Long Meg of Westminster
Historical Records
Henslowe's Diary
F. 11 (Greg I.21)
ye 14 of febreary 1594 …… j .. Res at longe mege of westmester …… iijli ixs
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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
F. 25 (Greg, I.49)
ye 1 of novmber 1596 Res at longe meage ……….……….……….……….………. xxxxvijs ye 5 of novmber 1596 Res at longe meage ……………. vs
F. 25v (Greg, I.50)
ye 25 of novmber ………. Res at long meage ………. xjs
F. 26 (Greg, I.51)
Janewary 1597 ..........28 ……….. tt at long mege ………. 0 — 07 — 01 —— 30 — 11
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.