I may here observe that Herbert (ii. 1046) has given by mistake the following prose piece to “W. Kempe,” in consequence, probably, of having seen it bound up with the “Dvtiful Invective,” in a volume of the Royal Library: The Censure of a loyall Subiect: Vpon certaine noted Speach and behauiours, of those fourteene notable Traitors, at the place of their executions, the xx. and xxi. of September last past. Wherein is handled matter of necessarye instruction for all dutifull Subiectes: especially, the multitude of ignorant people. Feare God: be true to thy Prince: and obey the Lawes. At London. Printed by Richarde Jones, dwelling at the Signe of the Rose and Crowne, neere Holborne bridge, 1587, 4to. The author was George Whetstone. An Address to the Reader signed T. C. [Thomas Churchyard] sets forth that “my good friend M. G. W. at his departure into the Country, left this most honest work to be censured by me; being right well assured, by the continuance of our true friendshippes, that I would not deceiue him with a flattering iudgement: and (trust me) vpon a considerate reading, I found it a little booke, containing a large testimony of his loyaltie to his prince and countrie,” &c. Then follows the Dedication “To the Right honorable, Sir William Cicill, knight, Baron of Burleigh,” &c. signed G. W., who trusts that this piece “will merite the acceptance of my former bookes.”
[xx:1] See Malone’s Shakespeare (by Boswell) iii. 135, seq., Collier’s Hist. of Engl. Dram. Poet. iii. 378, seq.
[xx:2] Liber B. fol. 282 b.
[xx:3] Liber B. fol. 132.
[xxi:1] So in MS.
[xxi:2] Liber C. fol. 3 b.
[xxi:3] P. xix.
[xxi:4] P. 2.
[xxii:1] Lib. iii. Sat. xi. p. 225. ed. 1764.—“Orchestra” is an allusion to Sir J. Davies’s poem of that name.
Augustine Phillips, an actor contemporary with Kempe, has also been mentioned as “an author,” in consequence of the following entry in the Stationers’ Books: