Note 17 — SOME ACCOUNT OF MIDDLETON AND HIS WORKS.

In vol. v. p. 527 and p. 562, I followed Mr. Collier’s statement (Bridgewater House Catalogue, p. 200), that Nash died during 1604, because in The Black Book he is described as alive, and in Father Hubburd’s Tales he is spoken of as dead, both these pieces having been published in 1604. But Nash must have died earlier; for, in The Returne from Pernassus, 1606, which internal evidence proves to have been written before the decease of Elizabeth, he is mentioned as being “in his mournefull chest,” sig. B 3; and the Black Book, though perhaps not printed, must have been composed, anterior to 1604. Whatever may have been the date of Nash’s death, Malone (see note vol. v. p. 561) was assuredly mistaken in interpreting the expression “humorous theft,” to mean that Rowlands had stolen The letting of humours blood in the head vaine, &c. from Nash: that piece is much too weak and spiritless to have been the production of the former.