Origin. It was founded on a play called "The First and Second Part of the Troublesome Reign of King John of England," published in 1591.
The Life and Death of King Richard II.
Editions. 4to, 1597; 4to, 1598; 4to, 1608; 4to, 1615; in the folio, 1623.
Date. The exact date cannot be ascertained; but from the style I should be inclined to regard it as one of Shakespeare's earliest plays.
Origin. Hollinshed's Chronicle, and an older play on the same subject.
The First Part of King Henry IV.
Editions. 4to, 1598; 4to, 1599; 4to, 1604; 4to, 1608; 4to, 1613; in the folio, 1623.
Date. All we can say is, that it was anterior to 1598, and was most probably written in 1597.
Origin. Hollinshed's Chronicle, and an anonymous play called "The Famous Victories of Henry V." The comic scenes are entirely Shakespeare's own, both in this and the two succeeding plays.