Preface

________________________________________________
_ The Famous Tragedy of The Rich Jew of Malta. As it was playd before the King and Qeen, in His Majesties Theatre at White-Hall, by her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit. Written by Christopher Marlowe. London; Printed by I. B. for Nicholas Vavasour, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Inner-Temple, near the Church. 1633. 4to.

 

TO MY WORTHY FRIEND, MASTER THOMAS HAMMON, of GRAY'S INN, ETC.

This play, composed by so worthy an author as Master Marlowe, and the part of the Jew presented by so unimitable an actor as Master Alleyn, being in this later age commended to the stage; as I ushered it unto the court, and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these Prologues and Epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was loath it should be published without the ornament of an Epistle; making choice of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen and acquaintance within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you have been pleased to grace some of mine own works [1] with your courteous patronage: I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because commended by me; over whom none can claim more power or privilege than yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; receive it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by which he rests still engaged, who, as he ever hath, shall always remain,

Tuissimus,
Tho. Heywood. [2]

[Footnote 1: Heywood dedicates the First Part of THE IRON AGE (printed 1632) "To my Worthy and much Respected Friend, Mr. Thomas Hammon, of Grayes Inne, Esquire."]

[Footnote 2: Tho. Heywood: The well-known dramatist.] _

Read next: Prologue And Dramatis Personae


Table of content of Jew of Malta


GO TO TOP OF SCREEN

Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book