The Twice Chang'd Friar

'The Twice Chang'd Friar' is one of four early 17th-century plays preserved in a manuscript miscellany in the library of Arbury Hall, Nuneaton (Arbury Hall MS A414), the seat of the Newdigate family, one of whose members, John Newdigate III, is believed to be the author. The play is an Italianate comedy based on a tale from Boccaccio's 'Decameron'. This is the first published edition of the play. As a rare example of amateur manuscript drama from the period, it will be of interest to students and scholars at all levels of the academic community.