Nay
Top of the first, odd-numbered page of folio 25.
Roister Doister.
| Nay weepe not woman; but tell me what your cause is As concerning my friende is any thing amisse? | T. Trusty. |
| No not on my part: but here was Sym Suresby. | C. Custance. |
| He was with me and tolde me so. C. C. And he stoode by While Ralph Roister Doister with helpe of Merygreeke, For promise of mariage dyd vnto me seeke. | T. Trustie. |
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[ BIBLIOGRAPHY.]
Roister Doister.
The whole of Udall’s plays were supposed to have perished [see Wood. Ath. Oxon. i. 213, Ed. 1813]. The Rev. T. Briggs, an old Etonian, in 1818, became the possessor of the now famous unique copy: which he presented to the Library of Eton College, in December of that year.
1. [?1566.] Lond. | ? First edition of a revised text. The copy, now at Eton College,consists of 33 folios. The title-page is wanting. |
2. 1818. Lond. | ‘Ralph Royster Doyster, A Comedy. London. Reprinted in theyear 1818.’ [Ed. and privately printed by Rev. T. Briggs. 30 copies only struck off. Theprinter was James Compton, Middle St., Cloth Fair, London.] At thebeginning is the following Advertisement:— |
‘It appears from the Biographia Dramatica, that a Play called RaufRuster Duster was entered on the books of the Stationers’ Company inthe year 1566, but that it was supposed never to have been printed:this, however, is now proved to be a mistake, a copy having beenfound contained in a collection of plays which was lately upon sale inLondon. It is true that the name is spelt somewhat differently, but itis presumed there can be no doubt of its being the piece in question.The book unfortunately wants the title-page, and the author’s name isnot known. It is now in the Library of Eton College, and is herereprinted for the amusement of the reader.’ | |
3. 1821. Lond. | ‘Ralph Royster Doyster, a Comedy, entered on the books of theStationers’ Company, 1566. London: Printed by F. Marshall, KentonSt., Brunswick Sq., 1821.’ [Editor not known.] |
R. Southey’s copy, with his autograph, and dated 1 Feb. 1837, is inthe British Museum. Press-mark, 1344-k. Neither of the above knew that Udall was the author. The editor of1821 reprint writes, ‘The author, whoever he was,’ p. iv. It wasMr. Collier who connected Wilson’s quotation with RoisterDoister, and so proved Udall to be its author. Writing on 14th April1865; he thus begins the Preface of his Bibl. Account of Ear.Eng. Lit. Ed. 1865. ‘During my whole life, now rapidly approaching fourscore, I havebeen a diligent reader, and, as far as my means would allow,a greedy purchaser of all works connected with early Englishliterature. It is nearly sixty years since I became possessed of myfirst really valuable old book of this kind—Wilson’s “Art ofLogic,” printed by Richard Grafton 1551—from which I ascertainedthe not unimportant facts that “Ralph Roister Doister” was an older playthan “Gammer Gurton’s Needle,” and that it had been written by NicholasUdall, Master of Eton School: I thus learned who was the author ofthe earliest comedy, properly so called, in our language. This was myfirst literary discovery, made several years anterior, although I hadnot occasion to render it public, until I printed my Notes upon“Dodsley’s Old Plays,” soon after 1820.’* * See vol. ii. p. 3. Ed. 1825. | |
4. 1830. Lond. | The Old English Drama, A series of Plays, at 6d each, printedand published by Thomas White. Ralph Royster Doyster is thefirst. |
5. 1847. Lond. | Shakespeare Society. Ralph Roister Doister, &c.,and The Tragedie of Gorboduc. Edited, with Introductory Memoirs,by W. D. Cooper, F.S.A. The text collated with the original byJ. P. Collier, F.S.A. |
6. 24 July 1869. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo. English Reprints:see title at p. 1. | |
∴ All the previous reprints have been and now are unobtainable to most persons. It is to the most courteous and generous kindness of the present Provost and Fellows of Eton College that I am enabled to place what I hope may prove an exact text into the hands of every one. I trust also to keep it perpetually on sale: that the student of the History of our Literature may no longer lack one of the most important illustrations of the growth of English Dramatic Poesy.