DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1590 Norton, Thomas; Sackville, Thomas Ferrex and Porrex (Gorboduc)

Reference Information

DEEP #: 61
Greg #: 39c
STC/Wing #: 17029 (pt. 2)
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Inns of Court
Genre (Annals): Tragedy
 
Book Edition: 3
Play Edition: 3
Format: Quarto
Leaves: 28
Black Letter: Yes
Date of First Publication: 1565
Date of First Production: 1562 [Jan 18]
Company of First Production: n/a
Company Attribution: n/a
 
Total Editions: 1 octavo, 1 octavo (bibliographically independent and in collection), 1 quarto (bibliographically independent and in collection)
 
Also appears in collection: The Serpent of Division (1590)

Title-Page Features

Title: THE Tragedie of Gorboduc,
Author: whereof three Actes were written by Thomas Norton, and the two last by Thomas Sackuyle.
Performance: Set forth as the same was shewed before the Queenes most excellent Maiesty, in her highnes Court of Whitehall, by the Gentlemen of the Inner Temple.
Imprint: AT LONDON, Printed by Edward Allde for Iohn Perrin, and are to be sold in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Angell. 1590.

Paratextual Material

Argument: "The Argument of the Tragedie" [A2r]
Character List: "The names of the Speakers" [A2r]
Explicit: The ende of the Tragedie of King Gorboduc. [G4v]
Other Paratexts: "The Order of the dumbe shewe before the first Act, and the signification thereof" [A2v]

Stationer Information

Printer: Allde, Edward
Publisher: Perrin, John
Imprint Location: A.3 (Paul's Churchyard - Northeast)
Entries in Stationers' Register: c. Sep, 1565: Entered to William Griffith: "A Tragie [sic] of gorboduc where iij actes were wretten by Thomas norton and the laste by Thomas Sackvyle &c".
 
Additional Notes: Greg writes, "It seems likely, from the number of copies that survive," that this edition of the play "was also issued independently" (Bibliography, 1:117).