23 April, 1596 - Chinon of England

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 23 of ap^rell 1596 ... R at chinon ... xx^s

In modern English: 23^rd April, 1596 ... Received at Chinon ... 20 shillings

The Knights of the Round
Table, from the Compilation
arthurienne de Micheau
Gonnot (1470)

Happy St George's Day! Today, Londoners celebrated England's patron saint with feasting and processions. On this day, the Admiral's Men have chosen an appropriately patriotic play: Chinon of England, their lost Arthurian drama about a fool who becomes a knight. You can read more about this play in the entry for 3 January.

Today must be a great disappointment for the company, however. On St George's Day last year, a huge crowd arrived at the Rose to be entertained. This year, the crowd is the same as any other day. Henslowe cannot be happy with the way this season is going.

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)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!

23 April, 1595 - The Grecian Comedy

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

Henslowe writes: y^e 24 of ap^rell 1595 ... R at the grecian comody ... lj^s 

In modern English: 23^rd April, 1595 ... Received at The Grecian Comedy ... 51 shillings

The Love of Helen and Paris
by Jacques-Louis David (1789)

Happy St George's Day! Today, Londoners celebrated England's patron saint with feasting and processions. And, of course, by doing to the Rose playhouse, where the Admiral's Men revived The Grecian Comedy.

 We know nothing about this play beyond its title, although Henslowe sometimes calls it The Grecian Lady, which adds a tiny bit more information; you can read more about it in the entry for 5 October, 1594. Normally, this play would attract only a small audience, but today's festivities have resulted in a large crowd.

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)

Comments?

Did I make a mistake? Do you have a question? Have you anything to add? Please post a comment below!