APPENDIX A
Reading edition
i. Comparison of Plays Known Only Through Henslowe with Plays Otherwise Known
Total number of plays listed in the performance lists of Henslowe’s Diary 113
Plays known only through Henslowe’s Diary 62 54.9%
Plays known only through the Diary and Henslowe’s Papers 5 4.4
Plays known otherwise than through Henslowe’s Diary or Papers 24 21.2%
Plays which scholars have identified
with works otherwise known (22)
Identification is probable for 10 8.9
Identification is improbable for 12 10.6
—— ——
Plays definitely and probably unknown but for Henslowe 69.9%
Plays definitely and probably otherwise known 30.1%
Of those known otherwise than through Henslowe 34 plays gave
403 performances
Of those unknown but through Henslowe 79 plays gave
496 performances
ii. Length of Runs of Plays Listed in Henslowe’s Diary, ed. W. W. Greg, I, 13-22, 24-25, 27-28, 30, 42, 49-54
1. Number of Performances
No. of Perfs. No. of Plays between 1592–1597(a) No. of Plays between 1594–1597(b) No. of Perfs. No. of Plays between 1592–1597(a) No. of Plays between 1594–1597(b)
1 19 5 13 3 2
2 15 5 14 4 3
3 8 1 15 2 2
4 7 4 16 2 2
5 4 0 17 2 1
6 3 2 21 1 1
7 7 4 22 2 2
8 5 4 25 2 2
9 4 3 29 1 0
10 6 2 32 1 1
11 6 4 36 1 0
12 8 7
(a) Full performance list, 1592–1597: 113 plays. Average number of performances: 7.9; mean number of performances: 7.
(b) Partial performance list, June, 1594–February, 1597, limits of the most stable period. Average number of performances: 10; mean number of performances: 10.
2. Length of Time
1592–1597(c) 1594–1597(d) 1592–1597(c) 1594–1597(d)
Years Mos. (No. Plays and Percentage) Years Mos. (No. Plays and Percentage)
1 30 26.5 9 15.8 1 0 2 ┐ 2 ┐
2 16 ┐ 5 ┐ 1 1 2 │ 2 │
3 6 │ 2 │ 1 3 2 ├ 8.0 2 ├ 15.8
4 7 ├ 31.0 3 ├ 22.8 1 4 1 │ 1 │
5 5 │ 3 │ 1 7 1 │ 1 │
6 1 ┘ 0 ┘ 1 8 1 ┘ 1 ┘
7 7 ┐ 5 ┐ 2 0 1 ┐ 3.5 1 ┐ 5.3
8 7 │ 6 │ 2 2 3 ┘ 2 ┘
9 3 ├ 24.8 2 ├ 33.3 3 2 1 .9 1 1.8
10 5 │ 4 │
11 6 ┘ 2 ┘ Revived(e) 6 5.3 3 5.2
(c) 1592–1597, 113 plays.
(d) June, 1594–February, 1597, 57 plays.
(e) Length of run is counted continuously when a play is performed regularly, there being no more than four months between performances. Otherwise the play is considered to be a revival.
iii. Summary of Court Performances, 1590–1642
Total number of plays that were or may have been presented at Court, 1590–1642 144
1. Plays definitely produced publicly before appearance at Court 67 46.5%
2. Plays where initial performance is uncertain (Notice of Court performance is only or first reference to play.) 39 27.1%
3. Plays for which there is evidence public playing preceded Court performance 8 5.5%
4. Uncertain. Title pages indicate performances in public and at Court 6 4.2%
5. Plays the title pages of which refer only to public performance 4 2.8%
6. Plays which received licenses shortly before Court performances 8 5.5%
7. Old plays revived, possibly with additions for Court 4 2.8%
8. Plays definitely presented at Court first 7 4.9%
9. Plays probably presented at Court first 1 .1%
The total number of plays presented at Court is calculated from the lists appearing in E. K. Chambers, The Elizabethan Stage and Mary Steele, Plays and Masques at Court. The investigation of the circumstances under which the plays received their first presentations employed a wide variety of primary and secondary sources. It is beyond the scope of this book to give the evidence for each conclusion.