(2) _Histories._ Along with the alien classical tragedy arose a healthier native breed of historical plays. These plays, the predecessors of the historical plays of Shakespeare, were dramatized forms of the early chronicles, and combined both tragic and comic elements. This union of tragedy and comedy was alien to the classical drama, and was the chief glory of the Elizabethan stage. Early historical plays were _The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth_ (before 1588), a mixture of rude verse and prose; _The Troublesome Raigne of King John_ (before 1591); and _The Chronicle History of King Leir_ (1594). (3) _Comedies._ Though the comedies drew much upon Latin comedians, such as Plautus, and upon Italian models also, they were to a great extent the growth of the English mumming element. They were composed usually in mixed verse and prose, the humor was of a primitive character, but the best of them had verve and high good-humor, and they were distinguished by some worthy songs and ditties. _Ralph Roister Doister_ (1551), by =Nicholas Udall=, is the earliest extant comedy. Its author was the headmaster of Eton, and the play seems to have been composed as a variant upon the Latin dramas that were the stock-in-trade of the schoolboy actors then common. Another comedy was _Gammer Gurton’s Needle_ (1575), the authorship of which is in dispute. The plot is slight, but the humor, though the reverse of delicate, is abundant, and the play gives interesting glimpses of contemporary English life. We add a small scene from an early comedy. It shows the doggerel verse and the uninspired style--the homely natural speech of the time. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE MARGERIE MUMBLECRUST _C. Custance._ Who took thee this letter, Margerie Mumblecrust? _M. Mumble._ A lusty gay bachelor took it me of trust, And if ye seek to him he will love your doing. _C. Custance._ Yea, but where learned he that manner of wooing? _M. Mumble._ If to sue to him, you will any pains take, He will have you to his wife (he saith) for my sake. _C. Custance._ Some wise gentleman, belike. I am bespoken: And I thought verily this had been some token From my dear spouse Gawin Goodluck, whom when him please, God luckily send home to both our hearts’ ease. _M. Mumble._ A joyly man it is, I wot well by report, And would have you to him for marriage resort; Best open the writing, and see what it does speak. _C. Custance._ At this time, nurse, I will neither read ne break. _M. Mumble._ He promised to give you a whole peck of gold. _C. Custance._ Perchance, lack of a pint when it shall be all told. _M. Mumble._ I would take a gay rich husband, and I were you.