Two quartos of _Orlando Furioso_ are known. Of these, copies of the first, dated 1594, printed by John Danter for Cuthbert Burby, are to be found in the British Museum and in the Dyce Library at South Kensington; copies of the second, dated 1599, and printed by Simon Stafford for Cuthbert Burby, are to be found in the British Museum, the Dyce Library and the library of Mr Huth. On the _Stationers' Registers_ the play is entered, 7th December 1593, to John Danter, and notice of transfer to Cuthbert Burby is made under date of 28th May 1594. The play belonged first to the Queen's players and was probably performed at court, possibly on St. Stephen's Day, 26th December 1588, though this is conjecture (_See_ Cayley, _Rep. Eng. Com._, p 409). Upon the absence of the Queen's men from court, 26th December 1591 to April 1593, this play, among others, fell into the hands of the combined Admiral's and Strange's companies, and was by them performed, as Henslowe records, 21st February 1592. Greene's name does not appear on the title-page of the quartos. In _The Defence of Conny-Catching_ (1592), we find the following.--"Master R. G., would it not make you blush--if you sold _Orlando Furioso_ to the Queen's players for twenty nobles, and when they were in the country, sold the same play to Lord Admiral's men, for as much more? Was not this plain coney-catching, M. G.?" Among the actors in the Admiral and Strange companies was Edward Alleyn. It so occurs that there exists at Dulwich College a large portion of the MS. of this play, containing the part of Orlando, with cues regularly marked, and with omissions supplied in the handwriting of Alleyn. Though imperfect, this MS. indicates that the printed edition was composed from a curtailed and mutilated copy. Greene's play is based on a free use of Ariosto, and may be considered a parody on the "mad plays" popular at the time. Reflections of it are to be found in Peele's _Old Wives' Tale_, in the name Sacripant, and in the resemblance between ll. 66-69, _Orlando Furioso_, and ll. 885-888, _Old Wives' Tale_.
Several of the Twelve Peers of France, whose names are not given. Clowns, Attendants, etc.
_Enter_ MARSILIUS _and_ ANGELICA, _the_ SOLDAN, RODOMONT, MANDRICARD, BRANDIMART, ORLANDO _and_ SACRIPANT, _with Attendants._