_Not out of confidence that none but wee Are able to present this tragedie, Nor out of envie at the grace of late It did receive, nor yet to derogate From their deserts, who give out boldly that 5 They move with equall feet on the same flat; Neither for all, nor any of such ends, We offer it, gracious and noble friends, To your review; wee, farre from emulation, And (charitably judge) from imitation, 10 With this work entertaine you, a peece knowne, And still beleev'd, in Court to be our owne. To quit our claime, doubting our right or merit, Would argue in us poverty of spirit Which we must not subscribe to: Field is gone, 15 Whose action first did give it name, and one Who came the neerest to him, is denide By his gray beard to shew the height and pride Of D'Ambois youth and braverie; yet to hold Our title still a foot, and not grow cold 20 By giving it o're, a third man with his best Of care and paines defends our interest; As Richard he was lik'd, nor doe wee feare, In personating D'Ambois, hee'le appeare To faint, or goe lesse, so your free consent, 25 As heretofore, give him encouragement._
_Prologue._ The Prologue does not appear in A.
10 (_charitably judge_). So punctuated by ed. B has:--
_To your review, we farre from emulation (And charitably judge from imitation) With this work entertaine you, a peece knowne And still beleev'd in Court to be our owne, To quit our claime, doubting our right or merit, Would argue in us poverty of spirit Which we must not subscribe to._
13 _doubting_. In some copies of B this is misprinted _oubting_.
HENRY III, King of France. MONSIEUR, his brother. THE DUKE OF GUISE. MONTSURRY, a Count. BUSSY D'AMBOIS. BARRISOR, } L'ANOU, } Courtiers: enemies of D'AMBOIS. PYRHOT, } BRISAC, } MELYNELL, } Courtiers: friends of D'AMBOIS. COMOLET, a Friar. MAFFE, steward to MONSIEUR. NUNCIUS. MURDERERS.
BEHEMOTH, } CARTOPHYLAX, } Spirits. UMBRA OF FRIAR.
ELENOR, Duchess of Guise. TAMYRA, Countess of Montsurry. BEAUPRE, niece to ELENOR. ANNABLE, maid to ELENOR. PERO, maid to TAMYRA. CHARLOTTE, maid to BEAUPRE. PYRA, a court lady. Courtiers, Ladies, Pages, Servants, Spirits, &c.
[4:1] The Quartos contain no list of _Dramatis Personæ_. One is however prefixed to D'Urfey's version (1691), with the names of the performers added. C. W. Dilke prefixed a somewhat imperfect one to his edition in vol. III of _Old English Plays_ (1814). W. L. Phelps, who did not know of Dilke's list, supplied a more correct one in his edition in the _Mermaid Series_ (1895). The subjoined list adds some fresh details, especially concerning the subordinate characters.