To any one vertue is moved moste, One kynde of vertue to dyspyse another, Is lyke as the syster myght hange the brother. Pot. 232 For fere lest suche parels to me myght fall, I thanke God I use no vertue at all. Ped. That is, of all, the very worste waye : In the whiche wordes I dare well reporte, Pot. In that I thinke my faute nat grete, You be not 234 counceled, nor constrayned, Pot. Go ye before; and, as I am true man, I wyll follow as fast as I can. Pard. And so wyll I; for ye hath sayd so well, Reason wolde we shulde folowe bys counsell. Palm. Then, to our reason, God gyve us his grace, That we may folowe, with fayth, so fermely To byleve hys churche faste and faythfully; 231 Plentyfully-plenteously, edit. 1569. 232 For fere lest suche parels to me myght fall-Perhaps lar or parels. Or it may be only a corruption of perils. S. 233 Be-are, edit. 1569. 235 Make-take, edit, 1569. by parels is meant pareilles, Fr. i. e. things simi234 Not-nother, 1st edit. 236 Scaped, escapte, edit. 1569. EDITIONS. (1.) "The Playe called the Foure PP. A newe and a very mery Enterlude of A Palmer, A Pardoner, A Potycary, A Pedler. Made by John Heewood. Imprynted at London, in Fletestrete, at the synge of the George, by Wyllyam Myddylton." This edition must have been printed at least as early as the year 1547, at which time William Middleton either died, or retired from business. See Ames's Typographical Antiquities, p. 218. 258. (2.) "The Play called the Foure P. A very mery Enterlude of A Palmer, A Pardoner, A Poticary, A Pedler. Imprinted at London, at the long Shop adjoyning unto S. Mildreds Churche in the Pultrie, by John Allde, Anno Domini 1569, Septembris 14." Both these editions are in the collection of Mr Garrick. FERREX AND PORREX. BY T. SACKVILLE. THOMAS SACKVILLE, Lord Buckhurst, was related to Queen Elizabeth, by her mother Anne Boleyn. He was born in 1536, and educated at Hart-Hall, in the University of Oxford, from whence he went to Cambridge, and afterwards to the Temple. In his younger days he travelled into France and Italy; and, at the early period of his life only, he was, as Mr Spence' observes, what perhaps all persons of his birth ought to be, a poet. His father, dying in 1566, left him a large fortune, the greatest part of which he soon spent by his magnificent manner of living; but in the end became a better economist. He served in parliament both in the reign of Queen Mary and Elizabeth. In 1567, he was created Baron Buckhurst; in 1571, was sent ambassador to Charles IX., king of France; and in 1587, to the States of the United Provinces. In 1588, he was made one of the Knights of the Garter; in 1591, Chancellor of the University of Oxford; and in 1598, Lord High Treasurer of England. He was continued in that office by King James; and, in 1603, advanced by him to the dignity of Earl of Dorset: He died suddenly at the council board, in 1608, of a fit of the apoplexy. He was the author of The Induction to the Mirror for Magistrates. First published by William Baldwin in 4to, 1550; again, with the Second Part, in 4to, 1563; re-published, with additions, in 1575; and a fourth time further augmented and published, by Richard Nicols, in 1610. "The wurke (says the original "publisher) was begun, and parte of it prynted in Queene Marie's tyme, but hyndred by the Lorde "Chancellour that then was; nevertheles, through the meanes of my Lord Stafford, the fyrst parte "was licenced and imprynted the fyrst yeare of the rayne of our most noble and vertuous Queene. "Since whych time, although I have bene called to an other trade of lyfe, yet my good Lord Staf"forde hath not ceased to call upon me to publish so much as I had gotten at other men's hands, so "that through his Lordshippe's earnest meanes I have now also set furth an other parte, conteyning as "little of myne owne, as the fyrst part doth of other men's." In this second part, Lord Buckhurst's "Induction" first appeared. The cause of writing it was as follows:-" After that he (Lord "Buckhurst) understode that some of the counsayle would not suffer the booke to be printed in "suche order as we had agreed and determined, he purposed with himselfe to have gotten at my "handes al the tragedies that were before the Duke of Buckingham's, which he would have preserved "in one volume; and from that time backward, even to the time of William the Conquerour, he "determined to continue and perfect all the story himselfe, in such order as Lydgate, (folowing "Bocchas) had already used; and, therefore, to make a meete induction into the matter, he devised "this poesye." We are informed, that this design was laid aside on the author's being called to a more serious expence, in the great state affairs of his most royal Lady and Sovereign. The “Induction," in 1759, was reprinted by Mr Capel, in his "Prolusions." Those praises which were bestowed on the poetry of Lord Buckhurst, by his contemporaries, are not to be ascribed to his rank or fortune. The best judges have ratified the sentence passed by the critics of the time, and even gone beyond them in their commendations. Mr Warton, speaking of the "Mirror for Magistrates," says, (Observations on Spenser, Vol. II. p. 109.) “There is one 1 Some account of Lord Buckhurst, and his writings, prefixed to the edition of “ Gorboduc” printed in 1736. poem, indeed, among the rest, which exhibits a groupe of imaginary personages, so beautifully "drawn, that, in all probability, they contributed to direct, at least to stimulate, Spenser's imagi "nation in the construction of the like representations. Thus much may be truly said, that Sack“ville's 'Induction' approaches nearer to the Fairy Queen,' in the richness of allegoric description, "than any previous or succeeding poem." 2. The Complaynt of Henrye Duke of Buckingham, in the Mirror for Magistrates. 3. A Latin Letter to Dr Bartholomew Clerke, prefixed to his Translation of Balthazar Castilio, De Curiali sive Aulico, first printed at London about 1571. 4. Verses prefixed to Hobby's Translation of Castilio's Courtier, 4to, 1577, in commendation of the Work. 5. Letters in the Cabala, and one to the Earl of Sussex, in Howard's Collection, p. 297. Thomas Norton, who joined with Lord Buckhurst in writing this play, was, according to Wood, who gives him the title of a forward and busy Calvinist, a native of, or resident at, Sharpenhaule, otherwise Sharpenhoe, in the county of Bedford. He lived some time in the Temple, became a barristers at law, and solicitor for the city of London. He translated some of the psalms in Sternhold and Hopkin's version, and was the author and translator of several polemical and political works, which are enumerated in Wood's "Athena Oxonienses." 5 ARGUMENT OF THE TRAGEDIE. Gorboduc, king of Brittaine, divided his realme, in his life-time, to his sonnes, Ferrex and Porrex. The sonnes fell to discention. The yonger killed the elder. The mother, that more dearly loved the elder, for revenge killed the yonger. The people moved with the crueltie of the fact, rose in rebellion, and slew both father and mother. The nobilitie assembled, and most terribly destroyed the rebels; and afterwards, for want of issue of the prince, whereby the succession of the Crowne became uncertaine, they fell to civil warre, in which both they and many of their issues were slain, and the land for a long time almost desolate and miserably wasted. THE P. (PRINTER) TO THE READER. WHERE this Tragedie was for furniture of part of the grand Christmasse in the Inner Temple, first written, about nine yeares agoc, by the right honourable Thomas, now Lord Buckherst, and by T. Norton, and after shewed before her Majestie, and never intended by the authors thereof to be published; yet one W. G. getting a copy therof at some yong man's hand that lacked a little money, and much discretion, in the last great plage, an. 1565, about five years past, while the said Lord was out of England, and T. Norton farre out of London, and neither of them both made privie, put it forth excedingly corrupted, even as if by meanes of a broker for hire he should have entised into his house a faire maide and done her villanie, and after all so bescratched her face, torne her apparell, berayed and disfigured her, and then thrust her out of dores dishonested. In such plight, after long wandering, she came at length home to the sight of her frendes, who scant knew her, but by a few tokens and markes remayning. They, the authors I meane, though they were very much displeased that she ranne abroad without leave, whereby she caught her shame, as many wantons do; yet seeing the case, as it is, remedilesse, have, for common honestie and shamefastnesse, new apparelled, trimmed, and attired her in such a forme as she was Marbury's Book of Monarchy, as quoted by Oldys, in his MS. notes on Langbaine. $ Pages 77, 155. before. In which better forme, since she hath come to me, I have harbored her for her frendes sake and her owne; and I do not dout her parentes, the authors, will not now be discontent that she goe abroad among you good readers, so it be in honest companie. For she is by my encouragement, and others, somewhat lesse ashamed of the dishonestie done to her, because it was by fraude and force. If she be welcome among you, and gently enterteined in favor of the house from whence she is descended, and of her owne nature courteously disposed to offend no man, her frendes will thanke you for it. If not, but that she shall be still reproched with her former missehap, or quarelled at by envious persons, she, poore gentlewoman, will surely play Lucrece's part, and of herself die for shame; and I shall wishe that she had taried still at home with me, where she was welcome: for she did never put me to more charge, but this one poore blacke gowne lined with white, that I have now geven her to goe abroad among you withall. DORDAN, a counsellor assigned by the king to his CHORUS, foure auncient and sage men of Briteldest sonne Ferrer. taine. The ORDER of the Domme Shew before the First Act, and the SIGNIFICATION therof. First, the musicke of violenze began to play, during which came in upon the stage sixe wilde men, clothed in leaves. Of whom the first bare on his necke a fagot of small stickes, which they all, both severallye and together, assayed with all their strengthes to breake; but it could not be broken This play, we are told by the printer of the second edition, was first acted at the Inner-Temple, and afterwards before Queen Elizabeth. Its first appearance was at a grand Christmas, celebrated with unusual magnificence, as may be seen by the description of it in Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales," p. 150. It is here printed from the second edition; the third, of 1590, from which it was published, in 1736, by Mr Spence and by Mr Dodsley, appearing to be only a republication of the first imperfect copy complained of by the authors, as published in their absence, without their knowledge or consent. The testimony of Sir Philip Sidney, concerning this play, is as follows:-" Gorboduc is full of stately speeches, and well sounding phrases, climbing to the heighth of Seneca his style, and as full of notable morality; which it doth most delightfully teach, and thereby obtain the very end of poetry." And Mr Pope was of opinion," that the writers of the succeeding age might have improved as much in other respects, by copying from him a propriety in the sentiments, an unaffected perspicuity of style, and in an easy flow in the numbers. In a word, that chastity, correctness, and gravity of style, which are so essential to tragedy, and which all the tragic poets who followed, not excepting Shakespeare himself, either little understood, or perpetually neglected." VOL. I. by them. At the length, one of them plucked out one of the sticks, and brake it; and the rest plucking out all the other stickes, one after another, did easely breake the same, being severed; which, being conjoyned, they had before attempted in vaine. After they had this done, they departed the stage, and the musicke ceased. Hereby was signified, that a state, knit in unitie, doth continue strong against all force; but being divided, is easily destroyed, as befel upon King Gorboduc dividing his lande to his two sonnes, which he before held in monarchie, and upon the discention of the brethren, to whom it was divided. ACTUS PRIMUS. SCENA PRIMA: VIDENA, FERREX. Vid. THE silent night, that bringes the quiet pawse, From painefull travailes of the wearie day, Prolonges my careful thoughtes, and makes me blame The slowe Aurora, that so for love or shame Fer. My gracious lady, and my mother deare, Vid. So great a wrong, and so unjust despite, Without all cause against all course of kindeFer. Such causelesse wrong, and so unjust despite, May have redresse, or, at the least, revenge. Vid. Yes; mine for thine, my sonne. A father? no: In kinde a father, not in kindliness.7 Fer. My father? why, I know nothing at all, Wherein I have misdone unto his grace. Vid. Therefore, the more unkinde to thee and mee. For knowing well, my sonne, the tender love Vid. Even to Porrex, his yonger sonne, Fer. Madam, leave care and carefull plaint for me: 7 In kinde a father, not in kindliness-kind is nature. Hamlet has almost the same sentiment : "A little more than kin, and less than kind." In several other places of this play, the same word, in the like sense, occurs. Again, in Julius Cæsar act i, scene 3.: "But if you would consider the true cause, To monstrous quality." Titus Andronicus, act ii. scene 1.: "The forest walks are wide and spacious, Antony and Cleopatra, act v. scene 2. :-" You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind." For these instances, I am indebted to a writer in the Saint James's Chronicle, November 5, 1774, See also Mr Steevens's note on Hamlet, act i. scene 2. 2 |