We meet with it next in Kirkman's Printed Catalogue of Plays, 1671, under the title of Common Conditions.

Again in Langbaine's republication of do. with amendments.

1680.

Again in Langbaine's new Catalogue. 1688. Again in his Account of English Dramatic Poets, 1691, where he calls it a "Comedy I never saw."

Again in the Theatrical Records of that measureles and bungling Lyar, William Rufus Chetwood, 1756, Article XLIX, with a pretended date to it, at least a century too late, viz. 1676. Perhaps the blockhead thought the piece was a political one, and had some reference at some period or other to the Condition of the Commons of England.

From hence it found its way into Baker's Companion to the Playhouse, 1764, and was afterwards described with accuracy in the additions and corrections of the second volume of Mr. Reed's republication of the same work, 1782, p. 436.

See also Egerton's Theatrical Remembrancer, 1788, p. 32.

The following copy of Common Conditions was purchased at the sale of the late Dr. Wright's books, 1787, see his catalogue, p. 51, for 51. 5s.'

G. S."

This great literary curiosity contains the fol

lowing

SONG BY MARINERS.

Lustely, lustely, lustely let us saile forthe,

The winde trim doth serve us, it blowes at the North.

All things we have ready, and nothing we want
To furnishe our ship that rideth hereby,
Victals and weapons, ther be nothing skant,
Like worthie mariners ourselves we will trie.
Lustely, lustely, &c.

Her flagges be newe trimmed set flantyng alofte,
Our ship for swift swimmyng, oh she doth excell,
Wee feare no enemies, wee have escaped them ofte,
Of all ships that swimmeth, she bareth the bell.
Lustely, lustely, &c.

And here is a maister excelleth in skill,
And our maisters mate he is not to seeke,

And here is boteswaine will doe his good will,
And here is a ship boye wee never had to leake.
Lustely, lustely, &c.

If fortune then faile not, and our next voiage prove,
Wee will return merely and make a good cheare,
And hold al together as frendes linkt in love,
The cannes shall be filled with wine, ale, and beare.
Lustely, lustely, &c.

The Duke of Roxburgh purchased this rare tract for six pounds ten shillings, at the sale of Mr. Steevens's books.

"THE NICE WANTON.

A

preaty Interlude called Nice Wanton.

Wherein ye may see

Three braunces of an yll tree,

The mother and her children three,
Twoo naught and one godlye.

Early sharpe that wyll be thorne,
Soone yll that wyll be naught,
To be naught better unborne
Better unfed than naughtily taught.

Ut magnum magnos pucros puerillia doctos.

This is in black letter, and contains the fol

lowing specimens of Songs:

See Gentleman's Magazine for 1787, pp. 400 and 689.

DUET BETWEEN INIQUITIE AND DALILA.

INIO.

Golde lockes

She must have knockes,

Or else I do her wronge.

DALILA.

DALILA.

When ye have your wyl,
Ye were best lye styl;

The winter nights be long.

INIO.

When I ne may
An other essay,

I wyl take it for no wronge.

DALILA.

Then by the roode,
A bone in your hoode,
I shall put ere it be longe.

SONG.

It is good to be mery,
But who can be mery ?

He that hath a pure conscience,
He may well be mery.

Who hath a pure conscience? tell me
No man of himself I ensure thee:
Then must it follow of necessitie,
That no man can be mery.

Puritie itselfe may purenesse give,

You must aske it of God in true beleve,

Then wyl he geve it and nere repreve,

VOL. II.

And so we may be mery,

What

What is the practise of a conscience pure ;
To love and fear God, and other allure,
And for his sake to helpe hys neighbour,
Then may we well be mery.

What shell he have that can and wyll do this?
After this life everlasting blissé,

Yet not by desert, but by gyft I wisse,

Then God make us all mery.

At the end is,

Imprinted at London in Paules Churche Yearde, at the sygne of the Swane or John Kyng."

"THE OLD WIVES TALË.

A pleasant conceited Comedie, played by the Queenes Majesties Players. Written by G. P.

Printed at London by John Danter, and are to be sold by Ralph Hancocke and John Hardie. 1595."

This copy belonged to Mr. Steevens, who paid for it, at Wright's sale, 5. 7s. 6d. It was purchased for the Dake of Roxburgh for twelve pounds

It appears very probable that Milton had seen this very curious and rare tract. The story is the same with that in Comus, namely, Two brothers are represented as in search of a sister, confined by the power of a magician. In the Old Wives Tale, as in Comus, the brothers aloud call their sister by name, and Echo makes

reply.