Medicine for a Curst Wife, A

Thomas Dekker (1602)

Historical Records

Payments to Playwrights (Henslowe’s Diary)

F. 107 (Greg I.169)

Lent vnto Thomas downton & edwarde

Jewbe to geue vnto Thomas deckers in

earnest of A comody called A medysen

for A cvrste wife … ^{19 of July 1602} … xxxx^s

Lent vnto thomas downton the 31 of July

1602 to paye vnto [hary chettell] Thomas

deckers in parte of payment of his comody

called a medyssen for a cvrste wife …

the some of … xxxx^s

F. 115 (Greg I.179)

Layd owt more for the company in parte of payment

for a boocke called medsen for a cvrst ^wiffe

the some of … x^s

vnto thomas deckers …

F. 115v (Greg I.180)

pd at the a poynment of the company

the 1 of september 1602 in parte of payment

for a comody called a medysen for a

cvrste wife to thomas deckers some of … iiij^li

pd at the apoyntment the [of] companye

the 2 of september 1602 in full payment

for a comody called a medysen for a

cvrste wife to thomas deckers some of … xxx^s

F. 116 (Greg I.181)

pd vnto thomas deckers the 27 of september 1602

over & a bove his price of his boocke called a

medysen for a cvrste wife some of … x^s

Theatrical Provenance

The Admiral's Men paid Thomas Dekker £10 in the Summer of 1602 for the comedy A Medicine for a Curst Wife. It was presumably acted at the Fortune theatre. On 27 September 1602 Dekker was given 10s "over & a bove his price", perhaps upon the success of the play.

Probable Genre(s)

Comedy (Harbage).

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

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References to the Play

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Critical Commentary

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For What It's Worth

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Works Cited

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