William Shakespeare hath his own page.
Anonymous.
The Rare Triumphes of Loue and Fortune. Plaide before the Queenes most excellent Maiestie: wherin are manye fine conceites with great delight. At London: Printed by E. A. for Edward White, 1589.
Blurt Master-Constable. Or The Spaniards Night-Walke. As it hath bin sundry times privately acted bu the Children of Paules. London, Printed for Henry Rockytt, and are to be solde at the long shop under S. Mildreds Church in the Poultry, 1602. —“Variously attributed to Thomas Dekker and to Thomas Middleton.”
The Returne from Pernassus, or The Scourge of Simony. Publiquely acted by the Students in Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge. At London: Printed by G. Eld, for Iohn Wright, and are to bee sold at his shop at Christ church Gate. 1606. —A student comedy about student life.
The Puritaine: Or, The Widdow of Watling-streete. Acted by the Children of Paules. Written by W. S. Imprinted aty London by G. Eld. 1607. —W. S. may be Wentworth Smith; naturally the initials suggest a certain much more famous dramatist, and this play was slipped into the Third Folio of Shakespeare.
The First and second Part of the troublesome Raigne of John King of England. With the discouerie of King Richard Cordelions Base sonne (vulgarly named, the Bastard Fawconbridge:) Also, the death of King Iohn at Swinstead Abbey. As they were (sundry times) lately acted by the Queenes Maiesties Players. Written by W. Sh. Imprinted at London by Valentine Simmes for Iohn Helme, and are to be sold at his shop in Saint Dunstons Churchyard in Fleetestreet. 1611. —The second quarto edition of this play, first published in 1591. This play has its own Wikipedia article, which is presently wrong in at least one particular: “In this edition the first quarto’s artificial division into two parts was removed,” says the article, but, as the title page plainly indicates, the division is retained. Some critics accept the attribution to Shakespeare, but it is difficult to account for Shakespeare’s having also produced a different and better play on the same subject.
The
Dutch Lady. A Comedy. —A manuscript
written in a very legible hand; it may be an
underground play from the Commonwealth period. One of
the characters is “Dispensation Surfet, a Holderforth,
gluttonous, lustfull, cruel, covetous, hypocritical.”
From which we may make an educated guess about the
author’s opinion of Puritans.
Beaumont and Fletcher.
☛Academics make careers out of identifying which of the Beaumont and Fletcher plays were by the two together, and which by one alone, and by which one, and we are delighted to leave those recreations to the academics.
A
King and No King. Acted at the Globe, by
his Maiesties Servants. Written by Francis Beaumont,
and Iohn Fletcher. At London: Printed for Thomas
Walkley, and are to bee sold at his shoppe at the
Eagle and Childe in Brittans-Bursse. 1619.
1625
edition.
1631
edition.
The Knight of the Burning Pestle. London, Printed for Walter Burre, and are to be sold at the signe of the Crane in Paules Church-yard. 1613.
Fifty
Comedies and Tragedies. Written by
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Gentlemen. All in
one Volume. Published by the Authors Original Copies,
the Songs to each Play being added. London, Printed by
J. Macock, for John Martyn, Henry Herringman, Richard
Marriot, 1679.
Another
copy.
George Chapman.
Al Fooles. A Comedy, Presented at the Black Fryers, And lately before his Maiestie. Written by George Chapman. At London: Printed for Thomas Thorpe. 1605.
Eastward Hoe. As it was playd in the Black-friers. By The Children of her Maiesties Revels. Made by Geo: Chapman. Ben: Iohnson. Ioh: Marston. At London: Printed for William Aspley. 1605.
Sir Gyles Goosecappe Knight. A Comedie presented by the Chil: of the Chappell. At London. Printed by Iohn Windet for Edward Blount. 1606. —Anonymous, but attributed to Chapman.
Samuel Daniel.
The Tragedie of Cleopatra. Sam. Danyell. At London: Printed by P. S. for Symon Waterson. 1599. —More attractive and careful printing than is usual for a mere play.
The Queenes Arcadia. A Pastorall Trage-comedie presented to her Maiestie and her Ladies, by the Universitie of Oxford in Christs Church, in August last, 1605. At London: Printed by G. Eld, for Simon Waterson, 1606.
The Tragedy of Philotas. By Sam. Daniel. London: Printed by Nicholas Okes for Simon Waterson. 1623.
Thomas Dekker.
North-ward Hoe. Sundry times acted by the children of Paules. By Thomas Dekker, and Iohn Webster. Imprinted at London by G. Eld. 1607.
The Roaring Girle, or, Moll Cut-Purse. As it hath lately beene acted on the Fortune-stage by the Prince His Players. Written by T. Middleton and T. Dekker. Printed at London for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes head-pallace, neere the Royall Exchange. 1611.
Satiro-mastix, or, The vntrussing of the Humorous Poet. As it hath bin presented publikely, by the Right Honorable, the Lord Chamberlaine His Seruants, and priuately, by the Children of Paules. By Thomas Dekker. London, Printed for Edward White, and are to bee solde at his shop, neere the little North doore of Paules Church, at the signe of the Gun. 1602. —The humorous poet is Ben Jonson, author of Every Man in His Humor, etc. “A dramatic reply to Ben Jonson’s Poetaster, a satire on Marston and other rival dramatists,” says the librarian.
John Ford.
The Lover’s Melancholy. Acted at the Private House in the Blacke Friers, and publikely at the Globe by the Kings Maiesties Servants. London: Printed for H. Seite, and are to be sold at the Tygers head in Saint Pauls Church-yard. 1629.
’Tis pitty shee’s a whore. Acted by the Queenes Maiesties Servants, at The Phoenix in Drury-Lane. London: Printed by Nicholas Okes for Richard Collins, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the three Kings. 1633.
William Haughton.
English-men For my Money: Or, A pleasant Comedy, called, A Woman will have her Will. Imprinted at London by W. White, dwelling in Cow-lane. 1616.
Ben. Jonson.
The Workes of Beniamin Jonson. Imprinted at London, by Will. Stansby. 1616.
A Pleasant Comedy, called: The Case is Alterd. As it hath beene sundry times acted by the Children of the Black-Friers. Written by Ben. Iohnson. London, Printed for Bartholomew Sutton, and William Barrenger, and are to be sold at the great North-doore of Saint Paules Church. 1609.
Eastward Hoe. As it was playd in the Black-friers. By The Children of her Maiesties Revels. Made by Geo: Chapman. Ben: Iohnson. Ioh: Marston. At London: Printed for William Aspley. 1605.
Poetaster, or, The Arraignment: as it hath beene sundry times priuately acted in the Blacke Friers, by the Children of Her Maiesties Chappell. Composed, by Ben. Iohnson. London: Printed for M. L. and are to be sould in Saint Dunstans Church-yarde. 1602.
John Lyly.
Mother Bombie. As it was sundrie times plaied by the Children of Powles. London: Printed by Thomas Creede, for Cuthbert Burby. 1598. —This comedy sets the crowd laughing at once:
Memphio. Boy, there are three things that make my life miserable, a threed bare purse, a curst wife, and a foole to my heire.
Dromio. Why then sir, there are three medicines, for these three maladies: a pike staffe to take a purse on the high way: a holly wand to brush the cholar from my mistresse tongue: and a yong wench for my yong maister: so that as your worship being wise, begot a foole: so he being a foole, may tread out a wise man.
John Marston.
The Dutch Courtezan. Aas it was playd in the Blacke-Friars, by the Children of her Maiesties Reuels. Written by Iohn Marston. At London, Printed by T.P. for Iohn Hughes, and are to be sould in his shop in Paules Church-yard. 1605.
Eastward Hoe. As it was playd in the Black-friers. By The Children of her Maiesties Revels. Made by Geo: Chapman. Ben: Iohnson. Ioh: Marston. At London: Printed for William Aspley. 1605.
Histrio-mastix, or, The Player Whipt. Printed for Th. Thorpe. 1610. —From a bookseller’s catalogue notice pasted in the front: “This curious play was written towards the close of Elizabeth’s reign, though not printed till 1610. It contains a ridicule or burlesque on the passage of Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, where Troilus, at parting, presents his sleeve to Cressida, and she gives him her glove.”
Iacke Drums Entertainment: or, The Comedie of Pasquill and Katherine: as it hath bene sundry times plaide by the Children of Powles. At London: Printed for Richard Olive, dwelling in Long Lane. 1601. —The title on the first page is “Iohn Drums Entertainment.”
The Malcontent. By Iohn Marston. 1604. At London. Printed by V. S. for William Aspley. —Marked “First edition” in pen on the title page; the augmented edition, produced the same year, is below. The title page has the most outsized definite article in the history of title pages; it seems that V.S. (Valentine Sims or Simmes) had a set of huge ornate letters T, H, and E, which appear in several of his books, but whether he owned the rest of the alphabet we have not been able to determine.
The Malcontent. Augmented by Marston. With the Additions played by the Kings Maiesties Servants. Written by Ihon Webster. At London: Printed by V.S. for William Aspley. 1604. —The Induction is identified in the text as by Webster.
Parasitaster, or, The Fawne, as it hath bene diuers times presented at the Blacke Friars, by the Children of the Queenes Maiesties Reuels. Written by Iohn Marston. At London, Printed by T. P. for W. C. 1606.
What You Will. By Iohn Marston. Imprinted at London by G. Eld, for Thomas Thorppe. 1607.
John Mason.
The Turke. A worthie tragedie. As it hath bene diuers times acted by the Children of His Majesties Revels. Written by John Mason Maister of Artes. London: Printed by E. A. for Iohn Busbie and are to be sold at his shop in S. Dunstons Churchyard in Fleete-streete. 1610.
Christopher Marlowe.
Tamburlaine the Greate. Who, from the state of a shepheard in Scythia, by his rare and wonderfull conquests, became a most puissant and mighty monarque. London: Printed for Edward White, and are to be solde at the little North doore of Saint Paules-Church, at the sign of the Gunne. 1605.
Thomas Middleton.
A Game at Chaess as it was Acted nine days to gether at the Globe on the banks side. [1625.]
A Mad World, My Masters. As it hath bin lately in Action by the Children of Paules. Composed by T.M. London, Printed by H. B for Walter Burre, and are t be sold in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the Cross. 1608.
The Roaring Girle, or, Moll Cut-Purse. As it hath lately beene acted on the Fortune-stage by the Prince His Players. Written by T. Middleton and T. Dekker. Printed at London for Thomas Archer, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes head-pallace, neere the Royall Exchange. 1611.
A Tricke to Catch the Old One. As it hath beene often in action, both at Paules, the Blacke Fryers, and before His Maiestie. At London. Printed by George Eld, for Thomas Langley and are to be sold at his shop over against the Sarazens Head without New-Gate. 1616.
Thomas Nabbes.
Playes, Maskes, Epigrams, Elegies, and Epithalamiums. Collected into one Volumne. By Thomas Nabbes. London, Printed by I. Dawson, And are to be sold at the signe of the White-Lyon and Ball in Saint Pauls Churchyard. 1639.
Thomas Nash.
A Pleasant Comedie, called Summers last will and Testament. Written by Thomas Nash. Imprinted at London by Simon Stafford, for Walter Burre. 1600.
Samuel Rowly.
When you see me, You know me. Or the famous chronicle historie of King Henry the eight, with the birth and vertuous life of Edward Prince of Wales : As it was playd by the high and mightie Prince of Wales his seruants. By Samvell Rovvly, seruant to the Prince, London, Imprinted for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yeard neare Saint Austines gate. 1605.
Edward Sharpham.
The Fleire. As it hath been often played in the Blacke-Fryers by the Children of the Reuells. Written by Edward Sharpham of the Middle Temple, Gentleman. At London, Printed for Nathaniell Butter, and are to be sold at his shop at the Pyde Bull at Saint Augustines Gate. An. 1610.
Thomas Tomkins.
Lingua, or, The combat of the tongue, and the fiue sences, for superiority. A pleasant comoedy. London: Printed by Nicholas Okes, for Simon Waterson, 1622.
Cyril Tourneur.
The Atheists Tragedie: Or The honest Man’s Revenge. As in divers places it hath often beene Acted. Written by Cyril Tourner. At London, Printed for Iohn Stepney, and Richard Redmere, and are to be sold at their Shops at the West end of Paules. 1611.
John Webster.
North-ward Hoe. Sundry times acted by the children of Paules. By Thomas Dekker, and Iohn Webster. Imprinted at London by G. Eld. 1607.
George Wilkins.
The Miseries of Inforst Mariage. Playd by his Maiesties Servantes. By George Wilkins. London: Printed for George Vincent, and are to be sold at his Shoppe in Woodstreete. 1611. —See also the Yorkshire Tragedie, attributed by the printer to Shakespeare.
Nathaniell Woodes.
An excellent new Commedie, intituled: The Conflict of Conscience. Contayninge, a most lamentable example, of the dolefull desperation of a miserable worldlinge, termed, by the name of Philologvs, who forsooke the trueth of Gods gospel, for feare of the losse of lyfe, & worldly goods. Compiled by Nathaniell Woodes, Minister, in Norwich. At London: Printed, by Richard Bradocke dwelling in Aldermanburie, a little above the Conduict. Anno 1581. —A rhymed comedy, designed for amateur productions with six actors playing all the parts, and as instructive as it sounds.