plays, presumably in sending them to be considered with a view to production by the boys. The plays bear dates in 1601-3, but it can hardly be taken for granted that they were in fact produced by the Paul's or any other company. The note runs:
A note to the Master of Children of Powles.
Memorandum, that if any of the fine and formost of these Pastorals and Comoedyes conteyned in this volume shall but overeach in length (the children not to begin before foure, after prayers, and the gates of Powles shutting at six) the tyme of supper, that then in tyme and place convenient, you do let passe some of the songs, and make the consort the shorter; for I suppose these plaies be somewhat too long for that place. Howsoever, on your own experience, and at your best direction, be it. Farewell to you all.[1]
Both parts of Marston's Antonio and Mellida were entered
on the Stationers' Register in the autumn of 1601 and
printed in 1602. The second part may have been on the stage
during 1601, and in the same year the boys probably produced
John Marston's What You Will, and certainly played
'privately', as the Chamberlain's men did 'publicly',
Satiromastix in which Dekker, with a hand from Marston,
brought his swashing blow against the redoubtable Jonson.
This also was registered in 1601 and printed in 1602. There
is no sign of the boys at Court in the winter of 1601-2. In
the course of 1602 their play of Blurt Master Constable, by
Middleton, was registered and printed. They were at Court
on 1 January 1603, for the last time before Elizabeth, and on
20 February 1604, for the first time before James. Either
the choir school or the grammar school boys took part in the
pageant speeches at the coronation triumph on 15 March
1604.[2] To the year 1604 probably belongs Westward Ho!
which introduced to the company, in collaboration with
Dekker, a new writer, John Webster. Northward Ho! by
the same authors, followed in 1605. The company was not
at Court for the winter of 1604-5, but during that of 1605-6
they gave two plays before the Princes Henry and Charles.
For these the payee was not Pearce, but Edward Kirkham, who
is described in the Treasurer of the Chamber's account as
'one of the Mr^{es} of the Childeren of Pawles'. Kirkham, who
was Yeoman of the Revels, had until recently been a manager
of the Children of the Revels at the Blackfriars. It may
