A Trick to Catch the Old One is a Jacobean comedy written by Thomas Middleton, first published in 1608. The play is a satire in the subgenre of city comedy.
Composition, performance, and printing history A Trick to Catch the Old One was entered into the Stationers' Register, together with The Revenger's Tragedy, now also commonly attributed to Middleton, by the printer George Eld on 7 October 1607.Barber, p. 9; Mulholland, p. 1 It was published in quarto by Eld in 1608.Greg, vol. 1, p. 395; Mulholland, pp. 5–10; S120698. The first quarto was issued with two different title pages: the first lists Eld himself as the bookseller, but at some point during the printing process the play was apparently acquired by Henry Rocket and the second title page, also dated 1608, lists him as the bookseller. Both title pages state that the play was acted by the Children of Paul's; the second title page also states that it was performed by the Children of the Blackfriars, and that it had been presented before King James I "on New-yeares night last".Greg, vol. 1, p. 395; Barber, pp. 9–11; Mulholland, pp. 5–10. Chambers and Greg, associating this statement with a record of a performance by the Blackfriars company at court during Christmas of 1608, argued that the New Year's night in question must be 1 January 1609, and various attempts have been made to reconcile that date with the date of 1608 on the title page.Chambers, vol. 3, p. 439; Greg, vol. 1, p. 395; Barber, pp. 10–11. Evidence unknown to Chambers and Greg, however, indicates that the boys of Blackfriars also performed before the king on 1 January 1607, and this, together with similarities in paper stock and metal type between A Trick to Catch a New One and The Revenger's Tragedy, first published in 1607, suggest that both plays were in production in Eld's workshop at the same time, in late 1607 and early 1608, shortly after their entry into the Stationer's Register.Mulholland, pp. 5–10, 38–41. A second quarto, printed by Eld for the stationer Thomas Langle, was published in 1616.Greg, vol. 1, pp. 395–396; Barber, p. 11; Mulholland, pp. 1–2; S123172.
The play is generally believed to have been written and first performed between 1604 and 1606. If, as the second title page indicates, it was first performed by the Children of Paul's, then it must have preceded the dissolution of that company, which seems to have occurred around the middle of 1606. Attempts to date it more precisely on the basis of internal evidence have been inconclusive.Mulholland, pp. 38–47.
Nearly two decades after the publication of A Trick to Catch the Old One, Philip Massinger drew on it as one of the sources for his own play, A New Way to Pay Old Debts, first performed in 1626 and published in 1633. In spite of the great popularity of Massinger's play, it did not totally eclipse Middleton's, which was produced at least once more by Sir William Davenant at the theatre at Lincoln's Inn Fields sometime between 1661 and 1665. After that it seems not to have been performed again until its first modern revival at the Mermaid Theatre in 1952.Barber, p. 8; Mulholland, pp. 101–102.
Summary The play's protagonist, Theodorus Witgood, has mortgaged his estates to his uncle Pecunius Lucre, a covetous London merchant. Witgood is in love with Joyce, the niece of another London merchant, Walkadine Hoard. Lucre and Hoard are rivals; Hoard resents Lucre because Lucre has shown himself to be an even more ruthless swindler than Hoard is himself. Witgood persuades a former mistress to masquerade as a rich country widow and his new fiancée. Lucre, delighted at the prospect of a rich match for his nephew, provides him with £50 and a vague promise to make Witgood his heir. Similarly and for the same reason, Witgood's creditors stop dunning him and offer him more credit. Conversely, rival suitors for the "rich widow" arise, including Walkadine Hoard.
Witgood advises his past mistress to accept Hoard's proposal and so fix herself for life. She allows herself to be spirited away by Hoard, with Lucre in hot pursuit. The "widow" agrees with Lucre to resist Hoard if Lucre restores Witgood's estates, and Lucre reluctantly agrees. But Witgood's creditors, angry over his apparent loss of a rich match, have him arrested; Witgood, however, claiming a pre-contract with the "widow", cons Hoard into paying his debts. Witgood marries Joyce in secret; at the banquet celebrating Hoard's marriage, it is revealed that Hoard's new rich wife is Witgood's poor ex-mistress. But the courtesan kneels to her new husband and promises to be a good wife, and Witgood joins her in repentance and rejection of his former sensual and spendthrift ways.
Characters Theodorus Wit-Good, a gentleman in debt Jane (Courtesan), Witgood's mistress Host, friend to Witgood Witgood's Three Creditors Pecunius Lucre, Witgood's uncle, a usurer Ginnee, Lucre's wife Sam Freedome, son of Lucre's wife and suitor to Joyce First and Second Gentlemen, friends to Lucre George, Lucre's servant Walkadine Hoard, usurer and rival to Lucre Joyce, Niece to Walkadine and Onesiphorus Hoard Moneylove, suitor to Joyce Onesiphorus Hoard, brother to Walkadine Hoard Limber, friend to Onesiphorus Hoard Kix, friend to Onesiphorus Hoard Servant to Walkadine Hoard Arthur, another servant to Walkadine Hoard Lady Foxestone, friend to Walkadine Hoard Sir Tristram Lamprey, a gentleman Spitchcock, a gentleman Henry Dampit, a lawyer and usurer Audry, Dampit's landlady's servant Gulfe, a usurer and acquaintance of Dampit Sir Lancelot, acquaintance of Dampit Drawer, Vintner, Boy, Scrivener, Sergeants, Tailor, Barber, Perfumer, Falconer, Huntsman
Mentioned characters: Dick, worker at the inn William, bartender at the inn Florence, woman at the inn Master Muligrubs's sister, a newly widowed woman mentioned by the third creditor Mistress Proserpine, Dampit's landlady and Audry's employer Anthony Medler, fictitious deceased husband of Jane
Synopsis
Act I
Scene 1: A town in Leicester, probably on a street
Theodorus Witgood, a ruined gentleman, enters and tells how, after foolishly wasting away all his money on brothels and drunkenness in the city, he has lost all of his lands to his uncle, Pecunius Lucre a usurer. According to Witgood, Lucre's motto is: "He that doth his youth expose / To brothel, drink and danger /Let him that is nearest kin / Cheat before a stranger." Witgood says that he must now find some way to make a living for himself, and hints that he may not be averse to activities "out of the compass of the law" (i.e., illegal). Witgood's Courtesan (kept lady) enters. Witgood scolds her for being the cause of his ruin. The Courtesan replies that the 'jewel' she gave him—her virginity—was worth much more than all the lands he has lost. Witgood lays out a plan to get his lands back from his uncle. The plan involves going to London (where his uncle is now located), and passing the Courtesan off as a wealthy widow whom Witgood intends to marry. The Courtesan agrees to the plan.
As Witgood and the Courtesan exit, Onesiphorus Hoard (a usurer) enters with his friends, Limber and Kix. Onesiphorus says that his brother (Walkadine Hoard) and Witgood's uncle (Lucre) have been mortal enemies for several years. He tells how Walkadine Hoard was recently on the verge of cheating a young heir out of his property, but, at the last minute before the deal was closed—and after a lot of bargaining on Walkadine Hoard's part—Lucre slipped in and cheated the heir himself. Onesiphorus also says that Walkadine Hoard's niece, Joyce might marry Sam Freedom (Lucre's wife's son from another marriage), however, the match has not yet been confirmed. Joyce has two suitors: Sam, a rich idiot, and Moneylove, an impoverished scholar. Onesiphorus says that Joyce is currently in London with Walkadine, where she is learning how to become a gentlewoman so that she can catch a wealthy husband.
Scene 2: Another street in Leicestershire
Witgood tells his friend Host (an innkeeper) that he is about to marry a wealthy Widow whom he plans to take to London so that she can be introduced to his uncle (the 'Widow is actually Witgood's Courtesan). He asks the Host to pose as the 'Widow's' servingman while they are in London. This favour is necessary, Witgood claims, because when she ran away with him, the 'Widow' abandoned all of her servants; to convince his uncle of her wealth, appearances have to be maintained; she will have to have at least one servingman. The Host agrees to fill the role. (Note that the Host is only partially informed of Witgood's plan: He knows that Witgood intends to trick his uncle, but he does not know that the 'Widow' is, in fact, Witgood's Courtesan.)
Scene 3: A street in London
Walkadine Hoard (Onesiphorus' brother, hereafter referred to as 'Hoard') and Lucre (Witgood's uncle), the two old rivals, meet and exchange insults. Hoard is angry at Lucre for intercepting his 'deal' with the young heir he meant to cheat (see 1.1). He vows revenge.
The rivals exit, leaving Sam Freedom (Lucre's wife's son from another marriage; the 'rich idiot' who is suitor to Joyce, Hoard's niece) and Moneylove (Joyce's other suitor; the 'poor scholar') alone on-stage. Sam tells Moneylove that he plans to challenge him to a duel in a month's time. Moneylove readily agrees to the duel, strikes Sam and exits.
Scene 4: A street in London
Witgood and the Host arrive in London. The Host assures Witgood that the 'Widow' has been provided with good lodgings. Dampit and Gulf (two usurers) enter. Witgood tells the Host that Dampit is "the most notorious usurering, blasphemous, atheistical, brothel-vomiting rascal that we have in these latter times." He also says that, although Dampit dresses like a beggar, he is, in fact, very rich—he earned all his money with the devil's help, by cheating and trampling the law. Dampit greets Witgood and rhapsodises about his rise to wealth, repeatedly referring himself as "a great trampler of time": "Thus was poor Harry Dampit made rich by others' laziness, who, though they would not follow their own suits, I made 'em follow me with their purses." Witgood says he is pleased to make Dampit and Gulf's acquaintance once again.
Act II
Scene 1: A room in Lucre's home in London
Posing as a 'servingman', the Host calls on Lucre and reveals the wealthy 'Widow's' plans to marry Witgood—pretending that he is unaware that Lucre is Witgood's uncle. Hoping that he might be able to profit from a union between his nephew and a wealthy Widow, Lucre tells the 'servingman' Witgood is a "gentleman of the inestimable quality". The 'servingman' asks if Lucre knows anything about Witgood's financial status—because the 'Widow' may not marry him if he is not as wealthy as he has led her to believe. Lucre assures that Witgood's finances are sound. The 'servingman' says that he has heard a rumour that Witgood had mortgaged all his property to an uncle in London. Lucre reveals that he is Witgood's uncle, and assures the 'servingman' that the rumours are false. Feigning reluctance, the 'servingman' tells Lucre where Witgood and the 'Widow' are lodging and exits. Lucre instructs his servant to call on Witgood at his lodging and tell him that his uncle wishes to see him immediately. Witgood enters soon thereafter.
Lucre scolds Witgood for not telling him about his engagement. Witgood apologises and says that he wanted to maintain a low profile because he was worried that his London creditors might catch up with him. Lucre persuades Witgood to send for the 'Widow'. He also lends him fifty pounds for the wedding. Mistress Lucre (Lucre's wife) enters with Sam (her son from another marriage). They greet Witgood warmly. The 'Widow' (Witgood's Courtesan) enters. Lucre gives her a welcoming kiss. Sam tries to give her a welcoming kiss too, but is rejected (and thus offended).