There are few mistakes in the MS. beyond those which the writer has corrected himself. The corrections and additions all appear to be in the same hand. The simplest explanation of the MS. is to suppose that Massinger had before him the MS. of the play which had been condemned by the Censor, and that he copied it out again, making the necessary changes of name, etc. This would account for one or two mistakes which the writer has corrected.(549) In other passages we can see his judgment at work, altering the phraseology,(550) or expanding one line into two.(551) Sometimes a word is repeated from a previous line and then cancelled,(552) as if the writer had been tired, as he might well be. The writing combines German and Italian forms. The play was remodelled from its original form by order of the Censor.(553) Sir G. Warner has pointed out that it is derived from “the strangest adventure that ever happened, either in the ages passed or present: containing a discourse concerning the successe of the King of Portugal, Dom Sebastian. London: printed for Frances Henson, dwelling in the Blackfriers, 1601.”(554) This book is the story of a claimant to the throne of Portugal. On p. 78 we have “the markes and signes which the King of Portugall Dom Sebastian beares naturally on his body.” Twenty-two in all are given. Among them are: (1) He hath the right hand greater than the left. (2) The right arme longer than the left. (5) The right legge is longer than the left. (6) The right foote greater than the other. Compare these statements with the words erased in the MS., folio 8.(555) 1 MARCHANT: His verie hand legge and foote, and the lefte side Shorter than on the right. (12) He hath little pimples on his face and hands. _Cf._ 2 MARCHANT: The moles upon His face and hands(556) (21) Another marke or wound upon the head. (22) Another upon the right eye-brow. _Cf._ 3 MARCHANT: The scarres, caused by his hurts, On his right browe and head.(557) (14) He lackes one tooth on the right side in the neather jaw. _Cf._ BERECINTHIUS: The hollownesse Of his under jawe, occasion’d by the losse Of a tooth pull’d out by his chirurgion.(558) (18) The lip of Austriche,(559) like his Grandfather Charles the Fift, Emperor, Father to his mother, and of his Grandmother, Catherine, Queen of Portugall, mother to his father, sister To the said Charles the Fift. Compare the original reading in the play,(560) “His nose! his German lippe!” Over German “very” has been written, and underneath is traceable the “A” of Austrian. These passages leave no doubt as to the derivation of the earlier part of the story which Massinger dramatised.