King James I of England and Ireland and VI of Scotland (age 41) attended.
The performers included:
Anne of Denmark Queen Consort Scotland England and Ireland (age 33).
Alethea Talbot Countess Arundel, Surrey and Norfolk (age 23).
Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford (age 28).
Elizabeth Vere Countess Derby (age 32).
Susan Vere Countess Montgomery (age 20).
Lettice Perrot Baroness Chichester (age 48).
Audrey Shelton Lady Walsingham (age 39).
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor (age 33).
Anne Clifford Countess Dorset and Pembroke (age 17).
Elizabeth Barkham Lady Garrard (age 15).
Elizabeth Somerset (age 18).
Elizabeth Cecil Lady Hatton (age 30).
Mary Neville 3rd Baroness Despencer (age 54).
Catherine Somerset Baroness Windsor (age 33).
Arabella Stewart (age 33).
On 09 Feb 1608 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 28) and Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington were married at Whitehall Palace [Map]. She by marriage Viscountess Haddington. She the daughter of Robert Radclyffe 5th Earl of Sussex (age 34) and Bridget Morrison Countess Sussex.
James I (age 41) gave the bride away and sent the bride a gold cup containing a grant of lands worth an income of £600 per year, also paid off Ramsay's debts of £10,000.
The marriage was celebrated with the Masque of The Hue and Cry After Cupid in the evening of 09 Feb 1608 at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] written by Ben Johnson (age 36).
The principal masquers, nobles and gentlemen of the Court, appeared in the guise of the twelve signs of the Zodiac; the men, five English and seven Scottish courtiers, were:
Ludovic Stewart 2nd Duke Lennox 1st Duke Richmond (age 33).
Thomas Howard 21st Earl Arundel 4th Earl Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 22).
Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery (age 23).
William Herbert 3rd Earl Pembroke (age 27).
Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox (age 29).
Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 25).
James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 28).
Robert Crichton 8th Lord Sanquhar.
John Kennedy, Master of Mar.
Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick (age 20).
Mr Erskine.
Catiline His Conspiracy was written by Ben Johnson (age 39). It was first published in 1611.
The The Golden Age Restored Masque was a Jacobean era masque, written by Ben Johnson (age 44) and designed by Inigo Jones (age 42); it was performed on 01 Jan 1616 and 06 Jan 1616, almost certainly at Whitehall Palace.
Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue Masque was a Masque by Ben Johnson (age 46) first performed on Twelth Night 1618 ie 06 Jan 1618 in the Banqueting House at Whitehall Palace.
In 1621 George Villiers 1st Duke of Buckingham (age 28) produced Ben Johnson's (age 49) masque The Gypsies Metamorphosed to celebrate his marriage to Katherine Manners Duchess Buckingham (age 18).
In 1637 Ben Johnson (age 65) died.
