'Blackfriars' men to act, in Johnson's, Shakespeare's, and Fletcher's plays?
Truman. What I can at present recollect I'll tell you. Shakespeare (who, as I have heard, was a much better Poet than Player), Burbage, Hemmings, and others of the older sort, were dead before I knew the Town. But, in my time, before the Wars; Lowin used to act, with mighty applause, Falstaff; Morose; Vulpone; and Mammon in the Alchemist; Melancius in the Maid's tragedy. And at the same time, Amyntor was played by Stephen Hammerton: who was, at first, a most noted and beautiful Woman-Actor; but afterwards he acted, with equal grace and applause, a young lover's part.
Taylor acted Hamlet incomparably well; Jago; Truewit, in the Silent Woman; and Face, in the Alchemist.
Swanston used to play Othello.
Pollard and Robinson were Comedians. So was Shank; who used to act Sir Roger in the Scornful Lady. These were of the 'Blackfriars'. . . .
Truman. Before the Wars, there were in being, all these Play Houses at the same time.
The 'Blackfriars' and 'Globe' on the Bankside. A winter, and
summer house belonging to the same Company; called 'The
King's Servants'.
The 'Cockpit' or 'Phoenix' in Drury Lane; called 'The Queen's Servants'.
The Private House in Salisbury Court; called 'The Prince's Servants'.
The 'Fortune' near White Cross Street: and the 'Red Bull' at the upper end of St. John's Street. The two last were mostly frequented by citizens, and the meaner sort of people.
All these Companies got money, and lived in reputation: especially
those of the 'Blackfriars', who were men of grave and sober behaviour.
Lovewit. Which I much admire at. That the Town, much less than at present, could then maintain Five Companies; and yet now Two can hardly subsist.
Truman. Do not wonder, but consider! That though the Town was then, perhaps, not much more than half so populous as now; yet then the prices were small (there being no scenes), and better order kept among the company that came: which made very good people think a play an innocent diversion for an idle hour or two; the plays being then, for the most part, more instructive and moral. . . . It is an argument of the worth of the Plays and Actors of the last Age, and easily inferred that they were much beyond ours in this, to consider that they could support themselves merely from their own merit, the weight of the matter, and goodness of the action; without scenes and machines. . . .
Lovewit. I have read of one Edward Alleyn. . . . Was he one of the 'Blackfriars'?
Truman. Never, as I have heard; for he was dead before my time. He was Master of a Company of his own; for whom he built
