My transcript of James the Fourth, 1598, was made from a copy of that play belonging to the Rev. J. Mitford, who is ever ready either to oblige his friends with the use of his books, or to assist them by his accurate and various learning. A. D. SOME ACCOUNT OF ROBERT GREENE AND HIS WRITINGS. ROBERT GREENE was a native of Norwich.* His birth has been fixed by some writers about 1550, by others about 1560. * In 1592 was printed a piece by Lodge, entitled Euphues Shadow, the Battaile of the Sences: it was edited by Greene, who prefixed to it the following Address : "To the Right Honourable Robert Ratcliffe, Viscount Fitzwaters; Robert Greene wisheth increase of honour and vertue. "Ever desirous (right honorable) to shew my affectionate duty to your Lordship, as well for the generall report of your vertue vniuersally conceipted in the opinion of all men, as for the natiue place of my birth, whereby I am bounde to affect your honourable father, and you for him aboue others, in suspence of this dutifull desire, it fortuned that one M. Thomas Lodge, who nowe is gone to sea with Mayster Candish, had bestowed some serious labour in penning of a booke, called Euphues Shadowe: and by his last letters gaue straight charge, that I should not onely haue the care for his sake of the impression thereof, but also in his absence to bestowe it on some man of Honor, whose worthye vertues might bee a patronage to his worke, where vpon taking aduice with my selfe, I thought none more fit then your Honour, seeing your Lordships disposition was wholy giuen to the studie of good letters, to be a Mecenas to the well imployed laboures of the absent Gentleman: may therefore your Lordship fauourably censure of my good meaning, in presenting your honour with this Pamphlet, and courteouslye graunt acceptance of his workes and my good will, his labour hath his end, and my desire in dutie rests satisfied, and so humbly praying for your Lordships health and welfare, I take my leaue. "Your honors, humbly to commaund, "ROB. GREENE, Norfolciensis." Euphues Shadow is not mentioned in any list of Lodge's works. VOL. 1. b He was educated at Cambridge, taking the degree of A. B. at St. John's College in 1578, and that of A. M. at "I neede not make long discourse of my parentes, who for their grauitie and honest life is well knowne and esteemed amongst their neighbors; namely in the Cittie of Norwitch, where I was bred and borne."-The Repentance of Robert Greene, 1592. sig. C. The full title of the very rare piece last quoted is, The Repentance of Robert Greene, Maister of Artes. Wherein by himselfe is laid open his loose life, with the manner of his death. At London, Printed for Cuthbert Burbie, and are to be sold at the middle shop in the Poultry, under Saint Mildreds Church, 1592. 4to. It opens with the following address : : 'The Printer to the Gentlemen Readers. "Gentlemen, I know you ar not unacquainted with the death of Robert Greene, whose pen in his life-time pleased you as well on the Stage, as in the Stationers shops: And, to speake truth, although his loose life was odious to God and offensiue to men, yet forasmuch as at his last end he found it most grievous to himselfe (as appeareth by this his repentant discourse), I doubt not but he shall for the same deserue fauour both of God and men. And considering, Gentlemen, that Venus hath her charmes to inchaunt; that Fancie is a Sorceresse betwitching the Senses, and follie the only enemie to all vertuous actions. And forasmuch as the purest glasse is the most brickle, the finest Lawne the soonest staind, the highest Oake most subiect to the wind, and the quickest wit the more easily woone to folly: I doubt not but you will with regarde forget his follies, and, like to the Bee, gather hony out of the good counsels of him, who was wise, learned and polliticke, had not his lasciuious life withdrawen him from those studies which had been far more profitable to him. "For herein appeareth that he was a man given ouer to the lust of his owne heart, forsaking all godlines, and one that daily delighted in all manner of wickednes. Since other therefore haue forerun him in the like faults, and haue been forgiuen both of God and men, I trust hee shall bee the better accepted, that by the working of Gods holy spirit, returnes with such a resolued Repentance, being a thing acceptable both to God and men. "To conclude, forasmuch as I found this discourse very passionate, and of woonderful effect to withdraw the wicked from their ungodly waies, I thought good to publish the same: and the rather, for that by his repentance they may as in a glasse see their owne follie, and thereby in time resolue, that it is better to die repentant, than to live dishonest. "Yours, C. B." |