Fragment of a play in the Journal of Benjamin Greene
Historical Records
Benjamin Greene's journal
The following 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 Red Dragon in 1607:
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
Unknown.
References to the Play
None other than Greene's fragment.
Critical Commentary
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.
Site created and maintained by David McInnis, University of Melbourne; 07 January 2014.