gical History of King Leire, and his July 3, 1605. Tho. Pavyer.] A ballad of lamentable Murther of his owne Children, sore wounding his Jan. 22, 1606. Mr. Ling.] Romeo and Juliett. Love's Labour Loste. Taminge of a Shrewe.. Aug. 6, 1607. Geo. Elde.] A booke called the Comedie of the Puritan Wydowe. Aug. 6, 1607. ibid. 126 147 157 b. Tho. Thorp.] A comedie called What you Will 3 ibid. Oct. 22, 1607. Arth. Johnson.] The Merry Devil of Edmonton 159 b. Nov. 19, 1607. John Smythick.] A booke called Hamlett, This is the King Lear before that of Shakspeare. STEEVENS. 2 Query, if the play. STEEVENS. 3 Perhaps this is Marston's comedy of What You Will. I have a copy of it dated 1607. What You Will, however, is the second title to Shakspeare's Twelfth-Night. STEEVENS. This was certainly Marston's play, for it was printed in 1607, by G. Eld, for T. Thorpe. MALONE. 4 The Merry Devil of Edmonton is mentioned in the Blacke Booke by T. M. 1604: "Give him leave to see The Merry Divel of Edmunton, or A Woman Kill'd with Kindnesse." STEEVENS. Nath. Butter and John Busby.] Mr. Willm. Shakespeare, his Hystorye of Kinge Lear, as yt was played before the King's Majestie at Whitehall, upon St. Stephen's night at Christmas last, by his Majesties servants playing usually at the Globe on the Bank-side April 5, 1608. 161 b. Joseph Hunt and Tho. Archer.] A book called the Lyfe and Deathe of the Merry Devill of Edmonton, with the pleasant Pranks of Smugge the Smyth, Sir John, and mine Hoste of the George, about their stealing of Venison. By T. B... 165 b. May 2, 1608. Mr. Pavyer.] A booke The Yorkshire Tragedy, written by Wylliam Shakespere May 20, 1608. ...... Edw. Blount.] The book of Pericles Prynce of 167 167 b. A book called Anthony and Cleopatra.. ibid. Jan. 28, 1608. Richard Bonion and Hen. Whalleys.] A booke called the History of Troylus and Cres suda... 178 b. 5 Bound up in a volume of plays attributed to Shakspeare, and once belonging to King Charles II. but now in Mr. Garrick's collection. The initial letters at the end of this entry, sufficiently free Shakspeare from the charge of having been its author. STEEVENS. VOL. II. 2 T John Brown.] Dec. 16, 1611. A booke called the Lyfe and Death of the Lo. Cromwell, by W. S... 214 b. Nov. 29, 1614. John Beale.] A booke called the Hystory of Feb. 16, 1616. 256 b. Mr. Barrett.] Life and Death of Lord Cromwell 279 March 2, 1617. Mr. Snodham.] Edward the Third, the play.... 288 Sept. 17, 1618. John Wright.] The comedy called Mucedorus 7 293 b. July 8, 1619. Lau. Hayes.] A play called the Merchant of Venice... 403 Vol. D. Oct. 6, 1621. Moore of Venice Tho. Walkely.] The tragedie of Othello the 21 6 Query, if this was Shakspeare's King John, or some old romance like that of Richard Coeur de Lion. STEEVENS. It was undoubtedly The Famous Historie of George Lord Fauconbridge, a prose romance. I have an edition of it now before me printed for I. B. dated 1616. MALONE. 7 Bound up in a volume of plays attributed to Shakspeare, and once belonging to King Charles the Second. collection. STEEVENS. See Mr. Garrick's Nov. 8, 1623. Mr. Blounte and Isaak Jaggard.] Mr. William Mr. Stansby.] Edward the Third, the play April 3, 1626. 69 93 Mr. Parker.] Life and Death of Lord Cromwell 120 Aug. 4, 1626. Edw. Brewster.] Mr. Pavier's right in Shake- The Historye of Hen. the fift, and the The sixteen plays in p. 641, were assigned by 208 Tho. Blount to Edward Allott, June 26, 1630.. 109 Edward Allott was one of the publishers of the second folio, 1632. It has hitherto been usual to represent the ancient quartos of our author as by far more incorrect than those of his contemporaries; but, I fear that this representation has been continued by many of us, with a design to magnify our own services, rather than to exhibit a true state of the question. The reason why we have discovered a greater proportion of errors in the former than in the latter, is because we have sought after them with a greater degree of diligence; for let it be remembered, that it was no more the practice of other writers than of Shakspeare, to correct the press for themselves. Ben Jonson only (who, being versed in the learned languages, had been taught the |