The First and Second Parts of John Hayward's `The Life and Raigne of King Henrie IIII' (Camden Fourth Series) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0861931297 ISBN 13: 9780861931293

Publisher: Royal Historical Society, 1991

Synopsis

In 1599 John Hayward published his historical work `The First Part of the Life and Raigne of Henry IIII'. It was dedicated flatteringly to the Earl of Essex and, as a result, Hayward was subjected to frightening scrutiny by powerful officials, Elizabeth being especially sensitive to unacceptable views on the succession question. His book was burned and suppressed and he was imprisoned in the Tower until after the death of Elizabeth. Subsequently Hayward wrote a sequel to his work, though he never published it. This is here entitled `The Second Part ...' and appears here in print for the first time. The introduction sets the scene on Elizabethan sensitivities and the dangers of trying to write history; there is an index.

About this title

Synopsis

When first published in 1599, John Hayward's play "The Life of King Henry IIII" looked very much like a troublesome and ill-timed reminder of the downfall of Richard II, a politically-motivated commendation of Essex's aspirations during his Irish adventure. This edition includes the previously unpublished manuscripts copy of Part II, which seems to vindicate Hayward's claim that he had intended an even-handed study of Henry's entire career, to which Richard's downfall was simply the prelude. The work remained popular throughout three reigns and, covering almost exactly the period spanned by Shakespeare's "Richard II" and "I Henry IV", it illuminates in many ways Elizabethan drama generally, and the processes of censorship, licensing and judicial enquiry. Its growing identification during the Stuart controversies as a political tract associated with questions of governance, rule and succession makes the work of interest to political historians.

Edition details

• Publisher: Royal Historical Society
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0861931297
• ISBN 13: 9780861931293
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272
• Editor: Manning John J.