Although the German play is not a very good one, it does have entertainment value; and Shakespeare would surely have noticed the potential in this lesser drama. Since Shakespeare never did see the published work or a performance of Ayrer’s play, two possibilities might account for the similarities:
(1) Shakespeare received a report or summary of the play by a visitor to Germany or (2) both Shakespeare and Ayrer used the same source material of a now- lost play. Both possibilities are credible; but the truth of the matter will, most likely, never be known.