ons of the greatest
value, has much enriched the store of information concerning our
Dramatic Literature amassed by Malone, Stevens, Reed, and Chalmers.
Referring to numberless published and unpublished papers, to sources
both familiar and rare, Mr. Collier has been enabled, moreover, to
increase in an important degree our knowledge of the Elizabethan
Theatre, its manners and customs, ways and means. I feel that I owe
to his archaeological studies many apt quotations and illustrative
passages I could scarcely have supplied from my own unassisted
resources.

Some additions to the text I have deemed expedient. The few
errors--they were very few and unimportant--discovered in the first
edition I have corrected in the present publication; certain
redundancies I have suppressed; here and there I have ventured upon
condensation, and generally I have endeavoured to bring my statements
into harmony with the condition of the stage at the present moment.
Substantially, however, the "Book of the Play" remains what it was at
the date of its original issue, when it was received by the reading
public with a kindness and cordiality I am not likely to forget.

DUTTON COOK.

69, GLOUCESTER CRESCENT, REGENT'S PARK, N.W.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PLAYGOERS

CHAPTER II.
THE MASTER OF THE REVELS

CHAPTER III.
THE LICENSER OF PLAYHOUSES

CHAPTER IV.
THE EXAMINER OF PLAYS

CHAPTER V.
A BILL OF THE PLAY

CHAPTER VI.
STROLLING PLAYERS

CHAPTER VII.
"PAY HERE"

CHAPTER VIII.
IN THE PIT

CHAPTER IX.
THE FOOTMEN'S GALLERY

CHAPTER X.
FOOT-LIGHTS

CHAPTER XI.
"COME, THE RECORDERS!"

CHAPTER XII.
PROLOGUES

CHAPTER XIII.
THE ART OF "MAKING-UP"

CHAPTER XIV.
PAINT AND CANVAS

CHAPTER XV.
THE TIRING-ROOM

CHAPTER XVI.
"HER FIRST APPEARANCE"

CHAPTER XVII.
STAGE WHISPERS

CHAPTER XVIII.
STAGE GHOSTS

CHAPTER XIX.
THE BOOK OF THE PLAY

CHAPTER XX.
"HALF-PRICE AT NINE O'CLOCK"

CHAPTER XXI.
THE DRAMA UNDER DIFFICULTIES

CHAPTER XXII.
STAGE BANQUETS

CHAPTER XXIII.
STAGE WIGS

CHAPTER XXIV.
"ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS"

CHAPTER XXV.
STAGE STORMS

CHAPTER XXVI.
"DOUBLES"

CHAPTER XXVII.
BENEFITS

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THUNDERS OF APPLAUSE

CHAPTER XXIX.
REAL H