FIELD, NATHAN

also called Nat Field, byname of Nathaniel Field (baptized Oct. 17, 1587, London, Eng.d. June/August 1619?), one of the principal actors of England's Elizabethan stage. Field attended St. Paul's School, London, and about 1600 became a member of the Children of the Queen's Revels, remaining with this theatre company throughout its various changes of name and composition until 161617, when he joined the King's Men, possibly to replace Shakespeare as actor. His name appears on the list of actors given in the First Folio (1623) of Shakespeare's plays. He was accounted an outstanding player, but he led a notoriously wild life and was forced to quit the stage after a scandal in 1619. Field also wrote two comedies, A Woman Is a Weathercock (acted 1609?, printed 1612) and Amends for Ladies (acted by 1611, printed 1618); he collaborated with Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher and with Philip Massinger.