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KC 14644(7)

HARVAR UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

INTRODUCTION.

IN the Register of the Company of Stationers of London, under date of the 7th of February, 1603 (new style), there was entered to Master Robertes "for his copie in full Court holden this day to print when he hath gotten sufficient aucthority for yt, The book of Troilus and Cresseda, as yt is acted by my Lord Chamberlens Men." As there is no known copy of the book so entered, we cannot tell whether sufficient authority was obtained for the printing; and we are free to suppose that the play in question was that which we ascribe to Shakespeare, or that it was an older work from which the play ascribed to him was fashioned.

On the 28th of January, 1609 (new style), there was entered in the same register to Richard

Bonion and Henry Walleys-two young stationers who were just beginning business "for their copy under thandes of Master Segar deputy to Sir George Bucke and Master Warden Lownes, a book called The History of Troilus and Cressida." Of this book copies dated 1609 have come down to us in two states as "imprinted by G. Eld for R. Bonion and H. Whalley, and are to be sold at the Spred Eagle in Paules Church-yard, ouer against the great North doore."

(1) Some copies have on their title-page, "The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid, excellently expressing the beginning of their loves, with the conceited wooing of Pandarus, Prince of Licia. Written by William Shakespeare." Copies with this title-page had also a preface by "a neuer writer to an euer reader," which began by speaking of the work as 66 a new play, never staled with the

stage, never clapper-clawed with the palms of the vulgar."

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