Richard Alleyn.[1] These latter were probably not sharers in the company, but can be traced with others amongst its subordinate members by means of the 'plot' of Frederick and Basilea, which it is reasonable to connect with the performances of the play in June and July 1597, since it was a new play on 3 June, and it is recorded in the diary that Martin Slater, who figures in the 'plot', left the company on 18 July. It is to be inferred from the plot that the principal parts in Frederick and Basilea were taken by Mr. Alleyn, Mr. Thomas Towne, Mr. Martin [Slater], Mr. Juby, Mr. Donstone, and R. Alleyn; that minor male parts were taken by Edward Dutton, Thomas Hunt, Robert Ledbetter, Black Dick, Pigge, Sam, Charles, and the 'gatherers' or money-*takers and other 'attendants'; and that female parts were taken by Edward Dutton's boy Dick and two other boys known as Will and Griffen. Apparently the play, although not employing all the principal actors, made considerable demands on the minor staff. Dr. Greg may be right in identifying Sam and Charles with the Samuel Rowley and Charles Massey who became members of the company at a later date.[2] It will be seen that the only name in Henslowe's undated list which cannot be verified as that of a member of the company during 1594-7 is that of Thomas Downton; but it may safely be accepted. Downton had accompanied Alleyn on the provincial tour with Strange's men in 1593. So had Pigge or Pyk. Jones and Donstone, who is the same as Tunstall, had belonged to Worcester's men in 1583, and probably to the Admiral's men before 1590; Jones had been abroad, as we have seen, during the plague years. John Singer had been a member of the Queen's men in 1588. The other names now come into the story for the first time. Henslowe's advances for 1596 included sums 'to feache Fletcher' and 'to feache Browne'.[3] It can only be matter of conjecture whether there is evidence here of negotiations for the incorporation in the company of Robert Browne and of Laurence Fletcher, at a later date a colleague of Slater's, and if so, whether they led to any fruitful result.
The departure of Martin Slater on 18 July 1597 was only one of several changes which profoundly modified the composition of the company in the course of that year.[4] In February*
- ↑ Henslowe, i. 29, 31, 43, 44, 199-201.
- ↑ I see no reason to agree with Dr. Greg in identifying 'Black Dick' with Jones, who would naturally have the 'Mr.'; and the suggestions that 'Dick' might be Dick Juby and that 'Will' might be Will Barnes or Will Parr are mere guesses based on the occurrence of these names in other 'plots'. 'Will' might just as well be Will Kendall.
- ↑ Henslowe, i. 45.
- ↑ Henslowe's entry is (i. 54), 'Martin Slather went for the company
