Ben Jonson Biography

Ben Jonson was born in 1572 or 1573, a month or so after his father's
death. His father was a minister and his stepfather a bricklayer.
Someone financed Jonson's education at Westminster School, where
the historian William Camden introduced him to the classics. After a
few weeks at Cambridge, Jonson was forced to take up bricklaying.
Later he is found soldiering in the Netherlands, fighting a duel with an
enemy soldier, killing him, and returning home with heroic tales to
enlarge upon.

Swiftly, he married, begot and buried several children, fought and

reconciled with his wife, and began a theatrical career. Almost at once
he wrote with Thomas Nashe a play entitled The Isle of Dogs (1597).
Both playwrights were charged with seditious and slanderous matter,
but only Jonson was captured and clapped in irons. Upon release,
Jonson joined Philip Henslowe's theatrical company. A year later, at
the Globe theater, Jonson had his first stage success with Every Man
in His Humour.

The Latins used the word humour to mean moisture or fluid; the
tradition of the medical profession used the word regarding four fluids:
blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Depending on whichever of
the four fluids was dominant, the person possessed of the humour was
said to be sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic, or choleric.

The popularity of this "play of humours" caused Jonson to leave acting

for writing. He collaborated on court masques with the famed scene
designer Inigo Jones, enjoying much success. But his hot temper
found him an argument which precipitated a duel with the actor
Gabriel Spencer. He killed his opponent and was jailed for murder
(1598). Jonson eventually won his release, pleading benefit of clergy
because he could read the Latin Psalter like a clerk, but not without
punishment: the letter T was branded on his thumb. Later, after two
more comedies, he was satirized by another playwright, Thomas
Dekker, in Satiromastix, which called him puny, pockmarked,
conceited pedant, murderer, and bricklayer. Undaunted, Jonson turned
out the static and moralistic Sejanus, which flopped on the stage but
won him the support of Lord Aubigny upon publication.

Jonson collaborated on Eastward Ho!, which insulted the Scots and

the king, and placed the authors behind bars. In 1606, Volpone put its
author at the top on London's comic stage. In 1610, The
Alchemist appeared, and in 1614, the attack on London
Puritans, Bartholomew Fair. These plays cemented Jonson's
reputation as the great poet of English comedy. He received subsidies
from the Crown for his work and continued to write court masques
until a quarrel with Jones returned him to full-time work in the
commercial theater.

Jonson gathered many young poets and playwrights around him, and
they were eventually called the "Tribe of Ben." Among their number
could be included James Shirley, Thomas Carew, and Robert Herrick.

Ben Jonson was never a provident man. By 1629, he lived alone,

bedridden with paralysis and without funds. After eight years of pain
and penury, he died and was buried in Westminster Abbey (1637).
Jonson's great critic and editor, C. H. Herford, thought the playwright
was powerful but without charm; Jonson seemed impressive, though
he was unattractive to posterity. At any rate, Jonson possessed a
belligerent and quarrelsome personality, but he was a faithful friend,
fearless, and intellectually honest. One of his contemporaries summed
up his person for the epitaph on his tomb in Westminster Abbey: "O
Rare Ben Jonson."
The Alchemist

Face, a London servant and conman, enters with Subtle and Doll Common, his criminal
associates. Face’s master, Lovewit, has fled the city for his country home on account of an
outbreak of the plague, and Face is running a criminal operation out of Lovewit’s city home in
his absence. They are waiting for their first victim of the day: a law clerk named Dapper.
Dapper is in search of a “familiar,” a bit of alchemical magic that will help him win at cards and
gambling, and Face has convinced him that Subtle is a respected mystic and doctor of alchemy.
Dapper arrives and is greeted by Face in a captain’s disguise. Subtle tells Dapper that he has the
skill to conjure him a “familiar,” but he is hesitant. Alchemical magic cannot be used to such
immoral ends, Subtle says, but Dapper begs and promises to give half his winnings to Subtle and
Face. Subtle agrees and tells Dapper that he must meet the “Fairy Queen” to get his “familiar,”
and she doesn’t rise until the afternoon. He must come back, but he must first complete the ritual.
Dapper must fast and place three drops of vinegar in his nose, two in his mouth, and one in each
eye. Then, he must wash the tips of his fingers and his eyes and “hum” and “buzz” three times.
Dapper agrees and immediately runs home.

Next is Abel Drugger, a local shopkeeper, who comes to Subtle looking for advice on his new
business. He asks Subtle where he should place his door and shelves and how he should display
his merchandise to guarantee success. Subtle tells Drugger that his new business should face
south, and that he should place a magnet under the threshold of his door to attract business. He
says that Drugger was born under a “rare star” and will be very lucky in business and in life. In
fact, Subtle says, Drugger is so lucky, he might even come into possession of the philosopher’s
stone—a rare alchemical substance that is said to turn base metals to gold and produce the elixir
of life, which promises eternal youth and life. Drugger gives Subtle a handful of coins and
excitedly rushes out the door. Face looks to Subtle. Since it is his job to find “gulls” like Abel
Drugger, Face says, he clearly deserves a larger cut of the profits.

Get the entire The Alchemist LitChart as a printable PDF.

Sir Epicure Mammon arrives next, along with his friend Surly. Mammon believes that Subtle
is busy creating the philosopher’s stone for him, and Mammon has been talking around town as
if he already has it. With the stone, Mammon will transform himself into a rich man, and he will
cure the sick and stop the plague in its tracks. Surly doesn’t believe in the magic of the
philosopher’s stone, and he thinks Face and Subtle are conmen; however, Mammon is convinced
they are all legitimate. Face greets them dressed as an alchemist’s assistant and says that Subtle
is busy at “projection,” one of the final stages of the alchemical process, after which the stone is
created. Mammon tells Face all about his plans for the elixir, which he will also use to give
himself unparalleled sexual prowess. He will have sex with 50 women a night, and he will line
his bedchamber with mirrors, so his reflection is multiplied as he walks naked through his
“succubae.” Subtle enters and tells Mammon to go home and fetch all his metal and iron, for
they will soon make “projection.” Surly tries again to tell Mammon that Face and Subtle are
conmen, but Mammon is distracted by Doll, who has just walked by. Mammon definitely wants
to meet her when he comes back. Surly tells Mammon that Doll is clearly a prostitute and they
are in a “bawdy-house,” but Mammon won’t hear it.
There is a knock at the door and Ananias, an Anabaptist who has come to barter for Mammon’s
metal and iron, enters. Ananias isn’t impressed with Subtle and Face’s fancy alchemical jargon,
and he calls them “heathens.” Subtle asks Ananias if he has brought money, but Ananias says he
and his brethren will give Subtle no more money until they “see projection.” Subtle angrily kicks
Ananias out, claiming he will only negotiate with Ananias’s pastor in the future. Face enters with
Drugger, who tells him about a rich widow named Dame Pliant. Dame Pliant has come to town
with her brother, Kestrel, who is looking for someone to teach him to quarrel and live by his
wits. Kestrel is also looking for a husband for his sister, and he will only allow her to marry an
aristocrat. Face tells Drugger that Subtle is the wittiest man in London, and he can read Dame
Pliant’s horoscope as well. Drugger agrees to bring Dame Pliant and her brother to see them, and
Face excitedly tells Subtle about the widow. They briefly argue over who will get to marry Dame
Pliant and ultimately decide to draw straws—and to not tell Doll.

Ananias returns with his pastor, Tribulation Wholesome. Neither men like nor trust Subtle and
Face, and Tribulation even refers to Subtle as “antichristian,” but they are willing to do what they
must to get the philosopher’s stone and further their religious cause. Tribulation apologizes to
Subtle for Ananias’s earlier visit, and Subtle tells him that he is still weeks away from creating
the stone, but he offers to teach them to melt pewter to cast Dutch money in the meantime.
Tribulation says he will return to his brethren to determine if casting money is lawful and exits
with Ananias. Face enters and says he has just met a Spaniard who is very interested in meeting
Doll, and he is headed over later. There is a knock at the door, and Doll says it is Dapper, who
has returned for his “familiar.” Face tells Doll to put on her “Fairy Queen” disguise and get
ready. Subtle enters dressed as a “Priest of Fairy” and tells Dapper he must empty his pockets of
all valuables before he meets the Queen. Subtle and Face dress Dapper in a petticoat—the only
way the Fairy will meet him—and blindfold him. Suddenly, there is another knock at the door. It
is Mammon, and since Face and Subtle don’t want Dapper and Mammon to meet, they gag
Dapper with a rag and a gingerbread cookie and shove him in the privy.

Mammon enters with his metal and iron and asks where Subtle is. Face claims he is busy in his
laboratory, so Mammon asks about Doll instead. Face claims Doll is a “rare scholar” and the
sister of an aristocrat, and he says she has gone mad after reading the works of a Puritan scholar.
Face offers to introduce Mammon to Doll, but Mammon must not mention religion, and he must
keep their introduction quiet—if Subtle thinks Mammon has any ill intentions, he won’t give him
the stone. Doll enters, and after Mammon sweet talks her a bit, they go to the garden for more
privacy. Then, Subtle enters with Kestrel and Dame Pliant. Subtle agrees to teach Kestrel how to
be witty, but first he must meet Dame Pliant. He kisses her and pretends to read her palm, and he
tells her she will soon marry an aristocrat. Subtle escorts Kestrel and Dame Pliant to his office,
where he can begin Kestrel’s lesson and read Dame Pliant’s fortune, and Face enters with the
Spaniard.

The Spaniard is really Surly in disguise, but he pretends not to speak English, and Subtle and
Face don’t seem to notice. They insult the Spaniard, believing he can’t understand them, and
they openly admit they are out to “cozen” him. Then, Face and Subtle remember the Spaniard
has come to see Doll, who is busy in the garden with Mammon. They begin to panic, but Face
suggests they introduce the Spaniard to Dame Pliant. Subtle hesitates, wanting Dame Pliant for
himself, but ultimately agrees. Face goes to fetch Dame Pliant and Kestrel and convinces them
that the Dame is destined to marry a Spanish count, which, Face says, is the best sort of
aristocrat. Kestrel agrees and orders his sister to the garden with Surly to get to know each other.
Face, Kestrel, and Subtle exit, and Doll and Mammon enter. Doll is ranting and raving in an
acute bout of insanity, and Mammon is unable to calm her down. Face enters and guides Doll out
of the room, followed by Subtle, who is angry that Mammon has obviously behaved lustfully
with Doll. He claims Mammon’s behavior will set “projection” back at least a month. There is a
loud explosion from the other room, and Face rushes in, claiming the stone has burst into flames.
There is nothing to be spared, Face says, and Mammon leaves, convinced his sinfulness has cost
him the stone.

In the meantime, Surly tells Dame Pliant that Subtle and Face are conmen. He tries to tell Kestrel
as well, but Kestrel decides to test out his new quarreling skills and chases Surly from the house.
Suddenly, Doll claims that Face’s master, Lovewit, has returned and is standing outside. Face
tells Doll and Subtle to pack up their loot and get ready to leave, and then Face goes to shave.
Lovewit is talking to the neighbors, who say a steady stream of people have been in and out of
his house all month. Lovewit asks where his butler, Jeremy, is, but no one has seen him. Lovewit
goes inside and is greeted by Face, who, since shaving, looks again like Jeremy the butler. He
tells Lovewit he was forced to close up the house after the cat came down with the plague and
has been gone for the past three weeks. The house must have been occupied by criminals in his
absence, Face says. Suddenly, Face’s victims—Mammon, Surly, Kestrel, and the Anabaptists—
converge on the house, looking for the “rouges” who tricked them, and Dapper appears, having
eaten through his gag. Face knows he is caught, so he promises to introduce Lovewit to Dame
Pliant if he promises not to punish him. Lovewit agrees and refuses to let in the angry victims,
who go to fetch the police.

Dapper is still interested in meeting the “Fairy Queen,” so Face, Subtle, and Doll quickly pull
one last scam. Doll disguises herself as the Queen, gives Dapper a bird for good luck, and
promises to leave him trunks full of treasure and “some twelve thousand acres of Fairyland.”
Dapper exits just as the police arrive, and Face tells Subtle and Doll they must leave before they
are arrested. Lovewit has pardoned Face, but not them, and there is no time for them to take their
profits. Doll and Subtle leave angrily, having been tricked and robbed by Face. Lovewit
convinces the police that criminal conmen broke into his house in his absence, and he chases off
Face’s angry victims. Lovewit turns to the audience and says he is very happy with his new wife,
Dame Pliant, and Face says he is happy to get off “clean” from his crimes and “invite new
guests.”

Volpone
Ben Jonson
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Table of Contents

Play Summary

Volpone, a Venetian nobleman, has no relative to make his heir; he

must name someone his beneficiary. Several rivals try to attain his
favor by bringing the sick Volpone gifts that they hope will be returned
tenfold. Mosca, a clever parasite to Volpone, encourages the three
major gulls to give until it hurts. These birds of prey are Voltore, a
lawyer; Corbaccio, an old miser about to die himself; and Corvino, a
rich merchant and husband to Celia, a beautiful lady of Venice. Also
naively competing for Volpone's wealth is Lady Would-be, the affected
wife of an English knight, Sir Politic Would-be. After each gull is
fleeced before our eyes, Mosca encourages Volpone to think of
seeking a greater treasure than gold: the wife of Corvino. After a
sensuous description by Mosca, Volpone resolves to see this paragon
of beauty.

As the second act begins, Volpone appears beneath Celia's window

disguised as a mountebank. Jealous Corvino drives him away upon
discovering his wife in an upper window. While Corvino threatens his
wife with closer incarceration, Volpone sings to Mosca of her beauty
and his desire. Mosca hatches a plot to secure Celia for his master. He
tells Corvino that the mountebank's oil, purchased for Volpone by
Corbaccio, has revived the flagging health of the fox. However, if
Volpone is to live on, he must sleep with some young woman. The
others are seeking the cure for Volpone, and Corvino must hurry or
lose his investment. Corvino wisely suggests a courtesan, but Mosca
slyly rejects this plan, reasoning that an artful quean might cheat them
all. Finally, Corvino offers his wife. He is convinced that she is safe,
and Mosca is sent to tell Volpone the good news.

Act III reveals Mosca and Bonario conversing in the street. For some
reason, Mosca is telling Bonario of Corbaccio's intention to disinherit
him and inviting the son to witness the deed at Volpone's house.
Meanwhile, Lady Would-be visits Volpone and nearly talks him to
death. Mosca gets rid of her by saying that Sir Politic was lately seen
rowing in a gondola with a cunning courtesan. Corvino arrives,
dragging his unwilling wife into the fox's lair; Volpone, left alone with
the shrinking lady, is not successful in his persuasive attempts to
seduce her. Just as he is about to take her by force, Bonario leaps
from his hiding place and denounces Volpone and spirits the lady to
safety.

Mosca saves Volpone from the police by explaining the incident to the
three gulls and persuading them to tell his contrived story in court.
Mosca says that Bonario, impatient to see Volpone, discovered the fox
with Celia, seized the lady, and made her swear that Volpone had
attempted to rape her. The plan is to get an injunction against Bonario.
Act IV begins with the subplot of Sir Politic Would-be and Peregrine.
Sir Politic is discovered entertaining his fellow Englishman with his
naive understanding of politics. Lady Would-be interrupts the
conversation and mistakes Peregrine for the courtesan. She
apologizes upon discovering her mistake, but Peregrine leaves in a
huff and promises to take his revenge for the affront.

At the court, Voltore succeeds in making Celia and Bonario look like
lovers. Mosca persuades Lady Would-be to testify that Celia was the
bawd in the gondola with her husband. Volpone makes his entrance on
a stretcher to demonstrate his impotence.

All augurs well for the rogues as the fifth act begins. But Volpone
cannot leave well enough alone. He sends his servants to announce
his demise and waits for the gulls to come to claim their inheritance.
Mosca is the heir! The parasite flaunts his knowledge of their
wrongdoing to the birds of prey and they leave in despair. Disguised as
a police officer, Volpone follows them to taunt them further.

Meanwhile, Peregrine, disguised as a merchant, comes to Sir Politic's

house and tells the knight that the police are seeking him because he
has plotted to overthrow the Venetian state. When Sir Politic hides in a
tortoise shell, Peregrine calls in some other merchants to mock and
humiliate the foolish Englishman.

At the court, the three gulls, enraged by Mosca and Volpone and the
loss of their hopes, decide to tell the truth. They accuse Mosca of
being the lying villain who created the whole plot. Mosca is summoned
and arrives with another plot in mind. He will extricate Volpone from
this predicament, but the fox must remain dead and he, Mosca, must
continue as the heir. Volpone throws off his disguise and the entire
intrigue is revealed.

The court sentences Mosca to the galleys; Volpone is deprived of his

goods and sent to a hospital for incurables. The gulls are deprived of a
legal practice, a wife, and a fortune. Celia returns to her father with
her dowry trebled, and Bonario is his father's heir immediately.
EPICOENE BY BEN JONSON

Epicene or the silent women is the comedy written by one of the famous renaissance play Wright

Ben Jonson. The play was first performed by Blackfrairs Children, a group of boy players in 1609.

Ben Jonson considered the first performance of the play as a failure, however later it was

championed by the writers like John Dryden and others. it was also revived after restoration and the

mention of this play in the diary of Samuel Pepys makes it the first play to be performed after the

reopening of the theaters after the restoration of King Charles II, on July 06, 1660.

SUMMARY

The play is staged in London, the play encompasses the story in which a wealthy old man Morose,

wants to disinherit his nephew Dauphine. Morose, has a natural hatred for noise. He thinks that he

will marry with Epicene and then disinherit Dauphine. But Dauphine, has other plans in his mind,

infect he himself has arranged the match for him, for his own purpose. Morose thinks

that Epicene is a quite woman. As the plans of marriage are carried out, True-wit the friend of

Dauphine makes interference, he is not happy with the marriage; however his interference does not

prove fruitful the couple is finally married.

Morose soon regrets his wedding day, as his house is invaded by a noisy celebration that

comprises Dauphine, True-wit, and Clerimont; a bear warden named Otter and his wife; two

stupid knights, La Foole and Daw; and an assortment of "collegiate’s," vain and scheming women

with intellectual pretensions. Worst for Morose, Epicene quickly reveals herself as a loud, nagging

mate. Epicene is in complete contrast to what Morose thought her to be. Now Morose wants to give

divorce to the Epicene. He hiers two Lawyers, but they the men of Dauphine. A trial is carried out in

which no substantial proofs are found on the divorce can be given. The situation becomes tense for
the Morose. Finally it is, Dauphine, who comes to the rescue of Morose and says that he will

provide the reasons for divorce. But Dauphine will do all this on a financial deal with Morose.

Since Morose can no more bear his wife Epicene, he agrees with what Dauphine says. After the

agreement is made Dauphine strips off the costume of Epicene, and it is revealed that Epicene was

none but a boy in costume.

Morose is dismissed harshly, and the other ludicrous characters are discomfited by this revelation;

Daw and Foole, for instance, had claimed to have slept with Epicene.

Points to remember

Morose wants to disinherit his Nephew, Dauphine

He marries to Epicene

The drama is staged by Dauphine, but Morose does not know

Epicene is not a women but a boy in costume

Dauphine reveals it, on a financial agreement with Morose.

Key Facts

FULL TITLE EPICOENE THE SILENT WOMEN

It was staged in 1609

It was the first play to be staged after reopening of the theatre in

England after Restoration in 1660

This play is mentioned in the dairy of Samuel Pepys

Every Man in His Humour

Every Man in His Humour Summary
Buy Study Guide

The play opens with a prologue addressing the audience. This play will have no absurdities but
instead will be realistic in events and language. It will not whisk the audience away to a foreign
land, but will portray a contemporary place and time for people to laugh at.

The first act starts with old man Knowell at his house. Master Stephen, a country man who is
easily deceived, has come to visit his uncle, Knowell, and his cousin, Edward
Knowell (Knowell's son). A servant enters and after some conversation, Stephen leaves. This
allows the servant to deliver a letter to Knowell that is meant for his son. The elder Knowell
reads it, knowing it is not for him. Knowell is offended by how impolite and louche the letter’s
writer, a young man named Wellbred is, and calls in Brainworm to give the letter to his son and
not tell him he read it. Knowell vows he will not force his son to be a good man, but will try to
compel him to be one freely.
Brainworm brings Edward the letter and admits that Edward’s father read it. Stephen enters,
inquiring about the man that brought the letter. He wants to go after the man because of his
perceived rudeness, but he is far gone. Edward asks Stephen if he would like to come with him to
Wellbred’s, and Stephen eagerly agrees.

Matthew arrives to Cob’s the water-bearer’s house looking for a Captain Bobadil. Cob says he is
his guest. Mathew does not believe this, but Cob insists that the man fell asleep on his bench the
night before. A servant of Cob’s then takes Mathew to Bobadil. The scene ends with a
monologue by Cob about the drama in his master Kitely’s house and his annoyance with
Bobadil, who owes his wife Tib money.
Bobadil and Matthew discuss the previous night’s events. Bobadil asks to keep it a secret that he
spent the night there, and Matthew agrees. Matthew shares a play he likes and then the
conversation moves to Matthew’s own work. Downright, Wellbred’s brother, had insulted it and
threatened to beat Matthew. Bobadil offers to teach Mathew how to fight, and the two head off to
a tavern.
Act Two opens at the house of Kitely, a merchant at the Old Jewry. His man Cash and the squire
Downright enter. Kitely gives his cashier some work to do. Next, Kitely hesitantly tells the
squire that Wellbred, who is the brother of his own wife, Dame Kitely, has become disrespectful.
While Wellbred’s actions anger Downright, Kitely remains calm. Kitely says that he has no
authority over Wellbred and that he cannot scold him for fear of backlash.
Bobadil and Matthew enter, but quickly leave when they do not find Wellbred. Downright wants
to follow them and fight, but Kitely tells him not to go. The squire leaves, and Kitely reflects on
the possibility of the women in his life—his wife and his sister—being overcome by these
lecherous men who are spending time in his house.

In the Moorfields, the open areas of land in London, Brainworm is disguised as a soldier. He
wants to interrupt Knowell’s following of his son. Stephen and Edward enter. Stephen loses his
purse, which holds a ring from a mistress. Brainworm appears and offers his sword for sale since
he is reduced to poverty. Though Edward tries to discourage Stephen from buying a knife off of
the “soldier,” Stephen says he will buy it anyway.

Still in the Moorfields, Knowell is torn between disappointment due to the letter to his son, and
memories of his own youth. His speech turns to the way that parents shape their children, often
in a bad way. Knowell is happy he did not do so with his own son. Yet, he sees that his son has
gone astray and is not pleased. Brainworm enters in his disguise as before and begs for beer and
money. Knowell scolds the “soldier” for begging, and tells him to be a better gentleman.
Brainworm claims to not know how to find work, but Knowell says he will show him.

The first scene of Act Three takes place in a tavern with Matthew, Bobadil, and Wellbred.
Mathew and Bobadil speak of not liking Wellbred’s brother, Downright. Edward Knowell and
Stephen enter. Wellbred and Edward laugh about the letter Wellbred sent, and how it was
wrongly delivered to the elder Knowell.

The conversation turns to the military service served by both Stephen and Bobadil. Bobadil in
particular shares a story about fighting with his trusty rapier. He and Stephen compare their
swords (Stephen’s is the one he bought from Brainworm). They all insult his common sword,
which makes Stephen angry. Just then, Brainworm enters still disguised. Brainworm admits to
fooling Stephen into buying the knife. The group of men learn the elder Knowell is headed their
way, and they leave in order to not be found. Brainworm also reveals his true identity to Edward,
who is grateful to be looked after this way.

Cash helps Kitely prepare to conduct some suspicious business exchanging money. Kitely then
wishes to tell Cash a secret, but he feels that Cash is hesitant to swear to keep it so he does not
reveal it, and instead sends Cash to do another job. Before he leaves, Kitely asks his cashier to
tell him if Wellbred comes to his house with the company of any other man. Additionally, he
asks that Cash keep the whole business private from Dame Kitely.

Cob enters in distress. Cash tries to convince Cob that it is his “humour” making him so
distressed. As he continues to speak of fear and persecution, Matthew, Bobadil, Stephen,
Wellbred, Brainworm, and Edward enter. Cash and Cob exit. The group of men discuss
Brainworm’s clever trick earlier. Cash reenters looking for a servant to tell Kitely that men are
here, and accidentally lets out that Kitely went to Justice Clement’s. The men continue to talk,
this time about tobacco, and Bobadil boasts about its many uses. Then Cob and Cash reenter and
Cob begins talking about recent deaths attributed to tobacco. Bobadil beats the man, but the
others pull him away.
At Justice Clement’s house, Cob warns Kitely about the men at his house. Kitely is worried
about his wife and sister giving into desire for the men. Cob tries to put his worries at bay. After
Kitely leaves, Cob states that he wants revenge on Bobadil for smoking tobacco and borrowing
money from his wife.

Justice Clement, his clerk Roger Formal, and Knowell enter. Clement and Cob converse about
Cob’s life and meager possessions. Cob then asks the Justice for peace by punishing Bobadil and
tells him about the tobacco. Instead, the Justice orders his clerk to put Cob in jail for insulting
tobacco and being a rascal. He relents, but Cob’s plan for revenge is over.

In Act Four, Downright and Dame Kitely discuss the visiting men. Downright wants the lady to
make the men leave, but she insists she has no power over them. Matthew, Bobadil, Wellbred,
Edward Knowell, Stephen, Brainworm, and Kitely’s sister Bridget enter. Mathew and Bridget
talk a bit flirtatiously but are interrupted by the group of men arguing. Matthew tries to impress
the group with his poetry but they have mixed reviews. Wellbred does not think that the poems
are enough for Dame Kitely and Bridget but the ladies think they are. Downright tries to get the
group of men to leave by threatening them. They all draw swords and start to fight but are pulled
apart by Cash and some other men of the house. Kitely enters asking about the quarrel but the
men all exit. Bridget and Dame Kitely admit to being impressed by Edward, who tried to stop the
fighting, which makes Kitely greatly distressed. He decides to search for the rascal.
Cob and his Wife Tib bicker. Cob asks his wife to let no one in to the house and she agrees. At
the tavern, Stephen, Edward, Wellbred, and Brainworm convene. Wellbred sends Brainworm,
disguised as a soldier, to give a message to his brother. Edward and Wellbred converse about
Bridget. Edward admits to being in love with her and Wellbred wants to bring them together, but
Edward is not sure he should try.

In the Old Jewry, Roger Formal and Knowell are looking for the soldier that Knowell met
earlier. Brainworm enters dressed again as the soldier, Fitz-well, and in the persona of Fitz-well
working for Knowell, he admits to telling Matthew and the other men about Knowell going to
Justice Clement’s house. Knowell then sends him with Formal and he goes to Cob’s house to
find the group of men.

Back at the Moorfields, the group of men gossip about Downright. Matthew and Bobadil fence a
little, which leads into Bobadil telling a story about fencing some young men and continually
winning. He claims that he is doing the nation a favor by sparing the lives of those men that keep
coming after him to fight. Bobadil says he would not draw his sword on Downright if he
appeared, and coincidentally, Downright does come by just then. Downright tells Bobadil to
fight, and Downright successfully disarms the man. To close the scene, Stephen picks up
Downright’s cloak that he left there and claims it as his own.

Back at Kitely’s house with Kitely, Wellbred, Dame Kitely, and Bridget, Kitely scolds Wellbred
for fighting with the men earlier. Brainworm enters dressed as Roger Formal and says Clement
wants to see Kitely. Kitely privately tells Cash to keep an eye on his wife. When Kitely leaves,
his wife wonders why he has been wanting Cob so much lately, and, to tease her, Wellbred says
that Cob’s wife is tawdry. She is perturbed and decides to bring Cash with her to track her
husband to Cob and Tib’s house.
This leaves Bridget and Wellbred alone to discuss Bridget’s admirer, and she decides to meet
with Edward. Kitely returns and interrupts them, becoming angry when he learns that his wife
and Cash went somewhere together.

Matthew and Bobadil are in a street discussing their reputations after the previous events.
Brainworm then enters dressed as Formal and the men try to get Downright in legal trouble.
Brainworm says he will help the men for a price. Since Mathew and Bobadil have no money,
they pawn some of their belongings to get him to agree.

Knowell is looking for his son at Cob’s house. Cob’s wife Tib is fearful that Knowell is a
constable but speaks to him anyway. She shuts the door almost immediately when Dame Kitely
and Cash arrive. The two ask for Kitely, but he is not there. Instead he arrives just then so Kitely
and his wife argue. Each believes that they are being cheated on. Cob enters and believes what
Kitely says about his place being a whorehouse.

Brainworm is dressed as a legal officer. He supposedly bears a warrant for Downright, which
allows Bobadil and Matthew to arrest Downright. Stephen enters in Downright’s cloak so the
men mistakenly try to arrest him. He is then actually arrested by the disguised Brainworm for
supposedly stealing Downright’s cloak. All of the men head to Justice Clement.

Act Five is at Justice Clement’s house. Clement, Knowell, Kitely, Dame Kitely, Tib, Cash, Cob
and servants enter. They are sorting out the business of how each was given false messages by
Clement’s man. Clement realizes that they were both tricked to go to Cob’s house. Bobadil and
Matthew enter, and speak of their warrant for Downright. Then Stephen, Downright, and the
disguised Brainworm enter. Those men bring forth their quarrel about the cloak, as well as the
issue of Formal’s supposed man who had the warrant for Downright’s arrest. Clement wants to
jail Brainworm for not having served the warrants correctly. Brainworm reveals himself, and the
tricks he played are exposed. His tricks on Knowell and Kitely earlier are also revealed. Roger
Formal then enters, apologetic that he got drunk and had his clothes stolen (Brainworm’s doing,
to pretend to be him).

Wellbred reveals Edward and Bridget’s marriage, and Clement orders them to be brought here
for congratulations. The men out Matthew’s propensity for poetry and Clement recites some off
the top of his head, but they realize that Matthew just reads others’ work and passes it off as his
own. Clement orders his collection of verses to be burned. He also makes Stephen give
Downright his cloak back and urges Tib and Cob renew their vows. To end the play, Justice
Clement tells each person to clean themselves of their overweening emotions, and they all
celebrate.
.