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Transcriber's Note

Endnotes have been moved to the end of the scene to which they apply.
The following note preceded the printed endnotes:

"In the Quartos there are no divisions of acts and scenes.

A, B, C = 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Quartos."

Italic text is marked by _underscores_, and bold text by ~swung dashes~.




[Illustration]

_THE TEMPLE DRAMATISTS_

ARDEN OF FEVERSHAM

[Illustration]




The text of this edition is nearly that of the first Quarto, the copy
of which in the Dyce Library at South Kensington has been carefully
collated. I have not noted minute variations. The German editors,
Warnke and Proescholt, give the various readings of the three Quartos
and of later editions.

[Illustration: _Feversham Abbey._]




ARDEN OF
FEVERSHAM

_Edited with a Preface, Notes
and Glossary by_

REV. RONALD BAYNE
M.A.


J. M. DENT AND CO.
ALDINE HOUSE : LONDON
1897




'Considering the various and marvellous gifts displayed for the first
time on our stage by the great poet, the great dramatist, the strong
and subtle searcher of hearts, the just and merciful judge and painter
of human passions, who gave this tragedy to the new-born literature
of our drama... I cannot but finally take heart to say, even in
the absence of all external or traditional testimony, that it seems
to me not pardonable merely or permissible, but simply logical and
reasonable, to set down this poem, a young man's work on the face of
it, as the possible work of no man's youthful hand but Shakespeare's.'

Mr. A. C. SWINBURNE.




PREFACE


~Early Editions.~ On 3rd April, 1592, '_The Tragedie of Arden of
Feversham and Blackwall_'[A] was entered on the Stationers' Registers
to Edward White. In the same year appeared, '_The lamentable and true
Tragedie of M. Arden of Feversham in Kent. Who was most wickedlye
murdered, by the meanes of his disloyall and wanton wyfe, who for the
love she bare to one Mosbie, hyred two desperat ruffins, Blackwill
and Shakbag, to kill him. Wherin is shewed the great mallice and
discimulation of a wicked woman, the unsatiable desire of filthie lust
and the shamefull end of all