OBSERVATIONS ON THE Fable AND Composition of RICHARD III. THIS tragedy comprises, at most, but the last eight years of this prince's 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 Bosworth-Field, which battle was fought on the 22d of August, in the year 1485. THEOBALD. This is one of the most celebrated of our author's perform ances; yet I know not whether it has not happened to him as to others, to be praised most, when praise is not most deserved. That this play has scenes noble in themselves, and very well contrived to strike in the exhibition, cannot be denied. But some parts are trifling, others shocking, and some improbable. JOHNSON. The oldest known edition of this tragedy is printed for Andrew Wise, 1597: but Harrington, in his Apologie of Poetrie, written 1590, and prefixed to the translation of Ariosto, says, that a tragedy of Richard the Third, had been acted at Cambridge. His words are, "For tragedies, to omit other famous tragedies, that which was played at St. John's in Cambridge, of Richard the Third, would move, I think, Phalaris the tyrant, and terrifie all tyrannous minded 'men, &c." He most probably means Shakspere's ; and if so, we may argue, that there is some more ancient edition of this play than what I have mentioned; at least this shews how early Shakspere's play appeared; or if some other Richard the Third is here alluded to by Harrington, that a play on this subject preceded our author's. WARTON. It appears from the following passage in the preface to Nashe's Have with you to Saffron-Walden, or Gabriel Harvey's Hunt is up, 1596, that a Latin tragedy of K. Rich. III. had been acted in Trinity-College, Cambridge: " or his fellow codshead, that in the Latine tragedie of King Richard, cried-Ad urbs, ad urbs, ad urbs, when his whole part was no more than-Urbs, urbs, ad arma, ad arma." STEEVENS. The play on this subject mentioned by Sir John Harrington in his Apologie for Poetrie, 1591, and sometimes mistaken for Shakspere's, was a Latin one, written by Dr. Legge; and acted at St. John's in our university, some years before 1588, the date of the copy in the Museum. This appears from a better MS. in our library at Emmanuel, with the names of the original performers. A childish imitation of Dr. Legge's play was written by one Lacy, 1583; which had not been worth mentioning, were they not confounded by Mr. Capell. FARMER. Heywood, in his Actor's Vindication, mentions the play of K. Rich. III. " acted in St. John's, Cambridge, so essentially, that had the tyrant Phalaris beheld his bloody proceedings, it had mollified his heart, and made him relent at sight of his inhuman massacres." And in the books of the Sta, tioners' Company, June 19, 1594, Thomas Creede made the following entry, An enterlude, intitled the tragedie of Richard the Third, wherein is shown the deathe of Edward the Fourthe, with the smotheringe of the twoo princes in the Tower, with the lamentable ende of Shore's wife, and the the contention of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke." This could not have been the work of Shakspere, unless he afterwards dismissed the death of Jane Shore, as an unnecessary incident, when he revised the play. Perhaps, however, it might be some translation of Lacey's play, at the end of the first act of which is, "The showe of the procession. 1. Tipstaffe. 2. Shore's wife in her petticote, having a taper burning in her hande. 3. The Verger. 4. Queristers. 5. Singing-men. 6. Prebendary. 7. Bishoppe of London. 8. Citizens." There is likewise a Latin song sung on this occasion in MS. Harl. 2412. STEEVENS. The Latin play of Richard III. (MS. Harl. n. 6926.) has the author's name-Henry Lacey, and is dated-1586. The passage, which I would mention, is upon the appearance of Richard to Buckingham and the others who came to offer him the crown: Sed nunc duobus cinctus ecce episcopis Apparet in summâ domo princeps pius.-- It is difficult, I think, to account for such a co-incidence, in a circumstance of mere invention, without supposing that one of the poets must have profited by the other's performance. TYRWHITT. This circumstance is not an invention of either poet, but taken from Hall's Chronicle: "At the last he came out of his chambre, and yet not doune to theim, but in a galary ouer theim, with a bishop on euery hande of hym, where thei beneth might se hym and speke to hym, as thoughe he woulde not yet come nere them til he wist what they meante, &c." FARMER. RICHARD, Duke of York, Sons to Edward IV. GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, Brother to Edward IV. A young Son of Clarence. RICHARD, Duke of Gloster, Brother to Edward IV. after wards King Richard III. Cardinal BOUR CHIER, Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop of Ely. Duke of BUCKINGHAM. Duke of NORFOLK. Earl of SURREY. Earl RIVERS, brother to King Edward's Queen. Lord GREY, Earl of RICHMOND, afterwards King Henry VII. Sir THOMAS VAUGHAN. Sir RICHARD RATCLIFF. Lord LovEL. Sir WILLIAM CATESBY. Sir JAMES TYRREL. Lord STANLEY. Earl of Ox FORD. Sir JAMES BLOUNT. Sir WALTER HERBERT. Sir ROBERT BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the Tower. CHRISTOPHER URSWICK, a Priest. Another Priest. Lord Mayor. WOMEN. ELIZABETH, Queen of Edward IV. Queen MARGARET, Widow of Henry VI. ANNE, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales, Son to Henry VI. afterwards married to the Duke of Gloster, Dutchess of YORK, Mother to Edward IV. Clarence, and Richard III. Sheriff, Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Ghosts, Soldiers, and other Attendants. RICHARD III. ACT 1. SCENE İ. England. London. A Street. Enter RICHARD, Duke of Gloster. Gloster. Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; 10 To |