them again.[1] More than this, through the influence of Sir Thomas Monson, Rosseter was successful in obtaining a new patent, dated on 4 January 1610, by which the Children once more became entitled to call themselves Children of the Queen's Revels.[2] It ran as follows:
De concessione Roberto Daborne & aliis. Iames by the grace of God &c, To all Maiors Sheriffes Iustices of peace Bayliffes Constables and to all other our Officers Ministers and loving Subiects to whome theis presentes shall come Greeting. Whereas the Quene our deerest wyfe hathe for hir pleasure, and recreacion, when shee shall thinke it fitt to have any Playes or Shewes, appoynted hir servantes Robert Daborne, Phillippe Rosseter, Iohn Tarbock, Richard Iones, and Robert Browne to prouide and bring vpp a convenient nomber of Children whoe shalbe called Children of hir Revelles, knowe ye that wee haue appoynted and authorised, and by theis presentes do authorize and appoynte the said Robert Daborne, Phillipp Rosseter, Iohn Tarbuck, Richard Iones, and Robert Browne from tyme to tyme to provide keepe and bring vpp a convenient nomber of children, and them to practice and exercise in the quality of playing, by the name of Children of the Revells to the Queene, within the white ffryers in the Suburbs of our Citty of London, or in any other convenyent place where they shall thinke fitt for that purpose. Wherfore wee will and commaund you and euery of you to whome it shall appertayne to permitt her said seruants to keepe a conuenient nomber of Children by the name of the Children of hir Revells, and them to exercise in the qualitye of playing according to hir pleasure, And theis our lettres patentes shalbe your sufficient warrant in this behaulfe. Wittnes our self at Westminster, the ffourth daye of Ianuary.
per breve de priuato sigillo.
Of the new syndicate Browne and Jones were old professional
actors who had belonged to the Admiral's men a quarter of
a century before, and had since been prominent, Brown in
particular, as organizers of English companies for travel in
Germany. Daborne was or became a playwright. Of Tarbock
I know nothing; he may have been a nominee of Keysar,
- ↑ Cf. ch. supra (Paul's). K. v. B. 355 tells us that Rosseter was in partnership with Keysar.
- ↑ M. S. C. i. 271, from P. R., 7 Jac. I, p. 13. Ingleby, 254, gave the material part in discussing a forged draft by Collier (N. F. 41), in which the names of the patentees are given as 'Robert Daiborne, William Shakespeare, Nathaniel Field and Edward Kirkham'. A genuine note of the patent is in Sir Thomas Egerton's note-book (N. F. 40). Ingleby adds that the signet office records (cf. Phillimore, 103) show that the warrant was obtained in Dec. 1609 by the influence of Monson. He was Anne's household Chancellor and to him Rosseter and Campion dedicated their Book of Airs (1601) and Campion his Third Book of Airs (1617).
