America took _The Trial of Treasure_ (£160) and _Apius and Virginia_ (£101). I have not, however, as yet, been able to locate them more definitely.
Mr. T. J. Wise purchased _Cambyses_ (£169) and _Gammer Gurton's Needle_ (£180).
_Octavia_ (£82) was purchased for Mr. J. H. Wrenn.
Others were announced for sale by Mr. Quaritch in his catalogue (No. 254) dated Dec. 1906. The titles of these plays and the auction price were: _Jacob and Esau_ (£148); _The Tide Tarrieth for no Man_ (£176); _The_ _Disobedient Child_ (£233); _Youth_; and _The New_ _Custom_ (£155).
It is my good fortune in the present volume to be the first to make the three "lost" plays available for scholars. The greatest care has been taken to furnish a faithful rendering of the original texts; these have been set from rotary-bromide photographs of the unique copies now in national custody. Moreover, to meet the requirements of "textual experts" and the "higher criticism" these three plays form the first series of my _Tudor Fascimile_ _Texts_, and will shortly be available in collotype. The four "unknown" editions already noted are also being reproduced by the same process and will form Series II. of the same collection.
Space--this volume is already much over-grown--forbids further comment. Nor would it be proper here and now. The recovery is too recent to have afforded an adequate opportunity for more than the most cursory examination; indeed, my strong feeling has been that I should best serve the wishes of the subscribers to the Early English Drama Society's publications by losing no time in placing these texts before them.
The other early interludes which complete the present collection are likewise rare and more or less difficult of access.
THE PLAY OF WIT AND SCIENCE. BY JOHN REDFORD 135
A MORALITY PORTRAYING THE LIFE OF NE'ER-DO-WEELS IN LATE PLANTAGENET AND EARLY TUDOR TIMES]
MERCY MANKIND MISCHIEF NEW GUISE NOUGHT NOW-A-DAYS TITIVILLUS]
_Mercy._ The very Founder and Beginner of our first creation, Among us sinful wretches He oweth to be magnified; That, for our disobedience, He had none indignation To send His own Son to be torn and crucified. Our obsequious service to Him should be applied: Where He was Lord of all, and made all thing of nought, For the sinful sinner, to have him revived, And, for his redemption, set His own Son at nought. That may be said and verified: Mankind was dear bought; By the piteous death of Jesu he had his remedy; He was purged of his default--that wretchedly had wrought-- By His glorious passion, that blessed lavatory. O sovereigns! I beseech you your conditions to rectify; And, with humility and reverence, to have a remotion To this blessed Prince, that our nature doth glorify; That ye may be participable of His retribution. I have be[en] the very mean for your restitution: Mercy is my name, that mourneth for your offence. Divert not yourself in time of temptation, That ye may be acceptable to God at your going hence; The great mercy of God, that is of most pre-eminence, By meditation of our Lady, that is ever abundant To the sinful creature that will repent his negligence: I pray God, at your most need, that Mercy be your defendant. In good works I advise you, sovereigns! to be perseverant; To purify your souls that they be not corrupt; For your ghostly enemy will make his avaunt, Your good conditions if he may interrupt. O! ye sovereigns that sit, and ye brothern that stand right up, Pryke not your felicities in things transitory! Behold not the earth, but lift your eye up! See how the head the members daily do magnify. Who is the head? forsooth! I shall you certify: I mean our Saviour that was likened to a lamb; And His saints be the members, that daily He doth satisfy With the precious river that runneth from His womb. There is none such food by water, nor by land; So precious, so glorious, so needful to our intent; For it hath dissolved Mankind from the bitter bond Of the mortal enemy, that venomous serpent: From the which, God preserve you all at the last judgment! For, sikerly, there shall be a strerat examination: The corn shall be saved; the chaff shall be brent-- I beseech you heartily have this premeditation.