[144] See Introductory Note to the first of these Minor Poems, ante. In Mr. Collier's History of English Dramatic Poetry, Vol. I. p. 323 seqq. interesting details are given of an Entertainment to the Queen at Sir Robert Cecil's "newe house in the Strand," at which she was "royally entertained." From Extracts from a Barrister's Diary among the Harleian MSS. adduced herein, we glean a notice of the present Poem, e. g. "Sundry devises at hir entrance: three women, a maid, a widow and a wife, eache contending [for] their own states, but the virgin preferred." In Nichols' Progs. of Elizabeth (iii. 601) the poem is also ascribed on authority of John Chamberlain to Davies (6th December, 1602). See Letters of Chamberlain published by Camden Society, p. 169: December 23rd, 1602. Miss Sarah Williams, in her careful edition of Chamberlain's Letters for the Camden Society, by an oversight, has annotated this reference in loco as to Davies of Hereford. Chamberlain calls it a "pretty dialogue." The Barrister's Diary supra [Manningham] has been edited for the Camden Society by the late lamented Mr. John Bruce of London. G.
[145] Misprinted 'sent.' G.
[146] A legal phrase = freedom or liberty. G.
[147] Nicolas, as before, has 'observes.' G.
[148] Nicolas, as before, reads 'net.' G.
[149] The reference is to the wavy or vandyked cutting of the vellum MS. whereby the one copy fits into the other. Recently two very ancient MSS. were thus unexpectedly brought together in H. M. Public Record Office. G.
[150] = cultivated. G.
[151] Cf. 'Orchestra,' Vol. I., page 192, with relative note. G.
[152] = in the fabric. G.
[153] = peer. G.