Five new playes, viz: The Seege of Urbin, Selindra, Love and Friendship, tragy-comedies, Pandora, a comedy, The Imperiall Tragedy, by Sir William Killigrew

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 206 Brotherton Collection MS Lt q 16
  • Dates of Creation
      1669-1695
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      1 vol. (pp.[xvi], 51, [6], 54, [2], 54, [4], 48; [iv], 51) The title page of "The Seege of Urbin" is misbound after the epilogue. There are three flyleaves and a pastedown, at each end. There are other manuscript inscriptions on flyleaves and pastedowns, and a pricked monogram "W C LIB" on the title-page. Bound in old calf, worn, loose, with boards detached.

Scope and Content

The volume comprises a projected new edition of Killigrew's plays, and is made up of the printed editions of Four new plays, 1666, and The imperial tragedy, 1669, with manuscript additions and alterations by the author. The principal manuscript additions are on the general title-page (which is new); "The Seege of Urbin", verso of prologue leaf, pp.4, 33, 40; "Selindra", pp.26, 36, 46; "Pandora", pp.8, 44; "The Imperial Tragedy", prologue, p.43; and on inserted slips facing "The Seege of Urbin", pp.4, 32; "Selindra", p.54; and "The Imperial Tragedy", p.46.

Administrative / Biographical History

Sir William Killigrew, 1606-1695, the eldest son of Sir Robert Killigrew, was a court official under Charles I and Charles II, and MP for Richmond in Yorkshire from 1664 to 1678. He wrote plays (and a number of pamphlets in connection with his involvement in the attempts to drain the Lincolnshire fens) but was overshadowed by the literary success of his younger brother, the dramatist and wit, Thomas Killigrew.

Access Information

Access is unrestricted

Acquisition Information

Purchased at Sotheby's sale (lot 12), 13 June 1966

Note

In English

Custodial History

The work is signed by Killigrew at the foot of the last page of "The Imperial Tragedy". Other signatures are those of Sir Edward Buteler (17th century), inverted on verso of first flyleaf at end, and of Thos Baker M.D. (18th century?), on title-page.