Seven Wise Masters, The

Henry Chettle, John Day, Thomas Dekker, William Haughton (1600)

Historical Records

Payments to Playwrights (Henslowe Diary)

F. 67^v (Greg, I. 118)

Receaved of m^r hinchlowe the 1 march to paye to

harry chettell Thomas decker william hawton & John daye

for a boocke calld the 7 wise m^rs the some of ………. xl^s

W birde.

Lent vnto Samewell Rowly the 8 of march 1599

to paye vnto harey chettell & John daye in fulle

payment of a boocke called the vij wisse masters

the some of ………. l^s

Samuell Rowlye

F. 68 (Greg, I. 119)

Lent vnto hary chettell the 2 of march 1599

in earnest of a Boocke called the 7 wisse

masters the some of ………. xxx^s

Payments, Miscellaneous (Henslowe's Diary)

F. 68 (Greg, I. 119)

Receaued of M^r Henslowe to lay out for the playe of

the 7 wise M^rs in taffataes & sattyns the some of

in behalfe of the …….. by me Robt Shaa

Company ………. xx^ll

Receaued more of m^r Henshlowe to lay out

for the play of the 7 wise Maisters in behalf

of the Company ………. x^ll

Receaued more of M^r Henshlowe to lay out

for the play of the 7 wise maisters in behalf

of the Company ……….. viij^ll

by me Robt Shaa

Theatrical Provenance

The Admiral's men acquired "The Seven Wise Masters" in the spring of 1600, their first full year at the new Fortune playhouse. The payments of £38 for materials and other things suggests a relatively sumptuous production.

Probable Genre(s)

Tragi-comedy (Harbage); the story material would indicate a mix of playlets bound by the frame story of the seven masters and their tales.

Critical Commentary

Foakes notes (as Greg does not) that the entry on 1 March 1600 (above) is entirely in Birde's hand; that the signature for the entry of 8 March is Rowley's; and the second entry above for £8 is entirely in Shaa's hand (131, 132).

Knutson, "Toe to Toe."

Works Cited

Gurr

Knutson

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 30 October 2009.