Q (1604) refers to an inhibition and an innovation. Probably this is a veiled allusion to the popularity of the children, an innovation, which had almost the effect of an inhibition. If we must find an express inhibition, that due to the visitation of the Plague, 1603, may answer the purpose. In January 1604 the children became "the Children of her Majesty's Revels"; in 1603 Shakespeare's company became the King's servants. It was inexpedient that the King's servants should censure the Queen's children. Hence the omission of any reference to boy actors in Q 1604.
The passage in F refers not only to boy actors, but probably also to the "war of the theatres," in which Jonson, Marston, Dekker took prominent parts. The children performed Cynthia's Revels, 1600, and The Poetaster, 1601. Jonson admits that he had "tax'd" the players, but only some of them, and that "sparingly" (see Apologeticall Dialogue appended to The Poetaster). A far less probable suggestion as to the "inhibition" is, that it refers to the disgrace of Shakespeare's company at court in 1601, owing to the share they had taken, by a performance of Richard II., in the conspiracy of Essex. See S. Lee's Life of Shakespeare, pp. 213–217.
