In all likelihood, Chapman composed both parts of Byron in 1607–8; his primary source on the political events portrayed in the plays, Edward Grimeston's A General Inventory of the History of France,[2] was first published in 1607.
)[3] Fortunately, James's passion for drama got the better of his anger; the boys were eventually forgiven, and even performed at Court in the ensuing Christmas season.
The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Byron were entered into the Stationers' Register on 5 June 1608 and were published together later in the year in a quarto printed by George Eld for the bookseller Thomas Thorpe.
Yet his ego is too great to remain restrained indefinitely; Byron returns to plotting, and in the conclusion of The Tragedy he is apprehended, tried, convicted, and executed.
In addition to those noted above, the French courtier and plotter Picoté uses the rebellion of Catiline as a precedent for Byron's planned uprising against his king.
It has been suggested that the face-slapping scene that caused so much trouble was inspired not by anything in French monarchical history, but by a rumored incident in which Elizabeth struck Essex.