17 July, 1594 - The Ranger's Comedy

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 17 of Julye 1594 ... R at the Rangers comodey ... xv^s

In modern English: 17^th July, 1594 ... Received at The Ranger's Comedy ... 15 shillings.

An Elizabethan hunting scene; one
of the possible subjects of this play

Today, the Admiral's Men revived their lost Ranger's Comedy. We do not know what this play was about, as the word could refer to a gamekeeper, a rake, a wanderer, or an organizer of troops. You can read more about it in the entry for 2 April.

The company appears to be settling into a groove of performing The Ranger's Comedy approximately once every week and a half. But its previous outing had been unimpressive and this one was two shillings worse. The play does not seem to be a great draw for audiences.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

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