Randall, Earl of Chester (Chester’s Tragedy)

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Thomas Middleton (1602)


Historical Records

Greg states that "there can be no reasonable doubt" that the following entries refer to the same play, and subsequent commentators have agreed (Greg II, 225).

F.108r; Greg I, 171; Foakes, 205:

pd at the apoynt of wm Jube the 21
of octobʒ 1602 vnto mr medelton in pte of
payment ffor his playe called [felmelanco] Chester
tragedie the some of iiijli

The title 'felmelanco' is crossed out, and 'Chester' inserted underneath. Foakes notes that the play title seems to be in Thomas Downton's hand, although Greg thought it was Robert Shaa's.



F.108r; Greg I, 171; Foakes, 206:

Lent unto Edward Jube the 9 of novmbʒ 1602
to paye vnto mr mydelton in fulle paymente
of his playe called Randowlle earlle of chester
the some of xxxx s




Probable Genre(s)

Described as a tragedy in the first record. However, Greg suggests that the word 'tragedie' could have been part of the 'felmelanco' title and inadvertently left to stand (II, 225).




Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Greg notes that Holinshed's Chronicles mentions three Earls of Chester called Ranulf. Doris Feldmann and Kurt Tetzeli von Rosador note that two of these men had lives colourful enough to stimulate the interest of a dramatist: Ranulf de Gernons (d. 1153) and Ranulf de Blundevill (d.1232) (330).

Other writers had already represented Randalls or Ranulphs of Chester. Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador point to a line in Piers Plowman (V.395) which mentions the existence of folk "rymes about Robyn hood and Randolf Earl of Chestre". They further note that Anthony Munday included a "Ranulphe, Earl of Chester" in John a Kent and John a Cumber, and an Earl of Chester in both The Downfall and The Death of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon (the latter Earl is de Blundevill). Another appears briefly in the Admiral's Men's play Look About You. The popular lost play The Wise Man of West Chester may also have been an influence (329-30).


References to the Play

None known.




Critical Commentary

Possible additional historical record

The following entry for an unnamed play by Middleton appears in Henslowe's diary as follows:

f.116v; Greg I, 181; Foakes, 217)

Lent at the a poyntment of John ducke
in earnest of A playe called [title left blank]
the some of xxs 3 of octobʒ 1602
to mr mydellton

Doris Feldmann and Kurt Tetzeli von Rosador argue that this is an early reference to Randall, due to "[t]he progressive concretization of the title, the proximity of dates, [and] the complementary nature of the statements about the payments" (328).

Subject matter

Greg thought Ranulf de Blundevill was the likeliest subject of the play (Greg II, 225).

Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador suspect that Middleton's play was about Ranulf de Gernons. While de Blundevill's life has dramatic potential, involving opposition to England paying tithes to Rome, and a rescue from a besieged castle, it does not seem suited to tragedy. They argue that de Gernons, a baron who pursued his personal autonomy over the rule of King Stephen, took him captive, but was then captured himself and forced to surrender, is closer to the pattern of tragedy. They imagine that Middleton's play might have depicted de Gernon's opposition to the King, his capturing of him, and his subsequent surrender after being captured himself. They suggest that although Holinshed describes further events in de Gernon's life - other "alliances, intrigues and battles" - Middleton could have created a tragic structure by having Ranulf be summarily killed after his surrender, perhaps "poisoned by William Peverell, whom, it is said, he had robbed of his land". They further speculate that an appearance by Empress Matilda could have provided the "element of sexual violence or violent sexuality" that Middleton often favoured (330).

Identifications with other plays

Greg suggests that Randall may have been Middleton's refashioning of The Wise Man of West Chester, which he believes to be the same play as John a Kent and John a Cumber, since a Ranulph, Earl of Chester appears in that play. However, Greg acknowledges that Ranulph does not play an important part in that play (Greg II, 225).

Greg also notes the contention of F.G. Fleay that Randall may be connected with William Rowley's The Birth of Merlin (which Fleay believed to be related to the lost Uther Pendragon). Fleay's justification is the presence in Birth of a character named "Edol, Earl of Chester", but Greg finds the names too different to indicate a connection (Greg II, 225).


Theatrical Provenance

Admiral's Men.

Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador note that if the untitled Middleton play of 3 October is Randall (see above), it must have changed hands during the process of writing from Worcester's Men to the Admiral's (328).




For What It's Worth

(Information welcome.)


Works Cited

  • Doris Feldmann and Kurt Tetzeli von Rosador, "Lost Plays: A Brief Account", in Thomas Middleton: The Collected Works, ed. Gary Taylor and John Lavagnino (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2007), 328-333.


Site created and maintained by David Nicol, Dalhousie University; updated 9 August 2010.