A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4

A rare glimpse into the early modern stage, this manuscript brings together two distinct tragedies by an enigmatic playwright whose name scarcely appears in contemporary records. The first story follows the brutal murder of a Thames‑street chandler and his young son at the hands of a tavern‑keeper, while the second echoes the haunting folk ballad of innocent children lost in the woods. Both plots unfold with a stark, unadorned diction that mirrors the gritty reality of Elizabethan London.

The play’s stage directions are simple yet evocative, allowing listeners to picture the grim streets and shadowy forest alike. Moments of tense confrontation—such as the hiring of hired killers and the desperate pleas of a grieving neighbor—highlight the writer’s knack for vivid, compact dialogue. Though the language can feel austere, it carries a raw emotional power that makes these early tragedies compelling listening for anyone interested in the roots of English drama.