Elizabeth was aware of the political ramifications of the story of Richard II: according to a well-known but dubious anecdote, in August 1601 she was reviewing historical documents relating to the reign of Richard II when she supposedly remarked to her archivist William Lambarde, "I am Richard II, know ye not that?" In the same historical report the Queen is said to have complained that the play was performed forty times in "open streets and houses" but there is no extant evidence to corroborate this tale. At any rate, the Chamberlain's Men do not appear to have suffered for their association with the Essex group; but they were commanded to perform it for the Queen on Shrove Tuesday in 1601, the day before Essex's execution.
elizabeth was aware of the political ramifications of the story of richard ii according to a well-known but dubious anecdote in august 1601 she was reviewing historical documents relating to the reign of richard ii when she supposedly remarked to her archivist william lambarde "i am richard ii know ye not that" in the same historical report the queen is said to have complained that the play was performed forty times in "open streets and houses" but there is no extant evidence to corroborate this tale at any rate the chamberlain's men do not appear to have suffered for their association with the essex group; but they were commanded to perform it for the queen on shrove tuesday in 1601 the day before essex's execution