World Runs on Wheels, or All Fools but the Fool

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Historical Records

Payments

To playwrights in Philip Henslowe's diary

Fol. 53 (Greg I.101)

ll - s - d		Lent vnto thomas dowton the 22 of Janewary	}
42-12-00		1598 to Leand vnto mr Chapman in earneste	} vli
		of a Booke called the world Rones a wheeles	}
		the some of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	}

Fol. 53^v (Greg I.105)

Lent vnto mr Chapman the 13 of febreary	}
1598 in part of payment of his boocke called	} xxs
the world Ronnes a wheeles . . . . . . . . . . . .	}

Fol. 63 (Greg I.109)

Lent vnto Robart shawe the 2 of June 1599	}
to paye vnto mr chapman for his Boocke	} xxs
called the worlde Runes a whelles some of	}

Lent vnto wm Borne & Jewbey the 21 of	}
June 1599 to lend vnto mr chapman	} xxxxs
vpon his Boock called the world Ronnes	}
a whelles the some of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	}

Lent vnto thomas dowton the 2 of July 1599	}
to paye mr chapman in full payment for	} xxxs
his Boocke called the world Rones a wheeles	}
& now all foolles but the foole some of	}

Theatrical Provenance

The Admiral's men anticipated a new play called "The World Runs on Wheels" in January of 1599, and by the time the script was completed it had become "All Fools but the Fool," which they probably introduced at the Rose when their autumn season began, perhaps following the Feast Day of Saints Simon and Jude (October 28).

Probable Genre(s)

Comedy Harbage

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

One clue to the initial narrative concept is the proverbial title, "World Runs on Wheels," which implies a story about everything running "on track," so to speak; however, there isn't an obvious rollover to the new title about fools, which implies considerable foolery given the preponderance of real fools to the one clever one.

References to the Play

None known.

Critical Commentary

Malone lists "The World runs vpon Wheels," by Chapman, without further comment (p. 308). Collier

Works Cited

Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson; Last updated by Rlknutson on 3 August 2022 21:27:28