BESIDES the copies of the Merry Wives of Windsor appearing in the Folios and modern editions, a Quarto, Q., has been collated in these Notes, of which the following is the title : The Merry Wives of Windsor. | With the humours of Sir Iohn Falstaffe, As also the swaggering vaine of Ancient | Pistoll, and Corporall Nym. | Written by William Shake-Speare. | Newly corrected. | LONDON: | Printed by T. H. for R. Meighen, and are to be sold at his Shop, next to the Middle-Temple Gate, and in | S. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleet-street, 1630. Q, and Q, are editions of an early sketch of the same play. The variations between the text of these Quartos and the received text are so great that collation cannot be attempted. The text printed in the last volume of this edition is taken literatim from Q,, the edition of 1602, of which a copy is preserved among Capell's SHAKESPEARIANA, and this text is collated verbatim with Q,, the second Quarto, printed in 1619. Q, was reprinted in 1842 for the Shakespeare Society by Mr J. O. Halliwell. This text, which differs in one or two places from Capell's Q1, has also been collated. Q, is given among TWENTY OF THE PLAYS OF SHAKESPEARE, edited by Steevens. Their titles are as follows: (1) A Most pleasaunt and excellent conceited Co-medie, of Syr Iohn Falstaffe, and the merrie Wiues of Windsor. | Entermixed with sundrie | variable and pleasing humors, of Syr Hugh | the Welch Knight, Iustice Shallow, and his wise Cousin M. Slender. | With the swaggering vaine of Auncient | Pistoll, and Corporall Nym. | By William Shakespeare. | As it hath bene diuers times Acted by the right Honorable | my Lord Chamberlaines seruants. Both before her | Maiestie, and elsewhere. | LONDON | Printed by T. C. for Arthur Iohnson, and are to be sold at his shop in Powles Church-yard, at the signe of the | Flower de Leuse and the Crowne. | 1602. [This consists of 7 Quires of 4. has been cut away by the binder. Mr Griggs.] In Quire G one line in Capell's copy (2) A Most pleasant and ex-cellent conceited Comedy, | of Sir Iohn Falstaffe, and the merry VViues of VVindsor. | VVith the swaggering vaine of An-cient Pistoll, and Corporall Nym. | Written by W. SHAKESPEARE. | Printed for Arthur Johnson, 1619. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. ACT I. SCENE I. Windsor. Before PAGE's house. Enter JUSTICE SHALLOW, SLENDER, and SIR HUGH EVANS. Shal. Sir Hugh, persuade me not; I will make a Starchamber matter of it: if he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he shall not abuse Robert Shallow, esquire. Slen. In the county of Gloucester, justice of peace and 'Coram.' 5 Shal. Ay, cousin Slender, and 'Custalorum.' Slen. Ay, and 'Rato-lorum' too; and a gentleman born, master parson; who writes himself ‘Armigero,' in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, 'Armigero.' Windsor...] Before Page's House in Windsor. Theobald. Enter...] Rowe. Enter Iustice Shallow, Slender, Sir Hugh Euans, Master Page, Falstoffe, Bardolph, Nym, Pistoll, Anne Page, Mistresse Ford, Mistresse Page, Simple. FfQ3. 6 Custalorum] Custos Farmer conj. Catalorum Anon. conj. 7 Rato-lorum] Ff. Rotulorum Q3. |