The Text

The first press run of the volume which contains the play (Q) ¹²² is dated 28 February 1587 and is from the shop of Robert Robinson of Fetter Lane, St. Andrews, Holborn. The title page tells us of its presentation before the Queen:

CERTAINE DE-/u<is>es and shewes presented to / her MAIESTIE by the Gentlemen of / Grayes-Inne at her Highnesse Court in / Greenwich, the twenty eighth day of / Februarie in the thirtieth yeare of her / MAIESTIES most happy / Raigne. / [device 244] / AT LONDON / Printed by Robert Robinson. / 1587.

The half-title of this volume, which contains only this play, its introduction, its dumb shows, and no other "deuices and shewes," gives us the traditional tide of the play and credits only one of its eight authors:

The misfortunes of Arthur (V-ther Pendragons Sonne) reduced into Tragicall notes by THOMAS HVGHES one of the societie of Grayes-Inne. And here set downe as it past from vnder his handes and as it was presented, excepting certaine wordes and lines, where some of the Actors either helped their memories by brief omission: or fitted their acting by some alteration. With a note in the ende, of such speaches

as were penned by others in lue of some of these hereafter following.

The seven other gentlemen of Gray's Inn are credited for their contributions in the colophon at the end of the volume.