16 September, 1595 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 16 of septmbȝ 1595 ... R at godfrey of bullen ... xx^s 

In modern English: 16^th September, 1595 ... Received at Godfrey of Bouillon ... 20 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived the play that Henslowe calls Godfrey of Bouillon. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel that you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

This week is proving to be something of a trip down memory lane because, as with yesterday, the players are returning to a play they last performed in May. Also as with yesterday, Londoners do not seem to have been lamenting its absence, as only a smallish crowd has shown up for Godfrey of Bouillon.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

17 May, 1595 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 17 of maye 1595 ... R at godfrey of bullen ... xxij^s 

In modern English: 17^th May, 1595 ... Received at Godfrey of Bouillon ... 22 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived the play that Henslowe calls Godfrey of Bouillon. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel that you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

The company last performed Godfrey of Bouillon three weeks ago. As so often, it continues to return below-average box office.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

26 April, 1595 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 27 of ap^rell 1595 ... R at godfrey of bullen ... xxix^s 

In modern English: [26^th] April, 1595 ... Received at Godfrey of Bouillon ... 29 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey of Bouillon. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel that you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Godfrey of Bouillon is a surprising choice: the company last performed it at the end of October last year, when its box office had begun to nosedive. They seem to be hoping that a period of absence from the stage might have restored the public's affections, but today's crowd is only half that of those seen at the rest of this week's plays, perhaps because the Easter holiday is now over.

What's next?

There will be no blog entry tomorrow because 27th April was a Sunday in 1595 and theplayers did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 28th - see you then!

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

31 October, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 30 of octobȝ 1594 ... R at bullen ... xv^s 

In modern English: [31^st] October, 1594 ... Received at Bouillon ... 15 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Bouillon. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel premiered about a month ago; you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Godfrey of Bouillon has finally entered what looks like its death spiral, as the box office plunges down from disappointing to awful.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

7 October, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 6 of octobȝ 1594 ... R at godfrey of bullen ... xx^s 

In modern English: [7^th] October, 1594 ... Received at Godfrey ... 20 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey of Bouillon. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel premiered about a month ago; you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Godfrey of Bouillon has been doing solid work for the company, who have left it for a fortnight before reviving it. The box office has finally started to dip though, a sign that this play could be on the way out now.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

21 September, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 20 of septmbȝ 1594 ... R at godfrey ... xxx^s 

In modern English: [21]^st September, 1594 ... Received at Godfrey ... 30 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel premiered about a month ago; you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Godfrey of Bouillon continues to do solid work for the company. Today's box office is more modest than the surprisingly enthusiastic one of a week and a half ago, but it still suggests a play that can be relied on.

What's next?

There will be no blog post tomorrow, because 21st September was a Sunday in 1594, and the players did not perform. Henslowe's Diary ... as a Blog! will thus return on the 23rd, for a week that will see a new play plus a couple of farewells.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

9 September, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 8 of septmbȝ 1594 ... R at godfrey ... xxxx^s 

In modern English: [9]^th September, 1594 ... Received at Godfrey ... 40 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel premiered about a month ago; you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Today is quite a surprise - Godfrey of Bouillon has suddenly received a higher-than-average audience. It's hard to say what has caused this sudden burst of enthusiasm, but the players must be thrilled.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

28 August, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 26 of aguste 1594 ... R at godfrey ... xxvij^s vj^d

In modern English: [28]^th August, 1594 ... Received at Godfrey ... 27 shillings and sixpence

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel premiered about a month ago; you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592. Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks.

Like most of the plays recently introduced into the repertory, the Godfrey play(s) are now gradually shrinking in popularity.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

15 August, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 13 of aguste 1594 ... R at godfrey of bullen ... xxix^s

In modern English: [15]^th August, 1594 ... Received at Godfrey of Bouillon ... 29 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey of Bouillon. This was probably The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost sequel premiered about a month ago; you can read more about it in the entry for 19th July. Alternatively, it might have been the equally lost original play, sometimes identified by scholars with the mysterious Jerusalem, which you can read about in the entry for 22 March, 1592.

Either way, today's play would have dramatized some aspect of the eponymous medieval warrior's capture of the city of Jerusalem from the Turks. The Godfrey play(s) have been doing solid box office of late, and this is the first performance to be slightly below average.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

6 August, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 6 of aguste 1594 ... R at the seconde p of godfrey ... xxxvij^s

In modern English: 6^th August, 1594 ... Received at The Second Part of Godfrey ... 37 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the company revived The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon, a lost play that probably told of the aftermath of Godfrey's capture of Jerusalem from the Turks in the eleventh century.

The Admiral's Men premiered this play back on 19th July, and may have performed it again a week and a half ago (although it is possible that that performance was of the first part). Either way, today's show received healthy, if not much more than average, box office. It suggests a play following the normal process of a gradual decline in interest after its debut.

FURTHER READING

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

26 July, 1594 - Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 26 of Julye 1594 ... R at godfrey ... xlvij^s

In modern English: 26^th July, 1594 ... Received at Godfrey ... 47 shillings

The death of Godfrey of Bouillon.
From a thirteenth century
manuscript of William of 
Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

Today, the Admiral's Men performed a play that Henslowe calls Godfrey. Is he referring to the play that they premiered last week, The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon? Or is he referring to the First Part, which may have last been staged here back in 1592?

It's hard to say. In the future, Henslowe will often list a Godfrey and occasionally a Second Part of Godfrey, which would imply that he is distinguishing two different plays, Part 1 and Part 2. But in his catalogue of British Drama, Martin Wiggins proposes that all of these entries refer to Part 2; his logic is that the company will never perform Godfrey and The Second Part one after the other, as one might expect them to if the plays were paired together.  He therefore thinks that the Second Part was a self-contained play and that Henslowe was simply inconsistent in how he titled it.

Both the first and second parts of Godfrey of Bouillon are lost, of course, so we will probably never know which one was staged today. All we can say is that Godfrey, whether it was Part 1 or Part 2, told some kind of story about battles with the Turks in Jerusalem, and that it was extremely successful today, with above-average box office, similar to the one received by Belin Dun yesterday.

FURTHER READING

Godfrey of Bouillon information

• Martin Wiggins, British Drama, 1533-1642: A Catalogue, vol. 3 (Oxford University Press, 2013), entry 960.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

19 July, 1594 - The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 19 of Julye 1594 ... ne ... R at 2 pte of godfrey of bullen ... iij^ll and xj^s

In modern English: 19^th July, 1594 ... New ... Received at The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon ... £3 and 11 shillings

Today, the Admiral's Men premiered a new play! The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon is sadly lost, but it must have dramatized episodes from the life of the eponymous Godfrey, a medieval warrior who expelled the Turks from the city of Jerusalem.

Those of you with long memories will recall that way back in March of 1592, Lord Strange's Men performed a lost play called Jerusalem at the Rose. One theory goes that Jerusalem was the original Godfrey of Bouillon play, to which this play was a sequel (you can read the evidence for this in the blog entry on Jerusalem).

If the first play did indeed tell the story of Godfrey's liberation of Jerusalem, The Second Part probably dramatized its aftermath. If so, the playwright's source could have been William of Tyre's narrative of Godfrey's life, available in a 1481 translation by William Caxton.

Godfrey being elected ruler of Jerusalem. From

a thirteenth century manuscript of

William of Tyre's Histoire d'Outremer

William of Tyre tells us how, after his expulsion of the Turks from Jerusalem,  Godfrey is elected ruler of the city. Problems arise when the victorious troops start to return home, leaving Godfrey with only a small army. Seeing a chance to retake Jerusalem, the Turks league with Egypt and march on the city. But Godfrey cunningly frightens them away by spreading out his troops to create the illusion that they are more numerous.

The death of Godfrey. From

a thirteenth century manuscript 

of William of Tyre's Histoire

d'Outremer

Godfrey then has to rescue Jerusalem from a famine. He does this by so impressing his Arab neighbours with his virtue that they are inspired to donate food. But he then dies of a sickness at the end of the book.

If you are interested, you can read William of Tyre's narrative here, in a rather handsome edition created by William Morris's Kelmscott Press.

Whatever the exact plot of The Second Part of Godfrey of Bouillon was, its premiere was a great success, with box office suggesting an almost full house.

FURTHER READING

Godfrey of Bouillon information

• Andrew Gurr, Shakespeare's Opposites: The Admiral's Company, 1594-1625 (Cambridge University Press, 2009), 205-6
• Martin Wiggins, British Drama, 1533-1642: A Catalogue, vol. 3 (Oxford University Press, 2013), entry 960.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!