Page:The Elizabethan stage (Volume 3).pdf/458

 1608. A Mad World, My Masters. As it hath bin lately in Action by the Children of Paules. Composed by T. M. H. B. for Walter Burre.

S. R. 1613, April 19. Transfer to John Hodgettes of Edgar's share (Arber, iii. 520). 1640. A Comedy. As it hath bin often Acted at the Private House in Salisbury Court, by her Majesties Servants For J. S., sold by James Becket. [Epistle to Reader, signed 'J. S.'] Edition by W. Scott (1810, A. B. D. ii). The epistle says 'it is full twenty years since it was written', which is absurd. A pamphlet of the same title by Breton in 1603, hits at the Jacobean knightings in i. 64,  v. 41, and the Family of Love in  ii. 73, and the disappearance of Paul's in 1606 or 1607 are the only indications of date. In Acts and  the duplicate names Once-Ill-Brothel, Hargrave-Harebrain, Shortrod-Harebrain suggest revision. ''Michaelmas Term. 1606 (?) S. R.'' 1607, May 15 (Buck). 'A Comedy called Mychaelmas terme.' Arthur Johnson (Arber, iii. 349). 1607. Michaelmas Terme. As it hath been sundry times acted by the Children of Paules. For A. I. [Induction.] 1630. Newly corrected. T. H. for R. Meighen.

Allusions in iii. 226, 376 to the presence of women at a quartering for treason may suggest, as in the case of Marston's Fawn (q.v.), a date after that of 30 Jan. 1606. There is no reference in i. 63 to the leap year of 1604, as suggested by Fleay, ii. 91. Knightings are satirized in i. 191;  i. 46. ''Your Five Gallants. 1607''

S. R. 1608, March 22 (Buck). 'A Plaie called the ffyve Wittie Gallantes as it hath ben acted by the Children of the Chappell.' Richard Bonyon (Arber, iii. 372).

Your fiue Gallants. As it hath beene often in Action at the Blacke-friers. Written by T. Middleton. For Richard Bonian. [Induction with 'Presenter or Prologue' in dumb-show.]

This may have been in preparation for Paul's when they ceased playing and taken over by Blackfriars. In any case a reference to closure for plague in ii. 29 and to fighting with a windmill (like Don Quixote) in viii. 7 fit in with a date in 1607.

''The Family of Love. 1604 < > 7'' (?)

S. R. 1607, Oct. 12 (Buck). 'A playe called the family of Loue as yt hath bene Lately acted by the Children of his Maiesties Reuelles.' John Browne and John Helme (Arber, iii. 360).

1608. The Famelie of Love. Acted by the Children of his Maiesties Reuells. For John Helmes. [Epistle to Reader, Prologue, Epilogue.]

The prologue apologizes that 'expectation' hath not 'filled the general round'. The King's Revels can hardly have existed before 1607. Fleay, ii. 94, thinks that they inherited the play from Paul's and assigns it to 1604 'when the Family of Love were such objects