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(3.) A Latin Letter to Dr. Bartholomew Clerke, prefixed to his Tranflation of Balthazar Caftilio, De Curiali five Aulico, first printed at London about 1571.

(4) Verfes prefixed to Hobby's Tranflation of Caftilio's Courtier, 4to, 1577, in commendation of the Work.

(5.) Letters in the Cabala, and one to the earl of Suffex, in Howard's Collection, p. 297.

THOMAS NORTON, who joined with Lord Buckhurst in writing this play, was, according to Wood who gives him the title of a forward and bufy calvinist, a native of, or refident at, Sharpenhaule, otherwife Sharpenhoe, in the county of Bedford. He lived fome time in the Temple, became a barrifter 3 at law, and folicitor for the city of London 4. He tranflated fome of the Palms in Sternhold and Hopkins's Version, and was the author and tranflator of feveral polemical and political Works, which are enumerated in Wood's Athena Oxonienfes 5.

2 Athenæ Oxonienfes, 77.

3 Ibid.

4 Marbury's Book of Monarchy, as quoted by Oldys, in his Mí. Notes on Langbaine.

$P, 77. p. 155.

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ARGUMENT of the TRAGEDIE,

GORBODUC, king of Brittaine, divided his realme in bis Life-time to his fonnes, Ferrex and Porrex. The fonnes fell to difcention. The yonger killed the elder. The mother that more dearely loved the elder, for revenge killed the yonger. The people moved with the crueltie of the fact, rofe in rebellion, and flew both father and mother. The Nobilitie assembled, and moft terribly deftroyed the Rebels, and afterwards for want of iffue of the Prince, whereby the fucceffion of the Crowne became uncertaine, they fill to Civil Warre, in which both they and many of their iffues wer flain, and the land for a long time almoft defolate and miferably wafted.

The

The P [Printer] to the READER.

WHERE this Tragedie was for furniture of part of the

grand Chriftmafle in the Inner-Temple, firft written about nine yeares agoe by the right honourable Thomas, now Lorde Buckherft, and by T. Norton, and after fhewed before her majestie, and never intended by the Authors thereof to be published: yet one W. G. getting a copie therof at fome yong man's hand that lacked a little money, and much difcretion in the laft great plage an. 1565, about 5 yeares paft, while the faid lord was out of England, and T. Norton farre out of London, and neither of them both made privie, put it forth exeedingly corrupted: even as if by meanes of a broker for hire he should have entifed into his houfe a faire maide and done her villanie, and after all to befcratched her face, torne her apparell, berayed and disfigured her, and then thrust her out of dores difhonefted, In fuch plight after long wandring, fhe came at length home to the fight of her frendes, who fcant knew her but by a few tokens and markes remayning. They, the authors I meane, though they were very much displeased that she ranne abroad without leave, whereby the caught her fhame as many wantons do; yet feeing the cafe as it is, remedileffe have for common honefție and shamefaftneffe new apparelled, trimmed, and attired her in fuch a forme as she was before. In which better forme fince the hath come to me, I have harbored her for her frendes fake and her owne; and I do not dout her parentes, the authors, will not now be difcontent that she goe abroad among you good readers, fo it be in honeft companie. For fhe is by my encouragement and others fomewhat leffe afhamed of the dithoneftie done to her, because it was by fraude and force. It fhe be welcome among you, and gently enterteined in favor of the houfe from whence The is defcended, and of her owne nature courteously difpofed to offend no man, her frendes will thanke you for it. but that she shall be ftill reproched with her former miffehap, er quarelled at by envious perfons, fhe, poore gentlewoman,

If not,

will furely play Lucreees part, and of herfelf die for fhame, and I fhall wifhe that the had taried ftill at home with me, where he was welcome: for fhe did never put me to more charge but this one poore blacke gowne lined with white, that I have now geven her to goe abroad among you withall,

NAMES

NAMES of the SPEAKERS..

GORBODUC, king of Great Brittain.

VIDENA, queene and wife to king GOR BODUC.

FERREX, elder fonne to king GOR BODUC.
PORREX, yonger fonne to king GORBODUC.

CLOYTON duke of Cornewall.

FERGUS, duke of Albanye.

MANDUD, duke of Loegris.

GWENARD, duke of Cumberland.

EUBULUS, fecre arie to the king,
AROSTUS, a coun ellor to the king.

DORDAN, a counfelior affigned by the king to his eldeft fonne Ferrex.

PHILANDER, a counsellor affigned by the king to his yongest fon PORREX.

[Both being of the olde kinges counfell before.
HERMON, a parafite remaining with FERREX.
TYNDAR, a parafite remaining with PORREX.
NUNTIUS, a meffenger of the eldest brother's death.

NUNTIUS, a messenger of duke FERGUS rifing in arms.
MARCELLA, a lady of the queenes privie-chamber.
CHORUS, foure auncient and fage men of Brittaine.

The

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