Date Henry VI, Part 3

title page of 1595 octavo

the true tragedie of richard duke of yorke, , death of king henrie sixt, whole contention betweene 2 houses lancaster , yorke (referred hereafter true tragedy) published in octavo in 1595 bookseller thomas millington , printed peter short. has been theorised true tragedy reported text of performance of 3 henry vi, , if so, 3 henry vi written 1595 @ latest.

however, there evidence play may have been written several years earlier , on stage september 1592. robert greene s pamphlet groatsworth of wit (registered on 20 september 1592) parodies line 3 henry vi whilst mocking shakespeare, whom greene refers upstart crow, beautified our feathers, tiger s heart wrapped in player s hide , supposes able bombast out blank verse best of you, , being absolute johannes fac totum, in own conceit shake-scene in country. parodies 3 henry vi, 1.4.138, york refers margaret tiger s heart wrapped in woman s hide . parody proves 3 henry vi known @ least september 1592, means must have been staged prior 23 june, when government shut theatres prevent outbreak of plague. such, play have been on stage 23 june, had have been written in either 1591 or 1592.

title page of whole contention (1619)

for discussion of whether 3 parts of trilogy composed in chronological order, see henry vi, part i.