A Select Collection of Old English Plays, vol 1

A Select Collection of Old
English Plays,
by R. Dodsley

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Title: A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume I.

Author: R. Dodsley
Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9050] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on September 1,
2003]
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Language: English
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COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS, VOL. I. ***

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A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS
VOL. I
FOURTH EDITION, NOW FIRST CHRONOLOGICALLY
ARRANGED, REVISED AND ENLARGED WITH THE NOTES OF
ALL THE COMMENTATORS, AND NEW NOTES
BY W. CAREW HAZLITT.

CONTENTS
Preface Interlude of the Four Elements Calisto and Melibaea Everyman:
a Moral Play Hickscorner The Pardoner and the Friar The World and
the Child (Mundus and Infans) God's Promises The Four P.P. A New
Interlude, called Thersites Footnotes

PREFACE.
After the lapse of about half a century since the issue of the last edition
of Dodsley's Select Collection of Old Plays,[1] and the admittance of
that work into the honourable rank of scarce and dear books, it seemed
a desirable thing to attempt, with such additional improvements as
might be practicable or expedient, a revival of a publication which has
been a favourite with the lovers of our early drama since its first
publication more than a hundred years ago. Between 1744, the date of
its original appearance, and 1825, it passed through three editions; and
it may be remarked that the tendency in each successive edition has
been to remodel the undertaking on the principle of rejecting plays
which from time to time have been lifted up (so to speak) into the
collected works of their respective authors, and to substitute for them
plays which have either suffered unmerited obscurity in original and
rare editions, or have lain so far scattered about in various other
collections; and in the present instance that principle has been strictly
adhered to.[2]
It is desirable that it should be seen precisely in what manner, and to
what extent, the edition now offered differs from its predecessors as
regards the contents. The points of variation are three: 1. Omissions; 2.
Additions of pieces not included in the former editions; 3. Additional
plays now first reprinted from the originals. The first division
comprises the following productions which, since the last republication
of Dodsley, have been taken up into the collected editions of their
respective authors:--
Ferrex and Porrex Sackville, &c. Alexander and Campaspe Lyly. Jew of
Malta Marlowe. Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay Greene. Edward the
First Peele Edward the Second Marlowe. Pinner of Wakefield Greene.
Four Prentices of London Heywood. Mayor of Quinborough Middleton.
Malcontent Marston, &c. All Fools Chapman. Woman Killed with
Kindness Heywood. Honest Whore (two parts) Decker and Middleton.
The White Devil Webster. Eastward Hoe Marston, &c. A Mad World,
my Masters Middleton. The Roaring Girl Middleton. The Widow's

Tears Chapman. The Widow Jonson, &c. The Wits Davenant. The
Jovial Crew Brome.
The second and third characteristics of our book are the ADDITIONS,
which, as we have stated, are of two kinds. In the first place, we may
enumerate the dramas new to Dodsley's collection, though previously
edited in a variety of forms:
Interlude of the Four Elements Anon. Disobedient Child Ingelend. Trial
of Treasure Anon. Youth Anon. Lusty Juventus Wever. Hickscorner, An
Interlude Anon. Everyman, An Interlude Anon. Pardoner and Friar, An
Interlude Heywood. Jack Juggler | Anon. Thersites | Interludes Anon.
Ralph Roister Doister Udall. Cambyses Preston. Conflict of
Conscience Woodes. Three Ladies of London Wilmot. Three Lords and
Three Ladies of London Wilmot. Rare Triumphs of Love and Fortune
Anon. Knack to Know a Knave Anon. Jeronimo (Part the First) Anon.
Two Angry Women of Abingdon Porter. Spanish Tragedy Kyd.
Solyman and Perseda Anon. How