THE

BOOK-SELLERS

TO THE

READER.

Courteous Reader, The First Edition of these Plays in this Volume having found that Acceptance as to give us Encouragement to make a Second Impression, we were very desirous they might come forth as Correct as might be.  And we were very opportunely informed of a Copy which an ingenious and worthy Gentleman had taken the pains (or rather the pleasure) to read over; wherein he had all along Corrected several faults (some very gross) which had crept in by the frequent imprinting of them.  His Corrections were the more to be valued, because he had an intimacy with both our Authors, and had been a Spectator of most of them when they were Acted in their life-time.  This therefore we resolved to purchase at any Rate; and accordingly with no small cost obtain’d it.  From the same hand also we received several Prologues and Epilogues, with the Songs appertaining to each Play, which were not in the former Edition, but are now inserted in their proper places.  Besides, in this Edition you have the addition of no fewer than Seventeen Plays more than were in the former, which we have taken the pains and care to Collect, and Print out 4to in this Volume, which for distinction sake are markt with a Star in the Catalogue of them facing the first Page of the Book.  And whereas in several of the Plays there were wanting the Names of the Persons represented therein, in this Edition you have them all prefixed, with their Qualities; which will be a great ease to the Reader.  Thus every way perfect and compleat have you, all both Tragedies and Comedies that were ever writ by our Authors, a Pair of the greatest Wits and most ingenious Poets of their Age; from whose worth we should but detract by our most studied Commendations.

If our care and endeavours to do our Authors right (in an incorrupt and genuine Edition of their Works) and thereby to gratifie and oblige the Reader, be but requited with a suitable entertainment, we shall be encouraged to bring_ Ben.  Johnson’s two Volumes into one, and publish them in this form; and also to reprint Old Shakespear:  both which are designed by

Yours_,

Ready to serve you,

JOHN MARTYN.  HENRY HERRINGMAN.  RICHARD MARIOT.

[The Second Folio contained, between ‘The Book-sellers to the Reader’ and ‘A Catalogue,’ eleven only of the Commendatory verses prefixed to the First Folio.  These were those signed by Edw.  Waller (see p. xxiii), J. Denham (p. xxii), Ben.  Johnson (p. xl), Rich.  Corbet (p. xl), Joh.  Earle (p. xxxii), William Cartwright’s first lines (p. xxxvii, to ’Fletcher writ’ on p. xxxviii), Francis Palmer (p. xlvii, ’I Could prayse Heywood,’ etc.), Jasper Maine (p. xxxv), J. Berkenhead (p. xli), Roger L’Estrange (p. xxviii), Tho.  Stanley (p. xxvii).]