1605. For Edward White. [Part i.]
1606. E. A. for E. White. [Part ii.]
Editions by A. Wagner (1885) and K. Vollmöller (1885) and of Part i by W. A. Neilson (1911, C. E. D.).—Dissertations: C. H. Herford, The Sources of M.’s T. (Academy, 20 Oct. 1883); L. Frankel, Zum Stoffe von M.’s T. (1892, E. S. xvi. 459); E. Köppel in Englische Studien, xvi. 357; E. Hübner, Der Einfluss von M.’s Tamburlaine auf die zeitgenössischen und folgenden Dramatiker (Halle diss. 1901); F. G. Hubbard, Possible Evidence for the Date of T. (1918, M. L. A. xxxiii. 436).
There is no real doubt as to Marlowe’s authorship of Tamburlaine, but the direct evidence is very slight, consisting chiefly of Greene’s (q.v.) Perimedes coupling of ‘that atheist Tamburlan’ with ‘spirits as bred of Merlin’s race’, and Harvey’s allusion to its author as dying in 1593. Thomas Heywood, in his prologue to The Jew of Malta, speaks of Alleyn’s performance in the play. The entry printed by Collier in Henslowe’s Diary of a payment to Dekker in 1597 ‘for a prolog to Marloes tambelan’ is a forgery (Warner, 159; Greg, Henslowe, i. xxxix). The Admiral’s produced ‘Tamberlan’ on 30 Aug. 1594. Henslowe marks the entry ‘j’, which has been taken as equivalent to ‘n. e.’, Henslowe’s symbol for a new play, and as pointing to a revision of the play. I feel sure, however (cf. M. L. R. iv. 408), that ‘j’ only means ‘First Part’. ‘Tamberlen’ was given fifteen times from 30 Aug. 1594 to 12 Nov. 1595, and the ‘2 pt. of tamberlen’ seven times from 19 Dec. 1594 to 13 Nov. 1595 (Henslowe, ii. 167). Tamburlaine’s cage, bridle, coat, and breeches are included in the inventories of the Admiral’s men in 1598 (Henslowe Papers, 116).
Greene’s Perimedes reference suggests 1587 or early 1588 as the probable date of Tamburlaine. In his preface to the 1590 edition Richard Jones says that he has omitted ‘some fond and frivolous gestures’, but does not say whether these were by the author of the tragic stuff. The numerous references to the play in contemporary literature often indicate its boisterous character; e.g. T. M. The Black Book (Bullen, Middleton, viii. 25), ‘The spindle-shank spiders ... went stalking over his head as if they had been conning of Tamburlaine’; T. M. Father Hubburd’s Tales (ibid. viii. 93), ‘The ordnance playing like so many Tamburlaines’.
Dr. Faustus, c. 1588
S. R. 1592, Dec. 18. Herbert-Ames, Typographical Antiquities, ii. 1160, records the following decision of the Stationers’ Company not printed by Arber, ‘If the book of Dr. Faustus shall not be found in the Hall Book entered to Rd. Oliff before Abell Jeffes claymed the same, which was about May last, That then the said copie shall remayne to the said Abell his proper copie from the tyme of his first clayme’. [This can hardly refer to the prose History of Faustus, of which the earliest extant, but probably not the first, edition was printed by T. Orwin for Edward White in 1592.]
1601, Jan. 7 (Barlowe). ‘A booke called the plaie of Doctor Faustus.’ Thomas Bushell (Arber, iii. 178).
1610, Sept. 13. Transfer from Bushell to John Wright of ‘The tragicall history of the horrible life and Death of Doctor Faustus, written by C. M.’ (Arber, iii. 442).
1604. The tragicall History of D. Faustus. As it hath bene Acted by the Right Honorable the Earle of Nottingham his seruants. Written by Ch. Marl. V. S. for Thomas Bushell.