Fragment of a play in the Journal of Benjamin Greene

Anon. (1610-1613)

Historical Records

Benjamin Greene's journal

The following dramatic fragment from the journal of Benjamin Greene was first published by William Foster (in "Forged Shakespeariana", 42) as an afterthought, following discussion of the supposed performances of Hamlet on board The Dragon in 1607. It comes from a journal recording a separate voyage (see Theatrical Provenance), but was offered by Foster as evidence of the theatrical interests of East India Company crew members more generally:

	Corus
Astorildo emperor coelicia		Carrabunculo R fletruria
Cleobulo & Druball his sonnes		Brufard his bastard sonne
Corderia his wife		Merinda his wife
liuia her daughter		Dionisia his faire daughter
Lord Pridamor		Catropus Brufards frend
lo: Parracie		flox (?) the hostler
Jack Pretty Cleobuloes man		Nibs the coachman
Tuckit Druballs man		Racrox & Rabix [illegible]
		Attendants
		Cristobell
		Vna
		Plebia
		Curia &c.

Enter at one dore---Corus

& Racrox at thother

Ra. Welmet frend what newes if thou wilt goe to the rose we will a cupe of merrigoe downe.

Co. I pray keepe of you are a great disturber of the common.

Theatrical Provenance

Benjamin Greene was a factor (one of the third class of the East India Company's servants) on the Darling, one of three ships (the others being the Peppercorn and Trades Increase) in the EIC's sixth voyage (to Surat in western India, 1610-13), under Sir Henry Middleton's leadership. Greene does not refer to any performances, but the transcription above occurs on a sheet at the end of his diary (Foster 42).

Probable Genre(s)

Unknown.

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

EEBO-TCP Phase I currently returns only a single hit for the name "Astorildo": The ninth part of the Mirrour of knight-hood (1601), sigs.Bb2^v and following (e.g. see EEBO-TCP (Open Access). This same text also refers to "Cleobulo" in his absence, for having a distinctive birthmark that confirms the identity of another character ("Without doubt it is as I tel you, for I haue seene the verie markes wherewith they were borne, and that which Cleobulo hath, I saw this night, when hee was a dressing", sig. Nq2^v).

References to the Play

None other than Greene's fragment.

Critical Commentary

Sydney Race suggested that the fragment was a Collier forgery, but as Foster points out, "Surely it would have been quite natural for some unknown person to have alleviated the tedium of a voyage by trying his hand at dramatic composition; and in this connexion I may recall that Dr. Boas found in the British Museum a whole play [i.e. William Mountfort's The Launching of the Mary], written by one of the Company's servants on his homeward way" ("Reply", 414).

For What It's Worth

(Information welcome).

Works Cited

Foster, William. "Forged Shakespeariana". Notes & Queries 9th S. VI. (21 July 1900), 41-42.

---. "Reply". Notes & Queries, CXCV (16 September 1950), 414-15.

The ninth part of the Mirrour of knight-hood, being the fourth booke of the third part thereof: wherein is declared, the high and noble actes of the sonnes and nephewes of the noble Emperour Trebacius, and of the rest of the renoumed princes and knights, and of the high cheualrie of the gallant ladyes: wherein also is treated of the most cruell warre that euer was in Greece, with the amorous euents, and the end thereof. At London : Printed [by Simon Stafford] for Cuthbert Burbie, and are to be sold at his shop, at the Royall Exchange, 1601.

Race, Sydney. "J. P. Collier's Fabrications". Notes & Queries, CXCV (5 August 1950), 345-46.

Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; 31 August 2015.