Mr. Collier conjectures that the comedy was a youthful production. This is extremely probable; although the evidence is not decisive, as the ballad-maker alluded to might have survived, and maintained his notoriety many years after the death of Skelton. However that may be, the claim of this comedy to be considered the first in our language is indisputable. It must have preceded Gammer Gurton's Needle by at least fifteen years; and, being at that period so well known as to be quoted by Wilson, we may reasonably assign it to a much earlier date.

The comedy is written in rhyme, and divided into acts and scenes. The action takes place in London, and the plot, constructed with a surprising knowledge of stage art, affords ample opportunity for the development of a variety of characters. The copy discovered in 1818 wants the titlepage, but is presumed to have borne the date of 1566, as in that year Thomas Hackett had a license to print it. In 1818 a limited reprint was made by the Rev. Mr. Briggs, who deposited the original in the library of Eton College. There was a singular propriety,' observes Mr. Collier, 'in presenting it to Eton College, as Udall had been master of the school;' a circumstance which was entirely fortuitous, Mr. Briggs not being acquainted even with the name of the author. It was reprinted in 1821 and 1830, and lastly by the Shakespeare Society in 1847.]

RALPH ROISTER DOISTER.

THE WORK-GIRLS' SONG.t

PIPE, merry Annot;

Trilla, Trilla, Trillarie.

Work, Tibet; work, Annot; work, Margerie;
Sew, Tibet; knit, Annot; spin, Margerie;
Let us see who will win the victory.

*His. En. Dram. Poetry, ii. 246.

To make this lively round intelligible, the reader should be informed that it is sung by three sewing girls, who are variously em

Pipe, merry Annot;
Trilla, Trilla, Trillarie.

What, Tibet! what, Annot! what, Margerie!
Ye sleep, but we do not, that shall we try;
Your fingers be numb, our work will not lie.

Pipe, merry Annot;

Trilla, Trilla, Trillarie.

Now Tibet, now Annot, now Margerie;
Now whippet apace for the maystrie:*
But it will not be, our mouth is so dry.

Pipe, merry Annot;
Trilla, Trilla, Trillarie.

When, Tibet? when, Annot? when, Margerie?
I will not, I can not,-no more can I;
Then give we all over, and there let it lie!

THE SEWING-MEN'S SONG.

A

THING

very

fit

For them that have wit,

And are fellows knit,

Servants in one house to be;

As fast for to sit

And not oft to flit,
Nor vary a whit,
But lovingly to agree.

ployed, as indicated in the first stanza.

The stage directions at the

opening of the scene describe their several occupations: Madge Mumblecrust spinning on the distaff-Tibet Talkative sewing-Annot Alyface knitting.' After some idle clatter, in which they are joined by the hair-brained Roister Doister, they agree to sing a song, to beguile the time and help them on in their work.

Annot. Let all these matters pass, and we three sing a song;
So shall we pleasantly both the time beguile now,
And eke dispatch all our work, ere we can tell how.
Tibet. I shrew them that say nay, and that shall not be I.
Madge. And I am well content.

Tibet. Sing on then by and by.

* Mastery, superior skill.

No man complaining,
Nor other disdaining,
For loss or for gaining.
But fellows or friends to be;
No grudge remaining,
No work refraining,
Nor help restraining,

But lovingly to agree.

No man for despite,
By word or by write,
His fellow to twite,
But further in honesty;
No good turns entwite,"
Nor old sores recite,
But let all go quite,
And lovingly to agree.

After drudgery,

When they be weary,

Then to be merry,

To laugh and sing they be free;
With chip and cherie,

Heigh derie derie,

Trill on the berie,

And lovingly to agree.

THE MINION WIFE.

HO so to marry a minion t wife,

WHO

Hath had good chance and hap,

Must love her and cherish her all his life,
And dandle her in his lap.

If she will fare well, if she will go gay,

A good husband ever still,

What ever she list to do or to say,

Must let her have her own will.

* Twite, entwite-to twit, to reproach.

† Pet or darling.

About what affairs so ever he go,

He must shew her all his mind,
None of his counsel she may be kept fro,
Else is he a man unkind.

I MUN BE MARRIED A SUNDAY.

IMUN be married a Sunday;

1 mun be married a Sunday;
Who soever shall come that way,
I mun be married a Sunday.

Roister Doister is my name;
Roister Doister is my name;
A lusty brute I am the same;
I mun be married a Sunday.

Christian Custance have I found;
Christian Custance have I found;
A widow worth a thousand pound:
I mun be married a Sunday.

Custance is as sweet as honey;
Custance is as sweet as honey;
I her lamb, and she my coney;
I mun be married a Sunday.

When we shall make our wedding feast,
When we shall make our wedding feast,
There shall be cheer for man and beast,
I mun be married a Sunday.

I mun be married a Sunday.*

* The following passage occurs in the Taming of the Shrew:-
We will have rings, and things, and fine array;
And kiss me, Kate, we will be married o' Sunday.

Act ii, Sc. 1.

The concluding words, probably intended to be sung with a fine air of banter and bravery by Petruchio as he goes off the stage, are evidently taken from the burthen of Ralph Roister Doister's song, which we may, therefore, infer to have been one of the popular ballads in Shakespeare's time.

THE PSALMODIE FOR THE REJECTED LOVER.

MAISTER Roister Doister will straight go home

and die,

Our Lord Jesus Christ his soul have mercy upon :
Thus you see to day a man, to morrow John.

Yet, saving for a woman's extreme cruelty,
He might have lived yet a month, or two, or three;
But, in spite of Custance, which hath him wearied,
His mashyp shall be worshipfully buried.

And while some piece of his soul is yet him within,
Some part of his funeral let us here begin.
Dirige. He will go darkling to his grave;
Neque lux, neque crux, nisi solum clink;
Never genman so went toward heaven, I think.
Yet, sirs, as ye will the bliss of heaven win,
When he cometh to the grave, lay him softly in;
And all men take heed, by this one gentleman,
How you set your love upon an unkind woman;
For these women be all such mad peevish elves,
They will not be won, except it please themselves.
But, in faith, Custance, if ever ye come in hell,
Maister Roister Doister shall serve you as well.
Good night, Roger old knave; Farewell, Roger old
knave;

Good night, Roger old knave; knave knap.
Nequando. Audivi vocem. Requiem æternam.

[A peal of bells rung by the Parish Clerk
and Roister Doister's four men.

JOHN HEYWOOD.

157

[JOHN HEYWOOD's claims to a prominent place amongst the dramatists are not very considerable. His productions in this way are neither numerous nor important. They can