Captain Cox facts for kids
Captain Cox of Coventry was an English collector who lived around the year 1575. He was famous for his collection of old songs (ballads) and adventure stories (romances). Captain Cox was present at Kenilworth Castle when Queen Elizabeth I visited in 1575. He even played a big part in one of the special shows put on for the Queen.
Who Was Captain Cox?
Captain Cox was known as a very unique person. He worked as a skilled mason, which means he was good at building with stone. He was also very good at fencing and knew a lot about history and old stories. People described him as "hardy," meaning brave and strong.
His Amazing Collection
Captain Cox had a truly special collection of books and papers. He loved gathering all sorts of ballads and romances. These were popular songs and adventure tales from his time. His library was full of interesting and sometimes unusual items.
Entertainment for the Queen
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When Queen Elizabeth I visited Kenilworth Castle, many fun events were planned for her. One of these was a playful show that looked like a battle from an old adventure story. Captain Cox was a main character in this show. He rode a hobby-horse, which is a toy horse on a stick.
Later, a famous writer named Ben Jonson included Captain Cox in one of his plays. This play was called Mask of Owls, at Kenelworth. Presented by the Ghost of Captain Cox and was performed in 1626. It showed how well-known and memorable Captain Cox was.
