that he recommended some trivial alterations in them while they were yet in rehearsal ;---or that their real owners being carefully concealed, these productions were imputed to him as to one whose reputation was best able to promote their sale, or support their credit with an audience. The necessity of sheltering the plays of unpopular poets under borrowed names, was, I believe, at that period unknown, as well as the more malicious practice of fathering unsuccessful scenes on persons by whom they were never written. Neither was it then customary (as since) for distinguished authors to lend or sell their names, or to permit (like some Italian artists) the scholar to vend his paintings for those of the mas→ ter. It seems, however, that it was not unusual for booksellers to issue out the works of one man under the nominal sanction of another. Heywood, in his preface to the Brazen Age, complains, that a noted pedagogue had impudently stolen from him certain versions of Ovid, and published them as his own. Shirley likewise claims a play which was sent into the world as Fletcher's.32 I know indeed that our ancient stationers were not very scrupulous in this particular.33 Anticipated by their rivals in procuring copies of some of Shakespeare's genuine labours, by way of retaliation they might have placed his name before the next tragedies or comedies that fell into their hands. Part of this indeed is but conjecture. I have merely started the subject, and leave it to be pursued by literary antiquarians, whose sagacity and experience are greater than mine; repeating only, that Locrine and the Puritan were possibly the works of two different academics; that Oldcastle and Cromwell (as Dr Farmer observes) might be ranked among the almost innumerable dramas of Heywood; and that the Prodigul, having nothing characteristic in its composition, may, with equal likelihood, be ascribed to a pen distinct from all the rest. Here, however, I should observe, that Locrine, Cromwell, and the Puritan, were not publicly ascribed to our author till the appearance of the folio in 1664. What has been previously urged with relation to the Two Noble Kinsmen, Pericles, and the Yorkshire Tragedy, is submitted to every reader with that total diffidence which should always accompany imperfect knowledge, and would by no means disgrace even opinions built on more solid grounds than those of bare probability.

I cannot conclude this note without observing, how fortunate a circumstance it is for any society, and especially for one immediately subservient to learning, when an intelligent man is placed by the chance of rotation at its head. To the careful researches and liberal curiosity of Mr Lockyer Davis, the present Master of the Stationers' Company, we owe a recent discovery of the greater part of the first volume of their records, which was long supposed to have been lost through negligence, or to have been destroyed in the fire of London. The numberless dates of our earliest interludes, plays, ballads, &c. which will hereafter be ascertained by the aid of these annals, cannot fail to rank the name of the gentleman already mentioned among those of the best benefactors to the history of ancient English literature. Many of our critical or biographical performances may also in time to come be indebted to the warmth of his zeal, and the success of his investigations. At least I am sure, that the labour of turning over the memoirs which he has rescued from oblivion, will be considerably alleviated, should his successors entrust them to future authors, with a readiness and politeness like his own.---STEEVENS.

32 These particulars escaped me till after the last edition of Shakespeare was printed off. See note on Pericles. p. 176.

33 I affirm this on repeated inspection of their books, in which both their frequent frauds and invasions of each other's property, and their respective fines on discovery, are minutely recorded. The names of eight of the printers of the quarto editions of our author's plays, appear on the list of these delinquents.

GEORGE A GREENE,

THE

PINNER OF WAKEFIELD.

The author of this Play is unknown. Philips and Winstanley ascribe it to John Heywood, author of the Four P's, and other pieces which bear not the least resemblance to the present performance. The story on which it is grounded seems to have its foundation in the particular traditions of the town of Wakefield: that part which relates to Robin Hood is contained in one of the popular Bal lads concerning that celebrated outlaw, printed in the first volume of Evan's Collection of Old Ballads, p. 99. This Ballad is mentioned by Drayton, in his Poly-olbion, Song the Twentieth-eighth :

"It chanced she in her course on Kirkbey cast her eye,"
Where merry Robin Hood, that honest thief, doth lie;
Beholding fitly too before how Wakefield stood,

She doth not only think of lusty Robin Hood,

But of his merry man, the Pindar of the town

Of Wakefield, George a Green, whose fames so far are blown

For their so valiant fight, that every free man's song

Can tell you of the same, quoth she be talk'd on long,

For ye were merry lads, and those were merry days;" &c.

And Richard Braithwaite, in the Strappado for the Devil, 1615, 8vo. p. 203, says:

"At least such places labour to make known,

As former times have honour'd with renown.

So by thy true relation 't may appear

They are no others now, than as they were

Ever esteem'd by auntient times records,

Which shall be shadow'd briefly in few words.

The first whereof that I intend to show,

Is merry Wakefield, and her Pindar too:

Which Fame hath blaz'd with all that did belong,
Unto that Towne in many gladsome song:

The Pindar's valour, and how firm he stood

In the Townes defence, 'gainst the rebel Robin Hood;
How stoutly he behaved himselfe, and would,
In spite of Robin bring his horse to th' fold;
His many Maygames which were to be seene,
Yeerely presented upon Wakefield greene,
Where lovely Jugge, and lustie Tib would go,
To see Tom lively turne upon the toe;
Hob, Lob, and Crowde the fidler would be there,
And many more I will not speake of here:

Good God! how glad hath been this hart of mine,
To see that towne, which hath in former time
So flourish'd and so gloried in her name,
Famous by the Pindar who first raised the same;
Yea, I have paced ore that greene and ore,
And th' more I saw't, I tooke delight the more;
For where we take contentment in a place,
A whole daies walke seemes as a cinque pace.
Unto thy taske, my muse, and now make knowne
The jolly shoo-maker of Bradford towne,
His gentle craft so raised in former time,
By princely journey-men his discipline,
Where he was wont with passengers to quaffe,
But suffer none to carry up their staffe

Upon their shoulders, whilst they past through town,
For if they did, he soon should beat them downe.
(So valiant was the Souter), and from hence,
"Twixt Robin Hood and him grew th' difference;
Which, cause it is by most stage poets writ,
For brevity, I thought good to omit."

1 Pinner, or Pindar ;-The keeper of the Pinfolds belonging to the common fields about Wakefield. Junius, in his Etymologicon, voce Pende, says: "Pende Includere ch. ab A. S. pennan pyndan idem significante. "Hinc pinder pinner. Qui pecora ultra fines vagantia septo includit." Mr Steevens observes, that the figure of this rustic hero is still preserved on a sign at the bottom of Gray's-Inn-Lane.

VOL. I.

SK

2 Ana here upon my sword I make protest :-It was formerly common to swear upon the sword; that is, upon the cross which the old swords always had upon the hilt. Of this custom many instances are quoted by Dr Farmer and Mr Steevens, in their Notes on Hamlet, A. 1. S. 5.

Again, in Your five Gallants, by Middleton, A. 4 :-" Sweare on this sword then to set spurs to your horse, not to looke back, to give no markes to any passenger."

3 Overthwart denial:-So in Erasmus's Praise of Folie, 1549, Sign, C 2: sette at bankette, he plaieth the jester, now wyth hys lymphaaltynge, now with his skoffinge, and no with his overthwarte woords to provoke them all to laughter."

Euphues and his England, p. 57 :—“ As one to young to understande, or obstinate to overthwart,"

And die against you, before we send you any For highly hast thou honour'd Wakefield town,

4 Eat them, &c.-This incident bears so near a resemblance to a story related of Robert Greene, that it probably was taken from it. "Had he lived, Gabriel, and thou shouldst so unartificially and odiously libelled against him as thou hast done, he would have thee an example of ignominy to all ages that are to come, and driven thee to eate thy owne booke butterid, as I sawe him make an appariter once in a tavern eate his citation, waxe and all, very handsomely serv'd twixt two dishes."

NASH'S Apologie of Pierce Pennelesse, 4to. 1593.

In the Play of Sir John Oldcastle, the Sumner is compelled to eat his citation in like manner.

5 Strides a launce :-i, e. not to leave even a child of them alive, one who equitat in arundine longa. S. • Erst :-i. e. once, in former times. S,