A SHORT ESSAY ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF MASSINGER, INSCRIBED TO DR. S. JOHNSON. VOLUME THE THIRD. LONDON: Printed for T. DAVIES, in RuSSEL-STREET; T. PAYNE and and H. PAYNE, in PALL MALL. M DCC LXXIX, A NEW WAY ΤΟ PAY OLD DEBTS. А COMEDY. As it hath been often acted at the Phenix in Drury-Lane by the Queen's Majefty's Servants. 1633. WRITTEN By PHILIP MASSINGER. VOL. III. A To the RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT Earl of CARNARVAN, My Good Lord, ** ARDON I beseech you my Boldness, in prefuming to fhelter this Comedy under the Wings of your Lordship's Favour and Protection. I am not ignorant (having never yet deserved you in my fervice) that it cannot but meet with a fevere Conftruction, if in the Clemency of your noble Dijpofition, you fashion not a better Defence for me, than I can fancy for myself. All I can allege is, that divers Italian Princes, and Lords of eminent Rank in England, have not dif dained to receive, and read Poems of this Nature; nor am I wholly loft in my Hopes, but that your Honour (who have ever express'd yourself a Favourer, and Friend to the Mufes) may vouchsafe, in your gracious Acceptance of this Trifle, to give me Encouragement to prefent you with fome laboured Work, and of a higher Strain, hereafter. I was born a devoted Servant to the thrice noble Family of your incomparable Lady, and am most ambitious, but with a becoming Distance, to be known to your Lordship, which if you please to admit, I fhall embrace it as a Bounty, that while I live fhall oblige me to acknowledge you for my noble Patron, and profefs myself to be, Your Honour's true Servant, |