The ghost of Richard the Third expressing himselfe in these three parts, [brace] 1. His character, 2. His legend, 3. His tragedie : containing more of him then hath been heretofore shewed, either in chronicles, playes, or poems.

The Epistle to the Reader.

AN Epistle to the Reader is as ordinary before a new Book, as a Prologue to a new Play; but as Plaies are many times exploded, though the Prologue be neuer so good, and promising; So (Reader) if thou findest not stuffe, in this Poem, to fit thy humor: If the wit with the fashion, hold not some tol∣lerable proportion; this Enducement (though nere so for∣mall and obsequious) would little preu••ile with thy ac∣ceptation, but thou wouldst coniure my Ghost downe a∣gaine, before his time, or torment him vpon earth, with the Hell-fire of thy displeasure. Therefore it matters not whether I humor thee with complement, or in••inuate with glozing Epithites. I know (in a play or Poem) thou lik'st best of Satyricall stuffe; though perhaps thou seest there∣in thine own Character; and not without some shew of Reason are things bitter, the better: For the Gluttonous Sences (the Eye and Eare) so cloi'd and surfeited, with

variety of effeminate pleasures; the rough Satyre doth sometimes not vnfitly enterpose such Courtly delight, which growing a Burthen to it selfe, his entermixt vaine with the others vanity, giues entermission to the humor, and proues no lesse tastfull to the Gallants iudgement, then tart sauce to whet his dull'd appetite. And of this kind I haue enterlaced something, naturally rising out of my subiect; where (by way of preuention) if any shall obiect that I haue not amplified the Legend to the full scope of the Story; I answere; I should then haue made the vo∣lume too great, to the discouragement of the Buyer, and disaduantage of the Printer; let it suffice I haue the substance, if not the circumstance; and when I vndertook this I thought with my selfe: That to draw Arguments of Inuention from the Subiect, new, and probable, would be farre more plaucible to the time, the•• by insisting vp∣pon narrations (made so common in Playes, and so noto∣rious among all men) haue my Labour slighted, and my Pen tax't for triuiall. The Generous Censor (as hee is Ingenious or Ingenuous) I reuerence; likewise the Crit∣tick (as he is knowing, and learn'd) but when his censure shall be leuell'd with neither of his good parts, but fauour more of Spleene, then Braine; of Disease, then Iudge∣ment

I doe hartily appeale from him, with all of that faction; And though many did inly wish, that this (not the meanest Issue of my Braine) might haue prou'd an O∣bortiue, and seene no comfortable light; Yet they see it is borne, and (without preiudice to Nature) with Teeth too, to oppose theirs, that shall open their lips to depraue mee; but whether to lye vpon the Parish, or the Printers hand that rests in clouds; howsoeuer, I haue got sheetes to lye in, (though they be but course) and am sure to be cherish't in good Letters▪ if I be entertain'd in the world, and proue a companion for the many, I know I shall not be much chargeable; if not, yet this is my comfort, there will be some vse made of me in this land of waste; In which Resolution, I set vp my Rest.

Thine if thou wilt.