"Field is gone,
Whose action first did give it name, and one,
Who came the neerest to him, is denide
By his gray beard to shew the height and pride
Of D'Ambois youth and braverie; yet to hold
Our title still a foot, and not grow cold
By giving it o're, a third man with his best
Of care and paines defends our interest;
As Richard he was lik'd, nor doe wee feare,
In personating Dambois, hee'le appeare
To faint, or goe lesse, so your free consent
As heretofore give him encouragement."
[86] [This and the other quotations were not correctly printed. See Halliwell's "Ludus Coventriæ," 1841, p. 121.]
[87] [Ibid., p. 343.]
[88] [See Halliwell's "Ludus Coventriæ," 1841, p. 401.]
[89] [See a description of the espousals in Stow's "Chronicle," ed. 1615, fol. 483-4.]
[90] [Compare vol. i. pp. 199, 201, &c.]
[91] Till the twenty-fifth year of Queen Elizabeth, the queen had not any players; but in that year twelve of the best of all those who belonged to several lords were chosen, and sworn her servants.—Stow's Annals, p. 698.
[92] [An error. This play, which has been long known not to be the first regular comedy, was probably performed about 1566.]
[93] [See "English Drama and Stage," edit. Hazlitt, p. 19.]