Vestal, The

Henry Glapthorne (c.1633-1642)

Historical Records

Stationers' Register

On 29 June, 1660, the printer Humphrey Moseley entered on the Stationers' Register a list of twenty-six plays, including:

The Vestall. a Tragedy. [brace]

The noble Triall. a Tragicomedy [brace] by Hen: Glapthorne.

The Dutchesse of Fernandina. a Tragedy [brace]

Warburton's List

Among the manuscript plays which Warburton claimed had been destroyed by his cook are listed:

The Vestall A Tragedy by H. Glapthorn

The Noble Tryall. T. H. Glapthorn

Warburton seems to list the play again:

Theatrical provenance

Unknown. Glapthorne is known to have been active throughout the 1630s, for a range of different dramatic companies (see below). The date range given above is from Harbage.

Probable genres

Tragedy

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

The Vestal Virgins, priestesses of Vesta in Ancient Rome, were well known in the English Renaissance through dozens of classical references to them. In particular, they were proverbially famous for their vows of virginity. If they infringed these vows, they were ritually entombed alive.

References to the Play

None known