¹ The word “bordred” is evidently a misspelling.

² Those who dislike to think of Cambyses as even a puerile attempt of the Latin scholar Thomas Preston, may entertain Chambers' suggestion that it may have been composed by a popular writer of the same name. He mentions, (Elizabethan Stage, iii, 469), a “quarterly waiter at Court” under Edward VI, and a choirmaster at Windsor. A “gentleman waiter” of this name was detailed to the service of the Princess of Castile in 1514 (see Letters & Papers of Henry VIII, i, ii, entry 2656 [6]); a Thomas Preston was rewarded by Princess Mary Tudor, 1537 (see Madden, Privy Purse Expenses of Princess Mary, 59); in 1544, Thomas Preston—presumably the same person—was granted, as the King's “servant” a tenement “called le Crystofer in St Botulphs parishe without Aldrychegate” (see Letters & Papers of Henry VIII, xix, i, p. 644); “le messuage called le White Beare” was said in 1548, to have been “lately in tenure of Thomas Preston (see Cal. Pat. Rolls, July 25, 1548, m. 34). None of these—if they were different persons—is termed writer or ”player,“ but the references show that the name was not uncommon in London, and the subject needs to be investigated.

³ Harley MS, 1419, A. fol. 91, verso.

⁴ L.C. 2/3.² “Forevent” was a placket or front opening.

⁵ L.R. 2/115.

⁶ Kempe, Loseley MS, p. 45.

⁷ Works (ed. Grosart), i, xvii.

⁸ Sig. R 2.