Francis Beaumont (1584–1616)

The cataloguing in many places (even in reputable libraries) of works by the Jacobean playwrights Francis Beaumont (1584-1616) and/or John Fletcher (1579-1625) and/or their various collaborators tends to be confusing. Works by Fletcher alone can be found catalogued under Beaumont or under Beaumont & Fletcher; works by Beaumont alone can be found catalogued under Fletcher or under Beaumont & Fletcher; collaborations by Beaumont & Fletcher can be found catalogued under Fletcher alone or under Beaumont alone; collaborations by Fletcher and Massinger can be found catalogued under Fletcher alone or under Beaumont & Fletcher; –and some works are catalogued correctly! Collected and selected editions usually include a mix. (These confusions occurred even in the 17th century.) Here’s a breakdown: it’s a lot, but all of these are present in single play volumes or in Beaumont & Fletcher collections listed on LT.

Works by Beaumont alone: The Knight of the Burning Pestle; Salmacis & Hermaphroditus; Masque of the Inner Temple.

Works by Fletcher alone: The Faithful Shepherdess; Bonduca; Valentinian; The Woman’s Prize, or, The Tamer Tamed; Monsieur Thomas; The Island Princess; The Loyal Subject; The Mad Lover; The Pilgrim; A Wife for a Month; Rule a Wife & Have a Wife; The Chances; The Wild-Goose Chase; Women Pleased; Wit without Money; The Humourous Lieutenant, or, Demetrius & Enanthe.

Works by Beaumont & Fletcher together: The Maid’s Tragedy; Philaster, or, Love Lies A-Bleeding; A King & No King; Cupid’s Revenge; The Scornful Lady; The Coxcomb; The Woman Hater; The Captain; Love’s Pilgrimage; The Noble Gentleman

Works by Beaumont & Fletcher and Philip Massinger: Thierry & Theodoret; Beggars Bush; Love’s Cure.

Works by Fletcher and Massinger: Barnavelt; The Custom of the Country; The Double Marriage; The Elder Brother; The False One; The Little French Lawyer; The Lovers’ Progress; The Prophetess; The Sea Voyage; The Spanish Curate; A Very Woman.

Works by Fletcher and various collaborators: The Fair Maid of the Inn (w/ Massinger, John Webster & John Ford); The Two Noble Kinsmen (w/ Shakespeare); Four Plays in One (w/ Nathan Field); The Queen of Corinth (w/ Massinger & Field); The Knight of Malta (w/ Massinger & Field); The Honest Man’s Fortune (w/ Massinger & Field & Cyril Tourneur); The Maid in the Mill (w/ William Rowley); The Night Walker (revised by James Shirley); Rollo Duke of Normandy, or, The Bloody Brother (w/ Massinger & ?Jonson, ?Chapman, ?Field);

Works Printed with the Beaumont & Fletcher canon but which are by other authors altogether: The Nice Valour by Thomas Middleton; Wit at Several Weapons by Middleton & Rowley; The Laws of Candy by John Ford.