A Woman Killed with Kindness is an early seventeenth-century stage play, a tragedy written by Thomas Heywood. Acted in 1603 and first published in 1607, the play has generally been considered Heywood's masterpiece, and has received the most critical attention among Heywood's works. Along with the anonymous Arden of Faversham, Heywood's play has been regarded as the apex of Renaissance drama's achievement in the subgenre of bourgeois or domestic tragedy. The play was originally performed by Worcester's Men, the company for which Heywood acted and wrote in the early Jacobean era. The records of Philip Henslowe show that Heywood was paid £6 for the play in February and March 1603. The 1607 quarto was printed by William Jaggard for the bookseller John Hodgets. A second quarto was issued in 1617 by William Jaggard's son Isaac Jaggard. The plot of Heywood's play derives from an Italian novel by Illicini, which was translated into English and published in The Palace of Pleasure by William Painter (1566). Characters Master Frankford Mistress Anne Frankford – Frankford's wife Sir Francis Acton – Anne's brother Sir Charles Mountford Master Malby Master Wendoll – friend of Frankford Master Cranwell – an old gentleman Nicholas – a servant of Frankford Jenkin – a servant of Frankford Spigot – a butler and servant of Frankford Cicely Milkpail – a servant of Frankford Jack Slime – a country fellow Roger Brickbat – a country fellow Joan Miniver – a country wench Jane Trubkin – a country wench Isbell Motley – a country wench Falconer Susan – Charles' sister Sheriff Shafton Old Mountford – Charles' uncle Sandy – Charles' former friend Roder – Charles' former tenant Tidy – Charles' cousin Frankford and Anne's children Synopsis Act I (Or Scenes I-III) Anne and Frankford are celebrating their wedding. Anne's family remarks how well suited she is for marriage and how well she is taking to it so far. Francis and Charles arrange to go hawking and hunting tomorrow. Wendoll and Cranwell place bets on the men. The next day, Francis and Charles argue over whose falcon did better, and the quarrel devolves into a fight. Charles kills two of Francis's men. Charles immediately repents his anger. His sister Susan encourages him to flee so that he won't be arrested. He resolves to stay and face the consequences of his actions, and the sheriff comes to arrest him. Act II (Or Scenes IV-VII)-