THE present volume is based on a critical edition of The
Spanish Tragedy which I am preparing for the collection
of Litterarhistorische Forschungen, edited by Professor
Freiherr von Waldberg and myself. The liberality and
kindness of public authorities and private owners have
afforded me access to the scattered material contained in
numerous libraries in England and abroad, namely, the
British Museum, the Bodleian, South Kensington, Sion
College, Lambeth Palace, the libraries of the Hague,
Leyden, Copenhagen, Göttingen, Danzig, Bonn, Munich,
and Berlin, and the private libraries of Alfred Huth, Esq.,
the Earl of Ellesmere, and the Duke of Devonshire.

Small though this work be, I feel that it has laid upon me a heavy debt of gratitude to the many friends
who have taken a kind interest in its preparation,
and to those who have intrusted to me their
rare and unique treasures.

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