Part I

, chh. xxiii-xxxvii, is that of _Double Falsehood, or the Distressed Lovers_, published in 1728 by Lewis Theobald as ‘written originally by W. Shakespeare, and now revised and adapted to the stage by M^r. Theobald’. In 1727 it had been produced at Drury Lane. Theobald claimed to have three manuscripts, no one of which is now known. One had formerly, he said, belonged to Betterton, and was in the handwriting of ‘M^r. _Downes_, the famous Old Prompter’ (cf. App. I). Another came from a ‘Noble Person’, with a tradition ‘that it was given by our Author, as a Present of Value, to a Natural Daughter of his, for whose Sake he wrote it, in the Time of his Retirement from the Stage’. Theobald is much under suspicion of having written _Double Falsehood_ himself (cf. T. R. Lounsbury, _The First Editors of Shakespeare_, 145).

‘The Historye of Henry the First, written by Damport’ was licensed for the King’s men on 10 Apr. 1624 (_Var._ iii. 229, 319; Herbert, 27).

EDWARD SHARPHAM (1576–1608).

Edward was the third son of Richard Sharpham of Colehanger in East Allington, Devonshire, where he was baptized on 22 July 1576. He entered the Middle Temple on 9 Oct. 1594. He made his will on 22 Apr. 1608, and was buried on the following day at St. Margaret’s, Westminster. It may be inferred that he died of plague. Unless he is the E. S. who wrote _The Discoveries of the Knights of the Post_ (1597), he is only known by his two plays. There is no justification for identifying him with the Ed. Sharphell who prefixed a sonnet to the _Humours Heav’n on Earth_ (1605) of John Davies of Hereford, calling Davies his ‘beloued Master’, or, consequently, for assuming that he had been a pupil of Davies as writing-master at Magdalen, Oxford.

_Dissertations_: G. C. Moore Smith, _E. S._ (1908, _10 N. Q._ x. 21), _John Mason and E. S._ (1913, _M. L. R._ viii. 371); M. W. Sampson, _The Plays of E. S._ (1910, _Studies in Language and Literature in Celebration of the 70th Birthday of J. M. Hart_, 440).

_The Fleir. 1606_

_S. R._ 1606, May 13. ‘A Comedie called The fleare. Provided that they are not to printe yt tell they bringe good aucthoritie and licence for the Doinge thereof.’ _John Trundell and John Busby_ (Arber, iii. 321).

1606, Nov. 21. Transfer from Trundell to Busby and Arthur Johnson, with note ‘This booke is aucthorised by Sir George Bucke Master Hartwell and the wardens’ (Arber, iii. 333).

1607. The Fleire. As it hath beene often played in the Blacke-Fryers by the Children of the Reuells. Written by Edward Sharpham of the Middle Temple, Gentleman. _F. B._ [Epistle to the Reader, by the printer.]

1610; 1615; 1631.

_Edition_ by H. Nibbe (1912, _Materialien_, xxxvi).

The epistle says that the book has been ‘long lookt for’, that the author is ‘ith’ Country’ and that further ‘Comicall discourses’ from him are forthcoming. A date after the executions for treason on 30 Jan. 1606 is suggested, as in the case of Marston’s _Fawn_, by ii. 364, ‘I have heard say, they will rise sooner, and goe with more deuotion to see an extraordinarie execution, then to heare a Sermon’, and with this indication allusions to the Union (ii. 258) and _Northward Ho!_ (ii. 397) and resemblances to the _Fawn_ are consistent.

_Cupid’s Whirligig. 1607_

_S. R._ 1607, June 29 (Tylney). ‘A Comedie called Cupids Whirley-gigge.’ _John Busby and Arthur Johnson_ (Arber, iii. 354).

1607. Cupid’s Whirligig, As it hath bene sundry times Acted by the Children of the Kings Majesties Reuels. _E. Allde, sold by A. Johnson._ [Epistle to Robert Hayman, signed ‘E. S.’]

1611; 1616; 1630.

Baker, _Biographia Dramatica_, ii. 146, cites Coxeter as authority for a false ascription of the play to Shakespeare. But nobody could well have supposed Shakespeare to be indicated by the initials E. S., for which there is really no other candidate than Sharpham. The play must be the further ‘Comicall discourses’ promised by the same publishers in the epistle to _The Fleir_, and it may be added that Hayman (cf. _D. N. B._), like Sharpham, was a Devonshire man. The date may be taken to be 1607, as the King’s Revels are not traceable earlier.

SAMUEL SHEPPARD (> 1606–1652 <).

The known work of this miscellaneous writer belongs to 1646–52, and although it includes a political tract in dramatic form, it is only his vague claim of a share, possibly as amanuensis, in Jonson’s _Sejanus_ (q.v.), which suggests that he might be the unknown S. S. whose initials are on the title-page of _The Honest Lawyer_ (1616).

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY (1554–86).

Both his entertainments were printed for the first time with the third (1598) edition of the _Arcadia_.

_The Lady of May. 1579_ (?)

1598. The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia. Written by Sir Philip Sidney Knight. Now the third time published, with sundry new additions of the same Author. _For William Ponsonby._ [The description of the entertainment follows _Astrophel and Stella_ among the ‘new additions’, beginning at the head of sig. 3 B3^v, without title or date.]

Reprints in 1599, 1605, 1613, 1621, 1622, 1623, 1627, 1629, 1633, 1638, 1655, 1662, 1674 editions of the _Arcadia_.

_Editions_ in Nichols, _Elizabeth^{1, 2}_, ii. 94 (1788–1823), and Collections of Sidney’s _Works_.

The entertainment was in the Garden. As the Queen entered the grove, An Honest Man’s Wife of the Country delivered a speech and a written supplication in verse, for decision of the case of her daughter. Then came the daughter, chosen May Lady, and haled this way by six Shepherds on behalf of her lover Espilus and six Foresters on behalf of her lover Therion. The case was put to the Queen by Laius an old Shepherd, Rombus a Schoolmaster, and finally the May Lady herself. Espilus, accompanied by the Shepherds with recorders, and Therion, accompanied by the Foresters with cornets, sang in rivalry. A ‘contention’ followed between Dorcas, an old Shepherd, and Rixus, a young Forester, ‘whether of their fellows had sung better, and whether the estate of shepherds or foresters were the more worshipful’. Rombus tried to intervene. The May Lady appealed to the Queen, who decided for Espilus. Shepherds and Foresters made a consort together, Espilus sang a song, and the May Lady took her leave.

Nichols assigns the entertainment to Elizabeth’s Wanstead visit of 1578. But it might also belong to that of 1579, and possibly to that of 1582. In 1579, but not in 1578, the visit covered May Day. The references in the text are, however, to the month of May, rather than to May Day.

_Pastoral Dialogue, c. 1580_

1598. A Dialogue between two Shepherds, Vttered in a Pastorall Show at Wilton. [Appended to _Arcadia_; cf. _supra_.]

_Edition_ in A. B. Grosart, _Poems of Sidney_ (1877), ii. 50.

This dialogue between Dick and Will appears to belong to the series of poems motived by Sidney’s love for Penelope Devereux. It must therefore date between August 1577, when Sidney first visited his sister, Lady Pembroke, at Wilton, and his own marriage on 20 Sept. 1583. There is no indication that the Queen was present; not improbably the ‘Show’ took place while Sidney was out of favour at Court, and was living at Wilton from March to August 1580.

JOHN SINGER (?-1603 <).

On Singer’s career as an actor, see ch. xv.

On 13 Jan. 1603, about which date he apparently retired from the Admiral’s, Henslowe paid him £5 ‘for his playe called Syngers vallentarey’ (Greg, _Henslowe_, i. 173; ii. 226). I think the term ‘vallentarey’ must be used by Henslowe, rightly or wrongly, in the sense of ‘valedictory’. _Quips on Questions_ (1600), a book of ‘themes’, is not his, but Armin’s (q.v.).

WILLIAM SLY (?-1608).

On Sly’s career as an actor, see ch. xv.

He has been guessed at as the author of _Thomas Lord Cromwell_ (cf. ch. xxiv).

W. SMITH.

There are traceable (_a_) Wentworth Smith, who wrote plays for Henslowe’s companies, the Admiral’s, and Worcester’s during 1601–3 (_vide infra_) and witnessed the will of W. Haughton in 1605; (_b_) a W. Smith, who wrote _Hector of Germany_ and _The Freeman’s Honour_ (_vide infra_); (_c_) a ‘Smith’, whose _Fair Foul One_ Herbert licensed on 28 Nov. 1623 (Chalmers, _S. A._ 216; Herbert, 26); (_d_) if Warburton can be trusted, a ‘Will. Smithe’, whose _S^t George for England_ his cook burnt (_3 Library_, ii. 231). It is possible that (_a_) and (_b_) may be identical. A long space of time separates (_b_) and (_c_), and if (_d_) is to be identified with any other, it may most plausibly be with (_c_). There is nothing to connect any one of them with the William Smith who published sonnets under the title of _Chloris_ (1596), or with any other member of this infernal family, and the ‘W. S.’ of the anonymous _Locrine_ (1595), _Thomas Lord Cromwell_ (1602), _The Puritan_ (1607) is more probably, in each case, aimed at Shakespeare.

_The Hector of Germany, c. 1615_

_S. R._ 1615, April 24 (Buck). ‘A play called The Hector of Germany, or the Palsgraue is a harmeles thinge.’ _Josias Harrison_ (Arber, iii. 566). [The four last words of the title are scored through.]

1615. The Hector of Germaine, or the Palsgrave, Prime Elector. A New Play, an Honourable Hystorie. As it hath beene publikely Acted at the Red Bull, and at the Curtaine, by a Companie of Young Men of this Citie. Made by W. Smith, with new Additions. _Thomas Creede for Josias Harrison._ [Epistle to Sir John Swinnerton, signed ‘W. Smith’; Prologue; after text, ‘Finis. W. Smyth.’ Some copies have a variant t.p.]

_Edition_ by L. W. Payne (1906, _Pennsylvania Univ. Publ._).

The epistle says ‘I have begun in a former Play, called the Freemans Honour, acted by the Now-Seruants of the Kings Maiestie, to dignifie the worthy Companie of the Marchantaylors’. If the phrase ‘Now-Seruants’ implies production before 1603, the identification of W. Smith and Wentworth Smith becomes very probable. The prologue explains that the Palsgrave is not Frederick, since ‘Authorities sterne brow’ would not permit ‘To bring him while he lives upon the stage’, and apologizes for the performance by ‘men of trade’.

_Lost Plays_

Henslowe assigns to Wentworth Smith a share in the following plays:

_Plays for the Admiral’s, 1601–2_

(i) _The Conquest of the West Indies._

With Day and Haughton, Apr.–Sept. 1601.

(ii) _1 Cardinal Wolsey._

With Chettle, Drayton, and Munday, Aug.–Nov. 1601.

(iii), (iv) _1, 2 The Six Clothiers._

With Hathway and Haughton, Oct.–Nov. 1601. Apparently