Randall, Earl of Chester (Chester’s Tragedy)

Thomas Middleton (1602)

Historical Records

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

pd at the apoynt of w^m Jube the 21

of octobʒ 1602 vnto m^r medelton in pte of

payment ffor his playe called [felmelanco] Chester

tragedie the some of iiij^li

The title 'felmelanco' is crossed out, and 'Chester' inserted underneath. Greg suggests that the word 'tragedie' could have been part of the 'felmelanco' title and inadvertently left to stand (II, 225). Foakes notes that the play title seems to be in Thomas Downton's hand, although Greg thought it was Robert Shaa's.

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

Lent unto Edward Jube the 9 of novmbʒ 1602

to paye vnto m^r mydelton in fulle paymente

of his playe called Randowlle earlle of chester

the some of xxxx s

Theatrical Provenance

Henslowe's references to the play suggest that during the process of writing it changed hands from Worcester's Men to the Admiral's (Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador 328).

Probable Genre(s)

Tragedy.

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Sources

Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador note that Holinshed's Chronicles mentions three Earls of Chester called Ranulf, and that two of them 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).

Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador suspect that Middleton's play was about 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 (330).

Analogues

Greg (II, 225) 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) 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.

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:

Lent at the a poyntment of John ducke

in earnest of A playe called [title left blank]

the some of xx^s 3 of octobʒ 1602

to m^r mydellton (Foakes, 217; Greg I, 181; f.116^v)

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).

For What It's Worth

Feldmann and Tetzeli von Rosador imagine that Middleton's play might have depicted Ranulf 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).

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.