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APPENDIX M

LOST PLAYS

[Bibliographical Note.—As unknown prints have turned up in the sale of an Irish collection (1907) and the Mostyn sale (1919), and others may yet turn up from time to time, I give a list of plays as to the existence or preparation for publication of which there is some evidence. These are mainly taken either from the Stationers' Register or from the publishers' advertisement lists (Rogers and Ley's in 1656, Archer's in 1656, Kirkman's in 1661 and 1671), analysed by W. W. Greg in an appendix to his Masques (1902). One is included in Sir John Harington's catalogue of his library of plays apparently compiled in 1610 (cf. ch. xxii). Probably some of the registered titles, in which the description 'play' or 'interlude' is not used, do not relate to plays at all. I might have added a few more of this type from A. Esdaile, List of English Tales and Romances (1912, Bibl. Soc.), xxxiii. And it must be borne in mind that registration is not proof of publication. In particular, it is pretty clear that the two long series of entries by Humphrey Moseley on 9 Sept. 1653 and 29 June 1660, from which I have taken those conceivably relating to pre-1616 work, represent unaccomplished enterprises. They are fully discussed in W. W. Greg, The Bakings of Betsy (1911, 3 Library, ii. 225), together with John Warburton's (ob. 1759) list in Lansd. MS. 807, f. 1, of plays which he claims to have possessed in MS., until 'through my own carelesness and the ignorance of my ser[vant] in whose hands I had lodgd them they was unluckely burnd or put under Pye bottoms'. As this list is evidently in some way related to Moseley's entries, I have, for the sake of completeness, cited a few titles which it adds.] A Bad Beginning Makes a Good Ending. By Ford (q.v.). Adam's Tragedy. S. R. 1608, March 26 (Pasfield). 'A book called Adams tragedie.' W. White (Arber, iii. 372). This is not likely to have been a play. Antonio and Vallia. By Massinger (q.v.). Baggs Seneca. See ch. xxiii (Seneca). Bartholomew Fairing. Comedy in Archer's list as well as Jonson's B. Fair. Battle of Affliction. Tragedy in Archer's list. Belinus.

Brennus. Sir John Harington's catalogue of his plays in 1610 (7 N. Q. ix. 382) includes 'Belynus, Brennus'. This might represent either two plays or one.