King Leir and Edmund Ironside
Notes & Queries, 2001 [see also the pre-print text]
This essay seeks to show that The True Chronicle History of King Leir was written by the same dramatist asEdmund Ironside, at about the same time. Those inferences can be drawn directly from the following entirely new tabulation, where the left-hand column follows the order of Leir as lineated in Everitt 1965, while the right-hand citations are drawn from my own editions of Ironside, 1985 or (with an added foreword) 2/1986.
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well declares (34)...and since.. I censure [= judge] (36-7) of us and ours [the king's] care (71) everlasting…fame…prince/lose (72-3, 75-6) I am resolved (80, and see 345) [despite dissuasion] a sudden stratagem (81) [which proves dangerous] hitherto she ne'er could fancy him (143) if we live (170), if I live (808) [there'll be requital], and see 582, 742, 2026 fit occasion...be revenged (171-2) I will so flatter with [the king] (175, 176, 338, 657, 751, 2157, 2248) as [the king] was ne'er so flattered (176) securely sleep (210, and see 2470) come...hastily (224-5) [having just been summoned] stock...sprung...tree green (227-8) blossoms...nipped frost (229) windy words (241) my heart...burns...quenched (259-61) let this...suffice (269) my tongue...flattery (304) flattering [of the king] (338) speech...reason to rage should not have given place (340-1) dissuade me not...I am resolved (345) you have saved me a labour in offering that which I did mean to ask (364, and see 1553) tie...eyes (369), tie...tongue (371, and see 567) occasion serves (372 and see 962) time cutteth off (396) Enter...[with] a letter in his hand (400, 402) Enter...with a...letter (410) but how far distant are we from (403) comfort of my life (415) [= the speaker's wife] break off...delays (434-5) be brief (437) right you can guess (485) heavens do know (540) celebration...nuptial rites (550) celebrate...nuptials (576-7) fear...ties...tongues...speak (567-8) mortal foe (575) Exeunt . manet (578) Exeunt. Manet (1141) whilst I live (582, 742) (2026) while I live (1822) [= always] each drop of my...blood will I strain forth to do her any good (582-3) Enter...disguised (585) I could bite my tongue in two (592) [because of an incautious remark] fortune...fickle queen of chance (604-5)
maid...imbecility (607) shift . . . clothes (619 and see 2014) to utter grief doth ease a heart o'ercharged (642) I could not flatter him [the king] (657) fresh torments (674) .. . new torments (682) young and lusty (677) be advised (692, 1697) go to church [after a quick wooing] (735) I like the wooing that's not long a-doing (740)
whilest I live (742 and see 2026) [= always] Enter...solus (746) flattered [the king] (751) old, doting (786) makes him to forget himself (802) age...dote (2598-9) myself...spread...abroad (789) the [banquet's] cost would well suffice for twice (791)
fountains...spring (806) carry tales (838) sow...discord (855) say...the best that e'er I can/tis wrested straight into another sense (856-7) force of arms...redress your wrong (924) advise...I am resolved (925-6) note how all things go (960-1)
when occasion serves (962) Enter...with a letter in his hand (991) hands [etc.]...members (1015-16) tongue...whetted (1028) kingly...mirror (1070-1) for zeal...justice...kindness...care [they] whisper (1119) the cause thereof (1123) she reads the letter (1172-3) her colour comes and goes Messenger: these letters will declare (1169): she reads (1172) alas poor soul (1179) [sympathy from a villain] clouds of sorrow...brow (1230-1) [no] kindness...bury...oblivion (1250-1) any whit (1260) creep into my favour (1297) [from a villain's soliloquy] a poor man (1303, 1306)...rich (1306) the hundred eyes of...Argos [the peacock] (1347-8) [quoting Ovid, Metamorphoses I] I'll teach him how to dally with his king (1359) [i.e. by taking punitive measures] tis his pleasure (1363) [= an example of arbitrariness] honourable mind (1423) [= a special compliment] next tree ... hang myself [said by a villain about a Judas-legend] (1460) brandishing a falchion (1490) [they] proffer to go (1532, 1537)
ancient man (1539) [yet not respected] kill yourselves...you save me labour [says a hired assassin] (1552-3) Frenchman...face...changed faces (1572-4) spoil...face...face (1575-6) heinous acts (1627) borne you company (1688) [says the faithful friend] willingly...death (1689) death...it skilleth not (1690) who...but only I? (1710) why stayst thou to do execution? (1745) courage, my lord; the worst is overpast; (1758)
let us give thanks to God (1759) while I live (1822) [= always] Roger, our man (1874-5) come...Roger (2106) disguised like a plain country couple [= as peasants] (1873): this device is excellent (1877)
father...timeless...end (1902) [= untimely death] base...peasant's hands (1972) I will prove her title … naught (1983 and see 2227) after-ages...her penance (1986) become me...well...cloak-(2002, 2004)) heir and he changeth [apparel] (2014) whilst I live (2026) [= always] love be reaped where hatred hath been sown? (2049) join in league (2050) milk of Dame Nature's paps (2060) Enter...disguised like country folk (2091): cf. like a plain country couple (1874) suck my blood...slake...suck the blood (2129, 2131, 2133) hungry jaws...human flesh (2131) [human] blood (2133) flatterers [of the king] (2157) now or never…help (2167) yonder is a banquet (2168) daughter- I may call thee so (2220) your title's good (2227) rather see the end (2231) entreated [= treated] well (2260) contumelious terms (2267) flattered [the king] (2248) she kneels (2298) he kneels (2301) he riseth...rise [from his knees] (2302-3) slave…peasant (2361-2) Sound drums and trumpets...Enter the army (2389 and see 2665) [the king will] gain victory with ease (2395) [king says] loving countrymen (2396) justice fighteth on our sides (2397) the meanest soldier (2401)...second him (2402) we give the whole command of all the army (2403-4) asleep...secure (2470) this tis (2488) y'are tall men (2501) your lawful king (2510, 2516) beholding to...grace (2534) armed men (2537) Drum: But hark, I hear the adverse drum approach (2548) for a colour's sake…invasion (2571-2) viper, scum, filthy parricide (2584) hands/tis pity two such good faces (2605-6)
Mumford must chase Cambria away (2615) follows him to the door (2625) but thy due (2626) partner...in woe (2653) Sound drums and trumpets. Exeunt (2665) |
well declare (228)...and since... I judge (230-1) king...whose care for all (30, 33) everlasting fame…prince…lose (935, 937, 938) I am resolved (714) [despite impending mutilation] this [sudden] dangerous stratagem (996) [why should she] fancy him? (421) if I live (134) [there'll be requital]
occasion fits...be revenged (2059, 2061) I can...flatter with the king (290-1, and cf. 163, 1186-7, 1203) flatter [the king] (779, 1191, 1203) securely sleeps (309) coming...hastily (1128) [having just been summoned] tree...green (606-7) stock...sprout (613) nips...frost...springing (743) words...windy (842-3) quench…burning…my heart (209) burn my heart(1461) let this suffice (1731, 1762) thy tongue...flattery (1064) flattering...[the] king (163) speech (1809)...with reason not with rage (1811)
[despite dissuasion] we are resolved (889) you save me a labour (694) [by agreeing to a request]
tie...ears (1164) serve...occasion (2035-6) cut off...time (259) Enter...with a letter in his hand (1524)
but...how far off are we from (475-6) comfort of my life (1494) [= the speaker's children] cut off...delays (540) be brief (1867) right did I guess (1368) heavens do know (1576) celebrate...marriages (444-5)
fear...tongues...speak (630-1) mortal foes (2028) Exeunt, manet (1127) whilst ye live (805) while we live (891) [= always] I will shed [my blood] drop by drop (131-2) ere I will see you harmed Enter...disguised (1270) I wish my tongue...had been cut out (1987-8) [because of an incautious remark] fickle chance...queen...Fortune (769-70, 780) chance of fickle fortune (1937-8) women...imbecility (1351) apparel (1220) shift (1225) weep to ease my heart (1468) to ease and not to load (1474) a...flatterer [of the king] (1396) new...torturing pain (1276) lusty youthful (1798) be advised (720) straight to church [after a quick wooing] (444) small ado about a weighty matter [i.e. his wooing] (453-4) whilst ye live (805) [= always] Enter...solus (277) flattery [of the king] (799, 1181) you do forget yourself...age makes ye dote (1387-8)
spread ourselves abroad (1094) half this [banquet's] expense would well have satisfied (388) fountain...spring (1844) carry tales (294) sown...discord (2025-6) I cannot speak but one or other straight/misconsters me (86-7) defend your right...force of arms (46-7) we are resolved (889 and 897)...advise (893) go and understand (1213) how all matters...are managed (1215) serve...occasion (2035-6) Enter...with a letter in his hand (1525) members...hands [etc.] (614-15) whet...tongue (1912) [king]...mirror (250) for honour...fame...nobility (249) they whisper (1416, 1418, 1420) the cause thereof (1987) [after reading a letter] his colour comes and goes (1305) enter...reading of letter (1738) Messenger: these letters signify: [he] reads (739-40)
alas poor souls (641) [sympathy from a villain] cloudy brow (1056) cloudy look…woes (1097-8) bury unkindness in oblivion (1725) any whit (1380) creep into...favour (522, 525) [from a villain's monologue] a poor man...rich (461, 464) as many eyes (i.e. a hundred) as Juno's bird [the peacock] (1636) [quoting Ovid, Metamorphoses I] I'll teach them what it is to play with kings (678) [i.e. by taking punitive measures] tis not my pleasure (669, 671) [= an example of arbitrariness] honourable minds (634) [= a special compliment] night...dark...stumble not [said to a villain about a Judas-legend] (792) brandished my falchion (1664) offers to depart (842) they offer to depart (1494, 1501, 1519) ancient men (1350) [yet not respected] I'll [cut my own hands off, says a hostage] (692-3) … you save me a labour [says an executioner] (694) Frenchmen...faces...change (684, 689) face...spoil (377) heinous facts (= acts) (364) bear [him] company (733) [says the servant]
willingly...die (931) die...it skills no matter (1579) who...but only he? (169-70) do execution on them presently (675) courage, lords, we were and are the same (1358)
God fights for us (1361) while we live (891) [= always] Roger [a servant]...come...(1272) oh tis excellent...in disguisement of my man's [a peasant's] attire (1210, 1212) device (1841)...oh it is excellent (1843) fathers...ends...timeless (1825-7) [= untimely deaths] base hands [of a peasant] (685) I would...approve his title naught (42)
after-age...my shame (766) cloak...becomes me well (1255, 1257) change apparel (1219) whilst ye live (805) [= always] see peace grow where foul debate was sown (2025) join in league (1895) Dame Nature...breeds...mother [thrice] (1509-11) Enter...disguised [as a peasant] (1269-70) yon plain fellow [disguised as a peasant] (1308) thirst...drink the blood (1685) drink...blood (1989, 2029) maws...hungry lions devours [human] blood (1447-8)
a flatterer [of the king] (801) now...or never, help (1316) Enter a banquet (384) father- now I'll call you so (440) my title...good (1950) the end is all (1112) entreat [= treat] them well (1486) contumelious threats (830 thy flattery [of the king] (782) they kneel (359) rise up … arise [from your knees] (367) he riseth (18, 38) slave ... peasant (494) sound drums and trumpets The trumpets sound . . .The armies (1974, 1976) he [the king] wins with ease (310) [king says] loving countrymen (1619) justice on my side (1947) .. . fight (1949) the meanest soldier (340) . . second him (929) grant him . . . the leading of our army (1400, 1402) securely sleeps (309) this tis (1267) y'are a tall man (1135) our ... lawful king (262) thy lawful king (826) beholding to ... gracious (978) armed men (917) The drum sounds afar off: Yon drum doth tell us [of the enemy's approach] (1770-1) onset for colour's sake (1405-6) foul mother-killing Viper…scum (167-8) good faces (473-4) hands.. twere pity...two such faces...hands (682-5) Edmund drives Canutus back about the stage (1996) Enter at one door (1568) but your due (258) partners of your woes (1098) Sound drums and trumpets! (2054) They go...out of the stage (2062) |
This list, despite its length, makes no claim to completeness. Other equally clear interconnections have been omitted, for example because they resist tabulation; thus both plays contain such archaisms as “quondam” and “whilom”, or “Troy(novant)” for London (lines 35, 420, and 686 in Leir and 864, 869, 870 in Ironside) while the old-fashioned “whenas”, all one word, occurs seven times in the former and eleven in the latter. Again, many shared expressions (such as “stay behind” or “I warrant you” or “my gracious lord” as an address to a king) remain unmentioned, even though each contributes its own quota in so comprehensively congruent a context.
This shared background is also inferable from the copious evidence of a personal style common to the two plays, which though entirely different in plot and character both exemplify alliteration, antithesis, bawdry, Biblical quotation, bodily action and personification, chiasmus, quotations from Ovid and Plutarch, compound (hyphenated) words, rich (thesaurus-like) diction, mentions of flora and fauna, obsession with flattery of a king, considered as a deadly sin, typical imagery and image-clusters, references to the law, the ritual language of marriage, noun-verb discords, proverbs, puns and wordplay, repetitions of vocabulary, frequent rhyming, stage devices (such as the reception and reading of letters, whirlwind wooings complete with male self-congratulation, and a villain's confession to the audience), words and usages antedating OED citations, words beginning with un-, and general overlap of a vocabulary which itself suffices, among much other evidence, to date these two plays c.1587-8. E. B. Everitt offers the same dating for both (1954, 172) together with “a truly coercive demonstration of [their] homogeneity in dramatic techniques and ideas” (ibid., 61-8), again on entirely different grounds, namely a close comparison of the pre-battle scenes in Leir 2550-2612 and Ironside 1785-1832. But neither of these two approaches ever seems to have convinced anyone, not even those few who have seriously studied them. Perhaps the present tabulation may help to turn the tables. As the Oxford Textual Companion (1988, 138) rightly says about Ironside, the whole subject merits further investigation – which it will never receive so long as imaginary “plagiarists” and “imitations” continue to be invented, together with the necessary but entirely unevidenced dating of the later 1590s' (most recently by Jonathan Bate in his edition of Titus Andronicus, 1995, 81). At least the many citations set forth above should surely serve to confirm that neither mere coincidence, nor deliberate plagiarism, nor characterization other than the author's own character, can explain the plethora of striking verbal and stylistic similarities between King Leir and Edmund Ironside. On the contrary: it seems clear that these two textual tapestries were woven by the same hand, from the same threads of discourse, at much the same time.