30 December, 1592 - Hieronimo

Here's what Lord Strange's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: R at Joronymo the 30 of Decembȝ 1592 ... iij^ll viij^s

In modern English: Received at Hieronimo, 30^th December, 1592 ... £3 and 8 shillings 

Woodcut from the 1615 edition of The Spanish Tragedy.

Today was the company's second day back in the Rose playhouse, and their audience was still thrilled to have them back. They chose today to revive Hieronimo, which is almost certainly an alternate title for Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. This play was already one of the classics of the Elizabethan stage and was famed for its quotable lines and for Edward Alleyn's memorable performances as the grief stricken father seeking revenge for the death of his son. You can read more about this play in the entry for 14th March. 

In its previous season, the company had often achieved impressive box office with The Spanish Tragedy, although their frequent performances of it gradually eroded its popularity through over-familiarity. Now, though, with London starved of the play for 6 months, it was back to its former glory. Alleyn must have enjoyed once again performing "Oh eyes, no eyes, but fountains filled with tears" to a packed theatre. I can't help thinking it must have been a bit like a Monkees revival tour.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

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