F. Shoberl, Jun., Printer to H.R.H. Prince Albert, Rupert Street.

OF

THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY

President.

THE EARL OF ELLESMERE.

Vice-Presidents.

THE EARL OF CLARENDON.

THE EARL OF GLENGALL.

THE EARL HOWE.

THE RT. HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE.

THE RT. HON. LORD LEIGH.

Council.

THOMAS AMYOT, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A.

WILLIAM AYRTON, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A.

BAYLE BERNARD, ESQ.

THE RIGHT HON. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR SIR JAMES

KNIGHT BRUCE, F.R.S., F.S.A.

JOHN BRUCE, ESQ., TREAS. S.A.

J. PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ., V.P. S.A., DIRECTOR.

BOLTON CORNEY, ESQ., M.R.S.L.

PETER CUNNINGHAM, ESQ., TREASURER.

SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN OF
THE BRITISH MUSEUM, F.R.S., F.S.A.

JOHN FORSTER, ESQ.

J. O. HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A.

THE REV. WILLIAM HARNESS.

SWYNFEN JERVIS, ESQ.

CHARLES KNIGHT, ESQ.

SIR E. BULWER LYTTON, BART.
WILLIAM C. MACREADY, ESQ.

T. J. PETTIGREW, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A.

SIR T. NOON TALFOURD, D.C.L.
WILLIAM JOHN THOMS, ESQ., F.S.A.
THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ., M.D.

F. GUEST TOMLINS, ESQ., SECRETARY.

The Council of the Shakespeare Society desire it to be understood that they are not answerable for any opinions or observations that may appear in the Society's publications; the Editors of the several works being alone responsible for the same.

INTRODUCTION.

Under the editorial care of the late Mr. Barron Field, the Shakespeare Society has already reprinted four plays, in the composition of three of which Thomas Heywood alone was concerned, while in the fourth he had the assistance of his contemporary, William Rowley. These reprints came out respectively in 1842 and 1846; and in 1847 the Council had the misfortune to lose an able and willing associate, and the Editor of the present volume an early and zealous friend.

In conformity with the declared intention of the Council of the Shakespeare Society, it was the wish of Mr. Field to have continued his labours through the other dramatic works of Thomas Heywood; but death having rendered it necessary that the task should devolve into other hands, the present Editor has been called upon to complete what was left imperfect. It will now, therefore, be his duty from time to time, as the funds and more immediate purposes of the Society will allow, to prepare the remaining plays of this fine old dramatist for republication.