NAMES of the original ACTORS in the Plays of SHAKSPERE: From the Folio, 1623, It may appear singular that the name of the cele, brated Alleyn (founder of Dulwich-College) should not *Author of the Two Maids of Moreclack, Com. 1609. + Author of Amends for Ladies, Com. 1639, and Woman is a Weathercock, Com. 1612, He also assisted Massinger in the Fatal Dowry. STEEVENS. That Nathaniel Field was the author of these plays I am by no means satisfied. I think him to have been a different person. See Dodsley's Collection of old Plays, vol. XII, P. 350. last edition, REED, Occur occur in this list of performers. But Alleyn was master of the Fortune playhouse, which he is said either to have built or rebuilt, and therefore might have no connection with other theatres where the plays of Shakspere were exhibited. We learn, however, from Langbaine, that he had been " an ornament to Black-Friers." John Wilson, who appears to have acted in our author's Much Ado about Nothing, is likewise excluded from this catalogue; though Meres, in the Second Part of his Wit's Commonwealth, 1598, praising several who were "famous for extemporall verse," says, "Of our Tarlton, doctor Case, that learned physitian, thus speaketh in the seventh book and seventeenth chapter of his Politikes; Aristoteles suum Theodoretum laudavit, quendam peritum tragadiarum actorem; Cicero suum Roscium; nos Angli Tarletonum, in cujus voce & vultu omnes jocosi affectus, in cujus cerebroso capite lepida facetia habitant. And so is our wittie WILSON, who, for learning and extemporall witte in this facultie, is without compare or compeere, &c." STEEVENS. A LIST OF SUCH ANCIENT EDITIONS O F SHAKSPERE'S PLAYS, As have hitherto been met with by his different Editors. Those marked with Asterisks are in no former Tables; and those which are marked with † I have never seen. I. II. III. 1. Midsummer Night's Dream, William Shakspere, 1600, Thomas Fisher. 2. Do. W. Shakspere, 1600, James Roberts. 1. Merry Wives of Windsor, William Shakspere 2. Do. William Shakspere, 1619, for Do. Much Ado about Nothing, William Shakspere, 1600. V. S. for Andrew Wise and William Aspley. IV. V. VI. 1. Merchant of Venice, William Shakspere, 2. Do. W. Shakspere, 1600. J. Roberts. 4. Do. William Shakspere, 1652, for William 1. Love's Labour's Lost, William Shakspere, 1598, W. W. for Cuthbert Burbey. 2. Do. William Shakspere, 1631, W. S. for John Smethwicke. 1. Taming of the Shrew, 1607, V. S. for Nicholas Ling. 2. Do. William Shakspere, 1631, W. S. for John Smethwicke. VII. 1. King Lear, William Shakspere, 1608, for Nathaniel Butter. 2. Do. William Shakspere, 1608, for Do. 3. Do. William Shakspere, 1655, Jane Bell. VIII. 1. King John, 2 Parts, 1591, for Sampson Clarke. 2. Do. W. Sh. 1611. Valentine Simmes, for John Helme. 3. Do. W. Shakspere, 1622, Aug. Matthewes, for Thomas Dewe. These three are only copies of the spurious plays. IX. 1. Richard II. 1597, Valentine Simmes, for Andrew Wise. 2. Richard II. William Shakspere, 1598, Valentine Simmes, for Andrew Wise. 3. Do. William Shakspere, 1608, W. W. for Matthew Law. 4. Do. William Shakspere, 1615, for Matthew Law. 5. Do. William Shakspere, 1634, John Norton. X. *1. Henry IV. First Part, 1598, P. S. for Andrew Wise. XI. 2. Do. W. Shakspere, 1599, S. S. for Do. † 3. Do. 1604. * 4. Do. 1608, for Matthew Law. 5. Do. W. Shakspere, 1614, W. W. for Do. *7. Do. William Shakspere, 1632, John Norton, 8. Do. William Shakspere, 1639, John Norton, sold by Hugh Perry. 1. Henry IV. Second Part, William Shakspere, 1600, V. S. for Andrew Wise and William Aspley. 2. Do. 1600. Do. XII. |