One of the most successful companies in Shakespeare’s time was that known during the latter years as the Lord Chamberlain’s Servants.
The early history of this company is traced back to a troupe of actors under the patronage of Lord Strange. The first years of its career are practically unknown, beyond a few records of performances in provincial towns, prior to 1589 no reference of any description is known of the company’s appearance on the London stage, nor of a command performance at Court before 1591.
This company comes into greater prominence than others of no less distinction, chiefly on account of Shakespeare being one of the members. In all probability he joined this company after the death of his first patron, the Earl of Leicester, in 1588, when many of the actors of Leicester’s company threw in their lot with the Strange contingent. With the latter he remained, participating in all the varying fortunes of so hazardous an existence and vicissitude until his retirement from the stage.
Unfortunately for future students, this company found no minute chronicler like Henslowe, recording all the performances and other details connected with the daily routine of the theatre, events which would have greatly interested future generations of those who make a study of the Elizabethan stage. Scattered up and down the country, a few municipal documents have been discovered bearing upon this company, a fact which must cheer the hopes of those engaged in this dreary work that other references will in due course be found. At present, only by piecemeal, can any continuous history of this important London company be constructed.
The first document of any importance is dated 1589, proving that Lord Strange’s men acted at the Cross Keys, an inn-yard situated in Gracechurch Street. But playing there was contrary to an order forbidding acting in the City; they thereby incurred the censure of the Lord Mayor, who promptly seized two of the members and committed them to the Compter.
From this period, 1589, until the 19th of February, 1592, their history remains a blank. Luckily, owing to the Diary, they can with certainty be located as acting at the Rose Theatre from the 19th of February, 1592, until June the 22nd of the same year; at that date the theatre was closed on account of the plague, when the company sought the patronage of the provincial playgoer. During the last few months of the year they will be found playing in the West of England: Bath and Gloucester possess records of visits paid there.
On their return to London at the end of the year, they gave a few performances at Newington Butts, and then opened again at the Rose. The season was of short duration, lasting only from December 15th until the beginning of February, when the theatre was again closed on account of the plague, forcing them once more on the suffrage of the provincial towns, where they are found playing at Bath, Bristol and Shrewsbury.
The year 1592 was quite a busy one: besides their London engagements and two provincial tours they acted three times at Hampton Court during the month of December.
In Henslowe’s invaluable Diary twenty-three plays are attributed to Lord Strange’s company on their first recorded visit at the Rose Theatre. Evidence is in existence that this theatre may have been built and plays performed there as early as 1587. One play is of exceptional interest, namely, the first part of “Henry VI,” which is included in the First Folio of Shakespeare’s complete dramatic works, published for the first time in 1623.
“Pericles” is not included in this edition; perhaps omitted through carelessness, as many editions had been issued during the poet’s lifetime, with his name on the title page.