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 Henry Noel (q.v.), and Cunliffe, lxxxvi, notes that a 'Master Stafford' was fined £5 for refusing to act as Marshal at the Inner Temple in 1556-7.

Doubtful Play

Hazlitt assigns to Wilmot The Three Ladies of London, but the R. W. of the title-page is almost certainly Robert Wilson (q.v.). ROBERT WILSON (> 1572-1600). For Wilson's career as an actor and a discussion as to whether there was more than one dramatist of the name, cf. ch. xv. ''The Three Ladies of London. c. 1581''

1584. A right excellent and famous Comœdy called the three Ladies of London. Wherein is notably declared and set foorth, how by the meanes of Lucar, Love and Conscience is so corrupted, that the one is married to Dissimulation, the other fraught with all abhomination. A perfect patterne for all Estates to looke into, and a worke right worthie to be marked. Written by R. W. as it hath been publiquely played. Roger Warde. [Prologue. At end of play 'Paule Bucke' (an actor; cf. ch. xv).] 1592. John Danter.

Editions by J. P. Collier, Five Old Plays (1851, Roxb. Club), in Dodsley^4 (1874), vi, and by J. S. Farmer (1911, T. F. T.). The stylistic resemblance of this to the next two plays justifies the attribution to Wilson, although Hazlitt suggests Wilmot. Gosson describes the play in 1582 (P. C. 185) together with a play in answer called London Against the Three Ladies, but does not indicate whether either play was then in print. In B ii Peter's pence are dated as 'not muche more than 26 yeares, it was in Queen Maries time'. As the Act reviving Peter's pence was passed in the winter of 1554-5, the play was probably written in 1581. ''The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London. c. 1589''

S. R. 1590, July 31 (Wood). 'A comodie of the plesant and statelie morrall of the Three lordes of London.' Richard Jones (Arber, ii. 556).

1590. The Pleasant and Stately Morall, of the three Lordes and three Ladies of London. With the great Joy and Pompe, Solempnized at their Mariages: Commically interlaced with much honest Mirth, for pleasure and recreation, among many Morall obseruations and other important matters of due regard. By R. W. R. Jones. [Woodcut, on which cf. ''Bibl. Note'' to ch. xviii; 'Preface', i.e. prologue.]

Editions by J. P. Collier (1851, Five Old Plays), in Dodsley^4, vi. 371 (1874), and by J. S. Farmer (1912, T. F. T.).—Dissertation: H. Fernow, The 3 L. and 3 L. By R. W. (1885, Hamburg programme).

Fleay, ii. 280, fixes the date by the allusions (C, C^v) to the recent death of Tarlton (q.v.) in Sept. 1588.