- on-Avon, twice at Aldeburgh, and twice at Bath. In 1592 they
were at Rochester, on 27 May at Norwich, before 29 September at Leicester, and early in September at Chesterton close to Cambridge. Here they came into conflict with the authorities of Cambridge University, who were apprehensive of infection from the crowds assembled at Sturbridge fair, and forbade them to play. Encouraged by Lord North and by the constables of Chesterton, they disobeyed, set up their bills upon the college gates, and gave their performance. It is interesting to note that 'one Dutton' was 'a principale', and to remember that, twelve years before, the Duttons had gone to Cambridge as Lord Oxford's men and had been refused permission to play by the University authorities.[1] The outcome of the present encounter was a formal protest by the Vice-Chancellor and Heads of Houses to the Privy Council for which they requested Burghley's support as Chancellor of the University. After a further appeal about a year later, they succeeded in obtaining a confirmation of their privileges.[2] Another letter from the University to their Chancellor, written on 4 December 1592, is of a different character. Its object is to excuse themselves from accepting an invitation conveyed through the Vice-Chamberlain to present an English comedy before Elizabeth at Christmas. Sir Thomas Heneage appears to have given it as a reason for his request 'that her Maiesties owne servantes, in this time of infection, may not disport her Highnes w^{th} theire wonted and ordinary pastimes'.[3]
On 11 October 1592 the Queen's men were at Aldeburgh, on the same day as, and conceivably in association with, Lord Morley's men, although the payments are distinct. They did not in fact appear at Court during the Christmas of 1592-3, although both Lord Pembroke's and Lord Strange's did. They were at Coventry and Stratford-on-Avon in the course of 1592-3, at Leicester in June 1593 and again after Michaelmas, at Bath on 22 August, and at York in September. On 6 January 1594 they returned to Court and gave what proved to be their last performance there. On 1 April they began to play at one of Henslowe's
- ↑ M. S. C. i. 190, from Lansd. MSS. 71, 75. The letters are both dated 18 Sept. 1592, and that to Burghley contained copies of the charters of Henry III and Elizabeth, of a Privy Council letter of 30 Oct. 1575 (cf. Dasent, ix. 39) forbidding shows within five miles of the University, and of the warrant of the Vice-Chancellor and other justices to the constables of Chesterton, dated 1 Sept. 1592.
- ↑ University Letter of 17 July 1593 in M. S. C. i. 200, from Lansd. MS. 75; Privy Council Act of 29 July 1593 in Dasent, xxiv. 427.
- ↑ M. S. C. i. 198, from Lansd. MS. 71.
