24 CHILDREN OF THE CHAPEL AT BLACKFRIARS 
About 1581 Stephen Gossen gives us to understand that a great 
many comedies were being acted at Blackfriars.1 In 1584 Lyly’s 
Campaspe and his Sapho and Phao were published. Each con- 
tains two prologues,—“The prologue at Blackfriars,” and “The 
prologue at Court.’”’ There is no known documentary declaration 
as to what company or companies played at Blackfriars then. 
But the two plays named were, as their title-pages show,” pre- 
sented conjointly by the Paul’s Boys and the Children of the 
Chapel. It is then likely that under their respective Masters the 
same joint presentation of at least these two plays and possibly 
others was made at Blackfriars. 
There are no further evidences that the house in question was 
used as a theatre prior to its purchase and remodeling by James 
Burbage, 1596-97.° 
At some undetermined time between the above use-and the 
purchase by James Burbage Feb. 4, 1595-[6], the large hall of 
the second floor was divided into rooms,* and the entire building 
was converted into apartments for residence and lodging.® 
The site of Blackfriars theatre is well known mainly to the- 
atrical histories. In busy modern London, it is in fact quietly 
secluded in a tract that corresponds roughly to the ancient pos- 
sessions of the monastery and that is bounded by two of the 
busiest streets of London on the north and west, near the lines 
of the ancient wall. If vou are at St. Paul’s, and wish to reach 
the site of the Blackfriars theatre, go southwestward five minutes 
*“But in Playes either those “Sapho and Phao, played beefore 
thinges are found that never were, 
as Cupid and Psyche plaid at 
Paules; and a great many Céedies 
more at y° Blacke friers, and in 
euery Playe house in London.”"— 
Stephen Gosson, Plays Confuted in 
Five Actions (ca. 1581), reprinted 
in The English Drama and Stage 
(ed. Hazlitt, Roxburghe Library, 
1869), 188. 
*“A most excellent Comedie of 
Alexander, Campaspe, and Diog- 
enes, played beefore the Queene’s 
Maiestie on twelfe day at night by 
her Maiesties Children, and the 
Children of Paules. Imprinted at 
London, for Thomas Cadman, 
1584.” [First edition.] 
the Queene’s Maiestie on Shrove- 
tewsday by her Maiesties Children, 
and the Boyes of Paules. Im- 
printed at London by Thomas Cad- 
man, 1584.” 
*For notice of the Collier for- 
geries and the consequent errors 
still followed by literary historians, 
see Historical Preface in forthcom- 
ing complete work. 
“«.. all those seaven greate 
upper romes as they are now de- 
vided, beinge all uppon one flower 
and sometyme beinge one greate 
and entire rome.”’—Deed to James 
Burbage, Feb. 4, 1595-[96], in Hal- 
liwell-Phillips, op. cit., I, 299. 
*See deed, uw. s. 
138 
