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In the early years of this company’s existence a difficulty is experienced in tracing with any degree of certainty their actual playing place. They may have occupied the stages of the Theatre and the Curtain for short periods, but most possible of all, their chief stage was one of the inn-yards of which so little is known, although they played so important a part in early theatrical days. A document exists showing that in 1587 they set up bills in the City every day in the week, “so that when the bells toll for the Lecturer the trumpets sound to the stages to the joy of the wicked faction of Rome.” The first mention of the Lord Admiral’s men in the Diary occurs in Folio 9, under the following entry:
“In the name of God Amen, beginning the 14th of May, 1594, by the Lord Admiral’s men.”
Then follows the entry of three performances, the last taking place on the 16th of May. Another entry is as follows:
“In the name of God Amen, beginning at Newington, my Lord Admiral’s men and my Lord Chamberlain’s men, as followeth 1594.”
The two companies played alternately from the 3rd of June until the 13th, when a line is drawn in the Diary, which indicates that the two-fold engagement was at an end.
The Admiral’s men returned to the Rose and played there from the 13th of June, 1594, and continued until the 25th of June, 1595, opening again on the 25th of August, continuing until the following February, 1596, when a break occurs until the 12th of April of the same year. On and off they acted at this theatre until the year 1600, when Henslowe removed his company to his new theatre in Golden Lane, called the Fortune. At this theatre they acted under various patrons until the place was burnt down in 1621. Alleyn, noting the event in his diary: “Midnight this night, at 12 o’clock, the Fortune was burnt.” The catastrophe is more detailed in a letter from Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carleton.