Robert II, King of Scots (The Scot's Tragedy)
Henry Chettle, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, "other Jentellman" (1599)
Historical Records
Payments for Playwrights (Henslowe's Diary)
F. 64 (Greg, I. 111)
| Lent vnto Thomas downton the 3 of Septmber | } |
| 1599 to lend vnto Thomas deckers Bengemen | } |
| Johnson hary chettell & other Jentellman in earneste | } xxxxs |
| of a playe calle Robart the second Kinge of scottes | } |
| tragedie the some of … | } |
| Lent vnto Samwell Rowley & Robart shawe | } |
| the 15 of septmber 1599 to lend in earneste of a | } |
| Boocke called the scottes ragedti vnto Thomas | } xxs |
| dickers & harey chettell the some of … | } |
| Lent hary chettell the 16 of septmber 1599 | } |
| in earneste of a Boocke called the scottes | } xs |
| tragedie the some of … | } |
F. 64v (Greg, I.112)
| Lent into wm Borne the 27 of | } |
| Setmber 1599 to lend vnto Bengemen | } |
| Johnsone in earneste of a Boocke called | } xxs |
| the scottes tragedie the some of … | } |
Theatrical Provenance
The Admiral's men made four payments "in earneste" for the play in September 1599 apparently for performance at the Rose playhouse. No payments for apparel or divers things confirms that the play was brought into production.
Probable Genre(s)
History (Harbage); Tragedy (Henslowe)
Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues
In Shapiro's opinion, "Elizabethan dramatists collaborating on the 'tragedy' of Robert II would probably have turned to Holinshed, the most readily available and extended account of the reign" (440). Shapiro adds that behind Holinshed are sources there cited—"Froissart, Hector Boece, and John Major" (440). Shapiro marginalises "Stow, Camden, and Fabian" as having "little information" (440).
References to the Play
None known.
Critical Commentary
Shapiro
For What It's Worth
The fact that the King's men acquired a play called "Gowrie" in 1604, when the politics of the Stuarts were also controversial, suggests that the theatrical world was not completely risk averse when it came to issues of succession and royal legitimacy.
Works Cited
Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 29 February 2016.