'Orozes, King of Albania': An unpublished plot for a stage romance, by John Locke

Abstract

Bodleian MS Locke e. 6, a notebook that belonged to the philosopher John Locke, contains a holograph précis for a romance (most likely in dramatic form) beginning with the name of the main character, 'Orozes, King of Albania'. Although a handful of Locke scholars has acknowledged the existence of this plot-scenario, no one has published it in any form, and it has passed unnoticed by theatre historians and literary critics. This article provides a semi-diplomatic transcription of the plot. It identifies several probable sources and cautiously proposes a date of 1661-1662 for the dramatic sketch. Within the small set of extant specimens from the early modern period, a new example of a dramatic..