[xiv:3] As early as 1589, in the Dedication to a tract already cited (p. v.), Nash had fabled that Kemp was known by reputation in Italy:--"Comming from Venice the last Summer, and taking Bergamo in my waye homeward to England, it was my happe soiourning there some foure or fiue dayes, to light in felowship with that famous Francatrip' Harlicken, who, perceiuing me to bee an English man by my habit and speech, asked me many particulars of the order and maner of our playes, which he termed by the name of representations: amongst other talke he enquired of me if I knew any such Parabolano here in London as Signior Chiarlatano Kempino. Very well (quoth I), and haue beene oft in his company. He hearing me say so, began to embrace me a new, and offered me all the courtesie he colde for his sake, saying, although he knew him not, yet for the report he had hard of his pleasance, hee colde not but bee in loue with his perfections being absent."--_An Almond for a Parrat_, Sig. A. 3. [xiv:4] Dr. W. Marriott, the editor of _A Collection of English Miracle Plays_, &c. Basel, 1838, has been led into a strange mistake by this passage, which, in his Introductory Essay, p. lxii. he cites from _Bibliographical Memoranda_, Bristol, 1816. After observing that according to the stage direction in one of the Chester Plays, Adam and Eve _stabunt nudi et non verecundabuntur_, he continues, "Perhaps our forefathers thought it no indecency to give such representations, considering they had the authority of Scripture for such exhibitions; but it must, nevertheless, strike us as not a little extraordinary, that at least as late as the close of the sixteenth century such scenes were to be found in England. We learn this fact [!!] from a play entitled _The Trailes of The three English Brothers_, 1607," &c. [xv:1] This piece was an allegorical representation of some of the chief events of the reign of Elizabeth, who was personated under the character of _England's Joy_: the author was named Vennard: see Collier's _Hist. of Eng. Dram. Poet._ iii. 405. _The Plot of the Play called England's Joy. To be playd at the Swan this 6. of Nov. 1602_, is reprinted (from a broadside) in _The Harl. Miscell._ x. 198, ed. Park. [xvii:1] Sigs. E. 4., F. [xviii:1] iii. 28. [xix:1] P. 19. [xix:2] "_The Education of Children in learning; declared by the dignitie, vtilitie, and methode thereof, by W. K._ (Wm. Kempe, who seems to have been a schoolmaster at Plymouth). Dedicated to Maister Wm. Hawkins, Esq. maior of Plymouth, &c. Quarto, 1588." Ames's _Typ. Antiq._ by Herbert, ii. 1242.