Drayton

MICHAEL DRAYTON (1563 - 1631)

Drayton, author of the celebrated sonnet beginning:

Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part

gives a rather superficial enumeration, drawing heavily on Camden (q.v.) of many North East locations in his most ambitious project, the long topographical work Poly-Olbion, which appeared in two parts in 1612 and 1622. Drayton refers to a feature on the Tees:

... near her banke
(That from their loathsome brim do breath a sulphurous sweat)
Hell-kettles rightly called...

Defoe, a century later remarks merely:' As to the Hell Kettles, so much talked up for a wonder, which are to be seen as we ride from the Tees to Darlington, I had already seen so little of wonder in such country tales, that I was not hastily deluded again. 'Tis evident, they are nothing but old coal pits filled with water by the River Tees.' Of Newcastle, Drayton writes:

That place no lesse is fam'd
Than India for her Mynes...

and of Durham as seen by the River Wear:

With which beloved place I am so pleased here,
As that I clip it close, and sweetly hug it in
My clear and amorous arms.

Of the Roman Wall, Drayton writes:

Towns stood upon my length, where garrisons were laid.
Their limits to defend: for my greater aid
With turrets I was built where sentinels were placed
To watch upon the Pict: so me my makers graced.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
MICHAEL DRAYTON (1563 - 1631) Drayton, author of the celebrated sonnet beginning: Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part gives a rather superficial enumeration, drawing heavily on Camden (q.v.) of many North East locations in his most ambitious project, the long topographical work Poly-Olbion, which appeared in two parts in 1612 and 1622. Drayton refers to a feature on the Tees: ... near her banke (That from their loathsome brim do breath a sulphurous sweat) Hell-kettles rightly called... Defoe, a century later remarks merely:' As to the Hell Kettles, so much talked up for a wonder, which are to be seen as we ride from the Tees to Darlington, I had already seen so little of wonder in such country tales, that I was not hastily deluded again. 'Tis evident, they are nothing but old coal pits filled with water by the River Tees.' Of Newcastle, Drayton writes: That place no lesse is fam'd Than India for her Mynes... and of Durham as seen by the River Wear: With which beloved place I am so pleased here, As that I clip it close, and sweetly hug it in My clear and amorous arms. Of the Roman Wall, Drayton writes: Towns stood upon my length, where garrisons were laid. Their limits to defend: for my greater aid With turrets I was built where sentinels were placed To watch upon the Pict: so me my makers graced.
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