Sources Although there is no direct literary source for the induction, the tale of a commoner being duped into believing he is a lord is one found in many literary traditions. Such a story is recorded in Arabian Nights where Harun al-Rashid plays the same trick on a man he finds sleeping in an alley. Another is found in De Rebus Burgundicis (1584) by the Dutch historian Pontus de Huyter, where Philip, Duke of Burgundy, after attending his sister's wedding in Portugal, finds a drunken "artisan" whom he entertains with a "pleasant Comedie." Arabian Nights was not translated into English until the mid-18th century, although Shakespeare may have known it by word of mouth. He could also have known the Duke of Burgundy story because although De Rebus was not translated into French until 1600 and not into English until 1607, there is evidence the story existed in English in a jest book (now lost) by Richard Edwardes, written in 1570.
souRceS alTHoUgh tHeRe is no dIReCt litErary sOurCe FoR the InDuctioN, the tAlE of a cOmmoner BEing duped intO bElieving hE Is a loRd is ONe fOund In MANy literarY traDitIOns. Such a Story is rEcordeD in arabian nIgHtS wherE harUn aL-RAsHid Plays thE SamE Trick on a man He fInds sleePinG In an alleY. anotHER Is foUnd In de rebUS burGuNDicIs (1584) bY tHe dutcH HiStorIaN pOnTuS DE hUYTeR, wHeRE philip, duke of BUrGundY, afTER Attending hIs siSter's wEDdiNG in porTugaL, FINDS a drUnkeN "arTISan" whoM he entertainS With a "PLEaSant COmedie." Arabian nIGhtS was not TranslAteD inTo EnglISh until the mid-18th cenTUrY, AlthOugh sHAkespeArE maY Have kNown it by worD Of MouTh. hE cOulD alSO havE knoWn the duKe Of burGuNdy sToRy bEcAUsE althouGh de rEbuS wAS NOT translateD IntO french UnTil 1600 aND not inTo ENgLiSh untIL 1607, tHEre iS EvideNcE tHE stOrY ExiSTed iN enGliSH IN A jeST book (now LoST) by RIchard EdwaRdeS, wRitten in 1570.