[Footnote 324: _The Diary of the Duke of Stettin-Pomerania_, printed in _Transactions of the Royal Historical Society_ (1890). The diary was written by the Duke's tutor, Gerschow, at the express command of the Duke.] [Footnote 325: It is hard to believe Mr. Wallace's novel theory that the Children of the Chapel were subsidized by Elizabeth, as presented in his otherwise valuable _The Children of the Chapel at Blackfriars_. Burbage and Heminges knew nothing of such a royal patronage at Blackfriars (see Fleay, _op. cit._, p. 236), nor did Kirkham, the Yeoman of the Revels (_ibid._, p. 248). Kirkham and his partners spent L600 on apparel, etc., according to Kirkham's statement.] Perhaps the most interesting testimony to the success of the Chapel Children in their new playhouse is that uttered by Shakespeare in _Hamlet_ (1601), in which he speaks of the performances by the "little eyases" as a "late innovation." The success of the "innovation" had driven Shakespeare and his troupe of grown-up actors to close the Globe and travel in the country, even though they had _Hamlet_ as an attraction. The good-natured way in which Shakespeare treats the situation is worthy of special observation: _Ham._ What players are they? _Ros._ Even those you were wont to take delight in, the tragedians of the city.[326] _Ham._ How chances it they travel? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways.[327] _Ros._ I think their inhibition comes by means of the late innovation. _Ham._ Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city? are they so followed? _Ros._ No, indeed, they are not! _Ham._ How comes it? do they grow rusty? _Ros._ Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is, sir, an aerie of children,[328] little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped for 't. These are now the fashion, and so berattle the "common stages"--so they call them--that many wearing rapiers [i.e., gallants] are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither. _Ham._ What! are they children? who maintains 'em? how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing? [Footnote 326: The Children were acting light comedies such as _Cynthia's Revels_; the Lord Chamberlain's Men were acting _Hamlet_.] [Footnote 327: Shakespeare's troupe is known to have been traveling in the spring of 1601.] [Footnote 328: Cf. Middleton's _Father Hubbard's Tales_, already quoted, "a nest of boys." Possibly the idea was suggested by the fact that the children were lodged and fed in the building.] The passage ends with the question from Hamlet: "Do the boys carry it away?" which gives Rosencrantz an opportunity to pun on the sign of the Globe Playhouse: "Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load, too."