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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 doeth 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 a 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 good cheare,
And holde al together as freendes 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

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 shall he haue that can and wyll do this?
After this life everlasting blisse,

Yet not by desert, but by gyft I wisse,

Then God make us all mery.

At the end is,

66

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

"THE OLD WIVES TALE.

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, 51. 7s. 6d. It was purchased for the Duke 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.

reply. See a long and interesting account of George Peele, the author of this dramatic piece, and the piece itself, in Todd's edition of Comus, published separately in 1798. See also Warton's edition of Milton's Minor Poems, pp. 126 and 591.

There is a second copy of this Play in the Royal library, but a third, I believe, is no where to be found.

"THE TAMING OF A SHREW.

A pleasant conceited Historie, called the Taming of a Shrew.

As it was sundrie times acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Pembrook his servants.

Imprinted at London by P. S. and are to be sold by Cuthbert Burbie, at his shop at the Royall Exchange. 1596."

Baker, in his Biographia Dramatica mentions. this Play, but had probably only seen a later edition. The one he describes is 1607.

THE FAIRE MAIDE OF BRISTOW.

"THE FAIRE MAIDE OF BRISTOW, as it was plaide at Hampton, before the King and Queenes most excellent Majesties.

Printed at London for Thomas Panyer, and are to be solde at his shop at the entrance into the Exchange. 1605." B. L.

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"DIDO."

I have before mentioned the extreme rarity of this piece, of which a third copy is unknown.

This copy was purchased at the sale of Steevens's books, by the Duke of Roxburgh for the enormous sum of seventeen pounds. In the beginning is the following note by Mr. Steevens:

"This copy was given me by Mr. Reed. Such liberality in a collector of old plays, is at least as rare as the rarest of our dramatic pieces.

G. S."

Mr. Steevens had, however, before experienced, at least an equal degree of liberality from a collector of Hogarth's works. The unique print of “ Loyalty, Episcopacy and Law," was the property of Mr. Bedford, and by that gentleman's kindness added to the collection of Mr. Steevens. Mr. S. made large promises of compensation, which terminated, I believe, in nothing better than a few early flowers and a pineapple.

Warton, in his third volume of the History of English Poetry, p. 435, mentions an elegy, prefixed to the play of Dido, by Nashe.

I can only say that there are no verses prefixed to the Roxburgh copy.

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