King Henry V: The First Quarto of 1600, a Facsimile (Classic Reprint)

INTRODUCTION, § I. THE date of Henry V. is determined by an allusion in the c110rus of Act V. (II. 30-34) :- " 'ere now the general of our gracious empress, As in good time he may, from Ireland coming, Bringing rebellion broached on his sword, How many would the peaceful city quit To welcome him! " This is doubtless a reference to the Earl of Essex, who was sent over to Ireland in command of a large force against the rebel Earl of Tyrone in llarch, 1599. As Essex returned, not exactly" bringing rebellion broached on his sworcl," in Septem ber of the same year, the passage must have been written between the date of his departure and that of his return. A reference in the Prologue to "this wooden 0," that is, the Globe Theatre, "a large circular or polygonal building," erected in 1 599, further points to that year as the date of the play'S production. And lIeres, who mentions I-£enry IV. in his lVit's Treasury, 1598, makes no allusion to Hemy V. § 2.

Table of Contents

PAGE; § I Date of the Play iii; § 2 Editions of the Play III; § 3· Is the Quarto Shakspere's First Sketch? lIr Daniel's Argument to; the contrary IV; § 4· Sources of the Play: Famous Victories vi; § 5· Sources of the Play: Holillshed's Chronicles xi; n Reprint of Mr Stone's SUll/mary xii; b Notes on a few points xiv; § 6 This Facsimile; with a Postscript relating to TilliS XVII

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