Chapter XXIV: Introduction

Robert Tailor, the author of this play, is entirely unknown[360]. The title-page of it says it was divers times publicly acted by certain London Prentices; and Sir Henry Wotton[361], in a letter to Sir Edmund Bacon, dated 1612-13, gives the following account of its first performance: "On Sunday last at night, and no longer, some sixteen Apprentices (of what sort you shall guess by the rest of the Story), having secretly learnt a new play without book, intituled, _The Hog hath lost His Pearl;_ took up the _White Fryers_ for their Theater: and having invited thither (as it should seem) rather their Mistresses than their Masters, who were all to enter _per buletini_ for a note of distinction from ordinary Comedians. Towards the end of the Play, the sheriffs (who by chance had heard of it) came in (as they say) and carried some six or seven of them to perform the last Act at _Bridewel;_ the rest are fled. Now it is strange to hear how sharp-witted the City is, for they will needs have Sir _John Swinerton_, the Lord Major, be meant by the _Hog_, and the late Lord Treasurer by the _Pearl_." [362]

FOOTNOTES:

[360] In addition to this play, Robert Tailor was author of "Sacred
Hymns," 4º, 1615.--_Gilchrist._ [No. This was a different person. But
the author of the present play has some complimentary lines before
Taylor the Water-poet's "Whipping and Snipping of Abuses," 1614.]

[361] "Reliquiæ Wottonianæ," fourth edit., 1685, p. 402.

[362] [A story perhaps originating in Swinnerton's name.

W. Smith dedicates his "Hector of Germaine; or, The Palsgrave Prince
Elector," 1615, "To the right worshipfull the great Favourer of the
Muses, Syr John Swinnerton, Knight, sometimes Lord Mayor of this
honourable Cittie of London." He adds that the play was expressly
written for citizens.--_Collier._

THE ACTORS' NAMES.

OLD LORD WEALTHY.
YOUNG LORD, _his son_.
MARIA, _his daughter_.
CARRACUS, }
} _two gentlemen, near friends_.
ALBERT, }
LIGHTFOOT, _a country gentleman_.
HADDIT, _a youthful gallant_.
HOG, _an usurer_.
REBECCA, _his daughter_.
PETER SERVITUDE, _his man_.
ATLAS, _a porter_.
_A Priest._
_A Player._
_A Serving-man._
_A Nurse._