cepted. I shall now be able to liue free from those cares and troubles that hetherto haue been my continuall and wearisome companions. But a little time is paste since I was called vpon to thanke your Honor for my brothers advancement, and nowe I thanke you for my owne; which double kindnes will alwaies receive double gratefullness at both our handes. I cannot but knowe that I am lesse deseruing then some that sued by other of the nobilitie vnto her Maiestie for this roome: if M. Drayton, my good friend, had bene chosen, I should not have murmured, for sure I am he wold have filled it most excellentlie: but it seemeth to myne humble iudgement that one [Shakespeare] which is the authour of playes now daylie presented on the publick stages of London, and the possessor of no small gaines, and moreover himself an actor in the Kinges Companie of Comedians, could not with reason pretend to be Mr. of the Queenes Maiesties Reuelles, for as much as he wold sometimes be asked to approue and allowe of his owne writinge. Therfore he, and more of like qualitie, cannot iustly be disappointed because, through your Honors gracious interposition, the chance was haply myne. I owe this and all else to your Honor, and if ever I haue time and abilitie to finishe anie noble vndertaking, as God graunt one daye I shall, the worke will rather be your Honors then myne. God maketh a poet, but his creation wold be in vaine if patrones did not make him to liue. Your Honor hath ever showne yourselfe the friend of desert, and pitty it were if this should be the first exception to the rule. It shall not be whiles my poore witt and strength doe remaine to me, though the verses which I nowe sende be indeede noe proofe of myne abilitie. I onely intreat your Honor to accept the same, the rather as an earnest of my good will then as an example of my good deede. In all thinges I am your Honors Most bounden in dutie and obseruance, S. DANYELL.” No. VII. Copy of a Letter which Mr. Collier discovered among the Ellesmere Papers, and which he supposes to have been written by Lord Southampton. (See note 15, p. 95.) "My verie honored Lord. The manie good offices I haue receiued at your Lordships handes, which ought to make me backward in asking further favors, onely imbouldeneth me to require more in the same kinde. Your Lordship wilbe warned howe hereafter you graunt anie sute, seeing it draweth on more and greater demaundes. This which now presseth is to request your Lordship, in all you can, to be good to the poore players of the Blacke Fryers, who call themselues by authoritie the Servantes of his Maiestie, and aske for the proteccion of their most gracious Maister and Soueraigne in this the tyme of there troble. They are threatened by the Lord Maior and Aldermen of London, never friendly to their calling, with the distruccion of their meanes of livelihood, by the pulling downe of their plaiehouse, which is a priuate theatre, and hath never giuen ocasion of anger by anie disorders. These bearers are two of the chiefe of the companie: one of them by name Richard Burbidge, who humblie sueth for your Lordships kinde helpe, for that he is a man famous as our English Roscius, one who fitteth the action to the worde and the word to the action most admira[b]ly. By the exercise of his qualitie, industry, and good behauiour, he hath become possessed of the Blacke Fryers playhouse, which hath bene imployed for playes sithence it was builded by his father now nere 50 yeres agone. The other is a man no whitt lesse deseruing fauor, and my especial friende, till of late an actor of good account in the cumpanie, now a sharer in the same, and writer of some of our best English playes, which, as your Lordship knoweth, were most singulerly liked of Quene Elizabeth, when the cumpanie was called vppon to performe before her Maiestie at court at Christmas and Shrovetide. His most gracious Maiestie King James alsoe, since his coming to the crowne, hath extended his royall fauour to the companie in diuers waies and at sundrie tymes. This other hath to name William Shakespeare; and they are both of one countie, and indeede allmost of one towne: both are right famous in their qualities, though it longeth not of your Lordships grauitie and wisedome to resort vnto the places where they are wont to delight the publique eare. Their trust and sute nowe is, not to bee molested in their waye of life whereby they maintaine themselues and their wiues and families (being both maried and of good reputacion) as well as the widowes and orphanes of some of their dead fellows. Copia vera. Your Lo. most bounden at com. H. S." VOL. I. L No. VIII. A document, discovered by Mr. Collier among the Ellesmere Papers, which minutely describes the interest the different proprietors had in the Blackfriars Theatre; and which, according to Mr. Collier, was drawn up when the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, having failed in their attempts against the players, were negotiating with them for the purchase of the theatre. (See note 15, p. 96.) "For avoiding of the playhouse in the Blacke Friers. Impr., Richard Burbidge owith the fee, and is alsoe a sharer therein. His interest he rateth at the grosse summe of 1000li. for the fee, and for his foure shares the summe of 933li. 68. 8d. 1933li. 6s. 8d. Item, Laz. Fletcher owith three shares which he rateth at 700li., that is, at 7 years purchase for eche share, or 33li. 68. 8d. one yeare with an other 700li. Item, W. Shakspeare asketh for the wardrobe. and properties of the same playhouse 500li., and for his 4 shares the same as his fellowes Burbidge and Fletcher, viz. 933li. 68. 8d. 1433li. 68. 8d. 933li. 68. 8d. 350li. Item, Heminges and Condell, eche 2 shares them Summa totalis, 6166. 13. 4. 350li. Moreover, the hired men of the companie demaund some recompence for their greate losse, and the widowes and orphanes of players, who are paide by the sharers at divers rates and proporcions; soe as in the whole it will coste the Lo. Mayor and Citizens at the least 7000li." No. IX. A document, discovered by Mr. Collier at Dulwich College, showing that Shakespeare was rated to the poor of the Clink in Southwark. (See note 16, p. 96.) "A breif noat taken out of the poores booke, contayning the names of all thenhabitantes of this Liberty which arre rated and assesed to a weekely paiment towardes the relief of the poore; as it standes now encreased, this 6th day of Aprill, 1609. Delivered up to Phillip Henslowe Esquior, churchwarden, by Francis Carter, one of the late Ovreseers of the same Liberty. Draft of a warrant, empowering Daborne, Shakespeare, Field, and Kirkham to train up a company of juvenile performers, to be called The Children of the Queen's Revels, discovered by Mr. Collier among the Ellesmere Papers. (See note 24, p. 103.) "Right trustie and wellbeloued, &c. James, &c. To all mayors, sheriffes, justices of the peace, &c. Whereas the Queene, our dearest wife, hath for her pleasure and recreacion appointed her seruauntes Robert Daborne, &c. to prouide and bring vppe a conuenient nomber of children who shalbe called the Children of her Maiesties Reuelles, knowe yee that we haue appointed and authorized, and by these presentes doe appoint and authorize, the saide Robert Daborne, William Shakespeare, Nathaniel Field, and Edward Kirkham, from time to time to prouide and bring vpp a conuenient nomber of children, and them to instruct and exercise in the qualitie of playing tragedies, comedies, &c., by the name of the Children of the Reuelles to the Queene, within the Blacke Fryers in our cittie of London, and els where within our realme of England. Wherefore we will and commaund you and euerie of you, to permitte her said seruauntes to keepe a conuenient nomber of children by the name of the Children of the Reuelles to the Queene, and them to exercise in the qualitie of playing, acording to our royall pleasure: prouided allwayes that noe playes, &c., shalbe by them presented, but such playes, &c., as haue receiued the aprobacion and allowance of our Maister of the Reuelles for the tyme being. |