Long Meg of Westminster

Anon. (1595)

Historical Records

Henslowe's Diary


F. 11 (Greg I.21)

ye 14 of febreary 1594 …… j .. Res at longe mege of westmester …… iijli ixs
File:LongMeg.jpg
Henslowe's diary, F. 11 (Henslowe-Alleyn)

F. 11v (Greg I.22)

ye 20 of febreary 1594 …… Res at longe mege …… xxxxviijs
ye 29 of febreary 1594 …… Res at lange mege …… xxxviijs
ye 3 of marche 1594 …… Res at longe mege on sraftusdaye …… iijli
ye 13 of marche 1594 …… Res at longe mege …… xxviijs
ye 30 of aprell 1595 …… Res at longe mege …… xxvijs
ye 1 of maye 1595 …… Res at longe mege …… ls
ye 13 of maye 1595 …… Res at longe mege …… xxviijs


F. 12v (Greg I.24)

ye 19 of June 1595 …… Res at longe mege …… xxijs
ye 28 of aguste 1594 …… Res at longe mege …… xvijs
…… …… Res at longe mege …… xvjs


F. 13 (Greg I.25)

ye 4 of october 1595 …… Res at longe mege …… xjs


Stationers' Records


18 August 1590 (CLIO, 2.559)

Thomas Gubbins ………. The life of longe MEGG of Westminster Aucthorized vnder
Thomas Newman the handes of the Bishop of London and Master Warden
Newberie vjd


27 August — 31 August 1590 (CLIO, 2.561)

Roger Ward ………. A Ballad of longe MEG of Westminster. [no sum]


14 March 1595 (CLIO, 2.293)

John Danter ………. Entred for his Copie under the handes of bothe the wardens a
ballad entitled the madd merye pranckes of Long MEGG of
Westminster vjd


13 December 1620 (CLIO, 3.44)

Master Pauier ………. Assigned ouer vnto them by Edward White and by consent of both
and John Wright the wardens all the estate the said Edward white hath in theis
twelue copies followinge ………. vjd
……….viz
The history of Long MEG of Westminster


29 April 1634 (CLIO, 4.318)

Master Robert ………. Assigned ouer vnto him by vertue of a Note vnder the hand and
Bird ………. seale of John Wright and subscribed by both the wardens all his
estate right Title and interest in these 6. Copies following iijs
……….viz
The history of Long MEG of Westminster



Theatrical Provenance

The Admiral's players introduced Long Meg of Westminster on 14 February 1595. It was kept in performance through 4 October, thus spanning the spring and fall seasons of 1595. Over that period, it received 12 performances and returned receipts to Henslowe averaging more than 34s. After a hiatus of thirteen months, Long Meg returned to the stage at the Rose on 1 November 1596 for four performances through 28 January 1597; for this short revival, it returned an average of 18s. per performance to Henslowe. Curiously, at its February 1595 debut, Long Meg was marked with "j" in the spot where Henslowe more commonly placed "ne." Long Meg is the only play so marked in Henslowe's playlists. Its story has numerous episodes, but there is no hint of a second part in references to the play.



Probable Genre(s)

Comedy (?) (Harbage)

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Every indication points to the prose tract, The Life of Long Meg of Westminster, as the narrative source of the play. The Gubbins-Newman text registered on 18 August 1590 does not survive in print, nor does the ballad printed within a week. Later printings in 1635 and 1650 do survive, and it is reasonable to assume that they reflect the early narrative well enough. By 1650 the title of the chapbook had changed slightly to The Life and Pranks of Long Meg of Westminster; longer than the 1635 version, the 1650 has other minor differences.

The Life of Long Meg of Westminster (1635)



The Life and Pranks of Long Meg of Westminster (1650)



References to the Play



Critical Commentary



For What It's Worth



Works Cited





Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 4 March 2012.