Jump to content

Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 46

From Wikisource

XLVI. SHAKESPEARE AT THE HEIGHT OF HIS FAME AS A DRAMATIST (1607).

Entry of King Lear in the Stationers’ Register, November 26, 1607.

1607, 5 Regis 26 Nov. Na[thaniel] Butter, Jo[hn] Burby entered for their copy, under the hands of Sir George Buck, Knight, and the wardens, a book called Mr. William Shakespeare his history of King Lear, as it was played before the King’s majesty at Whitehall upon St. Stephen's Night [Dec. 26] at Christmas last by his Majesty’s Servants, playing usually at the Globe on the Bankside.


Note. This is quoted for the evidence it gives of the importance which the publishers attached to Shakespeare’s name on a play. King Lear was printed in 1608 with a title-page which similarly plays up the poet’s name:

M. William Shak-speare: His True Chronicle History of the Life and Death of King Lear and his three Daughters. With the unfortunate life of Edgar, son and heir to the Earl of Gloster, and his sullen and assumed humor of Tom of Bedlam: As it was played before the King’s Majesty at Whitehall upon St. Stephen’s Night in Christmas Holidays, by his Majesty’s Servants playing usually at the Globe on the Bankside.