_A most pleasant and merie new Comedie, Intituled, A Knacke to knowe a Knaue. Newlie set foorth, as it hath sundrie tymes bene played by Ed. Allen and his Companie. With Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham, in receiuing the King into Goteham_, was printed in 1594, 4to., having been entered in the Stationers' Books[xxii:3] to Rich. Jones, 7th January of the preceding year. The accounts of Henslowe shew that it was performed, not as a new piece, 10th June, 1592[xxii:4]; and there is no doubt that it was originally produced several years before that date. The name of its author has not been ascertained. That portion of it which the title-page distinguishes as "Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham" is comprehended in the following scene: _"Enter mad men of Goteham, to wit, a Miller, a Cobler, and a Smith._ "_Miller._ Now let vs constult among our selues how to misbehaue our selues to the Kings worship, Iesus blesse him! and when he comes, to deliuer him this peticion. I think the Smith were best to do it, for hees a wise man. "_Cobler._ Naighbor, he shall not doe it as long as Jefferay the Translater is Maior of the towne. "_Smith._ And why, I pray? because I would haue put you from the Mace? "_Miller._ [_Cobler._] No, not for that, but because he is no good fellow, nor he will not spend his pot for companie. "_Smith._ Why, sir, there was a god of our occupation; and I charge you by vertue of his godhed to let me deliuer the petition. "_Cob._ But soft you; your God was a Cuckold, and his Godhead was the horne; and thats the Armes of the Godhead you call vpon. Go, you are put down with your occupation; and now I wil not grace you so much as to deliuer the petition for you. "_Smith._ What, dispraise our trade? "_Cob._ Nay, neighbour, be not angrie, for Ile stand to nothing onlie but this. "_Smith._ But what? bear witnesse a giues me the But, and I am not willing to shoot. Cobler, I will talke with you: nay, my bellowes, my coletrough, and my water shall enter armes with you for our trade. O neighbour, I can not beare it, nor I wil not beare it. "_Mil._ Heare you, neighbour; I pray conswade yourself and be not wilful, and let the Cobler deliuer it; you shal see him mar all. "_Smith._ At your request I will commit my selfe to you, and lay myselfe open to you lyke an Oyster. "_Mil._ Ile tell him what you say. Heare you, naighbor: we haue constulted to let you deliuer the petition; doe it wisely for the credite of the towne. "_Cob._ Let me alone; for the Kings Carminger was here, he sayes the King will be here anon. "_Smith._ But heark, by the Mas he comes. "_Enter the King, Dunston, and Perin._ "_King._ How now, Perin, who haue we here?