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William Rowley

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219: 616: 635: 86:– and since these are Middleton/Rowley collaborations, they qualify as two more parts that Rowley wrote for himself. (Internal evidence shows that in collaborations, Rowley normally handled the comic subplot – though he was not restricted solely to comic material: in 194:
Notably, Rowley did not necessarily restrict his playwriting efforts to the company to which he was committed as an actor. In 1624 he was a member of the King's Men, Shakespeare's famous company, and in August of that year played in their notorious production of
51:
Rowley was an actor-playwright who specialised in playing clown characters (that is, characters whose function is to provide low comedy). He must also have been a large man, since his forte lay specifically in fat-clown roles. He played the Fat Bishop in
39:, best known for works written in collaboration with more successful writers. His date of birth is estimated to have been c. 1585; he was buried on 11 February 1626 in the graveyard of 1373: 662: 144:
after 1612. Most of Rowley's career was spent writing and clowning for this company, which was based at a series of different playhouses, including the
43:
in north London. (An unambiguous record of Rowley's death was discovered in 1928, but some authorities persist in listing his year of death as 1642.)
784: 1146: 1378: 1368: 655: 478:, 28 March 1929, p. 260. Five days after his death, on 16 February 1626, his widow petitioned for relief in administering his estate. 397: 586: 1363: 163:, until his death in 1626. Though relatively brief, his stay with the troupe was eventful: in 1624 he was embroiled in both the 215:
Rowley's canon is plagued by uncertainty and by the complexities of collaboration: the following is only an approximate guide.
1032: 316:(performed c. 1622; printed 1633). Attributed only to 'W. R.', and stylistic analysis suggests that it may not be by Rowley. 648: 140:. In 1609 he was part of a group of actors who set up a new playing company, the Duke of York's Men, which became known as 1358: 320: 777: 592: 109:(1609) is his only sustained work of non-dramatic prose. Two plays are generally accepted as Rowley's solo works: 1282: 156: 20: 608: 1287: 1277: 1122: 983: 853: 566: 175: 692: 449: 422: 305: 75: 40: 640: 572: 602: 519: 98:
he wrote substantial portions of the main plots as well.) The part of the otherwise unnamed Clown in
1211: 1011: 1004: 885: 585: 218: 102:
shows signs of being another role that Rowley the playwright wrote with Rowley the actor in mind.
1315: 1201: 1039: 948: 357: 288: 152:
and the Red Bull. Rowley was the troupe's payee for their Court performances in the 1610–15 era.
141: 1237: 413: 389:(date of composition unknown; printed 1661). The title page attributes this play to Rowley and 181: 1383: 1253: 1164: 1098: 1053: 839: 732: 672: 438: 433: 374: 252: 231: 203: 1388: 1191: 1129: 969: 892: 509: 442: 406: 378: 369:(performed 1623; printed 1653). Although the title page attributes this play to Rowley and 300: 264: 8: 1136: 1025: 955: 867: 712: 385: 312: 245: 239: 169: 133: 1046: 976: 962: 899: 846: 832: 818: 811: 187: 1297: 1245: 1181: 1157: 1067: 934: 860: 365: 173:
affair in December. The roles he took with the company probably included Cacafogo in
145: 425:
folio, stylistic analysis suggests that this play was heavily revised by Rowley and
1324: 1292: 1174: 1105: 825: 722: 699: 685: 620: 529: 454: 426: 418: 370: 346: 342: 281: 257: 137: 53: 117:(1619). Three other works that may have been Rowley solo plays have not survived: 1229: 913: 804: 581: 197: 58: 565: 417:(performed c. 1615; printed 1647). Although it was first printed as part of the 1112: 1060: 742: 402: 350: 329: 325: 293: 276: 554: 1352: 1018: 941: 920: 717: 160: 601: 207:
with Dekker, Ford and Webster, which was intended for the Red Bull Theatre.
1075: 747: 707: 390: 269: 149: 70:(a role "personated by the Poet", the 1633 quarto states), and Bustopha in 927: 336: 737: 670: 105:
As a writer, Rowley was almost exclusively a dramatist; the pamphlet
36: 629: 625: 155:
In 1623, Rowley left his company and joined the highly successful
906: 32: 66:. He also wrote fat-clown parts for himself to play: Jaques in 324:(performed 1610–14; printed 1632). Possibly a collaboration; 201:– yet in the same year he worked on the now-lost play 373:, stylistic analysis favours a different playwriting team: 345:, and, possibly, a third collaborator who may have been 244:(performed 1622; printed 1662). The title page claims 1341:† = Not published in the Beaumont and Fletcher folios 561:, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 5 June 2007 132:
Rowley appears to have begun his career working for
292:(performed c. 1607; printed 1655). Co-written with 280:(performed 1614–17; printed 1617). Co-written with 437:(performed 1621; published 1658). Co-written with 248:as Rowley's co-writer, but this claim is disputed. 576:. Vol. XXI (9th ed.). 1886. p. 33. 1350: 341:(performed 1618; printed 1656). Co-written with 304:(performed 1623; printed 1647). Co-written with 268:(performed 1624; printed 1661). Co-written with 256:(performed 1622; printed 1653). Co-written with 1374:17th-century English dramatists and playwrights 393:although few readers accept Webster's presence. 453:(performed and printed 1620). Co-written with 401:(performed and printed 1607). Co-written with 785:The Masque of the Inner Temple and Gray's Inn 656: 516:. 7 vols. (Oxford University Press, 1941–68). 1147:Four Plays, or Moral Representations, in One 361:(date of composition unknown; printed 1638) 19:For other people named William Rowley, see 16:English actor and playwright (c. 1585–1626) 663: 649: 398:The Travels of the Three English Brothers 580: 217: 62:, and Plumporridge in the same author's 559:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 1351: 644: 587:"Rowley, William (1585?–1642?)"  541:The Canon of Thomas Middleton's Plays 536:. (Cambridge University Press, 2004). 242:; or, The Child Hath Found its Father 1197:with Massinger, Chapman & Jonson 119:Hymen's Holidays or Cupid's Vagaries 78:. He certainly played Simplicity in 543:(Cambridge University Press, 1975). 13: 1207:with Massinger, Ford & Webster 534:The Shakespeare Company, 1594–1642 526:. (Oxford University Press, 1923). 332:have been suggested as co-writers. 210: 14: 1400: 1379:17th-century English male writers 547: 474:M. J. Dickson, "William Rowley," 321:A New Wonder, a Woman Never Vexed 235:(performed 1618–19; printed 1633) 31:(c. 1585 – February 1626) was an 1369:17th-century English male actors 778:The Knight of the Burning Pestle 633: 617:Works by or about William Rowley 593:Dictionary of National Biography 46: 514:The Jacobean and Caroline Stage 21:William Rowley (disambiguation) 1364:English Renaissance dramatists 609:New International Encyclopedia 555:'Rowley, William (1585?–1626)' 490: 481: 468: 167:controversy in August and the 1: 1319:(Shakespeare & Fletcher?) 1094:with Beaumont & Massinger 503: 1288:Beaumont and Fletcher folios 339:, or A New Way to Please You 7: 1278:English Renaissance theatre 984:Rule a Wife and Have a Wife 632:(public domain audiobooks) 176:Rule a Wife and Have a Wife 10: 1405: 1118:with Massinger & Field 450:The World Tossed at Tennis 80:The World Tossed at Tennis 18: 1359:English male stage actors 1339: 1306: 1268: 1221: 1085: 1033:The Custom of the Country 993: 877: 794: 769: 756: 680: 487:Chambers, Vol. 3, p. 473. 476:Times Literary Supplement 82:, and probably Chough in 74:, his collaboration with 1241:(Middleton & Rowley) 1212:The Fair Maid of the Inn 1123:The Honest Man's Fortune 1012:The Little French Lawyer 886:The Faithful Shepherdess 461: 1316:The History of Cardenio 1202:Rollo, Duke of Normandy 949:The Humorous Lieutenant 626:Works by William Rowley 603:"Rowley, William"  573:Encyclopædia Britannica 567:"Rowley, William"  358:A Shoemaker a Gentleman 289:Fortune by Land and Sea 111:A Shoemaker a Gentleman 41:St James's, Clerkenwell 1238:Wit at Several Weapons 414:Wit at Several Weapons 226: 182:Rollo Duke of Normandy 1165:The Two Noble Kinsmen 1099:Thierry and Theodoret 673:Beaumont and Fletcher 524:The Elizabethan Stage 434:The Witch of Edmonton 223:The Witch of Edmonton 221: 204:Keep the Widow Waking 127:The Fool Without Book 1192:The Maid in the Mill 1130:The Queen of Corinth 1040:The Lovers' Progress 970:The Wild Goose Chase 301:The Maid in the Mill 265:A Cure for a Cuckold 142:Prince Charles's Men 96:The Maid in the Mill 72:The Maid in the Mill 1328:(possibly based on 1137:The Knight of Malta 1026:The Double Marriage 956:The Island Princess 868:The Noble Gentleman 713:William Shakespeare 386:The Thracian Wonder 313:A Match at Midnight 246:William Shakespeare 240:The Birth of Merlin 100:The Birth of Merlin 64:Inner Temple Masque 1047:The Spanish Curate 977:A Wife for a Month 847:A King and No King 840:The Maid's Tragedy 232:All's Lost by Lust 227: 188:A Wife for a Month 115:All's Lost by Lust 107:A Search for Money 68:All's Lost by Lust 1346: 1345: 1298:Humphrey Robinson 1264: 1263: 1246:The Laws of Candy 1182:Wit Without Money 1068:The Elder Brother 935:The Loyal Subject 893:The Woman's Prize 861:The Scornful Lady 854:Love's Pilgrimage 366:The Spanish Gypsy 113:(c. 1607–09) and 1396: 1325:Double Falsehood 1293:Humphrey Moseley 1175:The Night Walker 1152:with Shakespeare 767: 766: 723:Thomas Middleton 700:Philip Massinger 686:Francis Beaumont 665: 658: 651: 642: 641: 637: 636: 621:Internet Archive 613: 605: 597: 589: 582:Seccombe, Thomas 577: 569: 497: 494: 488: 485: 479: 472: 455:Thomas Middleton 427:Thomas Middleton 371:Thomas Middleton 347:Philip Massinger 343:Thomas Middleton 282:Thomas Middleton 258:Thomas Middleton 138:Red Bull Theatre 134:Queen Anne's Men 123:A Knave in Print 54:Thomas Middleton 1404: 1403: 1399: 1398: 1397: 1395: 1394: 1393: 1349: 1348: 1347: 1342: 1335: 1302: 1271:and publication 1270: 1260: 1230:The Nice Valour 1217: 1087: 1081: 995: 989: 914:Monsieur Thomas 873: 812:Cupid's Revenge 805:The Woman Hater 796: 790: 762: 760: 758: 752: 676: 669: 634: 600: 596:. Vol. 49. 564: 550: 539:Lake, David J. 520:Chambers, E. K. 506: 501: 500: 495: 491: 486: 482: 473: 469: 464: 213: 211:Plays by Rowley 198:A Game at Chess 170:Spanish Viceroy 59:A Game at Chess 49: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1402: 1392: 1391: 1386: 1381: 1376: 1371: 1366: 1361: 1344: 1343: 1340: 1337: 1336: 1334: 1333: 1320: 1310: 1308: 1304: 1303: 1301: 1300: 1295: 1290: 1285: 1280: 1274: 1272: 1266: 1265: 1262: 1261: 1259: 1258: 1254:The Coronation 1250: 1242: 1234: 1225: 1223: 1219: 1218: 1216: 1215: 1208: 1205: 1198: 1195: 1188: 1185: 1178: 1171: 1168: 1161: 1153: 1150: 1143: 1140: 1133: 1126: 1119: 1116: 1109: 1102: 1095: 1091: 1089: 1083: 1082: 1080: 1079: 1071: 1064: 1061:The Sea Voyage 1057: 1054:The Prophetess 1050: 1043: 1036: 1029: 1022: 1015: 1008: 999: 997: 991: 990: 988: 987: 980: 973: 966: 959: 952: 945: 938: 931: 924: 917: 910: 903: 896: 889: 881: 879: 875: 874: 872: 871: 864: 857: 850: 843: 836: 829: 822: 815: 808: 800: 798: 792: 791: 789: 788: 781: 773: 771: 764: 754: 753: 751: 750: 745: 743:George Chapman 740: 735: 730: 728:William Rowley 725: 720: 715: 710: 704: 703: 696: 689: 681: 678: 677: 668: 667: 660: 653: 645: 639: 638: 623: 614: 598: 578: 562: 549: 548:External links 546: 545: 544: 537: 527: 517: 510:Bentley, G. E. 505: 502: 499: 498: 489: 480: 466: 465: 463: 460: 459: 458: 446: 430: 410: 403:George Wilkins 394: 382: 362: 354: 351:Thomas Heywood 333: 330:Thomas Heywood 326:George Wilkins 317: 309: 297: 294:Thomas Heywood 285: 277:A Fair Quarrel 273: 261: 253:The Changeling 249: 236: 212: 209: 179:, the Cook in 92:A Fair Quarrel 88:The Changeling 84:A Fair Quarrel 48: 45: 29:William Rowley 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1401: 1390: 1387: 1385: 1382: 1380: 1377: 1375: 1372: 1370: 1367: 1365: 1362: 1360: 1357: 1356: 1354: 1338: 1331: 1327: 1326: 1321: 1318: 1317: 1312: 1311: 1309: 1305: 1299: 1296: 1294: 1291: 1289: 1286: 1284: 1281: 1279: 1276: 1275: 1273: 1267: 1256: 1255: 1251: 1248: 1247: 1243: 1240: 1239: 1235: 1232: 1231: 1227: 1226: 1224: 1220: 1214: 1213: 1209: 1206: 1204: 1203: 1199: 1196: 1194: 1193: 1189: 1186: 1184: 1183: 1179: 1177: 1176: 1172: 1169: 1167: 1166: 1162: 1160: 1159: 1154: 1151: 1149: 1148: 1144: 1141: 1139: 1138: 1134: 1132: 1131: 1127: 1125: 1124: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1114: 1110: 1108: 1107: 1106:Beggars' Bush 1103: 1101: 1100: 1096: 1093: 1092: 1090: 1084: 1078: 1077: 1072: 1070: 1069: 1065: 1063: 1062: 1058: 1056: 1055: 1051: 1049: 1048: 1044: 1042: 1041: 1037: 1035: 1034: 1030: 1028: 1027: 1023: 1021: 1020: 1019:The False One 1016: 1014: 1013: 1009: 1007: 1006: 1001: 1000: 998: 992: 986: 985: 981: 979: 978: 974: 972: 971: 967: 965: 964: 960: 958: 957: 953: 951: 950: 946: 944: 943: 942:Women Pleased 939: 937: 936: 932: 930: 929: 925: 923: 922: 921:The Mad Lover 918: 916: 915: 911: 909: 908: 904: 902: 901: 897: 895: 894: 890: 888: 887: 883: 882: 880: 876: 870: 869: 865: 863: 862: 858: 856: 855: 851: 849: 848: 844: 842: 841: 837: 835: 834: 830: 828: 827: 823: 821: 820: 816: 814: 813: 809: 807: 806: 802: 801: 799: 793: 787: 786: 782: 780: 779: 775: 774: 772: 768: 765: 755: 749: 746: 744: 741: 739: 736: 734: 731: 729: 726: 724: 721: 719: 718:James Shirley 716: 714: 711: 709: 706: 705: 702: 701: 697: 695: 694: 693:John Fletcher 690: 688: 687: 683: 682: 679: 674: 666: 661: 659: 654: 652: 647: 646: 643: 631: 627: 624: 622: 618: 615: 611: 610: 604: 599: 595: 594: 588: 583: 579: 575: 574: 568: 563: 560: 556: 553:David Gunby, 552: 551: 542: 538: 535: 531: 528: 525: 521: 518: 515: 511: 508: 507: 496:Gurr, p. 239. 493: 484: 477: 471: 467: 456: 452: 451: 447: 444: 443:Thomas Dekker 440: 436: 435: 431: 428: 424: 420: 416: 415: 411: 408: 404: 400: 399: 395: 392: 388: 387: 383: 380: 379:Thomas Dekker 376: 372: 368: 367: 363: 360: 359: 355: 352: 348: 344: 340: 338: 334: 331: 327: 323: 322: 318: 315: 314: 310: 307: 306:John Fletcher 303: 302: 298: 295: 291: 290: 286: 283: 279: 278: 274: 271: 267: 266: 262: 259: 255: 254: 250: 247: 243: 241: 237: 234: 233: 229: 228: 224: 220: 216: 208: 206: 205: 200: 199: 192: 190: 189: 184: 183: 178: 177: 172: 171: 166: 165:Game at Chess 162: 158: 153: 151: 147: 143: 139: 135: 130: 129:(also 1613). 128: 124: 120: 116: 112: 108: 103: 101: 97: 93: 89: 85: 81: 77: 76:John Fletcher 73: 69: 65: 61: 60: 55: 47:Life and work 44: 42: 38: 34: 30: 26: 22: 1384:1580s births 1329: 1323: 1314: 1252: 1244: 1236: 1228: 1210: 1200: 1190: 1180: 1173: 1170:with Shirley 1163: 1156: 1145: 1135: 1128: 1121: 1111: 1104: 1097: 1076:A Very Woman 1074: 1066: 1059: 1052: 1045: 1038: 1031: 1024: 1017: 1010: 1003: 994:Fletcher and 982: 975: 968: 961: 954: 947: 940: 933: 926: 919: 912: 905: 898: 891: 884: 866: 859: 852: 845: 838: 831: 824: 817: 810: 803: 797:and Fletcher 783: 776: 763:conjectural) 761:attributions 748:John Webster 727: 708:Nathan Field 698: 691: 684: 607: 591: 571: 558: 540: 533: 530:Gurr, Andrew 523: 513: 492: 483: 475: 470: 448: 432: 412: 396: 391:John Webster 384: 364: 356: 335: 319: 311: 299: 287: 275: 270:John Webster 263: 251: 238: 230: 222: 214: 202: 196: 193: 186: 185:and Tony in 180: 174: 168: 164: 154: 131: 126: 122: 118: 114: 110: 106: 104: 99: 95: 91: 87: 83: 79: 71: 67: 63: 57: 50: 28: 27: 25: 1389:1626 deaths 1269:Performance 1233:(Middleton) 1187:with Rowley 1113:Love's Cure 963:The Pilgrim 928:The Chances 900:Valentinian 833:The Captain 819:The Coxcomb 337:The Old Law 125:(1613) and 1353:Categories 1283:King's Men 1158:Henry VIII 1142:with Field 1088:and others 738:Ben Jonson 504:References 157:King's Men 1257:(Shirley) 1005:Barnavelt 996:Massinger 826:Philaster 733:John Ford 439:John Ford 375:John Ford 37:dramatist 35:Jacobean 1330:Cardenio 1086:Fletcher 878:Fletcher 795:Beaumont 770:Beaumont 630:LibriVox 584:(1897). 423:Fletcher 419:Beaumont 407:John Day 121:(1612), 1307:Related 907:Bonduca 675:" Canon 619:at the 612:. 1905. 159:at the 146:Curtain 136:at the 33:English 1249:(Ford) 1222:Others 225:, 1658 148:, the 94:, and 759:(some 757:Plays 671:The " 462:Notes 161:Globe 441:and 421:and 405:and 377:and 328:and 150:Hope 628:at 349:or 56:'s 1355:: 606:. 590:. 570:. 557:, 532:. 522:, 512:, 191:. 90:, 1332:) 1322:† 1313:† 1155:† 1073:† 1002:† 664:e 657:t 650:v 457:. 445:. 429:. 409:. 381:. 353:. 308:. 296:. 284:. 272:. 260:. 23:.

Index

William Rowley (disambiguation)
English
dramatist
St James's, Clerkenwell
Thomas Middleton
A Game at Chess
John Fletcher
Queen Anne's Men
Red Bull Theatre
Prince Charles's Men
Curtain
Hope
King's Men
Globe
Spanish Viceroy
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife
Rollo Duke of Normandy
A Wife for a Month
A Game at Chess
Keep the Widow Waking

All's Lost by Lust
The Birth of Merlin
William Shakespeare
The Changeling
Thomas Middleton
A Cure for a Cuckold
John Webster
A Fair Quarrel
Thomas Middleton

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