162 
This was the last move on either side.* . 
Nevertheless, I am willing to take the evidence of Shakespeare 
and Jonson that the public theatres were steadily losing ground, 
The cause is rightly ascribed in Hamlet, as discussed in a later 
chapter.” 
During this period of five and a half years, the public theatres 
enjoyed the anomalous distinction of the City’s tacit favor and 
the Sovereign’s explicit disfavor. 
in their history. It amounts to an alliance of municipal and the- 
atrical enemies in a common cause against nationally enforced 
progress in theatrical conditions. 
suppress the Blackfriars in 1618- 
[19]; and in other cases touching 
on theatres, games, &c. 
This is negative but not less sure 
proof of the City’s inaction in ex- 
ecuting the orders they themselves 
asked for. Positive proof is the 
well-known fact that various com- 
panies were acting unrestrained by 
the City in the various public the- 
atres not only in 1602, but through- 
out this whole period. of 1597-1603. 
*The Privy Council’s order of 
March 19, 1602-[3], which I have 
not hitherto seen in print, might in 
disconnected relation be taken to be 
another move along similar lines. 
But it has reference to another mat- 
ter -— 
“T1602-[3], March] 19. Letters 
to the Lord Mayor and Justices of 
Middlesex and Surrey, for the re- 
straint of Stage plaies till other di- 
CHILDREN OF THE CHAPEL AT BLACKFRIARS 
There is no other such period 
rections be given.”—From MS. 
Camden Society Transcript of Privy 
Council Records, now preserved at 
Privy Council Office. This tran- 
script of extracts or abstracts of the 
Registers of the Privv Council de- 
stroyed by fire (wu. s., 160") is taken 
from Brit. Mus. Add. MS., 11402. 
next day to “Sondrie Earles and © 
Barons” to “take all possible care 
wee can for the preventing of dis- 
orders and for the continuance and — 
preservation of  tranquilitie 
peace in all parts of the Realme,” 
the fear of an uprising in case of 
the Queen’s expected death. Five 
days after the order, 24 March, 
1602-[3], the Queen passed away. 
* Infra, 173-82. 
