The Elizabethan Stage, Vol. 3

by E. K. Chambers

The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London. c. 1589

S. R. 1590, July 31 (Wood). ‘A comodie of the plesant and statelie morrall of the Three lordes of London.’ Richard Jones (Arber, ii. 556).

1590. The Pleasant and Stately Morall, of the three Lordes and three Ladies of London. With the great Joy and Pompe, Solempnized at their Mariages: Commically interlaced with much honest Mirth, for pleasure and recreation, among many Morall obseruations and other important matters of due regard. By R. W. R. Jones. [Woodcut, on which cf. Bibl. Note to ch. xviii; ‘Preface’, i.e. prologue.]

Editions by J. P. Collier (1851, Five Old Plays), in Dodsley⁴, vi. 371 (1874), and by J. S. Farmer (1912, T. F. T.).—Dissertation: H. Fernow, The 3 L. and 3 L. By R. W. (1885, Hamburg programme).

Fleay, ii. 280, fixes the date by the allusions (C, C^v) to the recent death of Tarlton (q.v.) in Sept. 1588.

The Cobbler’s Prophecy > 1594

S. R. 1594, June 8. ‘A booke intituled the Coblers prophesie.’ Cuthbert Burby (Arber, ii. 653).

1594. The Coblers Prophesie. Written by Robert Wilson, Gent. John Danter for Cuthbert Burby.

Editions by W. Dibelius (1897, Jahrbuch, xxxiii. 3), J. S. Farmer (1911, T. F. T.), and A. C. Wood (1914, M. S. R.).

The general character of this play, with its reference (i. 36) to an audience who ‘sit and see’ and its comfits cast, suggests the Court rather than the popular stage.