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and the Third

Act. 4. Scene. 2.

shed April 1.1800 by Vernor & Hood, Poultry.

Hopwood, soulp,

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PUBLISHED BY E. HARDING, NO.

J. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY; G. SA
AND VERNOR AND HOOD, 1

Hopwood, soulp.

and the Thire?

Let A Scene. 2.

#shed April 1.1800 by Vernor & Hood Poultry.

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PUBLISHED BY E. HARDING, NO. 98, PALL-MALL;

J. WRIGHT, PICCADILLY; G. SAEL, STRAND;
AND VERNOR AND HOOD, POULTRY,

1799.

OBSERVATIONS.

THIS tragedy, though it is called the Life and Death of this prince, comprifes, at most, but the last eight years of his time; for it opens with George duke of Clarence being clapped up in the Tower, which happened in the beginning of the year 1477; and closes with the death of Richard at Bosworth field, which battle was fought on the 22d of Auguft, in the year 1485. THEOBALD.

It appears that feveral dramas on the prefet Jubject had been written before Shakspeare attempted it. This play was firft entered at Stationers' Hall by Andrew Wife, Oct.1597, under the title of The Tragedie of King Richl the Third, with the Death of the Duke of Clarence. Before this, viz. Aug. 15th, 1586, was entered, A Tragical report of King Richard the Third, a Balled. It may be neceffary to remark that the words fong, baltad, book enterlude and play, were often synonymously used. STEEVENS.

This play was written, I imagine, in the fame year in which it was first printed,-1597. The Legend of King Richard III. by Francis Seagars, was printed in the first edition of The Mirrour for Magiftrates, 1559, and in that of 1575, and 1587, but Shakspeare does not appear to be indebted to it. In a subsequent edition of that book printed in 1610, the old legend was omitted, and a new one inferted, by Richard Nichols, who has very freely copied the play before us. In 1597, when this tragedy was published, Nichols, as Mr. Warton has obferved, was but thirteen years old. Hift. of Poetry, Vol. III. p. 267.

The real length of time in this piece is fourteen years; (not eight years, as Mr. Theobald fuppofed;) for the second scene commences with the funeral of King Henry VI. who, according to the received account, was murdered on the 21ft of May, 1471. The imprifonment of Clarence, which is reprefented previoufly in the firft scene, did not in fact take place till 1477-8.

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