INTRODUCTION.

LITERARY HISTORY.

Four editions in Quarto of this play were published before the date of the first Folio, 1623. It appears that the Tragedy of Richard II. was entered on the Stationers' Register by Andrew Wise on 29th August, 1597; the full title-page of this edition (Quarto) being:

The | Tragedie of King Ri- | chard the Se- | cond. | As it hath beene publikely acted | by the right Honourable the | Lorde Chamberlaine his Ser- | uants. | London. | Printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and | are to be sold at his Shop in Paules church yard at | the signe of the Angel. | 1597 | (Q. 1).

The next edition (Q. 2) was published in 1598, when the author's name was first added: “By William Shake-speare.” The third edition (Q. 3) was published in 1608:

Printed by W. W. for Mathew Law, and are to be | sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at | the signe of the Foxe. | 1608. |

Of this edition there was a second issue in the same year with the following title-page:

The | Tragedie of King | Richard the Second : | with new additions of the Parlia- | ment Sceane, and the deposing | of King Richard, | As it hath been lately acted by the Kinges | Maiesties Seruantes, at the Globe. | By William Shake-speare.