title: The World Tossed at Tennis
variant_description: The title page exists in two states: Greg 365a(*) lists Wright as bookseller and the address of his shop, uses all capitals in the first part of the play title, and does not contain a woodcut; Greg 365a(†) does not name Wright as bookseller but still lists the address of his shop, uses uppercase and lowercase letters in the first part of the play title, and contains a woodcut. See also Greg 
title_page_title: <i>A</i> COVRTLY MASQVE: THE DEVICE <i>CALLED</i> The World  tost at Tennis.
title_page_author: Inuented, and set downe, By { <i>Tho: Middleton</i> | & | <i>William Rowley</i> } Gent.
title_page_performance: <i>As it hath beene diuers times Presented</i> to the Contentment of many Noble and <i>Worthy Spectators, By the</i> P<small>RINCE</small> <i>his Seruants</i>.
title_page_imprint: LONDON,  Printed by <i>George Purslowe</i>, and are to be sold by <i>Edward Wright</i>,  at Christ Church Gate. 1620.
paratext_dedication: "The Epistle Dedicatory" (in verse) <i>to</i>: Charles Howard, 3rd Baron Howard of Effingham (2nd Earl of Nottingham); and Mary (Cokayne) Howard, Lady Effingham; <i>from</i>: Thomas Middleton [A3r]
paratext_charachter_list: "The Figures, and Persons properly raysde for Employment through the whole Masque" [A2v]
stationer_entries_in_register: Jul 4, 1620: Entered to George Purslowe and John Trundle: "A booke called, A Courtly Masque or the world tossed at Tennis, acted at the Princes Armes, by the Prince his highnes seruant<i>es</i>".
stationer_additional_notes: This masque was originally intended for a court performance at Denmark House by Prince Charles's Men during the winter of 1619-1620, but it is not clear if that performance ever took place. According to G. E. Bentley, it does seem to have been performed shortly thereafter at a theater on the Bankside and, in the 1630s, by Queen Henrietta Maria's Men and Beeston's Boys at the Phoenix/Cockpit theater  (<i>The Jacobean and Caroline Stage</i>, 4:907-11).
transcript_modern_spelling: A courtly masque the device called the world tossed at tennis as it hath been divers times presented to the contentment of many noble and worthy spectators by the prince his servants invented and set down by Tho. Middleton and William Rowley Gent. London printed by George Purslowe and are to be sold by Edward Wright at Christ Church gate 1620