Folger Shakespeare Library
CELM

Sir William Killigrew

1606–1695

Introduction

Dramatic Works

Sir William Killgrew, brother of the playwright and theatre manager Thomas Killigrew, led a life, of mixed success, as a courtier and Member of Parliament. He is perhaps best known, however, for the few plays he wrote, although the stage success of any of them (if ever performed) is uncertain. Besides his revised manuscript of one play, The Siege of Urbin (*KiW 13), two known printed exempla of his collected plays that are heavily annotated by him (*KiW 1-7, *KiW 14-15) throw light on the creative processes, theatrical milieu, and political considerations of a Restoration dramatist.

Letters and Documents

A number of letters by Killigrew exist, relating to both his private and political life. Entries are given below for those recorded and printed in Vander Motten's Life (pp. 328-53), with a few additions (KiW 17-48). Motten also records various other documents by or relating to Killigrew. These include two among his edited letters which actually comprise a formal order to the Mayor of Reading, 7 November 1642 (pp. 331-2), and a letter to Charles II, 10 April 1660 (pp. 341-4) which is known only from early printed texts. The entries below record a few other miscellaneous documents signed by Killigrew (*KiW 49-53), besides the registered copy of his last will and testament (KiW 54) which is printed by Motten in full.

Abbreviations

  • Motten — J. P. Vander Motten, Sir William Killigrew (1606-1695): His Life and Dramatic Works (Ghent, 1980).

Dramatic Works

The Imperial Tragedy

First published London, 1669.

*KiW 1
Autograph

Copious autograph revisions to the printed text, including several lines rewritten in the Prologue, thirteen lines deleted on p. 43 with an explanatory note signed W: K:, thirteen new lines on a tipped-in slip of paper after p. 47, and signature on p. 51 Wm: Killigrew.

Facsimile of p. 43 in The Brotherton Collection University of Leeds (Leeds, 1986), No. 10.

In: Killigrew's own annotated printed exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), a small folio, in contemporary vellum.
1666-1669

Once owned by Arthur Annesley (1614-86), first Earl of Anglesey, book collector, and by Alexander Thistlethwayte (1718-71). The title-page inscribed Thos. Baker Md. A tipped-in leaf at the rear inscribed Sr: Edward: Buttler: his: Book:. Sotheby's, 11-13 March 1884, lot 1237, to Robson. Sotheby's, 13 June 1966, lot 12.

Discussed in John Horden, Sir William Killigrew's Four New Playes (1666) with his Imperial Tragedy (1669): A Second Annotated Copy, The Library, 6th Ser. 6 (1984), 271-5, and, with collations, in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

*KiW 2
Autograph

Autograph additions, in a printed text (1669), lacking the original title-page, the title in Killigrew's hand facing the Dramatis Personæ, with some corrections or revisions by him (pp. 13, 21, 47), and signed by him at the end (p. 51) Wm: Killigrew.

In: Thomas Killigrew's own exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), all but one play (item 4, Pandora, 1666) with his autograph insertions.
c.1666-69

Inscribed on the title-page Anglesey given me by the worthy author. Sept. 17. 1670. Sotheby's, 11 March 1884 (Baron Brown Mill Library sale). Afterwards owned by Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905), actor. Christie's, 21 February 1899.

Discussed in Joseph S. Johnston, Jr, Sir William Killigrew's Revised Copy of his Four New Plays: Confirmation of His Claim to The Imperial Tragedy, Modern Philology, 74 (1976-7), 72-4, and in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

Love and Friendship

See Ormasdes or Love and Friendship: KiW 3.

Ormasdes or Love and Friendship

First published in Three Playes (London, 1664).

*KiW 3
Autograph

A few minor autograph revisions to the printed text.

In: Killigrew's own annotated printed exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), a small folio, in contemporary vellum.
1666-1669

Once owned by Arthur Annesley (1614-86), first Earl of Anglesey, book collector, and by Alexander Thistlethwayte (1718-71). The title-page inscribed Thos. Baker Md. A tipped-in leaf at the rear inscribed Sr: Edward: Buttler: his: Book:. Sotheby's, 11-13 March 1884, lot 1237, to Robson. Sotheby's, 13 June 1966, lot 12.

Discussed in John Horden, Sir William Killigrew's Four New Playes (1666) with his Imperial Tragedy (1669): A Second Annotated Copy, The Library, 6th Ser. 6 (1984), 271-5, and, with collations, in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

*KiW 4
Autograph

Autograph additions, in a printed text of Love and Friendship (1666), comprising Killigrew's autograph Prologue (beginning Though Most men Love, and some doe Frindship owne), signed W: K:, on an octavo-size leaf tipped-in after the Dramatis Personæ, and his autograph Prologue (beginning Since Presidents, be as knowne Lawes alowd), also signed W: K:, on a tipped-in quarto leaf at the end.

The verses edited from this MS in Joseph S. Johnston Jr and J.P. Vander Motten, Some Unpublished Restoration Prologues and Epilogues: New Light on the Stage History of Sir William Killigrew's Plays, Modern Philology, 77 (1979-80), 159-63.

In: Thomas Killigrew's own exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), all but one play (item 4, Pandora, 1666) with his autograph insertions.
c.1666-69

Inscribed on the title-page Anglesey given me by the worthy author. Sept. 17. 1670. Sotheby's, 11 March 1884 (Baron Brown Mill Library sale). Afterwards owned by Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905), actor. Christie's, 21 February 1899.

Discussed in Joseph S. Johnston, Jr, Sir William Killigrew's Revised Copy of his Four New Plays: Confirmation of His Claim to The Imperial Tragedy, Modern Philology, 74 (1976-7), 72-4, and in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

Pandora

First published in Three Playes (London, 1664).

*KiW 5
Autograph

Several autograph lines added down the margin of the printed text on p. 8 and two autograph lines added similarly on p. 44.

In: Killigrew's own annotated printed exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), a small folio, in contemporary vellum.
1666-1669

Once owned by Arthur Annesley (1614-86), first Earl of Anglesey, book collector, and by Alexander Thistlethwayte (1718-71). The title-page inscribed Thos. Baker Md. A tipped-in leaf at the rear inscribed Sr: Edward: Buttler: his: Book:. Sotheby's, 11-13 March 1884, lot 1237, to Robson. Sotheby's, 13 June 1966, lot 12.

Discussed in John Horden, Sir William Killigrew's Four New Playes (1666) with his Imperial Tragedy (1669): A Second Annotated Copy, The Library, 6th Ser. 6 (1984), 271-5, and, with collations, in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

Selindra

First published in Three Playes (London, 1664).

*KiW 6
Autograph

A few minor autograph additions to the printed text and a leaf tipped-in after p. 58 with an autograph Epilogue (beginning Our Author sent his Epelogue so late).

In: Killigrew's own annotated printed exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), a small folio, in contemporary vellum.
1666-1669

Once owned by Arthur Annesley (1614-86), first Earl of Anglesey, book collector, and by Alexander Thistlethwayte (1718-71). The title-page inscribed Thos. Baker Md. A tipped-in leaf at the rear inscribed Sr: Edward: Buttler: his: Book:. Sotheby's, 11-13 March 1884, lot 1237, to Robson. Sotheby's, 13 June 1966, lot 12.

Discussed in John Horden, Sir William Killigrew's Four New Playes (1666) with his Imperial Tragedy (1669): A Second Annotated Copy, The Library, 6th Ser. 6 (1984), 271-5, and, with collations, in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

*KiW 7
Autograph

Autograph additions to the printed text (1666), comprising Killigrew's autograph Prologue (beginning Ladyes, we have made choyce to shew this Daye) signed W: K:, on a quarto leaf tipped-in after the Dramatis Personæ, and his autograph Epilogue (beginning Our Author, sent his Epelogue so late), also signed W: K:, on a quarto leaf tipped-in at the end.

The verses edited from this MS in Joseph S. Johnston Jr and J.P. Vander Motten, Some Unpublished Restoration Prologues and Epilogues: New Light on the Stage History of Sir William Killigrew's Plays, Modern Philology, 77 (1979-80), 159-63.

In: Thomas Killigrew's own exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), all but one play (item 4, Pandora, 1666) with his autograph insertions.
c.1666-69

Inscribed on the title-page Anglesey given me by the worthy author. Sept. 17. 1670. Sotheby's, 11 March 1884 (Baron Brown Mill Library sale). Afterwards owned by Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905), actor. Christie's, 21 February 1899.

Discussed in Joseph S. Johnston, Jr, Sir William Killigrew's Revised Copy of his Four New Plays: Confirmation of His Claim to The Imperial Tragedy, Modern Philology, 74 (1976-7), 72-4, and in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

KiW 8
A MS copy of Killigrew's epilogue, beginning Our Author, sent his Epelogue so late, written opposite the last page of Selindra (sig H8r) in a printed exemplum of Killigrew's Three Playes (London, 1664).
c.1665

The verses edited, and discussed, in J.P. Vander Motten, An Unnoticed Restoration Epilogue, English Studies, 67 (1986), 308-10.

Victoria and Albert Museum (Forster MS 8vo 4818)
Selindra, Act III. Song ('Come come thou glorious obiect of my sight')
KiW 9

Copy, in Lawes's musical setting, untitled.

In: A large folio volume of autograph vocal music by Henry Lawes (1596-1662), ix + 184 leaves, in modern black morocco gilt.

Comprising over 300 songs and musical dialogues by Lawes, probably written over an extended period (c.1626-62) in preparation for his eventual publications, including settings of 38 poems by Carew, fourteen poems by or attributed to Herrick, and fifteen by Waller.

Mid-17th century

Bookplates of William Gostling (1696-1777), antiquary and topographer; of Robert Smith, of 3 St Paul's Churchyard; and of Stephen Groombridge, FRS (1755-1832), astronomer. Later owned, until 1966, by Miss Naomi D. Church, of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Formerly British Library Loan MS 35.

Recorded in IELM, II.i-ii (1987-93), as the Henry Lawes MS: CwT Δ 16; HeR Δ 3; WaE Δ 11. Discussed, with facsimile examples, in Pamela J. Willetts, The Henry Lawes Manuscript (London, 1969). Facsimiles of ff. 42r, 78r, 80r, 84r, 111r and 169r in The Poems and Masques of Aurelian Townshend, ed. Cedric C. Brown (Reading, 1983), pp. 59, 60, 62, 64, 66 and 117. Also discussed in Willa McClung Evans, Henry Lawes: Musician and Friend of Poets (New York and London, 1941), and elsewhere. A complete facsimile of the volume in English Song 1600-1675, ed. Elise Bickford Jorgens, Vol. 3 (New York & London, 1986).

KiW 10

Copy, in a musical setting.

In: A square-shaped folio songbook, largely in a single rounded secretary hand, with (ff. 1r-v, 69r-v) a table of contents, i + 69 leaves, in modern half red morocco.
Mid-17th century

Puttick & Simpson's, 2 March 1866, lot 230.

A complete facsimile of this volume in English Song 1600-1675, ed. Elise Bickford Jorgens, Vol. 2 (New York & London, 1986).

KiW 11

Copy of the song, untitled.

In: A folio formal verse miscellany, in a single rounded hand, 259 pages (plus a three-page index), in modern boards.

The contents, the latest of which (on pp. 203-7) can be dated to a marriage that took place in November 1656, reflect the taste of Interregnum Royalist sympathisers.

c.Late 1650s

Formerly in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt (1792-1872), manuscript and book collector: Phillipps MS 4001. Sotheby's, 29 June 1946, lot 164, to Myers. Then in the library of Charles Kay Ogden (1889-1957), psychologist, linguist, and book collector.

KiW 12

Copy, untitled.

In: A folio formal verse miscellany, comprising c.406 poems, many of them song lyrics, in various neat hands, compiled probably over a period, 8 blank leaves (pp. [i-xvi]) + 10 unnumbered pages of poems (pp. [xvii-xxvi]) + 9 numbered pages (pp. 1-9) + ff. [9v]-151v + 12 leaves at the end blank but for a poem on the penultimate page (f. [11v]), in contemporary calf gilt.

Once erroneously associated with Thomas Killigrew (1612-83), whose hand does not appear in the volume.

Mid-17th century-c.1702

Inscribed (f. [ir]) Sr Robert Killigrew / 1702. Later in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt (1792-1872), book and manuscript collector: Phillipps MS 9070. Sotheby's, 19 May 1897, lot 455.

Discussed, with a facsimile example, in Nancy Cutbirth, Thomas Killigrew's Commonplace Book?, Library Chronicle of the University of Texas at Austin, NS No. 13 (1980), 31-8.

University of Texas at Austin (Ms (Killigrew, T) Works B Commonplace book pp. 2, 3) | Catalogue
The Siege of Urbin

First published in Four New Playes (London, 1666).

*KiW 13
Autograph
Copy, including a Prologue and Epilogue, largely in a single professional hand, with autograph deletions and revisions throughout, including additional lengthy passages or whole-page inserts, a list of Dramatis Personae with names of actors in a third hand, and also occasional comments in black ink by Richard Rawlinson, iii + 74 folio leaves, in contemporary vellum.
c.1660s
*KiW 14
Autograph

Autograph revisions and additions to the printed text, including an autograph full page on sig. *4v and autograph leaves tipped-in after pp. 4 and 32.

The annotations collated in Horden & Vander Motten.

In: Killigrew's own annotated printed exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), a small folio, in contemporary vellum.
1666-1669

Once owned by Arthur Annesley (1614-86), first Earl of Anglesey, book collector, and by Alexander Thistlethwayte (1718-71). The title-page inscribed Thos. Baker Md. A tipped-in leaf at the rear inscribed Sr: Edward: Buttler: his: Book:. Sotheby's, 11-13 March 1884, lot 1237, to Robson. Sotheby's, 13 June 1966, lot 12.

Discussed in John Horden, Sir William Killigrew's Four New Playes (1666) with his Imperial Tragedy (1669): A Second Annotated Copy, The Library, 6th Ser. 6 (1984), 271-5, and, with collations, in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

*KiW 15
Autograph

Autograph additions to the printed text (1666), including a page of MS dialogue on the verso of the title-page, occasional new lines and stage directions in MS (including examples on pp. 2-5, 7, 12, 20 and probably 26), and a quarto-sized leaf of MS dialogue tipped-in before p. 5.

In: Thomas Killigrew's own exemplum of Four New Playes (London, 1666) bound with The Imperial Tragedy (London, 1669), all but one play (item 4, Pandora, 1666) with his autograph insertions.
c.1666-69

Inscribed on the title-page Anglesey given me by the worthy author. Sept. 17. 1670. Sotheby's, 11 March 1884 (Baron Brown Mill Library sale). Afterwards owned by Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905), actor. Christie's, 21 February 1899.

Discussed in Joseph S. Johnston, Jr, Sir William Killigrew's Revised Copy of his Four New Plays: Confirmation of His Claim to The Imperial Tragedy, Modern Philology, 74 (1976-7), 72-4, and in John Horden and J.P. Vander Motten, Five New Playes: Sir William Killigrew's Two Annotated Copies, The Library, 6th Ser., 11/3 (September 1989), 253-71.

Miscellaneous Extracts from Killigrew's Dramatic Works

Extracts
KiW 16

Extracts from plays.

In: A large untitled folio anthology of quotations chiefly from Elizabethan and Stuart plays, alphabetically arranged under subject headings, in a single mixed hand, in double columns, 900 pages (lacking pp. 1-4, 379-80, 667-8, 715-20 and 785-8), including (pp. 893-7) an alphabetical index of some 351 titles of plays, in modern boards.

This is the longest known extant version of the unpublished anthology Hesperides or The Muses Garden, by John Evans, entered in the Stationers' Register on 16 August 1655 and subsequently advertised c.1660, among works he purposed to print, by Humphrey Moseley. Another version of this work, in the same hand, dissected by James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-89), is now distributed between Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Halliwell-Phillipps, Notes upon the Works of Shakespeare, Folger, MS V.a.75, Folger, MS V.a.79, and Folger, MS V.a.80.

c.1656-66

Formerly MS 469.2.

This MS identified in IELM, II.i (1980), p. 450. Discussed, as the master draft, with a facsimile of p. 7 on p. 381, in Hao Tianhu, Hesperides, or the Muses' Garden and its Manuscript History, The Library, 7th Ser. 10/4 (December 2009), 372-404 (the full index printed as Catalogue A on pp. 385-94).

Letters

Letter(s)
*KiW 17
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Lord Carlton, from Pendennis Castle, 5 November 1629.
1629
National Archives, Kew (SP 16/151/20)
*KiW 18
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Lord Dorchester, from Pendennis Castle, 6 January 1629/30.
1630

Motten, pp. 328-9.

National Archives, Kew (SP 16/158/24)
*KiW 19
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Edward Nicholas, from Pendennis Castle, 14 July 1630.
1630

Motten, p. 329.

National Archives, Kew (SP 16/170/58)
KiW 20
Autograph letter signed, to Lord Dorchester, from Pendennis Castle, 17 January 1630/1.
1631

Motten, pp. 329-30.

National Archives, Kew (SP 16/182/63)
*KiW 21
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Sir Francis Windebank, from the Savoy, 21 February 1633.
1633

Motten, p. 330.

National Archives, Kew (SP 16/260/82)
*KiW 22
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Mr Reade, from London, 22 February 1636.
1636

Motten, pp. 330-1.

National Archives, Kew (SP 16/347/87)
*KiW 23
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Sir Francis Windebank, from London, 1 August 1637.
1637

Motten, p. 331.

National Archives, Kew (SP 16/365/6)
*KiW 38
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, endorsed For my Lord Chancelor from Sr W. Killigrew 1664.
1664
Private owners in the UK (Killigrew MS)
*KiW 39
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Sir Henry Bennet, 6 September 1664.

Motten, p. 344.

National Archives, Kew (SP 29/102/23)
*KiW 40
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to Mr Godolphin, [September 1665].
1665

Motten, p. 345.

National Archives, Kew (SP 29/440/105)
*KiW 41
Autograph
Autograph letter signed, to an unidentified gentleman, 9 April 1669.
1669

Motten, p. 345.

National Archives, Kew (SP 29/258/152)
*KiW 43 1674
Autograph

Autograph letter signed, to Lord Lattimer, 25 April 1674.

Motten, pp. 346-7.

In: A composite volume of correspondence and papers of the Osborne family, formerly at Hornby Castle, Yorks, chiefly papers of Thomas Osborne (1632-1712), Earl of Danby and first Duke of Leeds.

Volume XXVIII of the Leeds Papers.

The British Library: Egerton MSS (Egerton MS 3351 f. 100r-v)
*KiW 44 1674
Autograph

Autograph letter signed, to Lord Lattimer, 1 June 1674.

Motten, pp. 347-8.

In: A composite volume of correspondence and papers of the Osborne family, formerly at Hornby Castle, Yorks, chiefly papers of Thomas Osborne (1632-1712), Earl of Danby and first Duke of Leeds.

Volume XXVIII of the Leeds Papers.

The British Library: Egerton MSS (Egerton MS 3351 f. 113r)
*KiW 45 1674
Autograph

Killigrew's inscribed copy of his letter to Mr Parsons, from London 30 September 1674.

Motten, pp. 348-51.

In: A composite volume of correspondence and papers of the Osborne family, formerly at Hornby Castle, Yorks, chiefly papers of Thomas Osborne (1632-1712), Earl of Danby and first Duke of Leeds.

Volume XXVIII of the Leeds Papers.

The British Library: Egerton MSS (Egerton MS 3351 f. 136r)
*KiW 46 1675
Autograph

Autograph letter signed, to Peregrine Bertie, 16 December 1675.

Motten, pp. 351-2.

In: A composite volume of correspondence and papers of the Osborne family, formerly at Hornby Castle, Yorks, chiefly papers of Thomas Osborne (1632-1712), Earl of Danby and first Duke of Leeds.

Volume XXVIII of the Leeds Papers.

The British Library: Egerton MSS (Egerton MS 3351 f. 155r)
*KiW 47 1677
Autograph

Autograph letter signed, to an unidentified lord, 31 December 1677.

Motten, p. 352.

In: A folio composite volume of letters and other papers, in various hands, 222 leaves.
*KiW 48 1682
Autograph

Killigrew's inscribed copy of a letter by Richard Collinge to Tobias Rustan, from Windsor Castle, 30 July 1682.

In: A folio composite volume of letters and papers largely relating to the diocese of Canterbury, in various hands, 342 leaves.

Documents

Document(s)
*KiW 49
Autograph
Document signed by Killigrew, concerning his tallies in the Exchequer.
1675

Formerly MSS 7.16(4).

*KiW 50
Autograph
A receipt signed by Sir William Killigrew, for £62 10s in part payment of an annuity of £500 per annum granted by Charles II on 10 November 1665, dated 3 November 1676.
1676

Quaritch's sale catalogue English Books and Manuscripts (Winter 2008-9), item 40.

Untraced, miscellaneous ([W. Killigrew document (I)])
*KiW 51
Autograph
A receipt for £62 10s signed by Killigrew, 8 January 1676.
1676
Untraced, miscellaneous (W. Killigrew document (II))
*KiW 53
Autograph
A document signed, giving power of attorney to Michael Wolrich to receive Killigrew's payment from the Royal Exchequer of his £500 annuity, 15 August 1687.
1687
Yale, Osborn, others (Osb MSS File 16686)
Will
KiW 54
A registered copy of Killigrew's last will and testament, dated 3 October 1695.
1695

Edited from this MS in Motten, pp. 326-7.

National Archives, Kew (PROB 11/427 s. 152) | Catalogue

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