1661, Feb. 13. ‘A Comedie called the Maior of Quinborough, By Tho: Middleton. Henry Herringham (Eyre, ii. 288).
1661. The Mayor of Quinborough: A Comedy. As it hath been often Acted with much Applause at Black Fryars, By His Majesties Servants. Written by Tho. Middleton. For Henry Herringham. [Epistle to Gentlemen.]
There is a mention (V. i. 112) of Fletcher’s Wild-Goose Chase (1621), and the introduction of a ‘rebel Oliver’ suggests a much later date. But Bullen thinks this an old play revised, and Fleay, ii. 104, attempts to identify it with an anonymous play called both Vortigern and Hengist (Greg, Henslowe, ii. 181) which was produced by the Admiral’s on 4 Dec. 1596 and bought by the same company from Alleyn in 1601. There is not, however, much to support a theory that Middleton was writing for the stage so early as 1596. Stork, 46, thinks that Middleton and Rowley revised the older play c. 1606, ‘at a time when plays of ancient Britain were in vogue’.
Doubtful Plays
Middleton’s hand has been sought in Birth of Merlin, Puritan, and Second Maiden’s Tragedy (cf. ch. xxiv) and in Wit at Several Weapons of the Beaumont (q.v.) and Fletcher series.
Lost Mask
Mask of Cupid. 4 Jan. 1614
Writing to Carleton on 5 Jan. 1614 of the festivities at the Earl of Somerset’s wedding (Birch, i. 288; cf. s.v. Campion, Mask of Squires), Chamberlain notes that the King had called on the City to entertain the bridal pair, which they had done, though reluctantly, on 4 Jan. in Merchant Taylors’ hall, with a supper, a play and a mask, and a banquet. Howes in Stowe, Annales, 1005, says there were ‘2 seuerall pleasant maskes & a play’. Bullen, Middleton, i. xxxix, gives from the City Repertory, xxxi. 2, f. 239v, an order of 18 Jan. 1614 for payment to Thomas Middleton in respect of the ‘late solemnities at Merchant Tailors’ Hall’ for ‘the last Mask of Cupid and other shows lately made’ by him.
ENTERTAINMENTS
Running Stream Entertainment. 29 Sept. 1613