Page images
PDF
EPUB

KING RICHARD III.*

* LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD III.] This tragedy, though it is called the Life and Death of this Prince, comprizes, at most, but the last eight years of his time; for it opens with George Duke of Clarence being clapped up in the Tower, which happened in the beginning of the year 1477; and closes with the death of Richard at Bofworth field, which battle was fought on the 22d of Auguft, in the year 1485. THEOBALD.

It appears that several dramas on the present subject had been written before Shakspeare attempted it. See the notes at the conclufion of this play, which was first entered at Stationers' Hall by Andrew Wife, Oct. 20, 1597, under the title of The Tragedie of King Richard the Third, with the Death of the Duke of Clarence. Before this, viz. Aug. 15th, 1586, was entered, A tragical Report of King Richard the Third, a Ballad. It may be neceffary to remark that the words, song, ballad, enterlude and play, were often synonymously used. STEEVENS.

This play was written, I imagine, in the fame year in which it was first printed, -1597. The Legend of King Richard III. by Francis Seagars, was printed in the first edition of The Mirrour for Magistrates, 1559, and in that of 1575, and 1587, but Shakspeare does not appear to be indebted to it. In a subsequent edition of that book printed in 1610, the old legend was omitted, and a new one inferted, by Richard Niccols, who has very freely copied the play before us. In 1597, when this tragedy was published, Niccols, as Mr. Warton has obferved, was but thirteen years old. Hift. of Poetry, Vol. III. p. 267.

The real length of time in this piece is fourteen years; (not eight years, as Mr. Theobald supposed :) for the second scene commences with the funeral of King Henry VI. who, according to the received account, was murdered on the 21st of May, 1471. The imprisonment of Clarence, which is repre. fented previously in the first scene, did not in fact take place till 1477-8.

It has been fince observed to me by Mr. Elderton, (who is of opinion that Richard was charged with this murder by the Lancaftrian historians without any foundation,) that " it appears on the face of the publick accounts allowed in the exchequer for the maintenance of King Henry and his numerous attendants in the Tower, that he lived to the 12th of June, which was twenty-two days after the time affigned for his pretended afsatlination; was exposed to the publick view in St. Paul's for fome days, and interred at Chertsey with much folemnity, and at no inconfiderable expence." MALONE.

King Edward the Fourth.

Edward, Prince of Wales, after

wards K. Edward V.

Richard, Duke of York,
George, Duke of Clarence,
Richard, Duke of Glofter, after-

wards King Richard III. A young Son of Clarence.

Sons to the King.

Brothers to the King.

Henry, Earl of Richmond, afterwards K. Henry VII. Cardinal Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Rotheram, Archbishop of York, John Mor

ton, Bishop of Ely.

Duke of Buckingham.

Duke of Norfolk: Earl of Surrey, his Son.
Earl Rivers, Brother to King Edward's Queen :
Marquis of Dorset, and Lord Grey, her Sons.
Earl of Oxford. Lord Haftings. Lord Stanley.

Lord Lovel.

Sir Thomas Vaughan. Sir Richard Ratcliff.

Sir William Catesby. Sir James Tyrrel.

Sir James Blount. Sir Walter Herbert.

Sir Robert Brakenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower.
Chriftopher Urfwick, a Priest. Another Priest.
Lord Mayor of London. Sheriff of Wiltshire.

Elizabeth, Queen of King Edward IV.
Margaret, Widow of King Henry VI.

Duchess of York, Mother to King Edward IV. Cla

rence, and Glofter.

Lady Anne, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales, Son to King Henry VI.; afterwards married to the Duke of Glofter.

A young Daughter of Clarence.

Lords, and other Attendants; two Gentlemen, a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Murderers, MefSengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, &c.

SCENE, England.

LIFE AND DEATH

OF

KING RICHARD ΊΙΙ.

ACT I. SCENE I.

London. A Street.

Enter GLOSTER.

GLO. Now is the winter of our discontent' Made glorious fummer by this fun of York;

I

2

the winter of our discontent-) Thus, in Sidney's

Aftrophel and Stella :

2

"Gone in the winter of my miferie." STEEVENS.

- this fun of York; Alluding to the cognizance of Edward IV. which was a fun, in memory of the three funs, which are faid to have appeared at the battle which he gained over the Lancaftrians at Mortimer's Cross.

So, in Drayton's Miseries of Queen Margaret :

"Three funs were seen that instant to appear,
"Which foon again shut themselves up in one;
Ready to buckle as the armies were,

[ocr errors]

"Which this brave duke took to himself alone:" &c.

Again, in the 22d Song of the Polyolbion :

"Andthankful to high heaven which of his cause had care, "Three funs for his device still in his ensign bare."

Such phenomena, if we may believe tradition, were formerly not uncommon. In the Wrighte's Play in the Chefier Collection, MS. Harl. 1013, the fame circumstance is introduced as attending on a more folemn event:

« PreviousContinue »