in trouble with the law.During a duel in the fields at Shoreditch, Johnson mistakenly killed fellow actor Gabriel Spencer. Jonson was tried for murder at Old Baily, where he narrowly escaped by sent to the gallows by pleading the benefit of clergy. Forfeiting all of his possessions and receiving the brand of felon on his thumb, Jonson was released (The Life of Ben Jonson). It was during these subsequent imprisonments that Jonson converted his beliefs to Roman Catholicism (The Life of Ben Jonson).Following Jonsons release was the first performance of his new play, Every Man Out if his Humor causing reason for grand celebration. However, his happiness was cut short in 1603 when his son at the tender age of seven was struck down with the plague. Devastated by his sons death, Jonson began to live the bohemian life of the city, drinking often and engaging in very detrimental behavior (Ben Jonson). Desiring to raise himself up from the bottom, Jonson received an opportunity to compose entertainment and masques for the court (The Life of Ben Jonson). Jonson was given the task of designing masques to be associated with all important state occasions and as a result, Johnson was appointed court poet. Ben Jonson designed masques that showed off his erudition, wit, and versatility, thereby showcasing some of his best lyric poetry ever (Barish, 40).Above all this Jonson would become known for his enduring comedies written between 1605 and 1614(The Life of Ben Jonson). Volpone, written in 1605, and The Alchemist, written in 1610 are both broad-based comedies that stand as Jonsons most produced plays. Both plays are well liked in modern times and were highly regarded during Jacobean times (Ben Jonson). Following the highly successful Volpone and The Alchemist, Johnson teamed up with George Chapman and William Marsten in the to write Eastwrd Ho!, a brilliant comedy that ridiculed the Scots. Deeply offending King James I, who was a Scot himself, the au...
