Godfrey of Boulogne, Parts 1 and 2

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Historical Records

Performance Records

Playlists in Henslowe's diary

F. 9^v (Greg I. 18)

ye 19 of Julye 1594	. . . ne . . . . .	Res at 2 þte of godfrey of bullen . . . . . . . . . . . .	iijli xjs
ye 26 of Julye 1594		Res at godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .	xlvijs
ye 6 of aguste 1594		Res at seconde þ godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxxvijs
ye 13 of aguste 1594		Res at godfrey of bullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxixs

F. 10 (Greg, I.19)

ye 26 of aguste 1594		Res at godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxvijs vld
ye 8 of septmbʒ 1594	————	Res at godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxxxs
ye 20 of septmbʒ 1594		Res at godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxxs
ye 6 of octobʒ 1594		Res at bullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xijs

F. 10^v (Greg, I.20)

ye 30 of octobʒ 1594	. . . . . . . . . . .	Res at bullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxs

F. 11^v (Greg, I.22)

ye 27 of aprell 1595	. . . . . . . . . . . . .	Res at godfrey of bullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxixs
ye 17 of maye 1595		Res at godfrey of bullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxijs

F13 (Greg I.25):

ye 16 of septmbʒ 1595	. . . . . . . . .	Res at godfrey of bullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	xxs

Theatrical Provenance

According to the records of Philip Henslowe, the two parts of "Godfrey of Bulloigne" were performed at the Rose playhouse by the Admiral's men in the fall and spring seasons of 1594-5; part one was continued for a single performance into the fall of 1595. The first part appears to have been in the hands of the company, so it apparently had already made its debut; the second part, however, was marked "ne" by Henslowe and thus was most likely enjoying its maiden run.

Probable Genre(s)

Heroical-romance

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Scholars have agreed that the title character of "Godfrey of Boulogne" was the crusader who became king of Jerusalem, conquered in 1099 in the First Christian Crusade.

See Wiggins, Catalogue #892 for sources available to playwrights on the history of Godfrey of Boulogne.

Critical Commentary

Malone made no comment on the appearance of "Godfrey of Bulloigne" in Henslowe's lists; and, because he transcribed only the initial performance of each repertory item, he did not express an opinion on its being a two-part play or on the assignment of entries to each part. Collier did not challenge the entry on 19 July 1594 as being the second part of a play-pair. His uncertainty lay with the registration at Stationers' Hall a month earlier (19 June 1594) of "an enterlude entitled Godfrey of Bulloigne with the Conquest of Jerusalem." He saw no "first part" of "Godfrey" unless it was a play called "Jerusalem" by Henslowe and entered as a repertory item with Lord Strange's men. He did trust that Henslowe's indication of a second part confirmed the existence of a first part (p. 37, n1).

Fleay, BCED Greg II

Gurr

Knutson

Wiggins, Catalogue #892, #960