at Gunter’s in the company of the Lord Monteagle, Sir Christopher Blount, Sir Charles Percy, Ellis Jones, and Edward Bushell, and who else he remembereth not. And after dinner that day, and at the motion of Sir Charles Percy and the rest, they went all together to the Globe over the water where the Lord Chamberlain’s men use to play, and were there somewhat before the play began, Sir Charles telling them that the play would be of Harry the Fourth.[1] Whether Sir John Davies were there or not this examinate cannot tell, but he said he would be there if he could. He cannot tell who procured that play to be played at that time except it were Sir Charles Percy, but as he thinketh it was Sir Charles Percy. Then he was at the same play, and came in somewhat after it was begun; and the play was of King Harry the Fourth and of the killing of King Richard the Second, played by the Lord Chamberlain’s players.
(B) Testimony of Shakespeare’s partner and friend, Augustine Phillips.
The examination of Augustine Phillips, servant unto the Lord Chamberlain and one of his players, taken the 18th of February, 1600, upon his oath. He saith that upon Friday last was sennight, or Thursday, Sir Charles Percy, Sir Joscelin Percy, and the Lord Monteagle, with some three more, spake to some of the players in the presence of this examinate to have the play of the deposing and killing of King Richard the Second to be played the Saturday next, promising to get them forty shillings more than their ordinary to
- ↑ Probably an equivocation. Shakespeare’s Richard II does, of course, introduce Henry IV, but Percy’s hearers would assume that he was taking them to see one of the two parts of King Henry IV.
