Henry V

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Historical Records

Performance Records

Playlists in Philip Henslowe's diary

Fol. 14 (Greg, I. 27)

ye 28 of novembʒ 1595	. . . . . . ne . . .	Rd at harey the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iijli vj
ye 2 of desembʒ 1595		Rd at harey the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxvs
ye 8 of desembʒ 1595	——————	Rd at hary the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxxiijs
ye 16 of desembʒ 1595		Rd at hary the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxivs
ye 28 of desembʒ 1595		Rd at harye the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lvjs
ye 5 of Jenewary 1595	140-1[0]1-0d	Rd at harey the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxvjs

Fol. 14^v (Greg, I. 28

ye 19 of Jenewary 1595	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Rd at harye the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxs
ye 5 of febreary 1595		Rd at harye the 5	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xviijs

Fol. 15^v (Greg 1.30):

ye 24 of aprell 1596	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Rd at hary the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvs
ye 26 of maye 1596		Rd at hary the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxiijs

Fol. 21^v (Greg 1.42)

ye 17 of June 1596	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	Rd at hary the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxvijs
ye 10 of July 1596		Rd at harye the v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiiijs
ye 15 of July 1596		Rd at hary v	. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxijs

Theatrical Provenance

This "Henry V" was performed at the Rose playhouse by the Admiral's men throughout the season of 1595-6; its thirteen performances earning a 30s return to Henslowe on average.

Probable Genre(s)

History Harbage

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

No doubt the play was based on historical information in the standard histories of the day, the most ubiquitous of which was Holinshed's Chronicles.

References to the Play

None known.

Critical Commentary

This "Henry V" as an old play

Malone "suppose[d]" that the Admiral's play was The Famous Victories of Henry the fifth: Containing the Honorourable Battell of Agin-court, which was registered at Stationers' Hall on 14 May 1594 and published in 1598 with a title-page advertisement of ownership by the Queen's men. Malone was thus giving Famous Victories a revival some ten years after its debut (which occurred perhaps in 1585; William Knell is said to have played the part of Prince Hal [McMillin and MacLean, p. 196]).
Collier

Fleay, BCED

Greg ii

Gurr

This "Henry V" as a new play

Wiggins, Catalogue #1021

For What It's Worth

If this play was indeed a discrete dramatization of the exploits of King Henry V of England, its receipts may provide insight into the profit the Queen's men had expected of their Famous Victories of Henry V" in the 1580s and the Chamberlain's men were to expect of their Henry the V in 1599.

Works Cited

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