Behold here is another subject on which the Shakesperean student, by original research amongst the State and Records Office papers, might be able to throw considerable light on the histories of these dramatic companies. For the present the student must rely on the confused paragraphs of Fleay, recorded in his history of the stage. Mr. John Tucker Murray’s _English Dramatic Companies_ is a mine of information, chiefly describing the performances given in provincial towns by the London Companies, and also their Court performances. He likewise gives an excellent account of the minor companies which, previous to this work, were quite unknown, but little of anything new is related in connexion with the careers of the well-known London companies.
Containing the Honourable Battell of Agin-court:
_As it was plaide by the Queenes Maiesties Players._
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.
This company was formed in the year 1583. The chief actors from other companies were pressed into this new troupe of regal comedians: most of their names are known. Howe, in his edition of _Stow’s Annals_, published in 1615, mentions Wilson and Richard Tarlton, the former for a quiet, delicate and refined extemporal wit, and the latter for a wondrous, plentiful pleasant, extemporal wit; he was the wonder of his time.