A Thomas Preston is traceable as a quarterly waiter at Court under Edward VI (Trevelyan Papers, i. 195, 200, 204; ii. 19, 26, 33), and a choirmaster of the same name was ejected from Windsor Chapel as a recusant about 1561 (cf. ch. xii).
Cambyses > 1570
S. R. 1569–70. ‘An enterlude a lamentable Tragedy full of pleasaunt myrth.’ John Allde (Arber, i. 400).
N.D. [1569–84]. A Lamentable Tragedie, mixed full of pleasant mirth, containing the life of Cambises King of Percia ... By Thomas Preston. John Allde. [Arrangement of parts for eight actors; Prologue; Epilogue, with prayer for Queen and Council. At end, ‘Amen, quod Thomas Preston’.]
N.D. [1584–1628]. Edward Allde.
Editions by T. Hawkins (1773, O. E. D. i), in Dodsley4, iv (1874), and by J. M. Manly (1897, Specimens, ii), and J. S. Farmer (1910, T. F. T.).
Line 1148 mentions Bishop Bonner whose ‘delight was to shed blood’, and Fleay, 64, therefore dates the play 1569–70, as Bonner died 5 Sept. 1569. But he may merely be put in the past as an ex-bishop. Three comic villains, Huf, Ruf, and Snuf, are among the characters, and chronology makes it possible that the play was the Huff, Suff, and Ruff (cf. App. A) played at Court during Christmas 1560–1. Preston may, however, have borrowed these characters, as Ulpian Fulwell borrowed Ralph Roister, from an earlier play.
Doubtful Play
Preston has been suggested as the author of Sir Clyomon and Clamydes (cf. ch. xxiv).
DANIEL PRICE (1581–1631).