The Mayor of Quinborough: A Comedy. As it hath been often Acted with much Applause at Black-Fryars, By His Majesties Servants. Written by Tho. Middleton. London, Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Blew-Anchor in the Lower-Walk of the New-Exchange. 1661. 4to. From the introduction of an individual as a chorus, and of dumb shows (such as we find in Pericles, and other dramas of an early date), we may gather that this piece was among the author's first attempts at dramatic composition. Nor does the mention made in it of a play called the Wild-Goose Chase, even supposing that Fletcher's comedy be meant, overthrow such a conclusion. The passage where that mention occurs (Act v. Sc. i.) might have been inserted when the Mayor of Queenborough was revived, at a period long after its first appearance on the stage: (every reader of our old dramas is aware that play-wrights were often employed to make "additions" to the works of their predecessors): it might, indeed, have been written by Middleton himself, after the appearance of Fletcher's play, which was produced about 1621. When Henslowe in his diary notices "Oct. 1602. Randall, Earl of Chester, by T. Middleton," Malone thinks (why, I know not,) that the Mayor of Queenborough is meant. This drama has been reprinted in the different editions of Dodsley's Coll. of Old Plays, vol. xi. "The author," says Langbaine, "has chiefly followed Rainulph's Polychronicon: see besides Stowe, Speed, Du Chesne, &c. in the reign of Vortiger."-Account of Dram. Poets, p. 372. GENTLEMEN, b You have the first flight of him, I assure you. This Mayor of Queenborough, whom you have all heard of, and some of you beheld upon the stage, now begins to walk abroad in print: he has been known sufficiently by the reputation of his wit, which is enough, by the way, to distinguish him from ordinary mayors; but wit, you know, has skulked in corners for many years past, and he was thought to have most of it that could best hide himself. Now whether this magistrate feared the decimating times, or kept up the state of other mayors, that are bound not to go out of their liberties during the time of their mayoralty, I know not: 'tis enough for me to put him into your hands, under the title of an honest man, which will appear plainly to you, because you shall find him all along to have a great pique to the rebel Oliver. I am told his drollery yields to none the English drama did ever produce; and though I would not put his modesty to the blush, by speaking too much in his commendation, yet I know you will agree with me, upon your better acquaintance with him, that there is some difference in point of wit betwixt the Mayor of Queenborough and the Mayor of Huntingdon. Gentlemen, &c.] The publisher's address to the readers. An allusion to the suppression of the theatres by the Puritans. c "Huntingdon, the place where Oliver Cromwell was born, and resided many years of his life. Some allusion here seems to be lost."-REED. THE MAYOR OF QUEENBOROUGH. ACT I. Enter RAYNULPH.a RAY. What Raynulph, monk of Chester, can Raise from his Polychronicon, That raiseth him, as works do men, To see long-parted light agen,b That best may please this round fair ring, Ancient stories have been best; That takes not part with days of old? [Exit. * Raynulph]“ Raynulph Higden was the compiler of the Polychronicon, as far as the year 1357, thirty-first of Edward III. It was translated into English by Trevisa, and completed and printed by Caxton in folio, 1482."-REed. agen] The old spelling of again, and necessary here for the sake of the rhyme: compare p. 416. с apaid] i. e. satisfied, contented. |