List of sources for Shakespeare's plays

Cymbeline

Source

Giraldi, Giambattista Cinzio. De gli hecatommithi. Nel Monte Regale : Appresso Lionardo Torrentino, 1565. Folger PQ4624 .H4 1565 Cage

Hamlet

Source

• Saxo Grammaticus, anoru[m] Regu[m] heroumq[ue] historiæ stilo elega[n]tia Saxone Grammatico natione Sialandico necno[n] Roskildensis ecclesiæ præposito. abhinc supra trecentos annos co[n]scriptæ et nu[n]c primum literaria serie illustratæ tersissimeq[ue] impressæ., [Christiern Pedersen ed.]. Jodocus Badius Ascensius, 1514. Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Copenhagen. Full digital images of LN240

• "Ur-Hamelt"

Possible source

• Anon. A vvarning for faire vvomen. : Containing, the most tragicall and lamentable murther of Master George Sanders of London marchant, nigh Shooters hill. Consented vnto by his owne wife, acted by M. Browne, Mistris Drewry and Trusty Roger agents therin: with their seuerall ends. As it hath beene lately diuerse times acted by the right Honorable, the Lord Chamberlaine his Seruantes. London: By Valentine Sims for William Aspley, 1599. Folger STC 25089

• Giovio, Paolo. Pauli Iouii Nouocomensis Episcopi Nucerini Elogia virorum bellica virtute illustrium : septem libris iam olim ab authore comprehensa : et nunc ex eiusdem musaeo ad viuum expressis imaginibus exornata. Basileae : Petri Pernae typographi Basil. opera ac studio, 1575. Folger 177- 995.1f

• Livy, The Romane historie / written by T. Livius of Padua ; also, the breviaries of L. Florus, with a chronologie to the whole historie, and topographie of Rome in old time ; translated out of Latine into English by Philemon Holland, doctor in physicke. London: Adam Islip, 1600. Folger STC 16613 (5 copies)

• Marlowe, Christopher. The tragedie of Dido Queene of Carthage. At London : Printed, by the widdowe Orwin, for Thomas Woodcocke, and are to be solde at his shop, in Paules Church-yeard, at the signe of the blacke Beare, 1594. Folger STC 17411 Title page image

• Newton, Thomas, ed. Agamemnon, Troas, in Seneca His Tenne Tragedies. London: In Fleetstreete neere vnto Saincte Dunstans Church by Thomas Marsh, 1581. Folger STC 2221 (four copies)

Similar contemporary narratives

• Anon, The Hystorie of Hamblet. London: Richard Bradocke, for Thomas Pavier, 1608.

• Anon, Fratricide Punished (Der Bestrafte Brudermord)

• The St. Alban's Chronicle, 1406- 1420. Bodley MS. 462

• G., I. Henrici Scotorum Regis Manes Ad Jacobum VI^um Filium, Composed March 1587.

• Goodfellow, Robin (psued), Tarltons nevves out of purgatory. : Onely such a iest as his iigge, fit for gentlemen to laugh at an houre, &c. Published by an old companion of his, Robin Goodfellow, London: Printed by George Purslowe, and are to be sold by Francis Groue, on Snow-hill, at the signe of the Wind-mill, neere vnto St. Sepulchres Church, 1630. Folger STC 23686 (imperfect)

• Woodes, Nathaniel. ''An excellent new commedie, intituled: The conflict of conscience.'' London: by Richard Bradocke [i.e. R. Jones?], 1581. Folger STC 25966.2

King Lear

Source

• Anon. The true chronicle history of King Leir, and his three daughters, Gonorill, Ragan, and Cordella. : As it hath bene diuers and sundry times lately acted. London : Printed by Simon Stafford for Iohn Wright, and are to bee sold at his shop at Christes Church dore, next Newgate-market, 1605. Folger STC 15343 Cover-to-cover images of Folger STC 15343

• Harsnett, Samuel. A declaration of egregious popish impostures. London: James Roberts, 1603. Folger STC 12880 (3 copies)

• Higgins, John. The first parte of the Mirour for magistrates : contayning the falles of the first infortunate princes of this lande: from the comming of Brute to the incarnation of our sauiour and redemer Iesu Christe. London: Thomas Marshe, Anno. 1575. Folger STC 13444.

• Holinshed, Raphael. The first and second volumes of Chronicles : comprising 1 The description and historie of England, 2 The description and historie of Ireland, 3 The description and historie of Scotland: first collected and published by Raphaell Holinshed, William Harrison, and others: now newlie augmented and continued (with manifold matters of singular note and worthie memorie) to the yeare 1586. by Iohn Hooker aliàs Vowell Gent. and others. With conuenient tables at the end of these volumes.[London]: Finished in Ianuarie 1587, and the 29 of the Queenes Maiesties reigne, with the full continuation of the former yeares, at the expenses of Iohn Harison, George Bishop, Rafe Newberie, Henrie Denham, and Thomas VVoodcocke. At London printed [by Henry Denham] in Aldersgate street at the signe of the Starre, [1587]]. FolgerSTC 13569 (6 copies) Digital images for STC 13569 copy 3

• Sidney, Philip. The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia [manuscript], ca. 1585. Folger MS H.b.1 Cover to cover images of Folger MS H.b.1
• Sidney, Philip. The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia, written by Sir Philippe Sidnei. London: for William Ponsonby, 1590. British Library (2 copies)

• Spenser, Edmund. The faerie queene : disposed into twelue bookes, fashioning XII morall vertues. London: [by Richard Field] for William Ponsonbie, 1596. Folger STC 23082 (6 copies) selected images from Folger STC 23082 copy 1

Possible source

• Camden, William. Remaines of a greater Worke, concerning Britaine, the inhabitants thereof, their Languages, Names, Surnames, Empreses, Wise Speeches, poësies and epitaphes [by M. N., i.e. W. Camden]. London : Printed by G. E. for S. Waterson, 1605. British Library, 3 copies
  • London: printed by Thomas Warren, for Isabella Waterson, 1657. British Library copy imaged for Google Books

• Geoffrey of Monmouth, historia regum Britanniae
  • English translation: Geoffrey of Monmouth, The British history : translated into English from the Latin of Jeffrey of Monmouth. With a large preface concerning the authority of the History. [trans.] By Aaron Thompson. London: Printed for J. Bowyer, H. Clements, and W. and J. Innys, 1718. Folger 155- 857q.

• Warner, William. The first and second parts of Albions England. London: By Thomas Orwin, for Thomas Cadman, 1589. Folger STC 25080 (2 copies)

Macbeth

Similar contemporary narratives

Warner, William. A continuance of Albions England: by the first author. London: by Felix Kyngston [and Richard Bradock?] for George Potter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the Bible, 1606. Folger STC 25085 (3 copies)

Measure for Measure

Source

Giraldi, Giambattista Cinzio. De gli hecatommithi. Nel Monte Regale : Appresso Lionardo Torrentino, 1565. Folger PQ4624 .H4 1565 Cage

Othello

Source

Giraldi, Giambattista Cinzio. De gli hecatommithi. Nel Monte Regale : Appresso Lionardo Torrentino, 1565. Folger PQ4624 .H4 1565 Cage

Possible source

Bandello, Matteo. Certaine tragicall discourses : writtten [sic] oute of Frenche and Latin, by Geffraie Fenton, no lesse profitable then pleasaunt, and of like necessitye to al degrees that take pleasure in antiquityes or forreine reapportes. Trans. Geoffrey Fenton. London: Thomas Marshe, 1567. Folger STC 1356.1

Knolles, Richard. The generall historie of the Turkes: from the first beginning of that nation to the rising of the Othoman familie: with all the notable expeditions of the Christian princes against them. Together with the liues and conquests of the Othoman kings and emperours faithfullie collected out of the- best histories, both auntient and moderne, and digested into one continuat historie vntill this present yeare 1603: by Richard Knolles. London: Printed by Adam Islip, 1603. Folger STC 15051

The Two Noble Kinsmen

Source

Giraldi, Giambattista Cinzio. De gli hecatommithi. Nel Monte Regale : Appresso Lionardo Torrentino, 1565. Folger PQ4624 .H4 1565 Cage

The Winter's Tale

Similar contemporary narratives

Sources:

Hamnet and the expertise of Folger cataloguers

Geoffrey Bullough, Narrative and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare. New York: Columbia University Perss, 1973.