As it was plaide by the Queenes Maiesties
Players.
LONDON
Printed by Thomas Creede, 1598.
(Original Image)
Dr. Greg, in his magnificent edition of Henslowe’s Diary, no doubt relates all that is known about these London companies, Malone and Halliwell-Phillipps being his chief authorities. I think he makes a great mistake in quoting Collier, as this forger of documents and dishonest man of letters has no right to be regarded as a serious historian. All the documents he quotes may have been doctored in order to bolster up his own statements, besides which, anyone using a document which has passed through his hands should be very careful in recording the contents without a close examination, as many documents which he examined have been tampered with.
In Shakespeare’s time the companies acting in London before the death of Queen Elizabeth were eight in number, as follows:
The Queen’s Servants.
The Earl of Leicester’s Servants.
The Earl of Pembroke’s Servants.
The Earl of Worcester’s Servants.
The Lord Strange’s Servants.
The Lord Hunsdon’s Servants.
The Earl of Sussex’ Servants.
The Lord Admiral’s Servants.