Four new plays
Subtitle: viz: The Surprisal, Committee, comedies. The Indian-queen, Vestal-virgin, tragedies. As they were acted by His Majesties servants at the Theatre-Royal
By: Written by the honourable Sir Robert Howard
Contributors: Dryden, John, 1631-1700; L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704
Publisher: Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the Blew-Anchor in the lower walk of the New-Exchange.
Published: 1665
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 242
Subjects: Incas; Drama; English drama (Comedy); English drama (Tragedy); History
Other titles: Surprisal.; Committee.; Indian queen.; Vestal-virgins, or Roman ladies.
Notes: Imprimatur on title page: March 7. 1664. Roger L'Estrange.

Each play has separate dated title page.

"To the reader", pages [3-10], 1st count, contains a discussion of the use of rime in dramatic verse, which occasioned Dryden's Essay of dramatick poesie. Howard replied in the preface to "The great favourite; or, The Duke of Lerma."

"The surprisal, a comedy", pages [11-12], 1st count, and 1-66, 2nd count, has separate title page with imprint: London: Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the Blew-Anchor in the lower walk of the New-Exchange, 1665.

"The committee, a comedy", pages [67-135], has separate title page with imprint: London: Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the Blew-Anchor in the lower walk of the New-Exchange, 1665.

"The Indian-queen, a tragedy", pages [137-175], has separate title page with imprint: London: Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the Blew-Anchor in the lower walk of the New-Exchange, 1665. According to the Dictionary of National Biography, "The Indian queen" is partly by John Dryden and is set at the courts of Peru and Mexico right before the Spanish invasion of Peru.

"The Vestal-virgin, or Roman ladies. A tragedy", pages [177]-242, has separate title page with imprint: London: Printed for Henry Herringman, and are to be sold at his shop at the Blew-Anchor in the lower walk of the New-Exchange, 1665.

Signatures: a⁴ (a1 verso blank) b² (b1 verso blank) B-2H⁴ (B1 missigned A1) (K2, S4, T1, Z4, 2A1, 2G4 versos blank) 2I² (2I2vero blank).

Woodcut printer's ornaments on title pages.

Macdonald, H. John Dryden, 68a

Wing, D.G. Short-title catalogue of books printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English books printed in other countries, 1641-1700 (2nd ed. 1994), H2995

Bibliotheca Americana: catalogue of the John Carter Brown Library in Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, III: page 129

European Americana, 665/106

English short title catalogue, R21413

Purchase; 1864; 0484.