Mr.Collier, having enjoyed access to many public and private collections of the greatest value, has much enriched the store of information concerning our Dramatic Literature amassed by Malone, Stevens, Reed, and Chalmers.
Referring to numberless published and unpublished papers, to sources both familiar and rare, Mr.Collier has been enabled, moreover, to increase in an important degree our knowledge of the Elizabethan Theatre, its manners and customs, ways and means.

I feel that I owe to his archaeological studies many apt quotations and illustrative passages I could scarcely have supplied from my own unassisted resources.
Some additions to the text I have deemed expedient.

The few errors--they were very few and unimportant--discovered in the first edition I have corrected in the present publication; certain redundancies I have suppressed; here and there I have ventured upon condensation, and generally I have endeavoured to bring my statements into harmony with the condition of the stage at the present moment.
Substantially, however, the "Book of the Play" remains what it was at the date of its original issue, when it was received by the reading public with a kindness and cordiality I am not likely to forget.
DUTTON COOK.
69, GLOUCESTER CRESCENT, REGENT'S PARK, N.W.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PLAYGOERS CHAPTER II.
THE MASTER OF THE REVELS CHAPTER III.
THE LICENSER OF PLAYHOUSES CHAPTER IV.
THE EXAMINER OF PLAYS CHAPTER V.
A BILL OF THE PLAY CHAPTER VI.
STROLLING PLAYERS CHAPTER VII.
"PAY HERE" CHAPTER VIII.
IN THE PIT CHAPTER IX.
THE FOOTMEN'S GALLERY CHAPTER X.
FOOT-LIGHTS CHAPTER XI.
"COME, THE RECORDERS!" CHAPTER XII.
PROLOGUES CHAPTER XIII.
THE ART OF "MAKING-UP" CHAPTER XIV.
PAINT AND CANVAS CHAPTER XV.
THE TIRING-ROOM CHAPTER XVI.
"HER FIRST APPEARANCE" CHAPTER XVII.
STAGE WHISPERS CHAPTER XVIII.
STAGE GHOSTS CHAPTER XIX.
THE BOOK OF THE PLAY CHAPTER XX.
"HALF-PRICE AT NINE O'CLOCK" CHAPTER XXI.
THE DRAMA UNDER DIFFICULTIES CHAPTER XXII.
STAGE BANQUETS CHAPTER XXIII.
STAGE WIGS CHAPTER XXIV.
"ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS" CHAPTER XXV.
STAGE STORMS CHAPTER XXVI.
"DOUBLES" CHAPTER XXVII.
BENEFITS CHAPTER XXVIII.
THUNDERS OF APPLAUSE CHAPTER XXIX.
REAL HORSES CHAPTER XXX.
THE "SUPER" CHAPTER XXXI.
"GAG" CHAPTER XXXII.
BALLETS AND BALLET-DANCERS CHAPTER XXXIII.
CORRECT COSTUMES CHAPTER XXXIV.
HARLEQUIN AND CO.
CHAPTER XXXV.
"GOOSE" CHAPTER XXXVI.
EPILOGUES A BOOK OF THE PLAY.
* * * * *.