Page:The Elizabethan stage (Volume 3).pdf/289

 

''A Christian Turned Turk. 1609 < > 12''

S. R. 1612, Feb. 1 (Buck). 'A booke called A Christian turned Turke, or the tragicall lyffes and deathes of the 2 famous pyrates Ward and Danseker, as it hath bene publiquely acted written by Robert Daborn gent.' William Barrenger (Arber, iii. 476).

1612. A Christian turn'd Turke: or, The Tragicall Liues and Deaths of the two Famous Pyrates, Ward and Dansiker. As it hath beene publickly Acted. Written by Robert Daborn, Gentleman. For William Barrenger. [Epistle by Daborne to the Reader, Prologue and Epilogue.]

This may, as Fleay, i. 83, says, be a Queen's Revels play, but he gives no definite proof, and if it is the 'unwilling error' apologized for in the epilogue to Mucedorus (1610), it is more likely to proceed from the King's men. It appears to be indebted to pamphlets on the career of its heroes, printed in 1609. The Epistle explains the publishing of 'this oppressed and much martird Tragedy, not that I promise to my selfe any reputation hereby, or affect to see my name in Print, vsherd with new praises, for feare the Reader should call in question their iudgements that giue applause in the action; for had this wind moued me, I had preuented others shame in subscribing some of my former labors, or let them gone out in the diuels name alone; which since impudence will not suffer, I am content they passe together; it is then to publish my innocence concerning the wrong of worthy personages, together with doing some right to the much-suffering Actors that hath caused my name to cast it selfe in the common rack of censure'. I do not know why the play should have been 'martir'd', but incidentally Daborne seems to be claiming a share in Dekker's If It be not Good, the Devil is in It (1612).

The Poor Man's Comfort, c. 1617 (?)

[MS.] Egerton MS. 1994, f. 268.

[Scribal signature 'By P. Massam' at end.]

S. R. 1655, June 20. 'A booke called The Poore Mans comfort, a Tragicomedie written by Robert Dawborne, M^r of Arts.' ''John Sweeting'' (Eyre, i. 486).

1655. The Poor-Mans Comfort. A Tragi-Comedy, As it was diuers times Acted at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane with great applause. Written by Robert Dauborne Master of Arts. ''For Rob: Pollard and John Sweeting.'' [Prologue, signed 'Per E. M.']

The stage-direction to l. 186 is 'Enter 2 Lords, Sands, Ellis'. Perhaps we have here the names of two actors, Ellis Worth, who was with Anne's men at the Cockpit in 1617-19, and Gregory Sanderson, who joined the same company before May, 1619. But there is also a James Sands, traceable as a boy of the King's in 1605. The performances named on the title-page are not necessarily the original ones and the play may have been produced by the Queen's at the Red Bull, but 1617 is as likely a date as another, and when a courtier says of a poor man's suit (l. 877) that it is 'some suit from porters