PAGE
The Preface[vii]
King John[3]
Notes to King John[97]
King Richard II.[109]
Notes to King Richard II.[223]
The First Part of King Henry IV.[233]
Notes to The First Part of King Henry IV.[351]
The Second Part of King Henry IV.[361]
Notes to The Second Part of King Henry IV.[481]
King Henry V.[491]
Notes to King Henry V.[607]
The Chronicle Historie of Henry the Fift &c.[615]

PREFACE.

I. Shakespeare's King John was printed for the first time in the Folio of 1623. The poet adopted most of the characters, the general plot, and occasional lines, or fragments of lines, from an earlier play, in two parts, published in 1591, with the following title-page:

The | Troublesome Raigne | of Iohn King of England, with the dis-|couerie of King Richard Cordelions | Base sonne (vulgarly named, The Ba-|stard Fawconbridge): also the | death of King Iohn at Swinstead | Abbey. | As it was (sundry times) publikely acted by the | Queenes Maiesties Players, in the ho-|nourable Citie of London. | Imprinted at London for Sampson Clarke, | and are to be solde at his shop, on the backe-|side of the Royall Exchange. | 1591. |

This play was reprinted for a different bookseller in 1611, with the words 'W. Sh.' added to the title; and a third edition in 1622, again issued by a different bookseller, has 'W. Shakespeare.'

There can be little doubt that the booksellers attributed the play to Shakespeare in the hope that so popular a name might help the sale, for although the earlier play is by no means devoid of merit, the evidence of its style conclusively proves that Shakespeare had no part in the authorship. We have therefore not reprinted it, but contented ourselves with indicating the passages borrowed verbally from it.

2. Of Richard II. four editions in Quarto were published before the appearance of the first Folio:

Q1. The | Tragedie of King Ri-|chard the se-|cond. | As it hath beene publikely acted | by the right Honourable the | Lorde Chamberlaine his Ser'uants. | London | Printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and | are to be sold at his shop in Paules church yard at | the signe of the Angel. | 1597. |

Q2. The | Tragedie of King Ri-|chard the second. | As it hath beene publikely acted by the Right Ho-|nourable the Lord Chamberlaine his | seruants. | By William Shake-speare. | London | Printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and | are to be sold at his shop in Paules churchyard at | the signe of the Angel. | 1598. |