“The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke. By William Shakespeare. As it hath beene diverse times acted by his Highnesse servants in the Cittie of London, as also in the two Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and elsewhere.
“At London printed for N L and John Trundell.
1603.”
The company assumed the title of the King’s Servants almost immediately on his accession. There is no record of their playing in London during the year 1603, which may be accounted for by a severe visitation of the plague, which caused all theatres and places of amusement to be closed. While the plague lasted, the Court was transferred to Wilton, the seat of the Earl of Pembroke, and there Shakespeare and his company acted on the 29th December, 1603. The plague continued during the next three months; meanwhile the company acted before the King at Hampton Court on several occasions. The provincial towns were again organized, for they are found playing at Shrewsbury, Bath, Coventry, and Oxford; at the last place “Hamlet” was one of the plays given.
A
YORKSHIRE
Tragedy.
Not so New as Lamentable
and true.
Acted by his Maiesties Players at
the Globe.
VVritten by VV. Shakspeare.
