If playing was actually resumed, it was not long before the plague drove the companies out of London again, and there is nothing more of Worcester's men in the diary. Two visits from them are recorded at Leicester in the course of 1603, and two at Coventry and one at Barnstaple, whence they departed without playing, during 1602-3. Early in the new reign the company was taken into the patronage of Queen Anne.[1] This change was probably effected by Christmas, and certainly by 19 February 1604, when John Duke obtained a warrant on account of plays performed before Prince Henry by 'the Queenes Majesties players' on the previous 2 and 13 January. The Queen's men are named in the Privy Council letter permitting the resumption of playing on 9 April 1604, which indicates their house as the Curtain. A list of players is found amongst other 'officers to the Queene' receiving four and a half yards of red cloth apiece for the coronation procession of 15 March 1604.[2] The names given are 'Christopher Beeston, Robert Lee, John Duke, Robert Palante, Richard Purkins, Thomas Haward, James Houlte, Thomas Swetherton, Thomas Grene, and Robert Beeston'. Evidently several leading members had left the company. Kempe was probably dead.[3] Thare and Blackwood were on tour in Germany; Lowin seems to have joined the King's men. Of Cattanes and Underell no more is known. The same ten names are found in a draft patent for a royal licence to the Queen's men, of which the text follows:[4]
Iames, by the grace of God kynge of England, Scotland, Fraunce
and Irelande, defender of the faith &c: To all Iustices of peace, Maiors,
Sherryfes, vicechancellours of any our vniversities, Bailiffes [Constables],
headboroughes, [and other our officers] Constables, and to all other our
Officers, mynisters and lovəinge subiectes to whome it may appertaine
Greeting. Knowe yee that wee of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge,
and mere motion haue lycensed and awthorised, and by these
presentes doe lycence and awthorise Thomas Greene, Christopheror General History of Women (1624), who says that he was
one of Worcester's men, who at James's accession 'bestowed me upon the
excellent princesse Queen Anne'.]
- ↑ Cf. p. 7. A further notice of the transfer is given by Thomas Heywood, [Greek: Gynaikeion
- ↑ N. S. S. Trans. (1877-9), 16*, from Lord Chamberlain's Books, 58^a. In August the company served as grooms of the chamber (App. B).
- ↑ In assigning Kempe to the Queen's Revels in 1605, Dr. Greg (Henslowe, ii. 108) has been tripped up by one of Collier's forgeries; cf. my review in M. L. R. iv. 408.
- ↑ Printed in M. S. C. i. 265, from S. P. D. Jac. I, ii. 100; also by Collier, i. 336, and Halliwell-Phillipps, Illustrations, 106. It is a rough draft full of deletions, marked by square brackets, and of additions, printed in italics, in the text. The theory of Fleay, 191, that the document is a forgery is disposed of by Greg, Henslowe's Diary, ii. 107.
