PERKIN WARBECK

ERKIN WARBECK was acted at

the Phoenix and published in 1634 as "a chronicle history." Ford founded it on Bacon's Life of Henry VII.

The play was reprinted in 1714, a period at which there were insurrectionary movements in Scotland. In the memorable year of 1745, when the young Pretender appeared, Ford's play was revived (at the time that two other plays appeared on the same subject, by Macklin and Elderton), at Goodman's Fields Theatre, but so sympathetic a picture of a pretender could scarcely have appealed to the public of that period.

Schiller left behind him the sketch of a drama called Warbeck.

To his worthy Friend, Master John Ford, upon his

Perkin Warbeck.

Let men who are writ poets lay a claim

To the Phœbean hill, I have no name

Nor art in verse: true, I have heard some tell
Of Aganippe, but ne'er knew the well;
Therefore have no ambition with the times
To be in print, for making of ill rhymes;
But love of thee, and justice to thy pen,
Hath drawn me to this bar with other men,
To justify, though against double laws,
Waving the subtle business of his cause,
The glorious Perkin, and thy poet's art,
Equal with his in playing the king's part.
RA. EURE, baronis primogenitus.1

To my Friend and Kinsman, Master John Ford, the Author.

Dramatic poets, as the times go now,

Can hardly write what others will allow ;
The cynic snarls, the critic howls and barks,
And ravens croak to drown the voice of larks :
Scorn those stage-harpies! This I'll boldly say,
Many may imitate, few match thy play.

1 The son of William, Lord Eure.

JOHN FORD, Graiensis.2

2 This is the cousin to whom Ford dedicated Love's Sacrifice.

To the Rightly Honourable

WILLIAM CAVENDISH,

EARL OF NEWCASTLE, VISCOUNT MANSFIELD, LORD BOLSOVER AND OGLE.1

My Lord,

UT of the darkness of a former age,- -enlightened by a late both learned and an honourable pen,2—I have endeavoured to personate a great attempt, and in it a greater danger. In other labours you may read actions of antiquity discoursed; in this abridgment find the actors themselves discoursing, in some kind practised as well what to speak as speaking why to do. Your lordship is a most competent judge in expressions of such credit; commissioned by your known ability in examining, and enabled by your knowledge in determining, the monuments of time. Eminent titles may, indeed, inform who their owners are, not often what. To yours the addition of that information in both cannot in any application be observed flattery, the authority being established by truth. I can only acknowledge the errors in writing mine own; the worthiness of the subject written being a perfection in the story and of it. The custom of your lordship's entertainments-even to strangers-is rather an example than a fashion in which consideration I dare not profess a curiosity; but am only studious that your lordship will please, amongst such as best honour your goodness, to admit into your noble construction

JOHN FORD.

1 William Cavendish (nephew to the first Earl of Devonshire), was born in the year 1592, and was early in favour with James 1. He continued in favour with Charles I., and engaged on the Royalist side during the civil war. He was created Duke of Newcastle in 1665, and died in 1676, at the advanced age of 84. 2 i.e. That of Lord Bacon.