is that at the time Henslowe was interested in a 'private' as well as in a 'public' house. Certainly the Watermen's complaint in the spring of 1614 indicates that there were then no plays on Bankside, and both the Swan and the Rose must therefore have been deserted. But by the autumn the Lady Elizabeth's men were in the Clink, occupying the newly built Hope on the site of the old Bear-garden; and that the use of this theatre was contemplated in the agreements of the previous spring is shown both by the presence of Meade, who is not known to have been interested in any other house, as a party, and by the reservation of one day in fourteen for the purpose of baiting.[1] It was at the Hope that William Fennor failed to appear to try his challenge with John Taylor on 7 October, and the Lady Elizabeth's men were presumably the players—
And such a company (I'll boldly say)
That better (nor the like) ne'er played a play—
who came to the rescue and saved the occasion from fiasco. And it was at the Hope and by the Lady Elizabeth's men, as the Induction and the title-page show, that Jonson's Bartholomew Fair was produced on 31 October. There is a reference in the text of the play to Taylor's adventure,[2] and a compliment to Field, which puts him on a level with Burbadge of the King's men.[3] Bartholomew Fair was presented on the very next day before James at Court. This performance, for which Field was payee on 11 June, was the only one by the company during the winter festivities of 1614-15. In February 1615 there was a breach between Henslowe and the company, as a result of which the Articles of Grievance were drawn up. According to the Articles Henslowe 'brooke the companie'; but it is not quite clear what exactly took place. In some form the Lady Elizabeth's men certainly continued to exist. They visited Nottingham in March 1615, and a letter from Lord Coke to the Mayor of Coventry shows that they also contemplated a visit to that town in the same month.[4] My impression is that they subsequently patched up another reconstruction with Henslowe, and that on this occasion the process did entail some
- ↑ I agree with Dr. Greg that the 'fower' in Dawes's articles is probably a mistake for 'fourteen'.
- ↑ Bartholomew Fair, v. 3, 'I thinke, one Taylor, would goe neere to beat all this company, with a hand bound behinde him'.
- ↑ Ibid. Cokes. Which is your Burbage now? Lanterne. What meane you by that, Sir? Cokes. Your best Actor. Your Field?
- ↑ Murray, ii. 254. This, however, was probably Long's company; v. infra.
