INDEX OF PERSONS OR AUTHORS MENTIONED IN JONSON'S CONVERSATIONS. Aiton, Sir Robert, 11 Alexander, Sir William, (afterwards Ariosto, 3 Arlotte, Mother of William the Con- Arthur, King, 10 Aubigny, Lord d', 19 Bacon, Sir Francis, Lord Chancellor, Bartas, Sieur Du, 2, 4 Boulstred, Mrs., 7, 38 Bowes, Sir Hierosme, 34 Donne, Dr. John, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, Drayton, Michael, 2, 10, 11, 15 den, passim Du Bartas, see Bartas Elizabeth, Queen, 15, 19, 23, 35 Fairfax, Edward, 2, 3 Guarini, 4, 36 Hall, Joseph, 36 Harrington, Sir John, 3 Hooker, Richard, 10 James the First, King, 3, 19, 20, Jones, Inigo, 22, 30, 31 Jonson, Ben, passim, his Father and Leicester, Robert, Earl of, 23, 24; Raleigh, Sir Walter, 2, 12, 15, 21; Rutland, Countess of, 16, 17, 24, 27 Salisbury, Earl of, 22, 24 Selden, John, 10, 20, 36 Sidney, Sir Philip, 2, 10, 15, 16, Suffolk, Lord, 10 Suffolk, Lady, 27 Tacitus, 2, 9, 10, 25, 36 LONDON: P. SHOBERL, JUN., 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET, PRINTER TO H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT. REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ОР THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY TO THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SUBCRIBERS, HELD ON THE 26th APRIL, 1842, AT THE ROOMS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE, No. 4, ST. MARTIN'S PLACE, CHARING CROSS. At the close of the duties of the first Council of the Shakespeare Society, it may be proper to state briefly the object of the association, that it may be seen how far that object has been attained. The illustration of the Life and Writings of our great Dramatist was the primary design in the formation of the Shakespeare Society; and in the original Prospectus it was stated that "every thing, whether derived from manuscript or printed sources, that would throw light on our Early Dramatic Literature and Stage," would also come within its purpose. With this view it was proposed not merely to print works which would directly elucidate some point in the biography of Shakespeare, or in the history of his productions, which works must necessarily be of comparatively rare occurrence, but others which would indirectly come in aid of such an undertaking. Thus, Old Plays, by the predecessors or contemporaries of Shakespeare, were pointed out as peculiarly appropriate: it was considered indisputable that few Tracts of the time by rival authors, adverting to existing manners and opinions, would fail in various respects to explain Shakespeare's character, plays, or poems; and the early publications, friendly or hostile to the progress of Theatrical Amusements, would, of course, afford information in connection with the rise and progress of our Stage, and with its condition at the time when Shakespeare became an author and an actor. The mention of the Works already issued by the Society will tend to shew in what manner and to what extent the Council has carried into effect the intention of its establishment; but it may be right, in the first place, to remark that the funds of an association of the kind must, in the outset, be unavoidably limited. When the full number of One Thousand Subscribers shall have been attained, it is obvious that the Council will be able to accomplish more, than in the present year they have had the means of attempting. The volumes already issued are seven in number, making in the whole more than 1300 octavo pages; but it is to be observed that the last volume is not included in the first year's subscription. The following are the titles of the Publications of the Society, in the order in which they have come from the press. 1. MEMOIRS OF EDWARD ALLEYN, the Actor, Founder of Dulwich College, from original sources: with new information respecting Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Lodge, Dekker, Marston, and other contemporary Dramatists and Actors. By J. PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ., F.S.A. 2. THE SCHOOL OF ABUSE: containing a pleasant Invectivě against Poets, Pipers, Players, Jesters, &c. By STEPHEN GOSSON. From the edition of 1579, compared with the impression of 1587. 3. AN APOLOGY FOR ACTORS, &c. By THOMAS HEYWOOD. From the edition printed by Nicholas Okes in 1612, compared with Cartwright's edition printed during the Civil Wars. 4. LUDUS COVENTRIE: a Collection of Mysteries, formerly represented at Coventry on the Feast of Corpus Christi. From a MS. in the British Museum of the Reign of Edward IV. Edited by JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A., &c. 5. THE DEBATE BETWEEN PRIDE AND LOWLINESS, pleaded in an Issue of Assize, &c. by FRANCIS THYNN. Imprinted at London by |