7 Aug. 1610, but not extant. The Epilogue also tells the audience that, if they are dissatisfied,
The Roring Girle her selfe some few dayes hence,
Shall on this Stage, give larger recompence.
I think this can only refer to a contemplated personal appearance of Mary Frith on the stage; it has been interpreted as referring to
another forthcoming play. Moll Cut-purse appears in Field's Amends for Ladies, but this was not a Fortune play. Bullen (Middleton, i. xxxv) regards the play as an example of collaboration, and gives Dekker I. II. ii, and V; Middleton, with occasional hesitation, the rest. Fleay, i. 132, only gives Middleton II. ii, IV. i, V. ii.
If It be not Good, the Devil is in It. 1610 < > 12
1612. If It Be Not Good, the Diuel is in it. A New Play, As it hath bin lately Acted, with great applause, by the Queenes Maiesties Seruants: At the Red Bull. Written by Thomas Dekker. For I. T. sold by Edward Marchant. [Epistle to the Queen's men signed Tho: Dekker, Prologue, and Epilogue. The running title is 'If this be not a good Play, the Diuell is in it'.]
The Epistle tells us that after 'Fortune' (the Admiral's) had 'set her foote vpon' the play, the Queen's had 'raised it up . . . the Frontis-*pice onely a little more garnished'. Fleay, i. 133, attempts to fix the play to 1610, but hardly proves more than that it cannot be earlier than 14 May 1610, as the murder on that day of Henri IV is referred to (ed. Pearson, p. 354). The Epistle also refers to a coming new play by Dekker's 'worthy friend', perhaps Webster (q.v.). In the opening scene the devil Lurchall is addressed as Grumball, which suggests the actor Armin (cf. ch. xv). Daborne (q.v.) in the Epistle to his Christian Turned Turk seems to claim a share in this play.
Match Me in London (?)
S. R. 1630, 8 Nov. (Herbert). 'A Play called Mach mee in London by Thomas Decker.' Seile (Arber, iv. 242).
1631. A Tragi-Comedy: Called, Match mee in London. As it hath beene often presented; First, at the Bull in St. Iohns-street; And lately, at the Priuate-House in Drury-Lane, called the Phoenix. Written by Tho: Dekker. B. Alsop and T. Fawcet for H. Seile. [Epistle to Lodowick Carlell signed 'Tho: Dekker'.]
Herbert's diary contains the entry on 21 Aug. 1623, 'For the L. Elizabeth's servants of the Cockpit. An old play called Match me in London which had been formerly allowed by Sir G. Bucke.' On this, some rather slight evidence from allusions, and a general theory that Dekker did not write plays during his imprisonment of 1613-19, Fleay, i. 134, puts the original production by Queen Anne's men c. 1611 and Hunt, 160, in 1612-13. As there are some allusions to cards and the game of maw, Fleay thinks the play a revision of The Set at Maw produced by the Admiral's on 15 Dec. 1594. Greg (Henslowe,
