A New Description of Ireland (1610), in fact go back to Stanyhurst's account of 1577, and though there is a pretty clear borrowing from Tourneur's Atheist's Tragedy, that may have been produced some time before its publication in 1611. Nor was Dekker necessarily referring to Webster, when he wrote to the Queen's men in his epistle before If this be not a Good Play (1612): 'I wish a Faire and Fortunate Day to your Next New-Play for the Makers-sake and your Owne, because such Brave Triumphes of Poesie and Elaborate Industry, which my Worthy Friends Muse hath there set forth, deserue a Theater full of very Muses themselves to be Spectators. To that Faire Day I wish a Full, Free and Knowing Auditor.' Webster's own epistle contains his appreciation 'of other mens worthy labours; especially of that full and haightned stile of Maister Chapman, the labor'd and understanding workes of Maister Johnson, the no lesse worthy composures of the both worthily excellent Maister Beamont, & Maister Fletcher, and lastly (without wrong last to be named) the right happy and copious industry of M. Shake-speare, M. Decker, & M. Heywood'. In the final note he commends the actors, and in particular 'the well approved industry of my friend Maister Perkins'.
The Duchess of Malfi. 1613-14
1623. The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy. As it was Presented priuately, at the Black-Friers; and publiquely at the Globe, By the Kings Maiesties Seruants. The perfect and exact Coppy, with diuerse things Printed, that the length of the Play would not beare in the Presentment. Written by John Webster. Nicholas Okes for Iohn Waterson. [Epistle to George Lord Berkeley, signed 'John Webster'; Commendatory Verses, signed 'Thomas Middletonus Poëta et Chron: Londinensis', 'Wil: Rowley', 'John Ford'; 'The Actors Names. Bosola, J. Lowin. Ferdinand, 1 R. Burbidge, 2 J. Taylor. Cardinall, 1 H. Cundaile, 2 R. Robinson. Antonio, 1 W. Ostler, 2 R. Benfeild. Delio, J. Underwood. Forobosco, N. Towley. Pescara, J. Rice. Silvio, T. Pollard. Mad-men, N. Towley, J. Underwood, etc. Cardinals M^{is}, J. Tomson. The Doctor, etc., R. Pallant. Duchess, R. Sharpe.'
1640; 1678; N.D.
Editions by C. E. Vaughan (1896, T. D.), M. W. Sampson (1904, B. L.), and W. A. Neilson (1911, C. E. D.).—Dissertations: K. Kiesow, Die verschiedenen Bearbeitungen der Novelle von der Herzogin von Amalfi des Bandello in den Literaturen des xvi. und xvii. Jahrhunderts (1895, Anglia, xvii. 199); J. T. Murray, The D. of M. List of the King's Company (1910, E. D. C. ii. 146); W. J. Lawrence, The Date of the D. of M. (Athenaeum for 21 Nov. 1919); W. Archer, The D. of M. (Nineteenth Century for Jan. 1920).
The actor-list records two distinct casts, one before Ostler's death on 16 Dec. 1614, the other after Burbadge's death on 13 March 1619, and before that of Tooley in June 1623. Stoll, 29, quotes the Anglo-*potrida of Orazio Busino (cf. the abstract in V. P. xv. 134), which
