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 Fleay, i. 292, notes the mention of 'the King's head' as a tavern sign for 'the Gentry', which suggests a Jacobean date. The play was given at Court, apparently by the King's and Queen's men together, on 13 Jan. 1612. The Epistle says that it has not been Heywood's custom 'to commit my Playes to the Presse', like others who 'have used a double sale of their labours, first to the Stage, and after to the Presse'. He now does so because 'some of my Playes have (unknowne to me, and without any of my direction) accidentally come into the Printers hands (and therefore so corrupt and mangled, copied only by the eare) that I have beene as unable to knowe them, as ashamed to challenge them'. A play on the subject seems to have been on tour in Germany in 1619 (Herz, 98). The Rape of Lucrece was on the Cockpit stage in 1628, according to a newsletter in Athenaeum (1879), ii. 497, and to the 1638 edition are appended songs 'added by the stranger that lately acted Valerius his part'. It is in the Cockpit list of plays in 1639 (Variorum, iii. 159). The Golden Age > 1611

S. R. 1611, Oct. 14 (Buck). William Barrenger, 'A booke called, The golden age with the liues of Jupiter and Saturne.' William Barrenger (Arber, iii. 470). 1611. The Golden Age. Or The liues of Iupiter and Saturne, with the defining of the Heathen Gods. As it hath beene sundry times acted at the Red Bull, by the Queenes Maiesties Seruants. Written by Thomas Heywood. For William Barrenger. [Epistle to the Reader, signed 'T. H.' Some copies have 'defining' corrected to 'deifying' in the title.] Edition by J. P. Collier (1851, Sh. Soc.). The Epistle describes the play as 'the eldest brother of three Ages, that haue aduentured the Stage, but the onely yet, that hath beene iudged to the presse', and promises the others. It came to the press 'accidentally', but Heywood, 'at length hauing notice thereof', prefaced it, as it had 'already past the approbation of auditors'. Fleay, i. 283, followed hesitatingly by Greg (Henslowe, ii. 175), thinks it a revision of the Olympo or Seleo & Olempo, which he interprets Coelo et Olympo, produced by the Admiral's on 5 March 1595. The Admiral's inventories show that they had a play with Neptune in it, but it is only at the very end of The Golden Age that the sons of Saturn draw lots and Jupiter wins Heaven or Olympus. Fleay's assumption that the play was revised c. 1610, because of Dekker, If it be not Good, i. 1, 'The Golden Age is moulding new again', is equally hazardous. The Silver Age > 1612

1613. The Silver Age, Including. The loue of Iupiter to Alcmena: The birth of Hercules. And the Rape of Proserpine. Concluding, With the Arraignement of the Moone. Written by Thomas Heywood. Nicholas Okes, sold by Beniamin Lightfoote. [Epistle to the Reader, signed 'T. H,'; Prologue and Epilogue.]

Edition by J. P. Collier (1851, Sh. Soc.).