Ajax Flagellifer (Oxford)

Anon. (1605)

Historical Records

Cambridge University Library MS. Add. 34

(Narratives by Cambridge Men)

Under the heading:
"The preparacion at Oxford in August 1605, against the comminge
thither of king Iames with the quene and Younge Prince, together with
the thinges then and there done, and the maner thereof./":

f 37* (28 August)

...The same daye after supper about 9. of the Clock they began to act the
Tragedye of Aiax flagellifer, wherein their stage varried 3. times, they had all
goodlie anticke apparrell, but for all that yt was not acted soe well by many
degrees as I have seene yt in Cambridge, the kinge was verye weary before
he came thither, but much more wearied by that, and spake manye wordes
of dislike/
REED Oxford 1.299

Theatrical Provenance

Performed at Christ Church, Oxford, 28 August 1605 by players from Magdalen College, for a royal visitation.

Probable Genre(s)

Latin Tragedy

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

In REED Oxford 2 (Appendix 6.2), Elliot and Nelson observe: "Not apparently a translation from Sophocles, but an independent play. This was probably a different play from the Ajax Flagellifer performed at Cambridge in 1564" (825) Internet Archive

Their evidence for this assertion is ....... http://www.archive.org/stream/oxfordREED02elliuoft#page/n251/mode/2up/

References to the Play

<List any known or conjectured references to the lost play here.>

Critical Commentary

<Summarise any critical commentary that may have been published by scholars. Please maintain an objective tone!>

For What It's Worth

"Flagellifer" literally = "lash bearer" (REED Oxford 2.1190)

Works Cited

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Site created by Dana F. Sutton, University of California, Irvine; updated David McInnis 18 Feb 2010.