Next, as it is all New, so here is not any thing Spurious or impos’d; I had the Originalls from such as received them from the Authours themselves; by Those, and none other, I publish this Edition.

And as here’s nothing but what is genuine and Theirs, so you will finde here are no Omissions; you have not onely All I could get, but All that you must ever expect.  For (besides those which were formerly printed) there is not any Piece written by these Authours, either Joyntly or Severally, but what are now publish’d to the World in this Volume.  One only Play I must except (for I meane to deale openly) ’tis a COMEDY called the Wilde-goose Chase, which hath beene long lost, and I feare irrecoverable; for a Person of Quality borrowed it from the Actours many yeares since, and (by the negligence of a Servant) it was never return’d; therefore now I put up this Si quis, that whosoever hereafter happily meetes with it, shall be thankfully satisfied if he please to send it home.

Some Playes (you know) written by these Authors were heretofore Printed:  I thought not convenient to mixe them with this Volume, which of it selfe is entirely New.  And indeed it would have rendred the Booke so Voluminous, that Ladies and Gentlewomen would have found it scarce manageable, who in Workes of this nature must first be remembred.  Besides, I considered those former Pieces had been so long printed and re-printed, that many Gentlemen were already furnished; and I would have none say, they pay twice for the same Booke.

One thing I must answer before it bee objected; ’tis this:  When these Comedies and Tragedies were presented on the Stage, the Actours omitted some Scenes and Passages (with the Authour’s consent) as occasion led them; and when private friends desir’d a Copy, they then (and justly too) transcribed what they Acted.  But now you have both All that was Acted, and all that was not; even the perfect full Originalls without the least mutilation; So that were the Authours living, (and sure they can never dye) they themselves would challenge neither more nor lesse then what is here published; this Volume being now so compleate and finish’d, that the Reader must expect no future Alterations.

For literall Errours committed by the Printer, ’tis the fashion to aske pardon, and as much in fashion to take no notice of him that asks it; but in this also I have done my endeavour.  ’Twere vaine to mention the Chargeablenesse of this Work; for those who own’d the Manuscripts, too well knew their value to make a cheap estimate of any of these Pieces, and though another joyn’d with me in the Purchase and Printing, yet the Care & Pains was wholly mine, which I found to be more then you’l easily imagine, unlesse you knew into how many hands the Originalls were dispersed.  They are all now happily met in this Book, having escaped these Publike Troubles, free and unmangled.  Heretofore when Gentlemen desired but a Copy of any of these Playes, the meanest piece here (if any may be called Meane where every one is Best) cost them more then foure times the price you pay for the whole Volume.