The Bloody Banquet
By T. D.
1620 (?)
The British Museum original of this facsimile is catalogued as "643. c. 4, 1620 (?)." The reason for the query will be seen on reference to the title-page, the lower margin being cropped so as to render it uncertain whether the date reads "1620" or "1630." The balance of probability appears to be in favor of the first-named date.
The "T. D." of authorship is another crux. The play has been assigned to " T. Barker", which, says Hazlitt, is "doubtful". R. Davenport and T. Drue have also been credited with the authorship; to both, says Bullen, "without evidence". Other corresponding initials of possible claimants of the period are those of Thomas Deloney (for whose claim much might be said: see "D.N.B."), and Thomas Dekker, neither of whom, so far as I know, have been suggested as author. Nor do I now suggest either. I restrict myself to pointing out that, as regards Thomas Dekker, the printer of "The Bloody Banquet" — Thomas Cotes — also printed others of his plays and pamphlets. Also in the second place that Dekker was fond of tacking on to many of his titles pieces of Latinity — mottoes, as it were, descriptive, or otherwise pertinent. For exatnples, see the title-pages of "Satiro-Mastix", "The Double P.P.", "The Bellman of London", "The Gul's Hornbook", "Work for Armourers", "Four Birds", Ec., "A Strange Horse-Race","Wars, Wars, Wars", Ec., Ec. This practice was seemingly not common until a somewhat later period. But other evidence is needed — internal, external, of any kind.
The work of reproduction has been well done: photographer and printer — both — have well sustained their long-attained all-round excellence of workmanship, oftentimes in difficult circumstances.
JOHN S. FARMER.
