I've learned the hard lesson that you can't pin your heart on anything until it's a completely done deal.

" Similarly the title-page of the quarto of A Knack to Know a Knave advertises Kempe's "merriments". Final years

After his departure from the Chamberlain's Men in early 1599 Kempe continued to pursue his career as a performer. As an actor Kempe is certainly associated with two roles: Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Peter in Romeo and Juliet.

Despite his fame as a performer and subsequent intent to continue his career he appears to have died unregarded and in penury in around 1603. Roles associated with his name may include the great comic creation Falstaff and his contemporaries considered him the successor to the great clown of the previous generation Richard Tarlton.