Abbreviations
Prouty
The Life and Works of George Peele, general editor Charles Tyler Prouty, 3 vols (New Haven, 1952-70). Volume I: David H. Horne, The Life and Minor Works of George Peele (1952); Volumes II and III: The Dramatic Works of George Peele, ed. Frank S. Hook, John Yoklavich, R. Mark Benbow, and Elmer Blistein (1961, 1970).
Introduction
Only two autograph manuscripts by George Peele are known. One is the important but unfortunately damaged autograph of Anglorum Ferriae (*PlG 1). The other is a letter to Lord Burghley (*PlG 25).
In addition to the important playhouse ‘plot’ of The Battle of Alcazar (PlG 22), only a few early copies of poems by Peele and extracts from his works in miscellanies can be recorded. The extracts include a few from Peele's lost ‘Pastoral’ The Hunting of Cupid (PlG 3-7).
The canon here is based on the Prouty edition. It includes the well-known ‘Sonet’ beginning ‘His Golden lockes, Time hath to Silver turn'd’ (PlG 10-21), which was appended to the first edition of Polyhymnia, although evidence tends to support Sir Henry Lee's authorship.
For a list of miscellaneous documents relating to Peele's life and works, see Prouty, I, 283-6.
Peter Beal