The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes (1907–21).
Volume IV. Prose and Poetry: Sir Thomas North to Michael Drayton.
§ 7. Doubtful plays: The Pardoner and the Frere and Johan Johan
But, if The pardoner and the frere and Johan Johan are placed to his credit, the range of his achievement is materially widened. It must be allowed that both plays differ largely from Heywood’s acknowledged pieces in one respect. The latter all end, as has been seen, upon an edifying note; but in The pardoner and the frere and Johan Johan, scoundrels and sinners go off triumphant. This, however may be due to the influence of French farce; while, in general conception of character, in handling of metre and in peculiarities of vocabulary and nomenclature there is close affinity between the two plays and Heywood’s dialogues and interludes, especially The foure P. P. The balance of evidence is in favour of his authorship of the anonymous pieces.