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OR,

THE CITTIE GALLANT.

AS IT HATH BEENE DIVERS TIMES ACTED BY THE QUEENES MAJESTIES SERVANTS.

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JOHN COOK, the author of this play, is totally unknown. No contemporary writer hath taken the least notice of him, nor hath any biographer since given the slightest account of his life. All that we are informed of is, that he wrote the following dramatick performance. Langbaine, and the writers since, ascribe the first. title of it to the excellent performance of Thomas Green in the part of Bubble, whose universal repartee to all compliments is, Tu quoque. Green was both a writer and actor †, and with great probability is supposed to have been a relation of Shakspeare's, and the person by whom he was introduced to the theatre. He was born at Stratford upon Avon, which is ascertained by the following lines §, spoken by him in one of the old Comedies, in the character of a clown:

"I pratled poesie in my nurse's arms,

"And, born where late our swan of Avon sung,
"In Avon's streams we both of us have lav'd,
"And both came out together."

This passage is quoted by Chetwood, from the Two Maids of Mooreclack, where it is not to be found,

* P. 73.

He was an actor at the Red Bull Theatre, as appears by a rather curious scene in the course of this play where Green is spoken of by name :

"Geraldine. Why then we'll go to the Red Bull: they say "Green's a good clown.

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"Bubble. Green! Green's an ass.

Scattergood. Wherefore do you say so?

"Bubble. Indeed, I ha' no reason; for they say he is as like me as ever he can look."

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There seems every probability that the play when originally produced had some other title, until the excellence of Green's performance, and his mode of delivering Tu quoque, gave it his name. could scarcely be brought out in the first instance under the appellation of "Green's Tu Quoque," before it was known how it would succeed, and how his acting would tell in the part of Bubble. In this respect perhaps Langbaine was mistaken. C.

Attempt to ascertain the order of Shakspeare's plays, by Mr. Malone, p. 275.

§ The British Theatre, p. 9.

VOL VII.

B

2

though it seems to be a genuine extract, which the writer, by whom it was produced, had forgot from whence he transcribed it. Heywood, who published this play, says, in the preface to it: "As for Maister "Greene all that I will speake of him (and that with"out flattery) is this; there was not an actor of his "nature, in his time, of better ability in performance "of what he undertooke, more applauded by the "audience, of greater grace at the court, or of more "general love in the citty." From this preface it appears, Green was dead when it was written, and Oldys* says, there are three epitaphs upon him in Richard Braithwayt's Remains, 8vo. 1618, by which it seems, that he died after being newly arrived from seat. He was the author of " A Poet's Vision and a "Prince's Glorie. Dedicated to the high and mightie "Prince James, King of England, Scotland, France, "and Ireland." 4to. 1603; and some verses prefixed to Drayton's Poem on the Barons' Wars. I have seen

*MS. additions to Langbaine, p. 73.

†The following are the epitaphs mentioned by Oldys, from Braithwayt's Remains.

"Upon an actor now of late deceased: and upon his action Tu Quoque : "and first upon his travel.

"Hee whom this mouldered clod of earth doth hide,
"New come from sea, made but one face and dide.

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"His debtors now, no fault with him can finde,
"Sith he has paid to nature all's behinde.

"Upon his fellow actors.

"What can you crave of your poore fellow more?
"He does but what Tu Quoque did before:
"Then give him dying, actions second wreath,
"That second'd him in action and in death."

In actorem Mimicum cui vix parem cernimus superstitem.
Quæcunque orta sunt occidunt.

Sallust.

Ver vireat quod te peperit (viridissima proles)
Quæque tegit cineres, ipsa virescat humus.
Transis ab exiguis nunquam periture theatris
Ut repetas sacri pulchra theatra Jovis.

Remains after Death, 8vo. 1618. Sign. G 5.

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