Search Results for 'The Mermaid Tavern'

In an age of remarkable men and women, Ben Jonson (1572-1637) stood out. Not only was he friend and rival of Shakespeare, he was also a brilliant poet and playwright. He was also wayward, obstinate, bad-tempered, and only survived the gallows after killing a man in a duel by proving he could read and write. Thereafter he bore on his right thumb a branded 'T', for Tyburn, so that if caught next time, he would hang.