their imperfections) they humbly crave pardon, if haply some of their terms have trod awry, or their tongues stumbled unwittingly on any man’s content.  In much corn is some cockle; in a heap of coin here and there a piece of copper:  wit hath his dregs as well as wine; words their waste, ink his blots, every speech his parenthesis; poetical fury, as well crabs as sweetings for his summer fruits. Nemo sapit omnibus horis.  Their folly is deceased; their fear is yet living.  Nothing can kill an ass but cold:  cold entertainment, discouraging scoffs, authorised disgraces, may kill a whole litter of young asses of them here at once, that hath travelled thus far in impudence, only in hope to sit a-sunning in your smiles.  The Romans dedicated a temple to the fever quartan, thinking it some great god, because it shook them so; and another to ill-fortune in Esquiliis, a mountain in Rome, that it should not plague them at cards and dice.  Your grace’s frowns are to them shaking fevers; your least disfavours the greatest ill-fortune that may betide them.  They can build no temples but themselves and their best endeavours, with all prostrate reverence, they here dedicate and offer up wholly to your service. Sis bonus, O, faelixque tuis.[145] To make the gods merry, the celestial clown Vulcan tuned his polt foot to the measures of Apollo’s lute, and danced a limping galliard in Jove’s starry hall:  to make you merry, that are gods of art and guides unto heaven, a number of rude Vulcans, unwieldy speakers, hammer-headed clowns (for so it pleaseth them in modesty to name themselves) have set their deformities to view, as it were in a dance here before you.  Bear with their wants; lull melancholy asleep with their absurdities, and expect hereafter better fruits of their industry.  Little creatures often terrify great beasts:  the elephant flieth from a ram:  the lion from a cock and from fire; the crocodile from all sea-fish; the whale from the noise of parched bones.  Light toys chase great cares:  the great fool Toy hath marr’d the play.  Good night, gentlemen; I go.

[Let him be carried away.[146]

WILL SUM.  Is’t true, jackanapes? do you serve me so?  As sure as this coat is too short for me, all the points of your hose for this are condemned to my pocket, if you and I e’er play at span-counter more. Valete, spectatores:  pay for this sport with a plaudite, and the next time the wind blows from this corner, we will make you ten times as merry.

Barbarus hic ego sum, quia non intelligor ulli.

THE DOWNFALL OF ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTON.

EDITION.

The Downfall of Robert Earle of Huntington, afterward called Robin Hood of merrie Sherwodde; with his love to chaste Matilda, the Lord Fitzwaters Daughter, afterwarde his faire Maide Marian.  Acted by the Right Honourable the Earle of Notingham, Lord high Admirall of England, his servants.  Imprinted at London for William Leake. 1601. 4to.  B.L.