The English Dramatists

JOHN MARSTON

VOLUME THE FIRST

THE WORKS

OF

JOHN MARSTON

EDITED BY

A. H. BULLEN, B.A.

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOLUME THE FIRST

LONDON
JOHN C. NIMMO
14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
MDCCCLXXXVII

Two hundred copies of this Edition on Laid paper, medium 8vo, havebeen printed, viz., 120 for the English Market, and 80 for America.Each copy numbered as issued.

No. 30

TO

AN OLD FRIEND AND FELLOW-STUDENT,

CHARLES H. FIRTH,

These Volumes

ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED

BY THE EDITOR.

PREFACE.

Marston’s Works were edited in 1856 by Mr. Halliwell (3 vols. 8vo.)for Mr. Russell Smith’s Library of Old Authors. I yield to nonein my admiration for the best and the most accurate of livingShakespearean scholars; but I am sure that Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps,who in his Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare has set sosingularly high a standard of excellence, would be the first toacknowledge that his edition of Marston’s Works needs revision.

In the present volumes I have done my best to regulate the text, whichis frequently very corrupt; but I am painfully conscious that I haveleft plenty of work for future editors.

A valuable edition of Marston’s poems was published in 1879, forprivate circulation, by Dr. Grosart. I have availed myself freely ofthe results of Dr. Grosart’s biographical researches;and I am indebted to his edition for the text of theEntertainment in vol. iii.

Dr. Brinsley Nicholson, whose recently published edition of ReginaldScot’s Discovery of Witchcraft met with the enthusiasticwelcome that it deserved, has helped me liberally with advice andsuggestions; and I have to thank Mr. P. A. Daniel, whose scholarshipis as sound as it is acute, for his kindness in reading myIntroduction.

In deference to friendly criticism, I have prefixed to each play abrief summary of the plot.

18th March 1887.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.