es)
is assigned to our comedian in Ritson's _Bibl. Poet._, Collier's _Hist.
of Engl. Dram. Poet._[xviii:1] &c., &c. The writer calls it "the first
fruites of his labour," and dedicates it "To the right honorable my very
good Lord, George Barne, L. Maior of the Cittie of London." It opens
thus:

"What madnes hath so mazd mens minds, that they cannot forsee
The wretched ends of catiues vile, which work by treacherie,
To ouerthrowe the blessed state of happie common wealth,
Or to depriue their soueraigne prince of her long wished health.
If feare of God and of his lawes were clearlie out of minde,
If feare of death (by Princes lawes) might not their dueties binde,
If vtter ruine of the Realme, and spoile of guiltlesse blood,
Might not suffice to stay the rage of traitors cruell moode,
Yet might they well consider howe treasons come to nought,
But alwaies worke their ouerthrowe by whom they first were wrought,"
&c.

Towards the end, the loyalty of the author becomes so extravagant, that
in a prayer for Queen Elizabeth, he exclaims:--

"Prolong her daies we pray thee, Lord, and if it be thy will,
Let vs not ouerliue her raigne, but let vs haue her still!"

As the comedian expressly declares that the _Nine daies wonder_ was the
"first Pamphlet that euer Will Kemp offred to the Presse,"[xix:1] there
can be no doubt that this _Dvtiful Invective_ was written by some other
individual of the name; perhaps by the William Kempe who published in
the following year a book entitled _The Education of Children in
learning_, and who is supposed to have been a schoolmaster at
Plymouth.[xix:2]

During the earlier period of the English stage, after the play was
concluded, the audience were commonly entertained by a _Jig_. As no
piece of that kind is extant, we are unable to ascertain its nature with
precision; but it appears to have been a ludicrous metrical composition,
either spoken or sung by the Clown, and occasionally accompanied by
dancing and playing on the pipe and tabor. More persons than one were
sometimes employed in a jig; and there is reason to believe that the
performance was of considerable length, occupying even the space of an
hour.[xx:1] The following entries are given verbatim from the
Stationers' Books:

"28 December [1591]

"Thomas Gosson Entred for his copie vnder thand }
of M^r Watkins, the T