The Tragedy of Chabot, Admiral of France
Encyclopedia
The Tragedy of Chabot, Admiral of France is an early seventeenth-century play, generally judged to be a work of George Chapman
, later revised by James Shirley
. The play is the last in Chapman's series of plays on contemporary French politics and history, which started with Bussy D'Ambois
and continued through The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron
, and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois
.
As usual in Chapman's French histories, the characters and plot are based on actual historical personages and events — which in this case occurred in the early sixteenth century in the reign of Francis I of France
, revolving around Philippe de Chabot
.
, when Chapman's primary historical source, Pasquier's Les Recherches de la France, was published. Some scholars have dated the original play as late as 1622.
, when Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels
, listed it in his accounts as a work by Shirley. The play was entered into the Stationers' Register
on October 24, 1638
, again as a work by Shirley, and was first published in the following year, 1639
, in a quarto
printed by Thomas Cotes
for the booksellers Andrew Crooke and William Cooke
. The quarto's title page attributes the play to Chapman and Shirley, and states that the play was acted by Queen Henrietta's Men
at the Cockpit Theatre
, as were most of Shirley's plays of the 1630s.
, a leading Chapman scholar, provided a breakdown of the two writers' shares:
According to Parrott, Shirley "has cut down long epic speeches, expunged sententious moralization, filled in with lively dialogue, and has strengthened the figures of the wife and Queen for a feminine interest."
Chabot has been judged as unusual among Chapman's French histories in its emotionally effectiveness; where Chapman's "plays normally develp rather ponderously," Chabot shows the beneficial effect of Shirley's lighter touch.
It has been argued that Chabot is a "topical allegory on the career of Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset
."
George Chapman
George Chapman was an English dramatist, translator, and poet. He was a classical scholar, and his work shows the influence of Stoicism. Chapman has been identified as the Rival Poet of Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Minto, and as an anticipator of the Metaphysical Poets...
, later revised by James Shirley
James Shirley
James Shirley was an English dramatist.He belonged to the great period of English dramatic literature, but, in Lamb's words, he "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly...
. The play is the last in Chapman's series of plays on contemporary French politics and history, which started with Bussy D'Ambois
Bussy D'Ambois
The Tragedy of Bussy D'Ambois is a Jacobean stage play written by George Chapman. Classified as either a tragedy or "contemporary history," Bussy D'Ambois is widely considered Chapman's greatest play, and is the earliest in a series of plays that Chapman wrote about the French political scene in...
and continued through The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron
The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron
The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron, Marshall of France is a Jacobean tragedy by George Chapman, a two-part play or double play first performed and published in 1608...
, and The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois
The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois
The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois is a Jacobean revenge tragedy written by George Chapman. The Revenge is a sequel to his earlier Bussy D'Ambois, and was first published in 1613.-Genre and source:...
.
As usual in Chapman's French histories, the characters and plot are based on actual historical personages and events — which in this case occurred in the early sixteenth century in the reign of Francis I of France
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, revolving around Philippe de Chabot
Philippe de Chabot
Philippe de Chabot, Seigneur De Brion, Count of Charny and Buzançois , also known as Admiral De Brion, was an admiral of France.- Biography :...
.
Date and source
Scholars have disputed the date of authorship of Chapman's original version; it had to be later than 16111611 in literature
The year 1611 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*January 1 - Oberon, the Faery Prince, a masque written by Ben Jonson and designed by Inigo Jones, is performed at Whitehall Palace....
, when Chapman's primary historical source, Pasquier's Les Recherches de la France, was published. Some scholars have dated the original play as late as 1622.
Publication
The play entered the documentary record on April 29, 16351635 in literature
The year 1635 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February 22 - In Paris, the Académie française is founded.*May 6 - The King's Men perform Othello at the Blackfriars Theatre.*Birth of René Descartes' daughter, Francine....
, when Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels
Master of the Revels
The Master of the Revels was a position within the English, and later the British, royal household heading the "Revels Office" or "Office of the Revels" that originally had responsibilities for overseeing royal festivities, known as revels, and later also became responsible for stage censorship,...
, listed it in his accounts as a work by Shirley. The play was entered into the Stationers' Register
Stationers' Register
The Stationers' Register was a record book maintained by the Stationers' Company of London. The company is a trade guild given a royal charter in 1557 to regulate the various professions associated with the publishing industry, including printers, bookbinders, booksellers, and publishers in England...
on October 24, 1638
1638 in literature
The year 1638 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*February 6 - Luminalia, a masque written by Sir William Davenant and designed by Inigo Jones, is staged at the English Court....
, again as a work by Shirley, and was first published in the following year, 1639
1639 in literature
The year 1639 in literature involved some significant events.-Events:*May 21 - The King's Men act John Fletcher's The Mad Lover.*Blaise Pascal's family move to Rouen.*François de La Mothe-Le-Vayer is elected to the Académie Française....
, in a quarto
Book size
The size of a book is generally measured by the height against the width of a leaf, or sometimes the height and width of its cover. A series of terms is commonly used by libraries and publishers for the general sizes of modern books, ranging from "folio" , to "quarto" and "octavo"...
printed by Thomas Cotes
Thomas Cotes
Thomas Cotes was a London printer of the Jacobean and Caroline eras, best remembered for printing the Second Folio edition of Shakespeare's plays in 1632.-Life and work:...
for the booksellers Andrew Crooke and William Cooke
Andrew Crooke and William Cooke
Andrew Crooke and William Cooke were London publishers of the mid-17th-century. In partnership and individually, they issued significant texts of English Renaissance drama, most notably of the plays of James Shirley....
. The quarto's title page attributes the play to Chapman and Shirley, and states that the play was acted by Queen Henrietta's Men
Queen Henrietta's Men
Queen Henrietta's Men was an important playing company or troupe of actors in Caroline era London. At their peak of popularity, Queen Henrietta's Men were the second leading troupe of the day, after only the King's Men.-Beginnings:...
at the Cockpit Theatre
Cockpit Theatre
The Cockpit was a theatre in London, operating from 1616 to around 1665. It was the first theatre to be located near Drury Lane. After damage in 1617, it was christened The Phoenix....
, as were most of Shirley's plays of the 1630s.
Revision
It is thought that Shirley's revision of Chapman's original most likely took place in 1634–35, between Chapman's death in the earlier year and Herbert's record. T. M. ParrottThomas Marc Parrott
Thomas Marc Parrott was a prominent twentieth-century American literary scholar, long a member of the faculty of Princeton University in New Jersey....
, a leading Chapman scholar, provided a breakdown of the two writers' shares:
- Chapman — Act I, scene i; Act II, scene iii; Act v, scene ii;
- Chapman and Shirley — Act II, scene ii; Act III, scene ii; Act IV; Act V, scene i;
- Shirley — Act II, scene i; Act III, scene i.
According to Parrott, Shirley "has cut down long epic speeches, expunged sententious moralization, filled in with lively dialogue, and has strengthened the figures of the wife and Queen for a feminine interest."
Synopsis
Chapman's Chabot resembles his Clermont D'Ambois in The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois, in that both are men of high principle, rather than flawed creatures like Bussy or Byron. Yet the Admiral operates in a corrupt and ruthless royal court; when he refuses to implement an unjust law even after the King has signed it, he leaves himelf open to malice and manipulation. A jealous minister persuades the King to investigate the Admiral, on the grounds that a man with such a sterling reputation must be hiding something. The investigation turns up nothing — yet the judges are bullied and manipulated into rendering an adverse verdict nonetheless. No harm will be done, since the King offers Chabot a pardon. The King and Court are shocked when the innocent Chabot refuses the pardon offered him — for he has committed no crime. Chabot, his honor wounded to the quick, dies, as though he has received a physical wound.Chabot has been judged as unusual among Chapman's French histories in its emotionally effectiveness; where Chapman's "plays normally develp rather ponderously," Chabot shows the beneficial effect of Shirley's lighter touch.
It has been argued that Chabot is a "topical allegory on the career of Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset
Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset
Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, , was a politician, and favourite of King James I of England.-Background:Robert Kerr was born in Wrington, Somerset, England the younger son of Sir Thomas Kerr of Ferniehurst, Scotland by his second wife, Janet, sister of Walter Scott of Buccleuch...
."