LC 2/4/5, page 77
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Document-specific information
Creator: Lord Chamberlain's Department
Title: Progress of James I through the city of London. This file mentions a grant of cloth to William Shakespeare.
Date: May 15, 1604
Repository: The National Archives, Kew, UK
Call number and opening: LC 2/4/5, p. 77-80
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LC 2/4/5, page 78
Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England.
Terms of use
The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, Tel: 020 8392 5225 Fax: 020 8392 5266.
Document-specific information
Creator: Lord Chamberlain's Department
Title: Progress of James I through the city of London. This file mentions a grant of cloth to William Shakespeare.
Date: May 15, 1604
Repository: The National Archives, Kew, UK
Call number and opening: LC 2/4/5, p. 77-80
View online bibliographic record
LC 2/4/5, page 79
Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England.
Terms of use
The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, Tel: 020 8392 5225 Fax: 020 8392 5266.
Document-specific information
Creator: Lord Chamberlain's Department
Title: Progress of James I through the city of London. This file mentions a grant of cloth to William Shakespeare.
Date: May 15, 1604
Repository: The National Archives, Kew, UK
Call number and opening: LC 2/4/5, p. 77-80
View online bibliographic record
LC 2/4/5, page 80
Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England.
Terms of use
The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, Tel: 020 8392 5225 Fax: 020 8392 5266.
Document-specific information
Creator: Lord Chamberlain's Department
Title: Progress of James I through the city of London. This file mentions a grant of cloth to William Shakespeare.
Date: May 15, 1604
Repository: The National Archives, Kew, UK
Call number and opening: LC 2/4/5, p. 77-80
View online bibliographic record
Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives, London, England.
Terms of use
The National Archives give no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided.
Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives Image Library, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, Tel: 020 8392 5225 Fax: 020 8392 5266.
Document-specific information
Creator: Lord Chamberlain's Department
Title: Progress of James I through the city of London. This file mentions a grant of cloth to William Shakespeare.
Date: May 15, 1604
Repository: The National Archives, Kew, UK
Call number and opening: LC 2/4/5, p. 77-80
View online bibliographic record
The paper notebook shown here names William Shakespeare as a recipient of 4 1/2 yards of red cloth in anticipation of King James’s coronation progress, granting Shakespeare substantially the same recognition as the rest of the twenty-eight players named in the Lord Chamberlain’s account book.
On March 24, 1603, the day of Queen Elizabeth’s death in the 45th year of her reign, King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England. Once informed of his accession to the throne, James started a leisurely progress from Edinburgh to London. By the time he got within striking distance, however, plague was so rife that he had a quiet coronation on July 25, 1603 followed by a much grander royal pageant for his first entry into Parliament on March 15, 1604. As that day approached, more than a thousand royal servants were issued red or scarlet cloth, presumably to be made into livery (the uniform of a royal servant). The purchase and distribution of the cloth was recorded in a dedicated paper notebook.
Among those given 4-1/2 yards of red cloth each were nine “Players” of the king, ten of the queen, and nine of Prince Henry. The three lists of players occur separately under the servants of the king, the queen, and the prince, in that order, according to priority. Together the lists constitute a presumably complete roster of the twenty-eight adult players who made up the three leading playing companies of the realm in 1604.
The individual known to have been the leading player of each company is listed first. Thus the King’s players were headed by William Shakespeare, the Queen’s players by Christopher Beeston, and the Prince’s players by Edward Alleyn.
Whether the players were expected to walk in the procession, stand along the route as guards, or perform some other service, is generally unknown. Independent evidence reveals that the first two members of the Prince’s players, Edward Alleyn and William Bird (alias Bourne), delivered speeches at pageants constructed along the processional route.
[Our photographs show the list of King’s players starting on page 78 and ending on page 79. The four members of the office of the King’s Revels are shown at the bottom of page 79. Pages 77 and 80 are included for context. The lists of the other two companies (Queen’s, Prince’s) are not shown in our photographs but are included in our transcriptions.]
[Transcription by Alan H. Nelson. This transcription is pending final vetting]
Pages 84 and 94 cited below are not currently shown in our photos, but will be added.
[Image 1 p. 77]
Skarlet / Red cloth
[LEFT MARGIN:] Messingers
Miles Dixon iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Robert Cooke iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Byrry iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Adam Kinge iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Henry Maunder iiij yardes di [red cloth]
William Hilliard iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Kinge iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Hughe Price iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Richard Vdall iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Arthur Grimes iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Phillip Eves iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Wattes iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iames Dier iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Randall Snowe iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Bennett Blomfeild iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Cutbert Stillingfleete iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Shawe iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Tarlox [Tarkox?] iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Richard Burche iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Owyn Garway iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Robert Goodshawe iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Roger Okey iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Christopher Porter iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Hughe Peache iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Valentine Harris iiij yardes di [red cloth]
William Waterton iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] the Master of the Hawkes
Sir Robert Dormer knight v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[Image 2: p. 78]
Skarlet / Red cloth
[LEFT MARGIN:] Serieaunte [of the Hawks]
Michaell Throgmorton iiij yardes di [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] fawkeners in Ordinary
Mr Alexander Moncriff iiij yardes di [scarlet cloth]
Thomas Moncriff iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iames Quarrier iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Cargill iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iams Fisher iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] fawkeners
Richard Edmundes iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Baxter iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Sall iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Wilchey[?] iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Gregory Harebotle iiij yardes di [red cloth]
George Garrett iiij yardes di [red cloth]
George Wilchin iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Richard Prince iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Christopher Barwiche iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Taylor iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Sampson Mischin iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Poulten iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Neale iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Players [King's]
William Shakespeare iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Augustine Phillipps iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Lawrence ffletcher iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Hemminges iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Richard Burbidge iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[Image 3: p. 79]
Damask / Skarlet / Red cloth
William Slye iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Robert Armyn iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Henry Cundell iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Richard Cowley iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Officers
Edmunde Tomlins butler of ye starchamber iiij yardes di
Richard Male Cooke of ye starchamber iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Walker keeper of white Hall iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Alphonso ffowler keeper of St Iames iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Wynyard keeper of Hampton Courte iiij yardes di [scarlet cloth]
William Rusbrocke keeper of Richmount howse iiij yardes di [red cloth]
William Andrewe doorekeeper of ye priuie [Chamber] kitchin iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Clarke of ye Closett
Mr Doctor Neale v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Master of ye reuells
Edmunde Tilney x yardes [damask]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Clarke of ye Revelles
William Hunninges v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Comptroler of ye Revelles
Edmunde Pakenham v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Yeoman of ye Revelles
Edmunde Kirkeham v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[Image 4: p. 80]
Velvet crimson / Skarlet / Red cloth
[LEFT MARGIN:] Keeper of the Counsell Chamber dore
Humfrey Rogers iiij yardes di [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Gardiner of Richemont
Edward Lovell iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] An officer of ye wardrobe
Thomas Bond iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Gromes of ye Roabes
Robert Iossey viij yardes [velvet crimson] v yardes [scarlet cloth]
Iames Chambers viij yardes [velvet crimson] v yardes [scarlet cloth]
Gawen Howme viij yardes [velvet crimson] v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Yeomen of ye Buttery
Richard Goodman iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Constables of St Martins in the feilds
William Iones iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Edward Hewes iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Paule Vincent iiij yardes di [red cloth]
William Dugdale iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Marshalls in the Hall
David Murrey v yardes [scarlet cloth]
Samuell Michell v yardes [scarlet cloth]
[LEFT MARGIN:] A waighter in the Hall
Allen Sharratt iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[No photo: p. 84]
…
[LEFT MARGIN:] Players [Queen's]
Christopher Beeston iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Robert Lee iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iohn Duke iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Robert Palante iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Richard Purkins iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Haward iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Iames Houlte iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Swetherton iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Grene iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Robert Beeston iiij yardes di [red cloth]
[No photo: p. 94]
[LEFT MARGIN:] Players [Prince Henry's]
Edward Allen iiij yardes di [red cloth]
William Bird iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Towne iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Thomas Dowton iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Samuel Rowley iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Edward Iubie iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Humfry Ieffes iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Charles Massey iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Anthony Ieffes iiij yardes di [red cloth]
Written by Alan H. Nelson
Sources
E.K. Chambers, William Shakespeare: a Study of Facts and Problems (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1930) 2:73.
B. Roland Lewis, The Shakespeare Documents: Facsimiles, Transliterations, Translations and Commentary, vol. 2 (Stanford University, California: Stanford University Press, 1940), 367-8.
Alan H. Nelson, “Calling All (Shakespeare) Biographers! or, A Plea for Documentary Discipline,” in Shakespeare, Marlowe, Jonson, ed. Ronnie Mulryne (Aldershot, Hampshire: Ashgate, 2006), 55-67.
Samuel Schoenbaum, William Shakespeare: A Documentary Life (New York: Oxford University Press, 1975), 196, 199.
David Thomas, Shakespeare in the Public Records (London: H.M.S.O., 1985), 15.
Last updated November 21, 2023
