England’s First Happiness, or The Life of St. Austin

Anon. (before 1641)

Historical Records

Bentley, 5.1326. Stationers' Register, 15 April 1641. Entered for John Nicholson

three playes, viz^t. A Tragedy called Charles, Duke of Burbon, The Parroiall of Princes & England's first happines, or, the Life of St. Austin... xviii^d.

Theatrical Provenance

unknown

Probable Genre(s)

Neo-miracle? (Harbage); History play

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Saint Augustine was the seventh-century Archbishop of Canterbury who converted England to Christianity. What one might call the standard early modern English account of his life is provided by Holinshed, and is itself based on the opening chapters of Book 2 of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England, conveniently available online and in translation at internet sites including [[1]]. The story begins with Pope Gregory the Great, struck by the beauty of British boys, dispatching Augustine to England to convert the nation to Christianity. It goes on to describe Augustine's early fears and his preaching in front of King Ethelbert; and civil wars resulting from the conversion of the king. Augustine's ultimate triumphs, in this account, include miracles, scenes of mass baptism, and the establishment of Canterbury Cathedral.

References to the Play

none known

Critical Commentary

"Nothing is known of a play with this title, or… of any play on the life of St Augustine of Canterbury" (Bentley, 5.1326, summarizing and concurring with Greg, BEPD). Bentley also observes that "very few plays earlier than the times of James I were entered in the Stationers' Register for the first time in the 1640's".

For What It's Worth

This play was registered along with two other lost plays, The Parroiall (Pareil?) of Princes‎ and Charles, Duke of Bourbon. John Nicholson was not a well-known printer of plays. The only extant play he printed was "J.D."'s The Knave in Grain… acted at the Fortune (1640). Is this a tenuous indication of the possible theatrical provenance of these three lost, anonymous plays?

Works Cited

Site created and maintained by Matthew Steggle 9 March 2010.