Date and text 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.

text

the 1595 octavo text of true tragedy reprinted in quarto in 1600 william white millington. reprinted in folio in 1619 part of william jaggard s false folio, printed thomas pavier. text printed version of 2 henry vi had been printed in quarto in 1594 under title 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 cardinal of winchester, notable rebellion of jack cade: , duke of yorke s first claim unto crowne(referred hereafter contention). in false folio 2 plays grouped under general title whole contention betweene 2 famous houses, lancaster , yorke. tragicall ends of duke humfrey, richard duke of yorke, , king henrie sixt. printed whole contention pericles, prince of tyre.

the text of play known today 3 henry vi not published until 1623 first folio, under title third part of henry sixt, death of duke of yorke.

when play came called part 3 unclear, although critics tend assume invention of first folio editors, john heminges , henry condell, there no references play under title part 3, or derivative thereof, prior 1623.