prefer 1588-9. So does Greg (Henslowe, ii. 150) on the assumption that Old Wive's Tale (q.v.) 'must belong to 1590'. A 'Comoedia von Orlando Furioso' was acted at Dresden in 1626 (Herz, 66, 77).
James the Fourth. c. 1591
S. R. 1594, May 14. 'A booke intituled the Scottishe story of James the Ffourth slayne at Fflodden intermixed with a plesant Comedie presented by Oboron Kinge of ffayres.' Thomas Creede (Arber, ii. 648.) 1598. The Scottish Historie of Iames the fourth, slaine at Flodden. Entermixed with a pleasant Comedie, presented by Oboram, King of Fayeries: As it hath bene sundrie times publikely plaide. Written by Robert Greene, Maister of Arts. Thomas Creede.
Editions by J. M. Manly (1897, Specimens, ii. 327) and A. E. H. Swaen and W. W. Greg (1921, M. S. R.).—Dissertation: W. Creizenach, Zu G.'s J. IV (1885, Anglia, viii. 419). There is very little to date the play. Its comparative merit perhaps justifies placing it, as Greene's maturest drama, in 1591. Collins, i. 44, agrees; but Fleay, i. 265; Ward, i. 400; Gayley, 415, prefer 1590. Fleay finds traces of a second hand, whom he believes to be Lodge, but he is not convincing. In l. 2269 the name Adam appears for Oberon in a stage-direction, which, when compared with A Looking-Glass, suggests that the actor was John Adams of the Queen's.
Lost Play Warburton's list of burnt plays (3 Library, ii. 231) contains the duplicate entries 'His^t of Jobe by Rob. Green' and 'The Trag^d of Jobe. Good.' Greg suggests a confusion with Sir Robert Le Grys, who appears in the list as 'S^r Rob. le Green'. The statement that Greene had a share in a play on Henry VIII (Variorum, xix. 500) seems to be based on a confusion with a Robert Greene named by Stowe as an authority for his Annales (Collins, i. 69).
Doubtful Plays
Greene's hand has been sought in Contention of York and Lancaster, Edward III, Fair Em, George a Greene, Troublesome Reign of King John, Knack to Know a Knave, Thracian Wonder, Leire, Locrine, Mucedorus, Selimus, Taming of A Shrew, Thomas Lord Cromwell (cf. ch. xxiv), and Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus and Henry VI.
FULKE GREVILLE, LORD BROOKE (c. 1554-1628).
Greville's father, Sir Fulke, was a cadet of the Grevilles of Milcote, and held great estates in Warwickshire. The son was born at Beauchamp Court ten years before he entered Shrewsbury School on 17 Oct. 1564 with Philip Sidney, of whom he wrote, c. 1610-12, a Life (ed. Nowell Smith, 1907). In 1568 he went to Jesus College, Cambridge, and from 1577 was a courtier in high favour with Elizabeth, and entrusted with minor diplomatic and administrative tasks. He took part in the great tilt of 15 May 1581 (cf. ch. xxiv) and was a steady patron of learning and letters. His own plays were for the closet. He was
