Lord Strange’s men were paid £20 and given £10 reward on March the 7th, 1593, for three plays presented at Hampton Court on St. John’s Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. This extract is taken from Chalmer’s Apology. The names of the plays are not recorded. Shakespeare was a member of Lord Strange’s company, and probably acted on this occasion.
The Earl of Warwick’s servants were paid a reward for acting before the Queen at Hampton Court in the Christmas Holydays; the name of the play was the “Painter’s Daughter.”
Lord Rich’s players were paid £6 13s. 4d. for presenting plays before the Queen on St. Stephen’s Day at night. Lord Rich’s company was quite an unimportant one, and was unknown in London; they acted at Hampton Court in 1569 and again in 1570. Court performances were frequently given here during the reigns of James I and Charles I.
WINDSOR CASTLE
Historically, Windsor Castle dates from before the Conquest. William the Conqueror was the first English king to reside here permanently. Little is heard of this fortress castle until the reign of Edward III, when a complete restoration was effected. One of the chief glories of the Castle is St. George’s Chapel, reconstructed on a princely scale by Edward IV. In Queen Elizabeth’s reign a new gallery and banqueting house were erected; the latter was situated at the extreme eastern side of the terrace; it was an octagon in shape, and was surmounted by a cupola, windows being placed on every side. The Great Hall was built in the reign of Henry III, and appears to have been a truly stately edifice. When Henry VIII entertained Charles the Fifth at Windsor in 1522, the great Hall was the scene of many festivities. At the upper end of the chamber a platform was erected, in the centre of which was a dais elaborately painted in royal state. On all sides of the Hall were several windows filled with fine stained glass. During Charles’s visit a play was presented in this Hall; after the play was ended, a most magnificent masque was introduced, in which twelve gentlemen and twelve ladies dressed in the most costly masquerade garments, all of which were in gold. After the dance a sumptuous banquet was held, which greatly added to the night’s entertainment.
1582. A play called “A History of Love and Fortune” was performed before the Queen at Windsor “on the Sondaie at night next before the newe yeares daie.” The play was produced by the Earl of Derby’s players.
1570. William Hunnis was paid £6 13s. 4d. for a play performed by the Chapel Children before the Queen on the Twelfth Night at Windsor. This William Hunnis was a poet musician, a keeper of the Queen’s gardens at Greenwich, and eventually was appointed Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal.
In 1582 a play called “A Game of Cards” was presented at Court. This play was performed before the Queen at Windsor on the evening of St. Stephen’s Day. In the original document the entry is as follows: “A Comodie or Morrall, devised on ‘A Game of the Cardes.’”
1569. Richard Farrant, Master of the Children of Windsor Chapel, was paid £6 13s. 4d. for a play “performed by these boys before the Queen upon St. John’s daye, at nighte last past.” There are several entries relating to this company, but the place where they acted is not stated; most probably the Windsor boys only acted at Windsor Castle.
1563. The Children of Westminster School acted before the Queen at Windsor.