greater, my duety would shew greater, meantime, as it is, it is bound to your Lordship, to whom I wish long life, still lengthened with all happiness.

Your Lordships in all duety,

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

25 Manuscript accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber. (Public Record Office. Pipe Office Declared Accounts. 542. Fo. 2076.)

1594-5, March 15. To Willm Kempe, Willm Shakespeare & Richarde Burbage, servaunts to the Lord Chamberleyne, upon the Councelles warrant dated at Whitehall xvto. Marcij 1594 for twoe severall Comedies or enterludes shewed by them before her Majestie in Christmas tyme laste paste, viz: upon St. Stephens daye and Innocentes daye xiij li. vj. s. viij. d., and by waye of her Majesties rewarde vj. li. xiij. s. iiij. d. in all xx.

li.

26 1595. December 27. Extract from Edmund Spenser's "Colin Clouts come home againe."

And there, though last not least, is Ætion;
A gentler shepheard may no where be found;
Whose Muse, full of high thoughts invention,
Doth like himselfe heroically sound.

27 Entry at Stationers' Hall.

1596, 25 Junij. William Leeke. Assigned over unto him for his copie from Mr. Harrison thelder, in full

court holden this day, by the said Mr. Harrisons Consent, a booke called Venus and Adonis.

28 Stratford Registers. Burial:

1596, August 11, Hamnet filius William Shakspere.

29 1596, September 20th. Title, Dedication and Address of Green's "Groats-worth of Wit." (Entered at Stationers' Hall.)

GREENES GROATS-WORTH OF WITTE: BOUGHT WITH A MILLION OF REPENTAUNCE. Describing the follie of youth, the falsehoode of make-shift flatterers, the miserie of the negligent, and mischiefes of deceiuing Courtezans. Written before before [sic] his death and published at his dying request.-Fælicem fuisse infaustum.-London,-Printed by Thomas Creede, for Richard Oliue, dwelling in long long [sic] Lane, and are there to be solde. 1596.

To those Gentlemen, his Quondam acquaintance, that spend their wits in making Plaies, R. G. wisheth a better exercise, and wisdome to preuent his extremities. If wofull experience may moove you, gentlemen, to beware, or unheard of wretchednes intreate you to take heed, I doubt not but you will looke backe with sorrow on your time past, and endeavour with repentance to spend that which is to come. Wonder not, for with thee wil I first begin, thou famous gracer of tragedians, that Greene, who hath said with thee, like the foole in his heart, there is no God, should now give glorie unto His greatnesse; for penitrating is His power, His hand lies heavie upon me, He hath spoken

unto me with a voice of thunder, and I have felt, He is a God that can punish enimies. Why should thy excellent wit, His gift, be so blinded, that thou shouldst give no glory to the giver? Is it pestilent Machivilian pollicie that thou hast studied? O punish follie! What are his rules but meere confused mockeries, able to extirpate in small time the generation of mankinde. For if sic volo, sic jubeo, hold in those that are able to command; and if it be lawfull, fas et nefas, to doe anything that is beneficiall, onely tyrants should possesse the earth; and they, striving to exceede in tyranny, should each to other bee a slaughter-man; till the mightiest outliving all, one stroke were left for death, that in one age mans life should ende. The brother of this diabolicall atheisme is dead, and in his life had never the felicitie he aimed at; but as he began in craft, lived in feare, and ended in despaire. Quam inscrutabilia sunt Dei judicia? This murderer of many brethren had his conscience seared like Caine; this betrayer of him that gave his life for him inherited the portion of Judas; this apostata perished as ill as Julian : and wilt thou, my friend, be his disciple? Looke unto me, by him perswaded to that libertie, and thou shalt finde it an infernall bondage. I knowe the least of my demerits merit this miserable death; but wilfull striving against knowne truth exceedeth al the terrors of my soule. Defer not, with me, till this last point of extremitie; for little knowest thou how in the end thou shalt be visited.

With thee I joyne young Juvenall, that byting satyrist that lastlie with mee together writ a comedie. Sweete boy, might I advise thee, be advised, and get not many enemies by bitter words; inveigh against vaine men,.