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Document-specific information
Creator: Records of the Lord Chancellor
Title: Warrant under the privy seal for the issue of letters patent authorizing Shakespeare and his companions to perform plays throughout the realm under royal patronage
Date: May 18, 1603
Repository: The National Archives, Kew, UK
Call number and opening: C 82/1690, no. 78
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[recto]
It is to be remembered that this writ was delivered by the undersigned on the 19th of May to be executed by the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England at Westminster.
James, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, etc.
To our right trusty and well-beloved counsellor Sir Thomas Egerton, knight, keeper of our great seal of England, Greeting. We will and command you that under our said great seal, being in your custody, you cause our letters patents to be made forth, in form following:
James, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, etc.
To all Justices, Mayors, Sheriffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and other our officers and loving subjects, Greeting. Know ye that we of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have licensed and authorized, and by these present do license and authorize, these our servants Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustine Phillipps, John Hennings, Henry Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn, Richard Cowley, and the rest of their associates freely to use and exercise the art and faculty of playing comedies, tragedies, histories, interludes, morals, pastorals, stage plays, and such other like as they have already studied or hereafter shall use or study, as well for the recreation of our loving subjects as for our solace and pleasure when we shall think good to see them during our pleasure. And the said comedies, tragedies, histories, interludes, morals, pastorals, stage plays and such like to show and exercise publicly to their best commodity, when the infection of the plague shall decrease, as well when their now usual house called the Globe, within our County of Surrey, as also within any town, hall, or moot halls, or other convenient places within the liberties and freedom of any other city, university, town, or borough whatsoever within our said realms and dominions. Willing and commanding you and every of you, as you tender our pleasure, not only to permit and suffer them herein without any your lets, hinderances, or molestations during our said pleasure, but also to be aiding and assisting to them if any wrong be to them offered, and to allow them such former courtesies as hath been given to men of their place and quality, and also what further favour you shall show to these our servants, for our sake, we shall take kindly at your hands. In witness whereof, etc.
Given under our privy seal at our Manor of Greenwich the eighteenth day of May in the first year of our reign in England, France, and Ireland, and in Scotland, the six and thirtieth.
Examined by Mylles
Received 19 May 1603
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Memorandum quod xixmo die Maij Anno infrascripto istud breve deliberatum fuit domino Custodi magni Sigilli Angliae apud Westmonasterium
exequendum
James by the grace of God kinge of England Scotland ffraunce and Ireland defendor of the faith. &c. To our right Trusty and welbeloved Counsellor Sir Thomas
Egerton knight keeper of our great Seale of England. greeting. Wee will and Commaund you that vnder our said great Seale being in your Custody you cause our lettres patentes
to be made forth in forme following. James by the grace of God kinge of England Scotland ffraunce and Ireland defendor of the faith &c. To all
Iustices Maiors, Sheriffes, Constables, Hedborowes, and other our officers and loving Subiectesgreeting. Knowe yee that wee of our speciall grace certeine
knowledge and mere motion haue licensed and authorized, and by these present doe licence and authorize these our Servauntes Lawrence ffletcher,
William Shakespeare, Richard Burbage, Augustine P[h]illippes, John Henninges, Henry Condell, William Sly, Robert Armyn, Richard
Cowlye, and the rest of their associates freely to vse and exercise the Art and Facultie of playinge Comedies, Tragedies, Histories, Enterludes,
Moralles, Pastoralles, Stageplaies, and such other like as they haue alreadie studied or hereafter shall vse or studye as well for the recreation
of our loving Subiectes as for our solace and pleasure when wee shall thinke good to see them during our pleasure. And the said Comedies, Tragedies,
Histories, Enterludes, Moralles, Pastoralles, Stageplayes and such like to shew and exercise publiquely to their best commoditie, when the
infection of the plague shall decrease aswell when their now vsuall howse called the Globe within our County of Surrey, as alsoe within
any Towne, Halles, or Moutehalles, or other convenient places within the liberties and freedome of any other Citie, Vniversitie, Towne, or Borough
whatsoever within our said Realmes and dominions Willinge and Commaunding you and every of you as you tender our pleasure not only to permitt
and suffer them herein without any your lettes, hinderaunces, or molestacions during our said pleasure, but alsoe to be aiding and assisting to them
if any wronge be to them offered, And to allowe them such former courtesies as hath bene given to men of their place and qualety, and alsoe what further
favour you shall shewe to theise our Servauntes for our sake wee shall take kindely at your handes. In wittnesse whereof &c. Given vnder our
privie Seale at our Mannor of Grenewich the Eighteenth daie of May in the first yeare of our Raigne in England ffraunce and
Ireland, and in Scotland the sixe and Thirtieth.
Ex. per Mylles
Rec .19. Maij .1603./
