Shakespeare of Stratford/The Biographical Facts/Fact 40

by Tucker Brooke

Layout 2

 

XL. THE KING’S PLAYERS AS GROOMS OF THE ROYAL CHAMBER IN ATTENDANCE ON THE SPANISH AMBASSADOR (1604).

From the Declared Accounts of the Treasurer of the King’s Chamber, August, 1604. (Public Record Office.)

To Augustine Phillipps and John Hemynges for the allowance of themselves and ten of their fellows, his Majesty’s Grooms of the Chamber and Players, for waiting and attending on his Majesty’s service by commandment upon the Spanish Ambassador at Somerset House, for the space of 18 days; viz., from the 9th day of August, 1604, until the 27th day of the same, as appeareth by a bill thereof signed by the Lord Chamberlain—21^li. 12^s.

Note. Though Shakespeare’s name is not specifically mentioned, it is virtually certain that he was included among the ten ‘fellows’ of Phillips and Heminge. See Ernest Law, Shakespeare as a Groom of the Chamber, 1910, and compare the lists of nine King’s Players in documents XXXVII and XXXIX.