anterbury, Cinque Ports, Southampton, the Welsh boarder, and the Yorkshire hills in Airedale" (McMillin MacLean 39). They would also go on to perform many plays including The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth, Phillyda and Corin, Felix and Philiomena, King Leire, Selimus, The True Tragedy of Richard III, Peele's Old Wive's Tale, and many more. (Chambers 114) But what made the company a favorite besides the point that it was the Queen's company, was actor Richard Tarlton. Richard Tarlton was considered to be a "comic genius" (Somerset 369) Through Tarlton's acting, the Queen's Men would be even more popular. He pleased everyone; it is said that just his appearance would send the audience into "uncontrollable laughter" (Somerset 370). But he "pleased no one more than the queen," (McMillin and MacLean xiii). Tarlton was not considered a dramatic actor; his talents ran more to jigs and themes" (Chambers vol. II 109). When Richard Tarlton died in 1588, the Queen's Men began an irreversible decline. Their fall was unforeseen. "In 1590-1 they gave four Court plays to two by their rivals; in 1591-2 they gave one, and their rivals six" (Chambers vol. II 6). The Queen's Men were reduced to "forming a coalition with the lord Sussex's men" (Chambers vol. II 6). After the decline of The Queen's Men, it was the Chamberlain's Men who were favored more than any other Adult performing company at Queen Elizabeth's Court; "It is The Chamberlain's Men who made the English history play count in the 1590's" (McMillin and MacLean xiv). It is rather complicated to try and explain the history of the Chamberlain's Men. Henry Carey was the first Lord Hunsdon and patron of Hunsdon's men, and The Hunsdon's Men existed from 1564 to 1567. Henry Carey then accepted office as Lord Chamberlain in 1585, and took under his patronage The Lord Chamberlain's Men. After the Death of their first patron, his son George Carey, the 2nd Hunsdon took on the job as patron and agai...
