OHN COOK, the author of this play, is totally unknown. No contemporary writer hath taken the leaft notice of him, nor hath any biographer fince given the flightest account of his life. All that we are informed of is, that he wrote the following dramatick performance. Langbaine *, and the writers fince, afcribe the first title of it to the excellent performance of Thomas Green in the part of Bubble, whofe univerfal repartee to all compliments is, Tu quoque. Green was both a writer and actor, and with great probability + is supposed to have been a relation of Shakspeare's, and the perfon by whom he was introduced to the theatre. He was born at Stratford upon Avon, which is ascertained by the following lines t, spoken by him in one of the old Comedies, in the character of a clown : "I pratled poefie in my nurfe's arms, "And, born where late our fwan of Avon fung, This paffage is quoted by Chetwood, from the Two Maids of Mooreclack, where it is not to be found, though it feems to be a genuine extract; which the writer, by whom it was produced, had forgot from whence he transcribed it. Heywood, who published this play, fays, in the preface to it: "As for Maifter Greene, all that I will speake of him (and that without flattery) is this; there was not an "actor of his nature, in his time, of better ability in per * P. 73. † Attempt to ascertain the order of Shakspeare's plays, by Mr. Malone, P. 275. The British Theatre, p. 9. "formance of what he undertooke, more applauded by "the audience, of greater grace at the court, or of more general love in the citty." From this preface it appears, Green was dead when it was written; and Oldys fays, there are three epitaphs upon him in Richard Braithwayt's Remains, 8vo. 1618, by which it seems, that he died after being newly arrived from fea. He was the author of "A Poet's Vifion and a Prince's Glorie. Dedicated to the high and mightie Prince James, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland." 4to. 1603; and fome verfes prefixed to Drayton's Poem on the Barons Wars. I have feen only two editions of this Comedy, one without a date, and the other in 1614, which I apprehend was about the time it was originally publish'd. Chetwood, upon whom no dependance is to be had, with refpect to dates, afferts, it was printed in 1599. As it is faid to have been acted by the Queen's fervants, it probably appeared on the ftage in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Langbaine fays it was revived after the restoration, at the theatre in Little Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. MS, additions to Langbaine, p. 734 O gratulate the love and memory of my worthy friend the author, and my entirely beloved fellow, the actor, I could not choofe, being in the way just when this play was to be published in print, but to prefix fome token of my affection to either, in the frontispiece of the book. For the gentleman that wrote it, his poem itself can better speak his praife, than any oratory from me. Nor can I tell whether this work was divulged with his confent or no : but howfoever, it hath paffed the test of the ftage, with fo general an applause, pity it were but it fhould likewife have the honour of the prefs. As for Maifter Greene, all that I will speak of him (and that without flattery) is this (if I were worthy to cenfure) there was not an actor of his nature, in his time, of better ability in performance of what he undertook, more applauded by the audience, of greater grace at the court, or of more general love in the city; and fo, with this brief character of his memory, I commit him to his reft. THOMAS HEYWOOD Upon the Death of THOMAS GREENE. How faft bleak Autumn changeth Flora's dye! W. R.] Probably William Rowley. W. R. B 3 DRAMA [6] DRAMATIS PERSONE. Sir LIONEL RASH. GERALDINE. WILL RASH. SPENDALL. STAINES. BUBBLE. LONGFIELD. BALLANCE. SCATTERGOOD. Mr. BLANK. PURSENET. LODGE. HOLDFAST. GATHERSCRAP. BASKETHILT. SPRINKLE. PRISONERS. DRAWERS, &c. WOMEN. GARTRED. JOICE. PHILLIS. WIDOW. SWEATMAN, a bawd. NAN TICKLEMAN, a whore. Green's |