ΤΟ THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES LONG, ONE OF THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S TREASURY, THIS EDITION OF THE WORKS OF PHILIP MASSINGER, IS INSCRIBED, AS A SINCERE TESTIMONY OF RESPECT FOR HIS AND OF GRATITUDE FOR MANY ACTS OF FRIENDSHIP AND BY HIS OBLIGED AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, May, 1805. THE EDITOR. 1015/23 Setheren 16 If I am vain enough to believe that a certain species of good fortune has attended my transactions with Massinger, the reader must pardon my simple credulity. The first Edition of this Poet, I was enabled to enrich with a Drama, of which nothing but the mere existence was previously known; and while the present Edition was preparing for the press, the following information was transmitted to me by my zealous friend, Mr. Gilchrist. "Since the publication of your Massinger, I have obtained, through the kindness of a friend, a literary relic of great curiosity; namely, the first edition of the Duke of Milaine, (4to. 1628,) corrected throughout by the author. When Mr. Blore was collecting materials for a history of Derbyshire, he discovered, among the papers of the late Mr. Gell of Hopton, a copy of the Duke of Milan, the dedication of which he conceived to be in the hand-writing of the poet; and, for the sake of Sir Francis Foljambe, a Derbyshire gentleman to whom it was addressed, he was desirous to have it engraved in fac-simile for his work. Upon expressing this wish to his friend, the play was frankly given to him. Mr. Blore subsequently discovered that what he had taken for the original dedication, was a short poem addressed to Sir Francis Foljambe. Perhaps the relic lost something of its value in Mr. Blore's estimation, when he perceived it was no longer dedicated to his countryman: it was still, however, a curiosity of no ordinary sort. When Mr. Blore's favourite pursuit led him to investigate the antiquities of the county of Rutland, a common love of literature brought us acquainted. Knowing my fondness for Massinger, he mentioned the circumstances which I have related: and shortly afterwards presented me with the Play, which I now transmit to you with pleasure for the advantage of your present Edition. I will anticipate your examination of it only by observing that you will feel some satisfaction in discovering that, in two or three instances, the MS. corrections of Massinger confirm your conjectures, and that another explains a passage, which, by the blunder of the printer, or the interpolation of the prompter, had hitherto baffled ingenuity." That such a treasure should have lain for nearly two centuries unnoticed and uninjured, must appear somewhat extraordinary; and naturally tends to encourage a hope that chance, or more industrious researches, may yet bring to light other valuable matter, of which the existence is unknown, and which may conduce not a little to the literary advantage and honour of the country. Scarcely six years passed between the death of Shakspeare, and the appearance of the Duke of Milan; it cannot, therefore, be deemed altogether visionary, to indulge a hope that something more of the immortal bard than is at present in our hands, may reward a careful inquisition into the unsunned libraries of some of our ancient families. The Duke of Milan (which accompanied Mr. Gil |