Date Henry VIII (play)

dame ellen terry catherine of aragon

most modern scholars date henry viii 1613, year in globe theatre burned down during 1 of play s earliest known performances. 1 contemporary report states play new @ time of fire, having been acted not passing 2 or 3 times before .

despite evidence, there has been debate date of work. nicholas rowe in 1709 wrote play must date after death of elizabeth in 1603 because e[u]logy upon q. elizabeth, , successor k. james, in latter end of henry viii, proof of play s being written after accession of latter of 2 princes crown of england . rowe writing before discovery of document on 1613 fire, first published 18th century scholar thomas tyrwhitt , seemed confirm view.

however, several 18th- , 19th-century scholars, including samuel johnson, lewis theobald, george steevens, edmond malone, , james halliwell-phillipps, dated play s composition before 1603. malone suggested brief passage in praise of james added performance during reign extended glorification of elizabeth implies intended ears. james hated memory , such praise not have been written under him. malone mistook 12 feb 1604 stationer s register entry of enterlude of k. henry viii (samuel rowley s when see me know me, 1605) shakespeare s play, , argued reference newness of play in 1613 derived fact had been expanded new prologue , epilogue, perhaps written ben jonson. in fact, shakespeare s play first registered on 8 november 1623, along 15 other unpublished works, in preparation publication of 1623 first folio. halliwell-phillipps took view play performed in 1613 altogether different work.

these views no longer held modern scholars. plays offering positive portrayals of major tudor figures henry viii (when see me know me) , queen elizabeth (if know not me, know nobody, 1605) in fact performed, published, , re-published throughout stuart era. since play believed 1 of shakespeare s collaborations john fletcher, 1613 date consistent other such collaborations.