King Xerxes

Anon. (1575)

Historical Records

Accounts of the Office of the Revels

The accounts of the Office of the Revels record various expenses disbursed in the preparation of the performance of "Xerxes" and its aftermath. Payments were made for Thomas Blagrave's two trips to Windsor to peruse and reform the play; for armor lent from the armorer Roger Tindall; for wax for a cake; for a wig to be worn by Xerxes' sister; for a canvas fringe to decorate the set; and for the transportation of three loads of materials to Blackfriars after the play was performed.

	Thomas Blagrave esquier for mony by him disburced
	vpon sundry occazions concerning this Office and Thaffares
	thereof as foloweth videlicet
	26o Novembris. 1574
Iorneyeng charges	Horshyer and charges by the waye at Wynsor
	stayeng there ij dayes in November iiij
	daies for pervzing & Reformyng of ffarantes
	playe &c.	xlijs vjd
	.5o. Decembris 1574
	[…]
	Mr Knevett vpon certayne devices & to pervze
	ffarantes playe there againe iij daies the charges
	wherof with horsemeate at kingston is	xxvijs viijd
	[…]
	6o Ianvarij
	[…]
Hier of Armour	To Roger Tyndall tharmerer for Lending of Armor for
	ffarrantes playe and for attending the same	xjs. iiijd.
	[…]
Wexchaundler	Wax for A Cake in ffarrantes playe	iijs vjd.
	[…]
	Edward Buggyn gentleman clerkcomptrowler of Thoffice
	for mony by him disburced videlicet
	[…]
	xjo. Ianvarij.
	for A periwigg of Heare for king xerxces syster
	in ffarrantes playe	iiijs. viijd.
	for Cariage of iij Lode of stuf (for the playe &c. on
	twelfe Nighte) to the watersyde at the Blackfryers	iijs.
	[…]
	.jo. ffebruarij .1574.
neccessaries	for ij ells of Canvas to make frenge for the players
	howse in farrantes play	xxd

(The National Archives, AO 3/907/4, ff. 9r–10r, 12r; qtd. Feuillerat 238-40, 244)

Declared Accounts of the Treasurer of the Chamber

(MSC VI, 9)

Theatrical Provenance

Performed on 6 January 1575 by the Children of Windsor before the Queen at Hampton Court.

Probable Genre(s)

Classical History (?) (Harbage)

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References to the Play

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For What It's Worth

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