| Edward III |
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Period written: 1596 Known first performance: Unknown The plot of the play consists of two parts, the first is centered on the Countess of Salisbury (the wife of the Earl of Salisbury), beset by rampaging Scots, who is "rescued" by King Edward III, who vows to get her into his bed. The play makes many gibes at Scotland and the Scots, a view which has led some critics to believe that it is this work which caused George Nicolson, Queen Elizabeth's agent in Edinburgh, to write in 1598 to William Cecil, Lord Burghley, protesting the way Scots were being portrayed on the London stage. At the end of the first part, the Countess vows to take her own life if Edward will not relent in his pursuit, which he does. In the second part of the play, Edward joins his army in France, fighting a war to claim the French throne. Somewhat like Henry V, the play switches between the French and English camps, where the apparent hoplessness of the English campaign is contrasted with the arrogance of the French. Also like Henry, much of the action is focused on young Edward, the Black Prince, who broods on the morality of war before achieving victory against seemingly insurmountable odds. Discuss this play in our forums.
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