DEEP: Database of Early English Playbooks

1565 Norton, Thomas; Sackville, Thomas Ferrex and Porrex (Gorboduc)

Reference Information

DEEP #: 59
Greg #: 39a
STC/Wing #: 18684
Record Type: Single-Play Playbook
Play Type: Inns of Court
Genre (Annals): Tragedy
 
Book Edition: 1
Play Edition: 1
Format: Octavo
Leaves: 36
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)

Title-Page Features

Title: THE TRAGEDIE OF GORBODVC,
Author: whereof three Actes were wrytten by Thomas Nortone, and the two laste by Thomas Sackuyle.
Performance: Sett forthe as the same was shewed before the QVENES most excellent Maiestie, in her highnes Court of Whitehall, the .xviii. day of Ianuary, Anno Domini. 1561. By the Gentlemen of Thynner Temple in London.
Imprint: IMPRYNTED AT LONDON in Fletestrete, at the Signe of the Faucon by William Griffith: And are to be sold at his Shop in Saincte Dunstones Churchyarde in the West of London. Anno .1565. Septemb. 22.

Paratextual Material

Argument: "Thargument of the Tragedie" [A1v]
Character List: "The names of the Speakers" [A2r]
Explicit: The ende of the Tragedie of Kynge Gorboduc. [E4r]
Other Paratexts: "The Order of the dõme shewe before the firste Acte, and the Signification thereof" [A2v]

Stationer Information

Printer: Griffith, William
Imprint Location: W.9 (Fleet St. - St. Dunstan's Church / Clifford's Inn)
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: The play was performed in January 1562, so the date in the performance attribution follows the legal reckoning.