 "Pericles" draws in part on the 14th century "Confessio Amantis" (itself a frame story) by John Gower and Shakespeare has the ghost of Gower "assume man's infirmities" to introduce his work to the contemporary audience and comment on the action of the play.In Francis Beaumont's "Knight of the Burning Pestle" (ca.1608) a supposed common citizen from the audience, actually a "planted" actor, condemns the play that has just started and "persuades" the players to present something about a shopkeeper.