Friar Rush and the Proud Woman of Antwerp

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Henry Chettle, John Day, William Haughton (1602)

Historical Records

Henslowe’s Diary

Henslowe's record of the play's composition between July 1601 and January 1602 indicates an eventual emphasis the "Proud Woman" over "Friar Francis":

Lent vnto John daye and wm hawghton at the
a poyntmente of Robert shawe in earnest of a
Boocke called fryer Rushe & the prowde womon
the some of the 4 day of July . . . . . . xxs
(F.91, Greg I.143)


Lent vnto Robert shawe the 14 of July
1601 to geue vnto wm hawghton & John daye
in earneste of a Boocke called the prowde
womon of anwarpe ^ frier Rushe the some of . . . . . . xxxs
(F.91v, Greg I.144)


dd vnto wm hawghton at the apoyntment
of Samwell Rowlley the 31 of septmbr 1601
pt of payment of a Boocke called the prowde
woman of anwarpe the some of . . . . . . xs
(F.94, Greg I.149)


Lent vnto Samwell Rowley by the apoyntment
of the companye the 9of novmbr 1601 to paye vnto
wm hawghton for his boocke of the prowd
womon of anwarppe the some of . . . . . . xxs
(F.94v, Greg I.150)


Lent vnto Samwell Rowlley the 29 of nvmbr
1601 to paye wm hawghton in full paye for his
playe called the prowd womon of anwarp the
some of . . . . . . xxs
(F.95, Greg I.151)


Lent vnto Robert shawe the 21 of
Janewary [1602] to geue vnto harey
cheattell for mendinge of the Boocke
called the prowde womon the some of . . . . . . xs
(F.104, Greg I.164)


Theatrical Provenance

Henslowe commissioned the play for the Admiral's Men at the recently built Fortune playhouse.A play entitled "The Godly Woman of Antwerp" was acted by John Greene and Robert Browne’s traveling English company in Graz in 1608. Given the ties of these players to the Admiral's Men, this may refer to a version of Day and Haughton’s play (Morris 18).

Probable Genre(s)

Comedy / Satire

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

References to the Play

Critical Commentary

For What It's Worth

Works Consulted

Morris, Irene. "A Hapsburg Letter." Modern Language Review 69.1 (1974) 12-22.

Site created and maintained by Christopher Matusiak, updated 29 June 2011.