Date Henry VI, Part 2

title page of first quarto (1594)

on 12 march 1594, play entered in stationers register bookseller thomas millington , printed in quarto thomas creede later year first part of contention betwixt 2 famous houses of yorke , lancaster, death of duke humphrey: , banishment , death of duke of suffolke, , tragicall end of proud cardinall of vvinchester, vvith notable rebellion of jacke cade: , duke of yorkes first claime vnto crowne. has been theorised contention reported text of performance of today called henry vi, part ii. if so, play written no later 1594.

however, has been suggested play may have been written several years earlier. robert greene s pamphlet greene s groats-worth of wit (entered in stationers register on 20 september 1592) mocks shakespeare upstart crow, beautified our feathers, tiger s heart wrapped in player s hide , supposes able bombast out blank verse best of you. parody of 3 henry vi, 1.4.138, york refers margaret tiger s heart wrapped in woman s hide! , proves 3 henry vi known september 1592, means must have been staged before 23 june, when government closed theatres prevent spread of plague. known 3 henry vi sequel 2 henry vi, if 3 henry vi on stage june 1592, 2 henry vi , both written in 1591 or 1592.

for discussion of whether 3 parts of trilogy composed in chronological order, see 1 henry vi.

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