There can be little doubt that the booksellers attributed the play to Shakespeare in the hope that so popular a name might help the sale, for although the earlier play is by no means devoid of merit, the evidence of its style conclusively proves that Shakespeare had no part in the authorship. We have therefore not reprinted it, but contented ourselves with indicating the passages borrowed verbally from it. 2. Of RICHARD II. four editions in Quarto were published before the appearance of the first Folio: Q₁. The | Tragedie of King Ri-|chard the se-|cond. | _As it hath beene publikely acted_ | _by the right Honourable the_ | _Lorde Chamberlaine his Ser'uants._ | LONDON | Printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and | are to be sold at his shop in Paules church yard at | the signe of the Angel. | 1597. | Q₂. The | Tragedie of King Ri-|chard the second. | As it hath beene publikely acted by the Right Ho-|nourable the Lord Chamberlaine his | seruants. | _By William Shake-speare._ | LONDON | Printed by Valentine Simmes for Andrew Wise, and | are to be sold at his shop in Paules churchyard at | the signe of the Angel. | 1598. | Q₃. The | Tragedie of King | Richard the second. | As it hath been publikely acted by the Right | Honourable the Lord Chamberlaine | his seruantes. | By _William Shake-speare_. | LONDON, | Printed by W. W. for _Mathew Law_, and are to be | sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at | the signe of the Foxe. | 1608. | The same edition was also issued in the same year with the following title-page: The | Tragedie of King | Richard the Second: | With new additions of the Parlia-|ment Sceane, and the deposing | of King Richard, | As it hath been lately acted by the Kinges | Maiesties seruantes, at the Globe. | By _William Shake-speare_. | At London, | Printed by W. W. for _Mathew Law_, and are to | be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard, | at the signe of the Foxe. | 1608. | Q₄. The | Tragedie of King | Richard the Se-|cond: | _With new additions of the Parliament Sceane_, | _and the deposing of King_ | _Richard._ | As it hath been lately acted by the Kinges | Maiesties seruants, at the Globe. | _By_ WILLIAM SHAKE-SPEARE. | At LONDON, | Printed for _Mathew Law_, and are to be sold | at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the | signe of the Foxe. | 1615. |