The chamberlain’s account presented to the Stratford-upon-Avon Corporation, including the first recorded payments to troupes of actors visiting the town

In the later part of the 16th century, the chamberlains' accounts submitted to the Corporation show regular payments to traveling troupes of players. The first recorded payments, presumably for private performances, appear in this account, submitted on January 27, 1570, which lists a payment of 9 shillings to the Queen’s Players and 12 pence to the Earl of Worcester’s Players. Although this is the first theater payment submitted to the Corporation, it does not necessarily mark the first time players had visited Stratford-upon-Avon. There are no surviving chamberlains' accounts from before 1564, or for the year 1567, and in any case it is not certain that visits always required the Corporation’s cooperation.

These first recorded payments to player troupes are of additional interest because they appear in accounts covering the period from Michaelmas (September 25) 1568 to Michaelmas 1569, when John Shakespeare was serving as bailiff. Although it is unlikely that John Shakespeare had personally invited these troupes to visit the town, the payments do at least indicate that he was not opposed to extending them the Corporation’s patronage.