can only refer to the term held at Winchester in 1603. An inundation
in July is also mentioned (p. 61), and Stowe, Annales (1615), 844, has a corresponding record for 1604, but gives the day as 3 Aug.
The Isle of Gulls. 1606
1606. The Ile of Guls. As it hath been often playd in the blacke Fryars, by the Children of the Reuels. Written by Iohn Day. Sold by John Hodgets. [Induction and Prologue.] 1606. For John Trundle, sold by John Hodgets.
1633. For William Sheares.
The play is thus referred to by Sir Edward Hoby in a letter of 7 March 1606 to Sir Thomas Edmondes (Birch, i. 59): 'At this time
(c. 15 Feb.) was much speech of a play in the Black Friars, where, in the "Isle of Gulls", from the highest to the lowest, all men's parts were acted of two divers nations: as I understand sundry were committed to Bridewell.' A passage in iv. 4 (Bullen, p. 91), probably written with Eastward Ho! in mind, refers to the 'libelling' ascribed to poets by 'some Dor' and 'false informers'; and the Induction defends the play itself against the charge that a 'great mans life' is 'charactred' in Damoetas. Nevertheless, Damoetas, the royal favourite, 'a little hillock made great with others ruines' (p. 13) inevitably suggests Sir Robert Carr, and Fleay, i. 109, points out that the 'Duke' and 'Duchess' of the dramatis personae have been substituted for a 'King' and 'Queen'. It may not be possible now to verify all the men whose 'parts' were acted; evidently the Arcadians and Lacedaemonians stand for the two 'nations' of English and Scotch. I do not see any ground for Fleay's attempt to treat the play, not as a political, but as a literary satire, identifying Damoetas with Daniel, and tracing allusions to Jonson, Marston, and Chapman in the Induction. Hoby's indication of date is confirmed by references to the 'East-ward, West-ward or North-ward hoe' (p. 3; cf. s.vv. Chapman, Dekker), to the quartering for treason on 30 Jan. 1606 (pp. 3, 51), and conceivably to Jonson's Volpone of 1605 or early 1606 (p. 88, 'you wil ha my humor brought ath stage for a vserer').
The Travels of Three English Brothers. 1607
S. R. 1607, June 29 (Buck). 'A playe called the trauailles of the Three Englishe brothers as yt was played at the Curten.' John Wright (Arber, iii. 354).
1607. The Travailes of The three English Brothers.
Sir Thomas }
Sir Anthony } Shirley.
Mr. Robert }
As it is now play'd by her Maiesties Seruants. For John Wright. [Epistle to the Family of the Sherleys, signed 'Iohn Day, William Rowley, George Wilkins', Prologue and Epilogue.]
The source was a pamphlet on the Sherleys by A. Nixon (S. R. 8 June 1607) and the play seems to have been still on the stage when it was printed. Some suggestions as to the division of authorship are in
