James I
James I (1566–1625),King of England (reigned 1603–25). Elizabeth I's distant cousin James VI, King of Scotland, succeeded her on the English throne in 1603. He had been a notable patron of drama in Scotland, and himself composed a masque for the Marquess of Huntley's marriage in Edinburgh in 1588. One of his first official acts as King of England was to take the major theatrical companies under the patronage of members of the royal family. Shakespeare's company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, became the King's Men. This testifies to their pre-eminence in the London theatre world, and constituted an important social advancement for the players, who, as members of the royal household, wore the royal livery and were thereby raised to the gentry. They thereafter formally referred to themselves as Gentlemen, the King's Servants. They entertained the King regularly, often with plays by Shakespeare (see Revels Office and accounts): there were...
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