‘_Ralph Royster Doyster_, a Comedy, entered on the books of the Stationers’ Company, 1566. London: Printed by F. Marshall, Kenton St., Brunswick Sq., 1821.’ [Editor not known.] R. Southey’s copy, with his autograph, and dated 1 Feb. 1837, is in the British Museum. Press-mark, 1344-k. Neither of the above knew that Udall was the author. The editor of 1821 reprint writes, ‘The author, whoever he was,’ _p._ iv. It was Mr. Collier who connected Wilson’s quotation with _Roister Doister_, and so proved Udall to be its author. Writing on 14th April 1865; he thus begins the _Preface_ of his _Bibl. Account of Ear. Eng. Lit._ Ed. 1865. ‘During my whole life, now rapidly approaching fourscore, I have been a diligent reader, and, as far as my means would allow, a greedy purchaser of all works connected with early English literature. It is nearly sixty years since I became possessed of my first really valuable old book of this kind--Wilson’s “Art of Logic,” printed by Richard Grafton 1551--from which I ascertained the not unimportant facts that “Ralph Roister Doister” was an older play than “Gammer Gurton’s Needle,” and that it had been written by Nicholas Udall, Master of Eton School: I thus learned who was the author of the earliest comedy, properly so called, in our language. This was my first literary discovery, made several years anterior, although I had not occasion to render it public, until I printed my Notes upon “Dodsley’s Old Plays,” soon after 1820.’* [Footnote *: _See vol. ii. p. 3. Ed. 1825._] 4. 1830. Lond. 3 vols. 18mo. _The Old English Drama_, A series of Plays, at 6d each, printed and published by Thomas White. _Ralph Royster Doyster_ is the first. 5. 1847. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo. _Shakespeare Society_. _Ralph Roister Doister_, &c., and _The Tragedie of Gorboduc_. Edited, with Introductory Memoirs, by W. D. Cooper, F.S.A. The text collated with the original by J. P. Collier, F.S.A. 6. 24 July 1869. Lond. 1 vol. 8vo. _English Reprints_: see title at _p._ 1. ∴ All the previous reprints have been and now are unobtainable to most persons. It is to the most courteous and generous kindness of the present Provost and Fellows of Eton College that I am enabled to place what I hope may prove an exact text into the hands of every one. I trust also to keep it perpetually on sale: that the student of the History of our Literature may no longer lack one of the most important illustrations of the growth of English Dramatic Poesy. The Prologue.