This procedure was not atypical of Middleton's practice; when he composed his Inner Temple Masque in 1618, he used eleven proverbs from Bretnor's 1618 almanac.
James Shirley staged it at the Werburgh Street Theatre in Dublin, and wrote a Prologue for the work that was published with Middleton's text in the first edition.
19th-century critic Charles W. Stork suggested William Rowley as a possible collaborator, though his hypothesis has been rejected due to lack of supporting evidence.
Middleton borrowed the main plot of No Wit from a 1589 play, a comedy by Giambattista Della Porta titled La Sorella ("The Sister").
The play's subplot, which centers on Master Low-Water – and which was original with Middleton rather than borrowed from another source – had a long theatrical life over the coming centuries.
It was adapted for the 1677 play The Counterfeit Bridegroom, or The Defeated Widow, a work variously ascribed to either Aphra Behn or Thomas Betterton.
Savourwit notes that Lady Goldenfleece's recently deceased husband was a notorious usurer; he nearly doubled his wealth shortly before he died by seizing the property of a gentleman named Master Low-water.
Jane enters to ask Mistress Low-water if she knows anything about the mysterious secret that Lady Goldenfleece alluded to earlier.
Mistress Low-water says it might have something to do with "some piece of money or land" that was bequeathed to Grace and Jane "by some departing friend on their deathbed".
A footman enters with a letter for Mistress Low-water from Sir Gilbert Lambston, a wealthy knight.
He tells the merchant that he sent his son and servant with the ransom ten weeks ago; they brought his daughter back, but said that his wife had died.
The Dutch Merchant vows that he has seen Lady Twilight alive within the past month and asks if he can see the 'daughter' that Philip and Savourwit brought back with them.
The merchant sees through Savourwit's scheme; he tells Sir Oliver that he has been deceived by his son and servant: his wife is not dead, and this is not his real daughter.
To cover himself, Savourwit pretends to have a conversation in Dutch with the merchant's little son, who speaks in a kind of pidgin English.
Sir Oliver tells him that Savourwit has spoken with his son, who claims that the Dutch Merchant is crazy.
Scene 2: The street outside Sir Oliver Twilight's house Sandfield, Philip and Savourwit worry about what might happen to them now that their scheme has been discovered.
Lady Goldenfleece's suitors, Weatherwise, Pepperton and Overdone arrive, and the 'Gallant Gentleman' scolds 'his' 'Servant' loudly, acting as though 'he' is now the lord of the house.
After a good deal of heated flirting, the 'Gallant Gentleman' promises Lady Goldenfleece that he has never slept with or courted any other woman (these oaths are, of course, ironically true).
Weatherwise, Pepperton and Overdone enter with renewed hopes: a servant has told them that Lady Goldenfleece and the Gentleman haven't married yet.
Pickadillie enters and tells the suitors that Beveril has been contracted to compose an entertainment for Lady Goldenfleece's wedding.
Mistress Low-water and her husband enter, still disguised as the 'Gallant Gentleman' and 'Servant', and overhear Beveril declaring his secret love for Lady Goldenfleece.
Lady Twilight says that rumors of her death were circulating during Philip and Savourwit's time in Jersey (a lie) and begs Sir Oliver to excuse them because the whole mix-up was obviously a misunderstanding, not a scheme.
Sir Oliver raises the matter of the 'minion' (Grace) that Philip and Savourwit brought home to pass off as the Twilights' daughter.
Lady Goldenfleece's former suitors enter, dressed as 'Fire' (Sir Gilbert Lambston), 'Air' (Weatherwise), 'Water' (Overdone) and 'Earth' (Pepperton).
When the entertainment is finished, the suitors reveal their true identities and exit, satisfied that they have fulfilled their vow to see Lady Goldenfleece disgraced.
The 'Gallant Gentleman' tells them that he has heard strange noises coming from Lady Goldenfleece's bedroom and suspects that she is cheating on him on the night of their wedding.
Feigning rage, the 'Gallant Gentleman' swears that he will never admit Lady Goldenfleece to his bed for as long as he lives, banishes her from the house and claims all of her wealth as his own.
Following pleas for leniency from Sir Oliver, the 'Gallant Gentleman' eventually agrees to leave with a casket containing half of all Lady Goldenfleece's wealth.
In order to honor her promise to remarry immediately, and to spite the 'Gallant Gentleman', she announces that her next husband will be Beveril.
Sir Oliver decides that it is now time to draw up the marriage contracts for Sandfield & Grace and Philip & Jane.