A play called Longshank, Longshanks, and Prince Longshank was played fourteen times by the Admiral's, from 29 Aug. 1595 to 14 July 1596. It is marked 'ne', and unless there had been substantial revision, can hardly be Peele's play. 'Longe-shanckes sewte' is in the Admiral's inventory of 10 March 1598. On 8 Aug. 1602 Alleyn sold the book of the play to the Admiral's with another for £4. (Greg, Henslowe, ii. 176; Henslowe Papers, 113.)
David and Bethsabe > 1594 S. R. 1594, May 14. 'A booke called the book of David and Bethsaba.' Adam Islip (Arber, ii. 649). [Islip's name is cancelled and Edward White's substituted.] 1599. The Love of King David and Fair Bethsabe. With the Tragedie of Absalon. As it hath ben divers times plaied on the stage. Written by George Peele. Adam Islip. [Prologue.] Editions by T. Hawkins (1773, O. E. D. ii), J. M. Manly (1897, Specimens, ii. 419), and W. W. Greg (1912, M. S. R.).—Dissertations: B. Neitzel (1904, Halle diss.); M. Dannenberg, Die Verwendung des biblischen Stoffes von David und Bathseba im englischen Drama (1905, Königsberg diss.). Fleay, ii. 153, dates the play c. 1588 on the ground of some not very plausible political allusions. The text as it stands looks like a boil-*down of a piece, perhaps of a neo-miracle type, written in three 'discourses'. It had choruses, of which two only are preserved. One is ll. 572-95 (at end of sc. iv of M. S. R. ed.). The other (ll. 1646-58; M. S. R. sc. xv) headed 'Chorus 5', contains the statement:
this storie lends vs other store, To make a third discourse of Dauids life,
and is followed by a misplaced fragment of a speech by Absalon. In Oct. 1602 Henslowe (ii. 232) laid out money for Worcester's on poles and workmanship 'for to hange Absolome'; but we need not assume a revival of Peele's play.
The Old Wive's Tale. 1591 < > 4
S. R. 1595, Apr. 16. 'A booke or interlude intituled a pleasant Conceipte called the owlde wifes tale.' Ralph Hancock (Arber, ii. 296). 1595. The Old Wiues Tale. A pleasant conceited Comedie, played by the Queenes Maiesties players. Written by G. P. John Danter, sold by Ralph Hancock and John Hardie.
Editions by F. B. Gummere (1903, R. E. C.), W. W. Greg (1908, M. S. R.), W. A. Neilson (1911, C. E. D.), F. R. Cady (1916).—Dissertation: H. Dutz, Der Dank des Tödten in der englischen Literatur (1894).
The Queen's men had presumably produced the play by 1594, when they left London. Peele borrowed some lines and the name Sacrapant from Greene's Orlando Furioso (1591). The hexameters of Huanebango are a burlesque of Gabriel Harvey.
