It deserves remark, although it has not hitherto received it, that according to "Henslowe's Diary," (as printed by the Shakespeare Society) p. 224, Henry Chettle received twenty shillings on 7th July, 1602, in part payment for a drama called “A Danish Tragedy," which in point of date was just anterior to the entry in the Stationers' books, by Roberts, of "The Revenge of Hamlet."

In the interval between 1604 and 1608 it is not known that anything by our great dramatist was printed, but in 1608 came out no fewer than three impressions of his " King Lear." They were all published by Nathaniel Butter, and, as they follow each other very accurately as regards the title-pages, it will not be necessary to insert more than one of them.

M. William Shak-speare:

HIS

True Chronicle Historie of the life and
death of King LEAR and his three
Daughters.

With the unfortunate life of Edgar, sonne
and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his
sullen and assumed humor of

TOм of Bedlam :

As it was played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall epon S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes.

By his Maiesties seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe on the Bancke-side.

LONDON,

Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Pide Bull neere

The only differences in the title-pages of the two other editions of 1608 are, that the name of the author (rendered so unusually obvious) is spelt William Shake-speare, and that the imprint is only "Printed for Nathaniel Butter. 1608." By whom the impressions were made we have no information, but, according to the books of the Stationers' Company, Busby was to have had some interest with Butter in the publication: they entered the play jointly on 26th November, 1607.

:

There remain three more quartos to be noticed, "Troilus and Cressida," "Pericles," and "Othello: " the two first were printed with the date of 1609; and "Troilus and Cressida” was issued in that year with two distinct title-pages, varying materially the body of the play varies immaterially, being in fact the same impression, with one or two literal changes. We shall insert both title-pages, first giving that which seems to have been printed for the play before "the famous history" had been brought out at the Globe theatre.

THE

Famous Historie of

Troylus and Cresseid.

Excellently expressing the beginning
of their loues, with the conceited wooing
of Pandarus Prince of Licia.

Written by William Shakespeare.

LONDON

Imprinted by G. Eld for R. Bonian and H. Walley, and are to be sold at the spred Eagle in Paules

Church-yeard, ouer against the

great North doore.

Here we see that the drama is called a "famous history," but no information is supplied, or could be supplied, as to the acting of the play, because probably it had not then been performed, Bonian and Walley, the publishers, having obtained a manuscript before the play was brought upon the stage. Soon afterwards, "Troilus and Cressida" was represented at the Globe, and then the publishers seem to have caused a new title-page to be printed, containing a statement of that fact, and omitting an explanatory paragraph, as well as the preliminary epithet "famous," not then required in consequence of the popularity of the "history" with large audiences.

THE

Historie of Troylus

and Cresseida.

As it was acted by the Kings Maiesties
seruants at the Globe.

Written by William Shakespeare.

LONDON

Imprinted by G. Eld for R. Bonian and H. Walley, and are to be sold at the spred Eagle in Paules

Church-yeard, ouer against the
great North doore.

1609.

It was no longer necessary to inform the reader what was the subject of the story, "excellently expressing," &c., as in the former title-page, because, when this second title-page was

struck off, the nature of the play, in a course of daily performance at the Globe on the Bankside, was well known. G. Eld, R. Bonian, and H. Walley, are new names as regards the printing and publication of the plays of Shakespeare.

The same remark will apply to "the putter-forth" of "Pericles" in the same year-Henry Gosson; who was most likely related to Stephen Gosson, the early and resolute enemy of theatrical representations. Henry Gosson subsequently became more celebrated as a publisher of ballads than of plays; but he seems to have resolved, in the instance of " Pericles," to render the title-page as attractive and explanatory as possible.

With the true relation of the whole Historie,
aduentures, and fortunes of the said Prince:
As also

The no lesse strange, and worthy accidents
in the Birth and Life, of his Daughter
MARIAN A.

As it hath been diuers and sundry times acted by
his Maiesties Seruants, at the Globe on

By William

the Banck-side.

Shakespeare.

Imprinted at London for Henry Gosson, and are

to be sold at the signe of the Sunne in

Pater-noster row, &c.

VOL. III.

G

What is chiefly remarkable is the peculiar manner in which the name of Shakespeare is made obvious on the title-page, by printing it in very distinct type, and by separating the Christian from the sirname by two ivy-leaves, which modern typography will not afford. There is little doubt that "Pericles" was produced early in 1608, and, in anticipation of printing it, Edward Blount entered it at Stationers' Hall on 20th May in that year. We know not how the right (if such it were) to publish it was transferred from Blount to Gosson; and Nathaniel Butter procured a novel to be printed, founded upon the play, a year before Gosson's edition came out.

The last of Shakespeare's dramas printed in 4to., before the publication of the folio of 1623, is "Othello:" in fact, it bears date in the same year as one existing copy of the folio, as be seen hereunder :

may

THE

Tragedy of Othello,

The Moore of Venice.

As it hath beene diuerse times acted at the
Globe, and at the Black-Friers, by
his Maiesties Seruants.

Written by William Shakespeare.

LONDON,

Printed by N.O. for Thomas Walkley, and are to be sold at his shop, at the Eagle and Child, in Brittans Bursse.