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 entertain-ments-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. PROLOGUE STUDIES have of this nature been of late Who bids them be in love with their own wits. A history of noble mention, known, Famous, and true; most noble, 'cause our own; Of brave attempts as ever fertile rage A multitude: on these two rests the fate DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. HENRY VII. Lord DAWBENEY. Sir WILLIAM STANLEY, Lord Chamberlain. Earl of OXFORD. Earl of SURREY. Fox, Bishop of Durham. URSWICK, Chaplain to the King. Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD. LAMBERT SIMNEL. HIALAS, a Spanish Agent. JAMES IV., King of Scotland. Earl of HUNTLEY. Earl of CRAWFORD. Lord DALYELL. MARCHMONT, a Herald. PERKIN WARBECK. STEPHEN FRION, his Secretary. JOHN A-WATER, Mayor of Cork. HERON, a Mercer. SKELTON, a Tailor. ASTLEY, a Scrivener. Sheriff, Constable, Officers, Messenger, Guards, Soldiers, Masquers, and Attendants. Lady KATHERINE GORDON. Countess of CRAWFORD. JANE DOUGLAS, Lady Katherine's attendant. SCENE Partly in ENGLAND, partly in SCOTLAND SCENE I.- Westminster. The royal Presence-chamber. Enter King HENRY, supported to the throne by the Bishop of DURHAM and Sir WILLIAM STANLEY; Earls of OXFORD and SURREY, and Lord DAWBENEY. A Guard. ING HEN. Still to be haunted, still to be pursued, Still to be frightened with false appari tions Of pageant majesty and new-coined As if we were a mockery king in state, 1 66 At this time the king began again to be haunted with sprites by the magic and curious arts of the Lady Margaret, who raised up the ghost of Richard, Duke of York, second son to King Edward the Fourth, to walk and vex the king," &c.-Bacon's Henry VII. And bleeding wounds of England's slaughtered people Dur. The rage of malice Been sacrificed to an uncivil thirst Of discord and ambition: this hot vengeance And desolation had rained on, but that Edward and Richard, the inheritance Of a most bloody purchase: these young princes, For this poor panting island, if some shreds, Oxf. Blows fresh coals of division. Margaret of Burgundy 1 An allusion to the armorial bearings of Richard III, |