Five nevv playes, viz. The English moor, or the mock-marriage. The love-sick court, or the ambitious politique: Covent Garden weeded. The nevv academy, or the nevv exchange. The queen and concubine. / By Richard Brome.

To my old Faithful Servant, and (by his continu'd vertue) my loving Friend, the Author of this work, Mr. Rich. Brome.

I Had you for a Servant, once, Dick. Brome, And you perform'd a Servants faithful parts: Now, you are got into a neerer room Of Fellowship, professing my old Arts. And you do do them well, with good applause, Which you have justly gained from the Stage, By observation of those Comick Laws, Which I, your Master, first did teach this Age. You learn'd it well, and for it serv'd your Time, A Prentiship, which few do now adayes: Now each Court. Hobby-Horse, will wince in Rhime.

Both learned and unlearned, all write Playes: It was not so of old; men took up trades That knew the Crafts they had been bred in right; An honest Bilbo Smith would make good Blades, And the Physician teach men spue, and— The Cobler kept him to his Awll, But now He'll be a Pilot, scarce can guide a Plow.

Ben. Johnson.