Shakespeare and the Stage / With a Complete List of Theatrical Terms Used by Shakespeare in His Plays and Poems, Arranged in Alphabetical Order, & Explanatory Notes

William Somerset, Earl of Worcester, was patron of an important company of actors styling themselves the Earl of Worcester’s Servants. This company was formed at a very early date, namely, in 1555. During this period they travelled mostly in the provinces, visiting all the chief towns in England. At one time, Edward Alleyn, the famous actor, was a member of this troupe; his name is included in a list of actors in 1583, being then in his 16th year, and remained with this company until 1589, when he transferred his services to the Lord Admiral’s men. I cannot find any notice of their acting in London whilst under the patronage of William Somerset, but when his son, Edward Somerset, succeeded to the Earldom, on the death of his father in 1589, this company henceforth is found playing in the Metropolis. Visits to the Continent were periodically taken, notices being extant of their appearance in the Netherlands and other foreign countries.

The Diary records that they acted at the Rose Theatre in 1602 and 1603. According to a document they played at the “Boar’s Head,” the famous inn at Eastcheap. On the accession of James I, the Earl of Worcester’s servants entered into the service of Queen Anne, consort of James I. Although there are no existing documents recording the theatres in which they acted when in London during Elizabeth’s reign beyond the one reference to the Rose, no doubt they often acted in one or other of the London theatres, and more often at the London inns, where stages were usually set up. Two records exist of this company acting at Court, in which payment was made to Kemp, the celebrated clown, who, before joining the Worcester men, was a member of the Lord Chamberlain’s company. When the Worcester men became the servants of the Queen they acted chiefly at the Curtain.

In later years they leased the Red Bull Theatre, and continued acting there for a few years, until the company broke up; this would be about the year 1623, as from this date nothing further is heard of them.

A few plays which this company possessed were all printed in the early years of the seventeenth century:

In a pleasant conceited comedy is shown how a

The last play is the only one in which the name of the Earl of Worcester appears.

The title of Her Majesty’s Servants refers to Queen Anne, wife of James the First, and must not be confused with the company of Queen Elizabeth, bearing a similar appellation.