THE QUEEN’S PURPOSES 155 
undertake forcible measures. But she can do much by carrying 
_ out her own royal purpose in giving countenance and support to 
a theatre for the better sort of patrons and recognizing only such 
_ of the public theatre companies at Court as have chief merit. And 
her high example and exclusive recognition work results despite 
the City’s attitude. 
- Within ten days after the above request and order of July 28, 
1597, Nash’s satirical Isle of Dogs was acted at the Rose. Tem- 
porary restraint of that theatre, not by the City officials to whom 
the power was just granted but by the Queen’s Court, immediately 
followed. The restraining order was recalled psec 27, and the - 
Rose was allowed to go on. 
Within the next six months we find that definite shape to the 
Queen’s plans, as outlined above, which she pursued to the last. 
February 19,1597—[8], Queen Elizabeth caused her Privy Coun- 
cil to send letters to the Master of the Revels and Justices of Mid- 
dlesex and Surrey, in which we learn the Chamberlain’s company, 
to which Shakespeare belonged, and the Admiral’s players under 
the Henslowe-Alleyn régime, have been specially licensed and 
retained for her service.” All others are to be suppressed. So 
far as she was concerned, no other public companies should have 
recognition of her patronage or license. None did. These are 
the only men’s companies that appear thereafter for five years at 
- Court,? with the exception of one single play by Derby’s men, 
_ Shrove Tuesday, February 14, 1600.4 
| Between 28 December, 1598,° and about August, 1599, the Bur- 
bages, having torn down the Theatre, used its materials in build- 
7 
ll a le aN Pa 
ey 
XxXxii- 
Pub., 
XXXIV. 
*See records in Henslowe’s Diary 1842), Introduction, 
(ed. Collier, Shakesp. Soc. Pub., 
1845), 94, 98, 99, 258. Also in J. P. “For record of payment see Acts 
— Collier, op. cit., I, 295-97. of the Privy Council, 1599-1600 
*See letter from original docu- (ed. J. R. Dasent, New Series), 
ment in Acts of the Privy Council, XXX, 89. Also in George Chal- 
1597-98 (ed. J. R. Dasent, New Se-_ mers, op. cit., III, 450. 
ries, 1904), XXVIII, 327. Also in F. G. Fleay, A Chronicle History 
J. P. Collier, op. cit., I, 298. of the London Stage (1890), 122, 
*For official records of the Court- 
payments to these two companies, 
1598-1603, see Extracts from the 
Accounts of the Revels at Court 
(ed. P. Cunningham, Shakesp. Soc. 
says the date of playing was Febr. 
Sip. 133; . hebr.., 7. But by the 
Baroni Easter-table it is Feb. 14, 
1600. 
5 Supra, 28°. 
269 
