iMBZOiaolo*
y euoqj
sapSuy soq
Ars j(\ri Ji]UiOji\e'j p Xjisjsaiuq
fO w
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
O F
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
OF THE
ENGLISH STAGE,
AND OF
THE ECONOMY AND USAGES OF THfi
ANCIENT THEATRES IN ENGLAND;
B Y
EDMUND MALONE, Efqr.
3tu« tev 2Mtliotl-e{ tott
BASIL:
Printed and fold by j. J. tourneisen.
M. D CCC.
AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
O F
THE RISE AND PROGRESS
OF THE
ENGLISH STAGE,
AND OF
THE ECONOMY AND USACES OF OUR
ANCIENT THEATRES.
X HE drama before the time of Shakfpeare was
fo little cultivated , or fo ill underftood , that to
many it may appear unneceffary to carry our
theatrical refearches higher than that period. Dry-
den has truly obferved, that he " fpund not.
but created firft the flage;" of which no one can
doubt, who confiders, that of all the plays iffued
from the prefs antecedent to the year 1692. when
there is reafon to believe he commenced a dramatick
writer, the titles are fcarcely known, except to
antiquaries; nor is there one of them that will bear
a fecond perufal. Yat thefe , contemptible and few
as they are, we may fuppofe to have been the moft
popular produ£lions of the time , and the beft that
had been exhibited before the appearance of Shak-
fpeare.'
» There are but dilrty-elght plays, (exclufivc of myfterles,
•f- B
J.CSS8C0
5 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
A minute inveftigadon , therefore , of the origin
and progrefs of the drama in England , will fcarcely
repay the labour of the inquiry. However, as the
befl introdu£lion to an account of the internal
econorhy and ufages of the Engliflr theatres in the
time of Shakfpeare , (the principal objeft of this
differtation ,) 1 iliail take a curfory view of our mod
ancient dramatick exhibitions, thousih I fear I can
add but little to the refearches which have already
been made on that fubjeft.
Mr. Warton in his elegant and ingenious Hijtory
oj Englijh Poetry has given fo accurate an account of
moralities, interludes, 2nd trandated pieces,) now extant,
written antecedent to, or in, the year l5g2. Their titles
are as follows :
Acolajius -
Ferrex and Porrex
Damon and Pythian
Tancred and Gijmiind
Cambyje^, no date, butpro-
bably written before - iSyo
Appius and Virginia 1
Gammer Gurlons Needle j
Promos and Caffandra
Arraignment of Paris
Sappho and Phao
Alexander and Campafpe
Misfortunes of Arthur
jferonimo \
SpaniJJi Tragedy^ or Hie-\ ^t^Q
ronimo is mad again j
Tnmbiirlaine )
Titus Andronicus - I'iSg
KingHenry V. in or be Tore i SSg
Conleniion between iheHou-
Jes of Yorke and Xanca-
Jler, in or before - ijqo
}
l54c I Kingjohn^ in two parts ^
l56i Endyniion
l562 I Solimau arid Perjeda
l56S Midas
Galalliea
Arden of Fever fli am
Orlando Furiofo >
Alphonfus King of Arra-
gon
James IV. King of Scot-
land
A Loohinglas for London
and England
Friar Bacon and Friar
Bungay
Jew of Malta
Dr. Faujins
Edxrard 11.
LuJVs Dojuinion
Mifacre of Paris
Did*
1578
i5S4
1587
1^91
\ in or
^efore
/ l502
)
efore
V1592
OF ] HE ENGLISH STAGE. 3
our crniiell dramatick pci lormances , ll\;it I lliall
make no apology for extrafting liom various parts
of his valuabe work, lucli particulars as fuit my
prefent purpofe.
The carlieft dramatick entertainments exhibited
ill England, as well as every other part of Europe,
were of a religious kind. So early as in the beginning
of the twelfth century , it was cuftomary in England
onholy feftivals toreprefent, inornear the churches,
cither the lives and miracles of faints , or the mod
important ftories of Scripture. From the fubjeft
of thefe fpedlacles, Avhich, as has been obferved ,
were either the miracles of faints, or the more
myflerious parts of holy writ, fuch as the incarna-
Eetu-cen tlic years \3g2 and iGoo, tlie following plays
were printed or cxliibited •, die greater part of which,
probabi}-, were written before our aiuhor commenced play-
■^vvii^lit.
Cleopatra
f.dward I.
Baltle of Alcazar, ^
V/oiinds of Civil War
Sel)?nus, Emperor of the
Turks
Cornelia
Mvlher Bovihie
The Cohlers Prophecy
The Wars of Cyrus
Jiing Leir
Taming of a Shreiu
A -I, old Wives Tale
I^IaiWs Melamorphofes
love's Melamorphofes
Pedlcfs Prophet)'
An'.onius
Edu;ard III.
Jl'ilv Beguiled
1 1193
>i394
I
1595
ll^o.nan in ihe Mooii, - iSgy
Mncedorus
The virluom Octivia \
Blind Beggar of Ale\-\ ib^S
andria ^ i
Every Man in his Humour J
Pinner of Wakifield
Warning for fair IVomen
David and Bethfibe
Two angry Wo7nen of
Abingdon
The Cafe is altered
Every Man out of hii
H'.monr
The Trill of Chetalry
Humourous Dafs Mirth
Summeis lajl Will and
Tedamcnt
^ i599
l\ 2
4 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tion , paffion , and refurredion of Clirift , tliei'e
fcripturai plays were denominated Miracles, or
Myjla-ics. At ^vhat period of time they were firft
exhibited in this country, I am unable to afcertain.
Undoubtedly, however, they are of very great
antiquity; and Riccoboni, who has contended
that the Italian theatre is the moft ancient in
Europe , has claimed for his country an honour
to which it is not entitled. The era of the earlieft
reprefentation in Italy,* founded on holy writ,
he has placed in the year 1264. when the fraternity
del Gonfalone \vd.s> ellabliflied ; but we had fimilar
exhibitions in England above i5o before that
time. In the year mo. as Dr. Percy and Mr.
Wsrton have obierved , the Miracle-play of Saint
Catharine, written by Geoffrey, a learned Nor-
man, (afterwards Abbot of St. Alban s,) was aded,
probably by his fcholars, in the abbey of Dun-
ftable; perhaps the firft fpedacle of this kind ex-
hibited in England.' William Fitz-Stephen , a
monk of Canterbury, who according to the beft
accounts compofed his very curious work in 1174.
about four years after the murder of his patron
Archbifhop Becket, and in the twenty-lirfl year
of the reign of King Henry the Second, mentions,
that "London, for its theatrical exhibitions , has
"■ The French theatre cannot he traced higher than the
year iSgS. when the Myftery of the Paffion was reprefented
at St. Maur.
3 " Apud Duneftapllam — quendam ludum de fan6la Kate-
rina (qucm MiRACULA vulgariter appellamus) fecit. Ad quas
decoranda, petiit a facrilla fanfli Albani, ut fibi caps chora-
les accommodareniur, 8c obtinuit." Vita Abbat. ad calc.
Hid. Mat. Paris, folio, iG3g. jp. 56.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, 5.
religious plays, either the reprefentations of mira-
cles wrought by holy confeilbrs , or the fulferings
of martyrs." *
* " Lundonia pro fpcftaculis theatralibus, pro liulis fce-
nlcis, ludos habet faucliores, rcprsefentationes miraculorum
quae fancti confefforcs operati funt, feu reprefentatJoties paf-
fionum, quibus claruit conflantia martyrum." LeJ'cripiio
noh[liJJim£ civitalis Lundoniae. Fit7.-Stepben's very curious
dcfcription of London is a portion of a larger work, entitled
Vita fanSli Thom/e, Archiepifcopi 6* Marlyris, i. c. Thomas a
Bccket. It is afcertained to have been written after the
murder of Becket in the year 1170. of which Fitz-Stephen
Was an ocular witnefs, and while Kino; Henry U. was yet
living. A modern writer with great probability fuppofes it
to have been compofed in 1174- the author in one paflTagc
mentioning that the church of St. Paul's was formerly metro-
political, and that it was thought it would become fo again,
" fliould the citizens return into the ifland/'' In 1174 King
Henry II. and his fons had carried over with them a confider-
able number of citizens to France, and many Englllh had in
that year alfo gone to Ireland. See DIffertation prefixed to
Fitz-Steplien's Defcriplion of London, newly Iranjlaled, 8cc.
4to. 1772. p. iG. — Near the end of his Defcription is a paf-
fage which afcertains it to have been written before the year
1182. "Lundonia 8c modcrnis temporlbus reges illuftres
magniEcofque peperit ; imperatrlcem Mjtildam, Henricum
regem /^rh'«r?7, ScbcatumThoraam" [Thomas Eecket]. Some
have fuppofed that inRead of terlium we ought to read
feciindwm, but the text is undoubtedly right-, and by terlium^
Fitz-Stephen muft have meant Henry, the fccond fou of Henry
the Second, who was born in Loudon in ii56-7. and being
heir-apparent, after the death of his elder brother William,
w^as crowned king of England in his father's lifetime, on the
i5th of July, 1170. He was frequently ftyled resJiUus, rex
juvenis, and fometimes he and his father were denominated
Reges Anglia. The young king, who occafionally exerclfed,
all the rights and prerogatives of royalty, died in 1182. Had
he not been living when Fitz-Stephen wrote, he would pro-
bably have added nuper defun^tum. Neither Henry \\. nor
Henry III. were born in London. See the Dijferiaiion above-
cited, p. 12.
B 5
6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Mr. Waiton has vemaikcd, that " in die tiinc of
Chaucer, Flays oF JMiraclcs appear lo havebden the
common rel'ort of idle goffips in Lent:
' Therefore made I my vilitations
' To vigilies and to pvocefiions ;
*■ To precliiij':;s eke, and to thiie pllfiilmagcs,
•• To plajes of inhacles^ and mariagui',' ^ &:c.
'* And in Pierce Plowman's Creed , a piece per-
haps prior to Chaucer, a friar Minorite mentions
thefe Miracles as not Icfs frequented than market-
towns and fairs :
' We haunten no taverns, ne hobclen about,
' At markets and IMIracic^ we meddle us never.'
The elegant writer , whole words I have jufl
quoted, has given thefollowing ingenious account
of the origin of this rude fpecies of dramatick
entertainment :
*' About the eighth century trade was principally-
carried on by means of fairs, which lafled fevcral
days. Charlemagne eftablil^ied many great marts
of this fort in France, as did William the Con-
queror, and his Norman fucceifois in England.
The merchants who frecj^uented thefe fairs in nu-
merous caravans or companies, employed every ait
to drav/ the people together. They were therefore
accompanied by jugglers, minftrels , and buffoons;
who were no lefs intereftcd in giving their attend-
ance , and exerting all their fl<.ill on thefe occaiions.
As now but few large towns exifted, no publick
fpectacles or popular amufements were eftablifhed;
^ The Wlf of Bathes Prologue, v. 6137. Tyrwhitl's edit.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 7
and as the fcdentary plcafures of domeflick life and
private fociety were yet unknown, the fair-time
was the feafon for diverfion. In proportion as
thefe Ibews were attended andNcncouraged, they
began to be fet off with new decorations and im-
provements : and the arts of buffoonery being ren-
dered flill more attradive , by extending their circle
of exhibition, acquired an importance in the eyes
of the people. By degrees the clergy obferving
that the entertainments of dancing, mufick, and
mimickry, exhibited at thefe protrafted annual
celebrities , made the people lefs religious , by pro-
modng idlenefsand a love of fcflivity , profcribed
thefe fports, and excommunicated the performers.
But Ending that no regard was paid to their cen-
fures, they changed their plan, and determined to
take thefe recreations into their own hands. They
turned adors ; and inftead of profane mummeries ,
prefent;ed ilories taken from legends or the Bible.
This was the origin of facrcd comedy. The death
of Saint Catharine , aded by the m.onks of faint
Dennis, rivalled the popularity of tlie profcffed
players. Mufick was admitted into the churches,
which ferved as theatres for the reprefentadon of
holy farces. The feflivals among the French, called
La fete des Foux, dc /' Ane, and des Innocens , at lengii
became greater favourites, as they certainly were
more capricious and abfurd, than the interludes of
the buffoons at the fairs. Thefe are the ideas of a
judicious French writer now living, who has in-
veftigated the hiftory of human manners with great
coraprehenfion and fagacity."
" Voltaire's theory on this fubjeft is alfo very
ingenious, and quite new. Religious plays, he
B 4
8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fuppofes , came originally from Conflantinople ; '
where the old Grecian flage continued to flourifli
.in iome degree, and the tragedies of Sophocles and
Euripides were reprefented , till the fourth century.
About that period , Giegory Nazianzen , an arch-
bifhop, a poet, and one of the fathers of the church,
baniflied pagan plays from the flage at Conflan-
tinople, and introduced ftories from the Old and
New Teitament. As the ancient Greek tragedy
was a religious fpe6lacle, a tranfition was made on
the fame plan ; and the choruffes were turned into
Chrifliari hymns. Gregory wrote many facred
dramas for this purpofe , which have not furvived
thofe inimitable compofitions over which they
triumphed for a time : one, however, his tragedy
called Xpicrloi 'prua-y^m, or Chriji''s PaJJion, is flill ex-
tant. In the prologue it is faid to be an imitation
of Euripides , and that this is the firfl time the
Virgin Mary had been introauced on the flage.
The Rifliion of a6ling fpiritual drama's, in which
at firfl a due degree of method and decorum was
preferved , was at length adopted from Conflanti-
nople by the Italians; who framed, in the depth
of the dark ages, on this foundation, that barba-
rous fpecies' of theatrical reprefentadon called
^ " At Conflantinople" as Mr. Warton has elfewhere ob-
fcrved, '■'■ it fecms that the ftagc flouriflicd much, under Jufti-
nian and Theodora, about the year 540. for in the Bafilical
codes we have tlie oath of an a6lrefs, /!/« c/a> eiyjc^nv rm 'Tropvsia.f.
Tom. VII. p. 682. edit. Fabrot. Gra.co-Lat. Tlie ancient
Greek fathers, particularly faint Cliryfoflom, are full of
declamation a^ainft the drama ; and complain, that the
people heard a comedian with much more pleafurc than ^
j)rcac}ier of the gofpel." Warton's Hijiory of Englijli Poetry,
Vol. I. p. 244. n. r^
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 9
Mysteries, or facred comedies, and which were
loon after received in France. This opinion will
acquire probability, if we confider the early com-
mercial intercourfe between Italy and Conftanti-
nople: and although the Italians, at the time when
they maybe fuppofed to have iinported plays of
this nature, did notunderftand the Greek language,
yet they could underfland, and confequently could
imitate , what they faw."
In defence of Voltaire's hypothefis, it may be
further obferved, that 'Tlujeajl of Fools , and of the
AJs , with other religious farces of that fort, fo
common in Europe, originated at Conftantinople.
They were inftituted, although perhaps under other
names, in the Greek Church, about the year 990.
by Theophyia£l, patriarch of Conftantinople , pro-
bably with a better defign than is imagined by the
ecclcfiaftical annalifts ; that of weaning the minds
of the people from the pagan ceremonies , by the
fubftitution of chriftian fpeCtacles partaking of the
fame fpirit of licentioufnefs. — To thofe who are
accuftomed to contemplate the great picture of
human follies , which the unpolifliedages of Europe
hold up to our view, it will not appear furprifing,
that the people who were forbidden to read the
events of the facre.d hiftory in the Bible , in which
they were faithfully and beautifully related , fliould
at the fame time be permitted to fee them repre-
fented on the ftage , difgraced with the groffeft
improprieties,- corrupted with inventions and ad-
ditions of the moft ridiculous kind , fuUied with^
impurities, and exprefied in the language of the
loweft farce."
*' On the whole, the Myjleries appear to have
10 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
originated among the eccleriaflicks ; and were mofl
probably firll afted with any degree of form hy
the monks. This was certainly the cafe in the
Englifii monaflerics. ^ I have already mentioned
the play of Saint Catharine, performed at Dun-
flable Abbey, by the novices in the eleventh cen-
tury, under the fuperintendance of Geoffrey a
Parifian ecclehaflick : and the exhibition of the
PaJJion by the mendicant friers of Coventry and
odier places. Inftances have been given of the like
praftice among the French. The only perfons
who could now read were in the religious focietles;
and various circumflances, peculiarly arihng from
their fituation , profeffion, and inftitudon , enabled
the monks to be the fole performers of thefe
rcprefentations."
" As learning encreafed, and was more Avidely
dilTeminated , from the monafleries , by a natural
and eafy tranfuion , the pra6lice migrated to fchools
and univerfuies, which were formed on the mo-
naftick plan , and in many refpefts reierabled the
ecclefiailical bodies." ^
Candlemas-Day , or The Slaughter of ihe Innocents ^
written by Ihan Parfre , in i5i2. 'Mary Magdalene ,
"^ " In fome regulations given by Cardinal Wolfey to the
monaftcvlcs of tlic Canons regular oF St. AuRin, in the year
i5ig. the brothers arc forbidden to be lujores aut mimici,
players of mimlcks. But the prohibition means that the
tnonks (hould not go abroad to exercife tlicfc arts in a fecular
and mercenary capacity. See Annal. Burtoncnfes, p. 4.37."
In 15S9. however, an injunrdon made in the Mexican
Council was ratified at Rome, to prolilbit all clerks from
playing in tlic Myflcrics, even on Corpus Chrifll day. See
Hijiory of ling. Poetry, Vol. II. p. 201.
8 \N^non\ Hijiory of EngliJh¥oetT)\ Vol. II. pp.366, ijjeq.
OF THE ENGLISH SIAGE. n
produced in the fame year,' and The Promije^ oj
God, written by John Bale, and printed in i53S ,
are curious fpecimens of this early fpecies ot
drama. But the moft ancient as Avell as mod com-
plete coUeciion of this kind is, The Chejler Mvf-
ttrics, which \vere written by Ralph Higden , a
monkofthe Abbey of Cheftcr, about the year i3i8,'
9 MSS. DIgby, i33. Blbl. Bodl.
• MSS. Harl. 20l3. Sec. "• ExliibUed at Clicflcr in the
year iSsy. at the expenfe of the diflereiu trading companies
of that city. The Fall of Lucifer, by the Tanners. The Crea-
tion^ by the Drapers. The Delude, by the Dyers. Abmham,
Melchljedcch, and Lot, by the Barbers. Mojes, Balak, and
Balaam, by the Cappers. The SalulaliemndJValivity, by the
Wrightes. The Shepherds feedinglheir Flocks by jVighl, by the
Pain'ters and Glaziers. The thrre Kings, by the Vintners.
The Oblation of the three Kings, by the Mercers. The killing of
the Innocents, by the Goldfmiths. The Purification, by the
Blackfmiths. The Temptation, by the Butchers. Ihe lafl
Supper, by the Bakers. The blind Men and Lazarus, by the
Glovers. Jejus and the Lepers, by the Gorvel^arys. ChrijVs
PaJJion, by the Bowyers, Fletchers, and Ironmongers. Defcent
into Hell, by the Cooks and Innkeepers. The Refurre^ioii,
by the Skinners, The AJcfufwn. by the Taylors. The Flexion
of S. Maihias, fending of the Holy Ghcfl, tc, by the Fiflimon-
gers. Antichrijl, by tlie Clothiers. Day of Judgement, by the
VVebRers. The reader will perhaps Imile at fome of thelc
combinations. Tliis is the fubllance and order of ilie former
part of the play. God enters creating the world ; he breathes
life into Adam, leads him into Paradlfe, and opens his fide
while llecping. Adam and Eve appear naked, and not ajl.amed,
and the old ferpent enters lamenting his fall. He converles
with Eve. She eats of the forbidden fruit, and gives part
to Adam. They purpofe, according to the ftugc-diredion,
to make thetnMvtsfubligacula a foliis qidhus tegarmis pudenda.
Cover their nakedncfs with leaves, andconvcrfe with God.
God's curfe. Theferpcnt exit hiRing. They are driven from
Paradife by four angels and tlic cherubim with a flaming
fword. Adam appears digging the ground, andEve fpinning.
12 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
of which a particular account will be found below.
I am tempted to tranlcribe a few lines from the
third of thefe pageants, The Deluge, as a fpecimen
of the ancient Myfieries.
Thefirft fcenical tliredion is, — " Et prmo in
aliquo'Juprerao loco, five in nubibus,Ji Jieri poterat,
loquatur Deus ad Not, extra ar chain exijlente eiim
tQta jami-lia Jua." Then the Almighty, after ex-
patiating on the fms of mankind, is made to fay :
u Man that I made I will deRroye,
{.i Beaft, worme, and fowie to fley,
(< For one eartk the doe me nye,
u The folke th.at are herone.
ts It harmcs me fore hartefully
u The malice that doth nowe multiplye,
u That fore it greeves me inwardlie
u That ever I made man.
II Therefore, Noe, my fervant free,
u That righteous man arte, as 1 fee,
Their children Cain and Abel enter : the former kills his
brother. Adam's lamentation. Cain is baniflied," 8cc.
W;irton's Hijiorj of EngliJIi Poetry, Vol. I. p. 24.3.
Mr. Wartonobferves in a uotein liisfccondvnlume, p. 180.
that " if it be true that ihefe Myjieries were compofcd in the
year iSaS. and there was fo much difficulty in obtaining the
Pope's permiffion that they might be prefented in Englifh, a
prefuniptive proof arifes, that all our Ahjlerie; beiore that
period were in Latin. Thefe plays will therefore have the
merit of beinp; the firft Englifh interludes."
Polydore Virgil mentions in his hoo\^ de Rerum Invenicr'ihus^
Lib. V. c. ii. that the Myfterles were in his tjmc in Englifh.
" Solcmus vel more prifcorum fpeclacula cdere popnlo,^ut
ludos, venationes, — recitere conicrdias, item in tcmplis vitas
divorum ac martyria rcpr^fcntare, in quibus, nt cuuclis par
fu volnptas, quirecitant, rernacvlam linguam tanium ufurpanl.'"
The firfl three books of Polydore's work were pnblifhed in
1499. in i5i7. at which time he was in England, headded
five more.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i3
u A (li'ipp i'oone tliou flialt make thee
u Ot trees drye and liglite.
u LItill chambers therein thou inake,
a And byndlnge pytche alio thou take,
u Within and without ney thou flake,
u To anoynte yt through all thy mighte," Sec*
After fome dialogue between Noah, Sem, Ham,
Japhet, and their wives, we find the following
flage dire61ion : " Then Noe with all his family
fliall make a figne as though the wrought uppon
the fliippe with divers inflruments, and after that
God fliall fpeake to Noe :
ci Noe, take thou tliy mcanye,
<4 And in the fhipp hie that ye be,
it For non fo righteous man to me
u Is novve on earth livinge.
(( Of clean bealles with the thou take
n Seven and feven, or thou flake,
i( He and flie, make to make,
(( By live in that thou bring," Sec.
" Then Noe fliall go into the arke with all his
familye, his wife excepte. The arke mufl; be
boarded ronnd aboute, and uppon the hordes all
the beaftes and fowles hereafter rehearfed mufl be
painted , that there wordes maye agree with the
pi6i:ures.''
<i Sem. Sler, here are lions, llbardes, in,
u Horfes, mares, oxen and fvvyne,
li Neates, calves, flieepe and kyne,
u Here fitten thou maye fee," 8cc.
After all the beafts and fowls have been defcribed,
Noah thus addrelTes his wile :
<( Moe. "Wife, come in, why ftandes thou there?
a Thou art ever fro ward, that dare 1 Iwere,
14 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
i.: Come in on Codes lialfe ; tymc it were,
tt Tor fear Icll: that wee drowne."
it Jl'ife. Yea, fir, let up your faile,
t; And rowe forth with evil haile,
tt For withouleu anie faile
(' I will not oute of this toune",
ci But I have my goifepes everich one,
u One foote further I will not gone :
u They fhal not drown by St. John,
u And I may fave thcr lite.
4; TJiey loved me full well by ChriR :
u liut thou will let them in tliie chill,
44 Ellis rowe forth, Noe, when thou lift,
(( And get thee a newe wife."
Al length Sem and his brethren put her on board
by furce, and on Noah's welcoming^ her, "Wel-
come, wife, into this boate,"" Ihe gives him a box on
the ear: adding, " Take thou that for thy note/"^
Many licentious pleafantries, as Mr. Warton has
obferved, were fomctimes introduced in thefe reli-
£;ious repreicniations. " This miglit imperceptibly
lead the way to fubjccis entirely profane, and to
comedy; and perhaps earlier than is imagined. In
a MvPiery of The Majfacre of the Holy Innocents,
part of the fubje^l of a facred drama given by the
Engliih fathers at the famous Council of Conllance.
in the year 1417. a low buffoon of Herod's court
is introduced, defiring of his lord to be dubbed a
knight, that he might be properly qualified to go
on the adventure of killing the mothers of the chil-
dren of Bethlehem. This tragical bufmefs is treated
' It is C)hvious ihal llie trar.fcrlber ol thefe ancient Myf-
icrick, which appear to have been written in iSsS. repie-
fcnls tliem as they were exhibited at Chelkr in 1600. and
tlmt lie has not adhered to the original oiihojjraphy.
J M.SS. Di;;hy, 13^. Bil)l. l^odl.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i5
with the moft ridiculous levity. The good ^vomcl•^
of Bethlehem attack our knight- errant with their
fpinning-wheels, break his head with their diftafFs,
abufe him as a coward and a difgrace to chivalry,
and fend him to Herod as a recreant champion with
much ignominy. It is certain that our anceftors
intended no fortof impiety by thefe monftrous and
unnatural mixtures. Neither the writers nor the
fpe^iatois faw the impropriety, nor paid a feparatc
attention \o the comick and the ferious part of thefe
motley fcenes ; at lead they were perfuaded that the
folemnity of the fubjecT: covered or excufed all in-
congruities. 1 hey had no jufl idea of decorum,
confequently but little fenfe of the ridiculous :
what appears to us to be the highcft burlefque, on
them would have made no fort of impreffion. Wc
muft not wonder at this, in an age when courage,
devotion, and ignorance, compofed the chara(Sler
of European manners ; when the knight going to
a tornamcnt, firfl invoked his God, then his mif-
trefs, and afterwards proceeded with a fafe con-
fcience and Q;rcat refohition to en2:ac;e his antaso-
nift. In thefe Myfterles I have fometimes feen
grofs and open obfcenities. In a play of The Old
andjVexo Tijlavient, Adam and Eve are both exhi-
bited on the Aage naked,"* and converfing about
their nakcdnefs ; this very pertinently introduces
the next fccne ; in which they have coverings of
fig-leaves. This extraordinary fpeclaclc was beheld
^ This kind of primliive exhibition was revived in the time
of KIii^ ]anies the lirft, feveral perfons appearing alraoit
entirely naked in a paftoTal exhibited at Oxford before the
Kin;; and (hiccn, and the ladirs who attended her. It li^
if Irecolletl light, defcribcd by \Vinvvood.
i6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
by a numerous aiTembly of both fexes with great
compofure : they had the authority of fcripture for
fuch a reprefentation, and they gave matters jufl
as they found them in the third chapter of Gtnefis,
It would have been abfolute herefy to have departed
from the facred text in perionating the primitive
appearance of our firft parents, whom the fpe6la-
tors fo nearly refembled in fimplicity; and if this
had not been the cafe, the dramatifls were ignorant
what to reject and what to retain." ^
" I muft not omit," adds Mr. Warton/ " an
anecdote entirely new, with regard to the mode of
playing the Myjieries at this period, [the latter part
of the fifteenth century,] which yet is perhaps of
much higher antiquity. In the year 1487. while
Henry the Seventh kept his refidence at the callle
of Winchefler, on occafion of the birth of prince
Arthur, on a Sunday, during the time of dinner,
he was entertained with a religious drama called
Chrijli Dejcenjus ad inferos, or Chriji's Dejccni into
Hell. It was reprcfented by the Puen Eleemojynnrii,
or choir-boys, of Hyde Abbey, and Saint Swithin's
Priorv, t^vo large monafteries at Winchefler. This
is the only proof I have ever feen of choir-boys
ailing in the old Myjlcries : nor do I recoUecl any
other inftance of a royal dinner, even on a feflival,
accompanied with this fpecies of divcrfion.^ The
^ Warton's Hijlory of EngUJli roelij. Vol. I. pp. 242, (i^/ff.
^ Hijlory of Englijh Poetry, Vol. II. p. 206.
' "Except, that ou.tlie firft funday of the magnificent
marrlaofe of King James of Scotland with the princcfs Margaret
of England, daughter of Henry the Seventh, celebrated at
Edinburgh with high fplendour, ' after dynnar a Moralite
was played by the faid Mafter Inglyfhe and his companion?
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 17
flory of this Interlude, in which the chief chara£lers
were Chrifl, Adam, Eve, Abraham, and John the
Baptiif, was not uncommon in the ancient religious
drama, and I believe made a part of what is called
the LuDUS Paschalis, or Eajler Play. It occurs
in the Coventry Plays acted on Corpus Chrifli day,^
in the prefence of the kyng and qweenc' On one of the
preceding days, ' after foupper the kynge and qweene beynge
togader In hyr grctt chamber, John Inglyfla and hys compa-
nions plajd.' This was in the year i5o3. Apud Leland,
Col. iil. p. 3co, Append, edit. 1770.' "
' See an account of the Coventry Plays In Stevens's Mo-
nadlcon, Vol. I. p. 238. " Sir W. Dugdale, fpeaking of
the Gray-friars or Franclfcans at Coventry, fays, before the
fuppreffion of monafteries this city was very famr.us for the
pageants that were played therein upon Corpus-Chriftl day;
which pageants being allied with mighty ftate and reverence
by the friers of this houfe, had theatres for the fereral fccnes,
very large and high, placed upon wheeles, and drawn to all
the eminent parts of the city, for the better advantage of
the fpeflators. — An ancient aianufcrlpt of the fame is now
to be feen in the Cottonlan Library, fub. effig. Vefp. D. 8.
Sir William cites this manufcript by the title of Ludus
Covcnlria: ; but in the printed catalogue of that library, p. Ii3.
It is named thus : A colledion of plays in old Englilli metre;
h. c. Dramaia Jacra^ in quibus exhibentur hijiorire VcUris <b N.
T'eftanienii, inlrodu£lis quaji in Jc en am perfonis illic inemoratis,
quas Jccum invicem colloquenles pro ingeniojingit poela. Yldenlur
olim coram popiilo, five ad injiruendum^ five ad placendum, afra-
tribus mendicantibus reprafentata. It appears by the latter end
of the prologue, that thefe plays or interludes were not only
played at Coventry, but in other tow^ns and places upon
occafion. And poflibly this may be the fame play which
Stow tells us was played in the reign of Henry IV. which
Jailed for eight days. The book feems by the character and
language to be at leal! 3oo years old. It begins with a gene-
ral prologue, giving the arguments of forty pageants orgefii-
culations, (which were as fo many fcveral aiSts or fcenes,)
reprefeniing all the hlftories of both teflaments, from the
creation to tke chufmg of St. Mathias to be an apoliie. Th^
•i Q
i8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
and In the Whltfun -plays at Cheiler, where It Is
called the IIarrowixg of Hell. The reprefenta-
ftories of the New Teftament arc morc.Iar£;eIy expreffed, viz.
The Annunciation, Nativity, Vlfitation; but more efpcclally
all matters relating to the PaCion very particularly, the Rc-
furre^iou, Afcenflon, the choice oi St. Maihiai : after which
is alio rcprcfented the Affumption, and laft Judgement. All
thtfe things' were treated ot In a very homely ftyle, as we
now thlnk^ infinitely below the dignity of the fubje£l : Eut
it fecms the cuft of that age was not nice and delicate hi
thefe matters ; the plain and Incurious judgement of our an-
ceftors, belno- prepared with favour, and taking every thing
by the rl"ht and eafieft handle : For example, in the fcenc
relating to the Vlfitation :
' Maria. But hufband of on thyng pray you moft mekelcy,
' i have knowing that our cofyn Ellz-ibcth with childe Is,
« That it plewfe yow to go to her haflyly,
' If ought we myth comfort her, It wer to me blys.
* 7(>/(?/>/j. A Gods lake, is (he with child, fche ?
' Than will her hufband Z^chary be mcry.
* In Montana they dwelle, fer heuce, fo mory the,
' In the city of juda, I know it verily ;
* It Is hence, I trowe, myles two a fifty •,
* We ar like to be wcfy or we ccme at the fame.
' I wole v;ith a good will, blefp/d wytf Mary ;
' Now <^o we forth then in Goddys name,' Sec.
A little before the refurreCtlon.
* Knncdormient mililes, i^ lenietanima Chrijii de inferno, cum
Ad?.m 8c Eva, Abraham, John Baptill, t aim.
' An'ma Chrijii. Come forth, Adam, and £ve with the,
' And all my fryndes that herein be,
' In paradys come fortli with me
* In blyffe for to dwtlle.
' The fende of hell that i<! yowr foo,
' He fhall be wrappyd and woundyn in woo :
' Fro wo to welth now (hall ye go,
"• Withmyrth ever mor to melle.
' Adam. I thank the, Lord, of thy grete grace,
' That now is forgiven my gret trefpace,
' Now fliall we dwellyn in blyfsfull place,' S:c.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGli. ig
tion is, Clirifl; entering bell triumphantly, deliver-
ing our firft parents, and the moft lacred cha-
racters of the old and new teftaments, from the
dominion of Satan , and conveying them, into
paradife. —The compofers of the Myfterles didnot
think the plain and probable events of the new
teftament fufficicntly marvellous for an, audience
who wanted only to be furprifed. They frequenily
fdeded their materials from books v/hicli had
more of the air of romance. The fubjccl of the
Myilerles juft mentioned was borrowed fiom the
PJtudG-Evangelium, or il\t fabulous Gojjjil, afcribcd
toNicodemus: a book, which together with the
numerous apocryphal narratives, containing infinite
innovations of the evangelical hiflory, and forged
at Conftantinople by the early writers of the Greek
church, gave birth to an endlefs variety of leo-ends
concerning the life of Ghrift and his apoftles ; and
which. In the barbarous ages, was better efteemed
than the genuine gofpel, on account of its impro-
babilities and abfurditles."
" But whatfoever was the fource of thefe exhi-
bitions, they were thought to contribute fo much
to the information and inllrudion of the people on
" The lafl: fcene or pngeant, which reprefents the day «f
Judgement, begins tiius :
' Michael. Surgile, All men aryfe,
•• Venile ad Judicium •
' For now is let the High JuAice,
' And hath aiTignyd the day of dome;
' Kepe you redyly to this grett affyle, j
' Both gret and fmall, all and fum,
• And of your anfwer you now advife,
" What you (hall fay when tliat yow com," Sec.
HiJioriaHiJlrioniea^ 8vo. i6gg. pp. i5. 17, 18, uj,
G 2
»• HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
the moll; important fubje£ls of religion, that one of
the popes granted a pardon of one thoufand days
to every perfon who reforted peaceably to the plays
performed in the Whitfun week at Chefler, begin-
ning with the creation, and ending with the general
judgement; and this indulgence was feconded by
the bilhop of the diocefe, who granted forty days
of pardon : the pope at the fame time denouncing
the fentence of damnation on all thofe incorrio-ible
fmners who prefumed to interrupt the due celebra-
tion of thefe pious fports.^ It is certain that they
had their ufe, not only in teaching the great truths
of fcripture to men who could not read the Bible,
but in abolifhing the barbarous attachment to mi-
litary games, and the bloody contentions of the
tornament, which had fo long prevailed as the
fole fpecies of popular amufement. Rude and even
ridiculous as they were, they foftened the manners
of the people, by diverting the public attention to
fpe£lacles in which the mind was concerned, and
by creating a regard for other arts than thofc of
bodily flrength and favage valour."
I may add, that thefe reprefentations were fo far
from being confidered as indecent or profane, that
even a fupreme pontiff, Pope Pius the Second,
about the year 1416, compofed and caufed to be
nfted before him on Corpus Chrifti day, a Myftery,
in which was repreiented the court oj the king of
heaven,'^
Thefe religious dramas were ufually reprefented
on holy feiiivals in or near churches. " In feveral
s MSS. Harl. 2124. 20i3.
9 Hijlrioviajlix, 4to. lG33. p. 1 12.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. «i
of our old fcriptural plays," fays Mr. Warton,
*' we fee fome of the fcenes direfted to be rcpre-
fented cum cantu ij organis, a common rubrick in a
miffal. That Is, becaufc they were performed in
a church where the choir affifted. There is a curious
pafliige in Lambarde's Topographical Di6lionary,'
written about the year 1570. much to our purpofe,
which I am therefore tempted to tranfcribe. ' In
the daves of ceremonial religion, they ufed at
Wytney ( in Oxfordfhire) to fet fourthe yearly in
maner of a ffiew or interlude, the refurre£lion of
our Lord, l<,c. For the which puipofes, and the
more lyvely heareby to exhibite to the eye the hole
aftion of the refurre6lion, the prielles garnifhed
out certain fmail puppettcs, reprcfenting the per-
Ions of Chrift, the Watchman, Marie, and others;
amongeft the which, one bore the parte of awaking
watchman, who efpiingc Chrille to arrife, made a
continuall noyce, like to the found that is caufed
by the metyngc of two ftickes, and was therefore
commonly called Jack Snackn of Wytney. The
like toye I myfelf, beinge then a childe, once faw
in Powles church, at London, at a feaft of Whit-
funtyde ; wheare the comynge downe of the Holy
Ghoftwas fet forthe by a white pigeon, that was
let to fly cut of a hole that yet is to be fene in the
mydfl of the roofe of the great ile, and by a longc
cenfer' which defccndinge out of the fame place
' P. 45g. edit. i-jZo. 4to.
* This may ferve to explain a very extraordinary pafTaffc
in Stowe's AnnaUs, p. 690. edit l6o5. " And on the morrowc
hee [ICingEdward the Fourth] went crowned in Paul's church
in London, in the honor of God and S. Paule, and there an
Angell came downe, and cenjed him.^^
C 3
22 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
alraoR to the veric grounde, was f'.vinged up and
downe at luch a lengthe,' that it reached with
thone iwepe, aJmoft to the wed-gate of the churche,
and vvitli the other to the quyre llaires of the fame ;
breathinge out over die whole churche and com- ■
panie a mofi; pkafant perfume of fuch fwcte thinges
as burned therein. With the like doome-flievvs
they u(ed cverie where to furnifli fondrye parts
of theire church fervice, as by their fpe£lacles of
the nativitie, paffion, and afcenfion," ^ kc.
In a preceeding paffage Mr, Warton has men-
tioned that the fmging boys of Hide Abbey and
St. Swithin's Priory at Winchefler, performed a
Myflery before King Henry the Seventh in 1487.
adding, that this is the only inftance he has met
with of choir-boys performing in Myfleries ; but
it appears from the accorapts of various monaAeries
thai this was a very ancient pra(rrice, probably coeval
with the eariieft attempts at dramatick reprefenta-
tions. In the year i.SjS. the fcholars, or chorif-
ters of Saint Paul's cathedral, prefented a petition
to King Richard the Second, praying his Majefly
to prohibit fome ignorant and unexperienced per-
fons from afting the Histoky of the Old Testa-
ment, to the great prejudice of the clergy of the
church, who had expended conhderable fums for
a pubHck prefentation of that play at the enfuing
Chriilmas. About twelve years afterwards, the
Parifli Clerks of London, as Stowe informs us,
performed fpiritual plays at Skinner's Well for
three days fucfeffivcly, in the prefence of the King,
Queen, and nobles of the realm. And in 1409. the
^ Warton's Hijlory of EngUJJi Poelr}\ Vol. I. p. 240.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 28
tentli vcar of King Henry IV. they a(^edat Clerken-
well for eight days fucceifively a play, which " was
matter from the creation of the world," and pro-
bably concluded ^vith the day of judgement, in the
piCicncc of moft of the nobility and gentry of
England/
Wc arc indebted to Mr. \Varton for fome curious
circumllances relative to thefe Miracle-plays, which
" appear in a roll of the Churchwardens of Baf-
fingborne, in Cambridgefiiire, which is an accompt
of the expence and receptions for a61ing the play
of Saikt George at BaiTingborne, on the feaft of
Saint Marn-aret, in the vear i5 1 1. Thev colleded
upwards of four pounds in twenty-ieven neign-
bouring pariflies for furnifliing the play. They
difburfed about t\vo pounds in the reprefentation.
Thefe difourfements are to four ir.inflrels, or waits,
of Cambridge, for three days, vs. vjd. To the
players, in bread and ale, iijs. ijd. To the game-
^ Probably either the Chcflcr or Coventry Myfleries. "In
ihc ignorant ages the ParKTi-ckiks of London miglit juftly be
confidcred as a literary Ibciety. It was an erTential part of
their profelfion not only to ling, but to read; an accom-
plilhment ainioii wholly confined to the clergy, and, on
the whole, they feem to come under the chara£lcr of a
religious fraternity. They were incorporated into a guild
or fcUowIhip'by lling Kenry tlie Third about the year 1240.
under the patronage of faint Nicholas. — Their profclhon,
employment, and charadler, naturally dictated to ihiifpiritual
brotherhood the reprefentation of plays, elpecially thofe of
the fcriptural kind : and their conflant pra£lice in fiiews,
procefhons, and vocal raufick, cafily accounts for their addrefs
in detaining the beR company which England alForded in the
fourteenth century , at a religious farce , for more than
one week." Warton's Hijivry of En^lifii Poetry, Vol. II,
p. 396.
C 4
«4 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
ment-man for gamcmcnis and propyrts,^ that is, for
dieffes, decorations, and implements, and for play-
books, xxs. 1 ojohn ilobard, brolherhnode preefte,
that is, a prieft of the guild in the church, for the
play-book, ijs. viiid. For the crofle , or field in
which the play was exhibited, js. For propyrtc^
making, or furniture, js. ivd. tor fifh and bread,
and to fetting up the fiages , ivd. For painting
three Janchoms and four tormentors, words which
I do not underfland, but perhaps fantoms and
devils . The reft was expended for a feaft
on the occafion, in \vhich are recited 'Four
chicken for the gentilmen , ivd.' It appears by
the manufcript of the Coventry plays, that a tem-
porary Icaffold only was erected for thefe per-
formances." ^
^ " Tlie property-room, " ns Mr. Warton has obferved,
" is yet known at our theatres. "
The following lift of the properties iifcd in aMyficry formed
on the ftory of Tobit in the Old TelUment, which was
exhibited In the liroad-gatc, Lincoln, in July l563. (6 Eliz.)
appeared in The Gentleman's Magazine for June, 17S7.
" Lying at Mr. Norton^ houje in tenure of William Smart.
" Firlt Hell-mouth, with a nether thap. Item, A prifon,
with a covering. It. Sarah's chamber."
" Remaining in St. Swithins church.
" //. A great Idol. //. A tomb with a covering. //. The
cyty of Jerufalcm with towers and pinacles. //. The cyty of
Rages, with towers and pinacles. //. The city of Nineveh.
//. The kings palace of Nineveh. It. Old Tobyes houfe. //.
The kyngs palace at Laches. //. A firmament with a firy
cloud, and a double cloud, in the cujlody (i/ Thomas Fulbeck,
Alderman. "
-' Hijlory of En gUJh Poetry, Vol. IIL p. 326. " Strype,
under the year iSSg. fays, that after a grand feaft at Guildhall,
' the fimc day was a fcajfold fct up in the hall for a play."
Ann. Ref. 1. 197. edit. 1725.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. aB
In the ancient religious plays the Devil was very
frequently introduced. He was ufualiy reprefentcd
with horns , a very wide mouth, (by means of a
mafk) flaring eyes, a large nofc, a red beard, cloven
feet, and a tail. His conflant attendant was the
Vice, (the buffoon of the piece,) whofe principal
employment was to belabour the Devil with his
wooden dagger, and to make him roar for the
entertainment of the populace.^
As the Myjierks or Miracle-plays " frequently
required the introdu6lion of allegorical chara6lers,
fuch as Charity, Sin, Death, Hope, Faith, or the
like, and as the common poetry of the times,
efpecially among the French, began to deal mucli
in allegory, at length plays were formed entirely
confiiling of fuch perfonifications. Thefe were
called Moralities. The Miracle-plays or Mys-
teries were totally dellitute of invendon and plan :
they tamely reprefented llories, according to the
letter of the fcripture , or the refpeclive legend.
But the Moralities indicate dawnings of the
dramatick art : they contain fome rudiments of a
plot, and even attempt to delineate chara£ters, and
to paint manners. From hence the gradual tranfi-
tion to real hillorical pcrlonages was natural and
obvious." ^
" " It was a pretty part in the old cliurch-playes, " fays
Bifhop Harfenet, " when the nimble Vice would flap up
nimbly like a Jack-an-apes into the Devil's necke, and ride
the Devil a courfe , and belabour him with his wooden dagger,
till he made him roar, whereat the people would laugh to
fee the Devil fo Vicehauntcd. " Hnrfenet's Declaration of
PopiJJi Impojiures, Sec. 4to. l6o3.
» \Md.rions Ilijory of Englij^ Poetry, Vol.1, p. 242. Percy's
Reliques of Ancient Englijh Poetry^ Vol. I. p. 128,
26 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Dr. Percy in Ins account of the EngliHi Stage
has oivca ,an Analyfis of two ancient Moralities,
entitled Every Man, 2incl Lujiy J uvenius, from which
a perfe£l notion of this kind of drama may be
obtained. Every Man was written in the reign of
King Henry the Eighth, and Lnjty Juventus in that
of King Edward the Sixth. A.s Dr. Percy's curious
and valuable colle6lion of ancient Engliili Poetry
is in the hands of every fcholar, I fliall content
myfelf with merely referring to it. Many other
Moralities are yet extant, of iome of which 1 ihall
give the titles below.' Of one, which is not now
extant, we have a curious account in a book entitled,
Mount Tabor , or Private Excrcija of a Penitent
Sinner, by R. W, [ R. Willis] EJar. puhlifmd in the
year of his age ']5. Anno Domini, iG3g. an extra61
from which will give the reader a more accurate
notion of the old Moralides than a long dilferta-
tion on the fubjeft.
" Upon a stage-play -^vhich i saw when
I -^vas a child.
" In the city of Gloucefter the manner is, ( as I
think it is in other like, corporadons,) that when
players of enterludes come to towne , they firft
9 Magnificence, written by John Skclton ; Impatient Poveriy,
i56o The Life and Repentance of Marie Magdalene, ib^-j .
The Trial of Treajiire. 156]. The Xice Wantm, i568. The
Lijobedient Child, no date ; The Marriage of Jrit and Science,
ib-jO. The Interlude of Youth, no datje ; The longer thou lirejl,
the more Fool thou art, no date; The Interlude f Wealth and
Heab.h, no date; All for Money, 1578. The Conjlicl of Con-
Jciri.e, i5Sl. The three Ladies of London, 15S4. The three
Lords of London, ibgo. Tom Tyler and his Wife, Sec.
OF THZ ENGLISH STAGE. 27
attend the Mayor, to enformc liim what noble -
mans fervants they are, and fo to get licence for
their publike playing ; and if the Mayor like the
a6lors , or would Ihew refpcil to their lord and
mafler, he appoints them to play their firft play
before himfelf , and the Aldermen and Common-
CounfcU of the city; and that is called the Mayor's
play: where every one that will, comes in without
money, the Mayor giving the players a reward as
hee thinks fit to ihcw refpe£l unto them. At fuch
a play, my father tooke me with him, and made
me {land between his leggs, as he fate upon one of
the benches, where we law and heard very well.
The play was called The Cradle of Security, ' wherein
was perlonated a king or fome great prince with
his courtiers of feveral kinds, among which three
ladies were in fpecial grace with him; and they
keeping him in delights and pleafures, drew him
from his graver counfellors, hearing of fermons,
and liRening to good councell and admonitions,
that in the end they got him to lye dov/n in a
cradle upon the flag-e , where thefe three ladies
jovning in a fweet fong, rocked him ailecpe, that
he fnorted againe ; and in the mean time clofely
conveyed under the cloaths v/herewithali he was
covered, a vizard, like a fwines fnout, upon his
face, with three wire chains faflened thereunto,
the other end whereof being holdcn feveraUy by
thofe three ladies; who fall to fmging againc,
and then difcovered his face, that the fpeftators
might fee hov/ they had transformed him, going'
' The Cradle of Securilie Is mentioned witli feveral other
Moralities, In a play which has not been printed, entitled
Sir Thomas More. MSS. Harl. 3; 68.
28 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
on with their fmging. Whilft all this was ailing,
there came forth of another doore at the fartheLl
end of the ftage, two old men ; the one in blew,
with a ferjeant at armes his mace on his Qioulder;
the other in red, with a drawn fvvord in his hand,
and leaning vvkh the other hand upon the others
ilioulder ; and to they went along with a foft pace
round about by the Ikirt of the flage, till at lafl
they came to the cradle, when all the court was in
the'greateft jollity; and then the foremofl old man
with his mace flroke a fearfull blow upon the
cradle ; wherewith all the courtiers, with the three
ladies, and the vizard, all vaniflied ; and the de-
folate prince ftarting up bare-faced , and finding
himlelf ttius fcnt for to judgement, made a la-
mentable complaint of his miferable cafe, and io
was carried a^vay by wicked fpirits. This prince
did pcrfonate in the Morall, the wicked of the
world ; the three ladies, Pride, Covetoufnefs, and
Luxury; the two old men, the end of the world,
and the laft judgement. This fight took fuch
impreffion in me, that when I came towards mans
eflate, it ^vas as frelh in my memory, as if I had
feen it newly acted."*
The writer of this book appears to have been
born in the fame year with our great poet ( 1664 J.
Suppufing him to have been feven or eight years
old when he faw this interlude, the exhibition mufl
have been in 1571 or 1572.
I am unable to afcertain when the firft Morality
appeared, but incline to think not fooner than the
* Mount Tahor, See. Svo. I-GSg. pp. 110. ij Jeq. With
this ciirioii:, c>ctra<ft 1 was favoured, feveral years ago, by the
Rev. Mr. Bowie of Idmifton near Salilbury.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.. 29
reign of King Edward the Fourtli (1460). The
pubiick pageants of" the reign of King Henry the
Sixth were uncommonly fpcnciid ; ^ and being then
firft enlivened by the introduciion of fpcaking al-
legorical perlonages properly and chara61eriflicaily
habited, they naturally led the way to thofe per-
fonifications by which Moralities were dillin-
guiflied from the hmpler religious dramas called
Myfleries. We mufl not however fuppofe, that,
after Moralities were introduced, Myfteries ceafed
to be exhibited. We have already feen that a
Mvflery was rcprefented before King Henry the
Seventh at Winchefter in 1487. Sixteen years
afterwards, on the firft Sunday after the marriage
of his daughter \vith King James of Scotland, a
Morality was performed."* In the early part of the
5 See Wartou's Hijlory of Engli/Jt Poetry, Vol. II. p. igg,
■* Sir ]ames\^2ire in his Annales, folio, 1664. after having
given an account of the Statute, 33 Henry VIII. c. i. by
which Henry was declared king of Ireland, and Irchind made
a kingdom, Informs us, tliat the new lav/ was proclaimed In
St. Patrick's c'lurch, In the prefcnce of the Lord Deputy
St. Leger, and a great number of peers, who attended in
their parliament robes. " It Is needlefs," he adds, " to
mention the feafts, comedies, and fports which followed."
" Epulas, comxdias, 8c certamlna ludicra, qiix fequebantur,
quid attinet dicere?" The mention of comedies might lead
us to fuppofe that our fiRer kingdom had gone before us In
the cultivation of the drama ; but I find from a MS. in the
library ol Trinity College, Dublin, that what are here called
comedies, were nothing more than pageants. " In the par-
liiiment ol i54i." fays the author of the memoir, "wherein
Henry VIII. was declared king of Ireland, there were prefent
the earls of Ormoud and Definond, the lord Barry, M'-Cilla
Phx;drlg, chieftainc of Offory, the fon of O'Bryan, M'Carthy
More^ with many Irlfh lords ; and on Corpus Chrifli day they
rode about the flreets in their parliament-robes, and the
3o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
reign of King Henry the Eighth they were perhaps
jferiormcd indircriminately ; but Myfleries were
NixE Worthies was played, and tlie Mayor bore ihe mace
before the deputy on horfeback.
Two of Bale's myfteries, God's Promifes, dindSt.John Bapii/l,
we have been lately told, were a£led by young men at the
inarket-crofs in Kilkenny, on a funday, in the year i552.
See Walker's EJpxy on ihe Irifh Stage, 4to. .1789. and Collecl.
de Rebus Hiher. Vol. II. p. 388, but there Is a flight error in
the date. Bale has himfelf informed us, that he was con-
fecrated Eiihop of Offbry, February 2. i55i2-3. (not on the
25th of March, as the writer of Bale's Life in Biographia
Briianiika ajferls,] and that he foon afterwards went to his
palace In Kilkenny. Thefe Myfleries were exhibited there
on the 20lh of Auguft, l533. the day on which Quten
Mary was proclaimed, as appears from his own account:
" On the XX daye of Auguft was the ladye Marye with
us at Kilkennye proclaimed Qiieen of England, 8cc. —
The yonge men in the forenone played a tragedye of Gods
Prcmffes in ihe old Lawe, at the market- croffe, with organc-
plainges and fonges, very aptely. In the afternone agayne
they played a comedic of Sancl Johan Baptijles preachlnges,
of Chriltes baptifynge, and of his temptaclon in the wllder-
nclfe, to the fmall contentacicn of the prcRes and other
papllles there." The Vocacyon of Johan Bale, Sec. iGmo. no
date, hgn. G. 8.
The only tl;eatre in Dublin in the reign of queen Eli-
zabeth was a booth (if it may be called a theatre) creeled
in Hoggin Green, now College Green, where Myfteries and
Moralities were occafionaily performed. It is llrange, that
fo lately as in the year 1600. at a lime when many of Shak-
ipeare's plays had been exhibited in England, and lord
Montjoy, the intimate friend of his patrons lord ElTex and
lord Southampton, was Deputy of Ireland, the old play of
Gorloduck, writren in the infancy of the ftagc, (for this piece
had been originally prefented in l562. under the name of
Ferrex and Porrex,] fhould have been performed at the Caftle
of Dublin : but fuch is the fa<^, it we may believe Clict-
wood the prompter, who mentions that old Mr. Afhbury
had feen k bill dated the 7th of September, iCoi. (queen
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3i
probably feldom reprefented after the flatute 84
and 35 Henry Vlli. c i. which .was made, as
the preamble informs us, vvidi a view that the
kingdom fiiould be purged and cleanfed of all
religinus plays, inUrhidcs, rhymes, ballads, and fongs,
which are equally pejlijennis and 7icyJome to the
commvonucal. At this time both Moraiides and
Mvrieries were raade the vehicle of religious con-
troverfy ; Bale's Ccmcdy of the tkra Laws oj Nature,
printed in i5 38. (which in facT: is a Myftery,)
being a difguifcd fatire agalnft popery ; as the Mo-
rality of Lvjiy Juvcntus was written exprefsly with
the fame view'in the reign of King Edward the
Sixth. '' In that of his fucceifor Oueen Mary,
E'.iziibcih's blnh-day) '■\for wax tapers for the play of Gor-
bouuck done at the Cajile, one and twenty f I, illings and two
groats.'" W'letlier any plays were reprefented in Dublin in
the rtlffn of James the F'lrfi, I am unable to afcertain.
Barnaby Riche, who has given a curious account ol Dublin
in the year 1610. makes no mention of any theatrical ex-
hibition. In i635. when Lord Strafford was Lord Lieu-
tenant, a theatre, probably under his patronage, was built
in Wcrberc^h-ilreet -, which, under the condu(^ of the well-
known John Ogilby, Mailer of the Revels in Ireland, con-
tinued open till October 1641. when it was fhut up by
order of the Lords judices. At this theatre Shirley's Royai
Maflcr was orij^^inally reprefented in l63g. and Burncl's
Landgarlha in 1641. In 16G2 Ogilby was reftored to his
office, and a new theatre Was erected in Orange-ftreet, (fince
called Smock-alley.) part of which fell down In the year 167 i.
Agrippa, King of Alba, a tragedy tranilated from the French
of Qiiinault-, was afled there before the duke of Ormond,
in 1675. and It continued open, I believe, till the death
of King Charles the Second. The difiurbances which fol-
lowed in Ireland put an end for a time to all theatrical
entertainments.
' " This mode of attack" (as Mr. Warton has obferved)
" was feldom returned by the opporfi;£ party : the cathollck
3^ HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Myderies were again revived , as appendages to
the papillical vvorflilp. " In the year i556." fays
Mr. Warton, " a goodly Jiagc-play of the Pajjion of
Chrijl was prefented at the Grey-friars in London,
on, Corpus-Chrifti day , before the Lord-Mayor,
the Privy-council, and many great eftates of the
reahn. Strype aifo mentions, under the year 1577.
a flage-play at the Grey-friers, of the PafTion of
Chrift, on the day that Avar was proclaimed in
London againft France , and in honour of that
occafion. On Saint Oiave's day in the fame year,
the holiday of the church in Silvcr-ftreet which is
dedicated to that faint, was kept with great fo-
lemnity. At eight of the clock at night, began a
flao-e-play of goodly matter, being the miraculous
hiftory of the life of that faint, which continued
four hours, and concluded with many religious
fongs."^ No Myfteries , I believe, were repre-
fented during the reign of Elizabeth, except fuch
as were occafionally performed by thofe who were
favourers of the popilh religion,^ and thofe already
worfliip founded on fcnfible reprefentaiions afforded a much
better hold for ridicule, than the religion of feme of the
fefts of the reformers, which was of a more fimple and
fpiritual nature." Hijlory of Englijh Poelry, Vol. II. p. SyS. n.
The interlude, however, taWed Every Man, which was written
in defence of the church of Rome, in the reign of Henry the
Eighth, is an exception. It appears aifo from a proclama-
tion promulgated early in the reign of his fon, of which
mention will be made hereafter, that the favourers of popery
about that time had levelled fevcral dramatick inveiliveii
againfl Archbidiop Cranmer, and the doctrines of the re-
formers.
* Hijiory of EngUJJi Poelry, Vol. III. p. 3q6.
7 That MyRcries were occafionally reprefcnted In the early
part (sf Queen illiabeth's rcijn appears from the alfcrtlons
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 33
mentioned, known by the name of the Chefter
Mvfteries, which had been originally compofed in
i328, were revived in the time of King Henry the
Eighth, (i533.) and again performed at Chefter in
the year 1600. The laft Myftery, I believe, ever
reprefented in England, was that of Chrijl''s Pajfion^
in the reign of King James the Firft , which
Prynne tells us was " performed at Elie-Houfe in
Holborne, when Gundomar lay there, on Good-
fridav at nio;ht, at which there were thoufands
prefent." ^
In France the reprcfentation of Myfteries was
forbid in the year 1548. when the fraternity affo-
ciated under the name of The Aclors of our Saviour s
PnJJion , who had received letters patent from King
Charles the Sixth, in 1402. and had for near i5o
years exhibited religious plays , built their new
theatre on the fite of the Duke of Burgundy's
houfe; and were authorifed by an arret of parlia-
ment to a£l, on condition that " they fliould meddle
with none but profane fubjects, fuch as are lawful
and honefl, and not reprefent any facred Myf-
teries." ' Reprefentations founded on holy writ
continued to be exhibited in Italy till the year
1660. and the Myftery of ChriJl''sPaJfion was repre-
of the controverfial wuiters. " They play" fays one of
them, " and counterfeitc the whole Paihon fo trimly, with
all the feven forrowes oF our lady, as though it had been
nothing elfe but a fimple and plain entcrlude, to make boys
lau£;h at, and a little to recreate forowful harts." Beehive
oftiieRomi/JieChurche, l58o.p. 207. See alfo/w^r«, p. 24. n. 4.
8 Hijiriomajiix, quarto, l633. p. 117. n.
9 Riccobonl's Acceunt cf the Theatres of Europe, 8vo. 174I«
p. 124.
i D
34 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fented a Vienna fo lately as the early part of the
prefent century.
Having thus occadonally menticned foreign
theatres, I take this opportunity to obferve, that
the fiages of France fo lately as in the beginning
of Queen Elizabeth's reign were entirely unfur-
nillied with fcenery or any kind of decoration, and
that the performers at that time remained on the
ftage,the whole time of the exhibition; in which
mode perhaps our Myfteries in England were re-
prefented. For this information we arc indebted to
the elder Scaliger, in whoi^e Poeiicks is the following
curious paifage : '' Xunc in Gallia ita agunt fabulas,
ut omnia in confpectu fmt; universus apparatus
dijpofitis Jublimibus Jedihus. Perjona ipfa nun<iuam
difcedunt: qui filent pro o.bjcntibus habentur. At
enimvero perridiculum , ibi fpcclatorera videre tc
audire , %c te videre teipfum non audire qus alius
coram te de teloquatur; quafi ibi non fis , ubi es:
cum tamcn maxima poetse vis fit , fufpendere
animos, atque eos facere femper expeflantes. At
hie ubi novum fit nihil ; ut prius fatietas fubrepat,
quam obrepat fames. Itaque rccle objecit /Efchylo
Euripides apud Ariftophanem in Ranis , quod
Nicbem Sc Achillcm in fcenam jntroduxilfet capite
co-operto; neque nunquam uUumverbum quifint
loquuti." ' That is , "At prefent in France [about
" }\\\. CdCii. SczVi^ciiPoeticesUhri Seplem.T oWo, 1 56 1. Lib. I.
c. xxi. Julius Ca:fai Scaliger died at Agcn, in the province
of Guicnue in Trance, on the 2lll of 0£lohcr, i5j8. in
the 75th year of his age. He wrote his Foelicks in that
town a few years before his death,
Riccoboni gives us the fame account in his Hiftory of
the French Theatre. " In the reprefentations of the Myfle-
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 35
tlie year i5 56] plays are reprcfented in fucli a
manner, that nothing is withdrawn from the view
of the fpcftator. The whole apparatus of the
theatre confifts cjif fome high feats ranged in proper
order. The perfons of the fcene never depart
during the rcprefentation : he who ceafes to fpeak,
is confidered as if he were no longer on the flage.
liut in truth it is extremely ridiculous, that the
fpeciator fliould fee the ador llilenlng, and yet he
liimfelf ihould not hear what one of his fellow-
aclors fays concerning him , though in his own
prelence and wnthin his hearing: as if he \vere
abfent, while he is prefent. It is the great object
of the dramatick poet to keep the mind in a con-
flan t flate of fuTpence and expe6lanon. But in
our theatres , there can be no novelty , no furprife :
inforauch that the fpeciator is more likely to be
iatiated with v/hat he has already feen , than to
have any appetite for what is to come. Upon this
ground it was, that Euripides objcfled to ;£fchylus ,
in The Frogs of Ariftophanes , for having intro-
duced Niobe and Achilles as mutes upon the fcene,
with a covering which entirely concealed their
heads from the fpedlators."
Another pradice, equally extraordinary, is men-
rifs, tlie theatre reprcfented paracUfe, hell, heaven, and earth,
and all at once ; and though the a6lIon varied, tliere was
no change of the decorations. After an a6lor had performed
his part, he did not go off the (lage, but retired to a corner
of it, and fate there in full view of all the fpe(51ators."
Hiftorical and Criiical Account of ihe Theatres of Europe, odavo,
J 74 1, p. iiS. We Ihall prefently fee that at a much later
period, and long after t)ie Myfteries had ccafed to be ex-
hibited, " thout^h the adion changed, there was no change
of decoration," either ia France gr England.
D »
36 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tloned by Bulenger in his treatife on the Grecian
and Roman theatres. In his time , lo late as in
the year 1600, all the a6lors employed in a dra-
matick piece came on the flage in a troop , before
the play began , and prefented themfelves to the
fpeftators, in order, fays he, to raife the expecta-
tion of the audience. " Putem tamen [^uod hodieque
Jit) omnes aftores antcquam fmguli agerent, con-
feilim Sc in turba in profccnium prodiiiTe , ut fui
expeclationemcoramoverent.''^ 1 kno^v not whether
this was ever pra6lifed in England. Inflead of
raifing, it fliould feem more likely to reprefs , ex-
pectation. I fuppofe , however , this Avriter con-
ceived the audience would be animated by the
number of the charaftcrs , and that this difplay
would operate on the gaping fpe£lators like fome
of our modern enormous play-bills ; in which the
length of the (how fometimes conftitutes the prin-
cipal merit of the entertainment.
Mr. Warton obfervcs that Moralities were be-
come fo fafliionable a fpeClacle about the clofe of
the reign of Henry the Seventh, that John Raftall ,
a learned typographer, brother-in-law toSirThomas
More , extended its province , which had been hi-
therto confmed either to moral allegory, or to re-
ligion blended \vith buffoonery , and conceived a
defign of making it the vehicle of fcience and phi-
lofophy. With this view he publiilied A new In-
terlude and a mery\ oj the nature of the iiij Ele-
ments, declaring maiiy proper points of philojophy na-
turall , and dyversjlraiinge landys , <bc. In the cof-
mographical part of the play, in which the poet
' Bultngeri de Theairo, Svo. iGoo. Lib. I. p. 60. b.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3;
profeffes to treat of dyvers Jlraunge landys, and of
the new-found landys, the traces of America recently
difcovered, and the manners of the natives are
defcribed. The charafters are , a Meffenger , who
fpeaks the prologue , Nature , Humanity , Studious
Defire, Senfual Appetite, a Taverner , Experience,
and Ignorance."'*
As it is uncertain at what period of time the
ancient Myfteries ceafed to be reprefented as an
ordinary fpedacle for the amufement of the people ,
and Moralides were fubflitutcd in their room , it is
equally difficult to afcertain the precife time when
the latter gave way to a more legitimate theatrical
cxhibinon. We know that Moralides were ex-
hibited occafionally during the whole of the reign
of Queen Elizabeth , and even in that of her fuc-
ceflbr, long after regular dramas had been pre-
fcnted on the fcenc ; ^ but 1 fufpe^l that about the
year 15)0 (the \'6\\\ year of Oueen Elizabeth) this
fpecies of drama began to lofe much of its at-
traftion, and gave \vay to fomething that had more
the appearance ol comedy and tragedy. Gammer
* Hiftory of Englijh Poelry, Vol. II. p. 364. " Dr. Percy
fuppofes tliis play to have been written about the year l5lo.
from the following lines :
' Within this xx yere
' Weftwarde he found new landes
'That we never harde tell of before this.'
The Weft-Indies were difcovered by Columbus in 1492."
Ibid.
' The licence granted in l6o3 to Shakfpcare and his fel-
low-comedians, authorifes them to play comedies, tragedies,
hillories, interludes, morals, paftorals, 8cc. See alfo TJie
Gills Hornboohe, iGog. " if in the middle of his play,
(bee it paftoral or comcdie, worall or tragcdie,) you rife
witli a flirewd and difcontcntcd face," 8cc.
D 3
SS HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Gurtcns Needle, ^vhich was written by M. Still,
(aftcrvvards Bifliop of Bath and Wells ,) in the sSd
year of his age, and aifted at Chriffs College,
Cambridge, in i566. is pointed out bv the inge-
nious writer of the tra£l tniwltdHiJloiia Hijtiionica,
as the firft piece " that looks like a regular co-
medy;" that is, the firft p!ay that was neither
Myftery nor Molality , and in which fome humour
and diicrimination cf character may be found. In
i56i-2 Thomas Sackviile Lord Buckhurft, and
Thomas Norton, joined in writing the tragedy of
Ferrex and Porrex^ which was exhibited on the i8th
of January in that year by the Students of the Inner
Temple, before Queen Elizabeth at Whitehall.
Neither of thefe pieces appears to have been adled
on a publick theatre, nor was there at that time
any building in London conflrutSted folely for the
purpofe of repreienting plays. Of the latter piece,
which, as Mr. Warton has obferved, is perhaps
" the firft fpecimcn in our language of an heroick
tale written in verfe , and divided into a6ls and
fcenes, and cloathed in all the formalities of a
regular tragedy," a correal analyfis mav be found
in The History of English Poetry, * and, the
play itfelf within thefe few ytars has been accu-
rately reprinted.
It has been juftly remarked by the fame judicious
writer, that the early practice of perfoiming plays
in Ichools and univerfities greatly contributed to
the improvement of our drama. " While the
people were amuled with Skelton's Trial oj Simony,
Bale's Goas Promijis, and Chrijl's Dejcent into Hell,
* Vol. 111. pp. 355. tjeq.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, Sg
the fcholars of the times were compofing and ailing
plays on hifl.orical fubjeas , and in imitation of
Piautus and Terence. Hence ideas of legitimate
iable mufl. have been imperceptibly derived to the
popular and vernacular drama." ^
In confirmadon of what has been fuggefled , it
may be obferved , that the principal dramatick
writers, beiove Shakfpearc appeared, were fcholars.
Greene, Lodge, Peele, Marlowe, Nafiie, Lily, and
Kyd, had all a regular univerfity education. 'From
whatever caufe it may have arifen , the dramatick
poetry about this period certainly aflumed a better,
though flill an excepdonable, form. The example
which had been furnifhedby Sackville was quickly
followed, and a great number of tragedies and
hiftorical plays was produced between the years
1670 and 1590. forae of which are Hill extant,
though by far the greater part is loft. This , I
apprehend, was the great era of thofe bloody and
bombaflick pieces , which aHorded fubfequent wri-
ters perpetual topicks or ridicule : and during
the fame period were exhibited many Hijlories , or
hiftorical dramas , formed on our Englifh Chro-
nicles , and reprefenting a feries of events fimply
in the order of time in which they happened.
Some have fuppofed that Shakfpeare was the firft
dramatick poet that introduced this fpecies of
drama ; but this is an undoubted error. I have
elfe where obferved that every one of the fubjccls
on which he conftru£lcd his hiftorical plays, ap-
pears to have been dramatized, and brought upon
the fcene, before his time.^ The hiftorical drama
7 Ht/lory of Englijh Poetry, Vol. II. p. 388.
« See Vol. XV. p. 244.
D 4
40 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT^
is by an elegant modern writer fuppofed to have
owed its rile to the publication ot The Mirrour for
Magijlratcs , in which many of the moft diftin-
Goffon in his Plays confuted in five ASlions, printed about
tlic year l58o. fays, " In playes either thofe things are
faincd that never were, as Cupid and Pfyche, plaied at Panics ;
(he means, in Paul's fchool,J — or it a true hiftorie be taken
in hand, it is made like our fhavelings, longeft at the rifing
and falling of the funne." From the fame writer we learn,
that many preceding dramatick poets had travelled over the
ground in which the fubjecls of feveral of Shakfpeare's other
plays may be found. " I may boldly fay it, (fays GofTon,)
becaufe 1 have feene if, that Tlie Palace of Pleafure, The
Golden Affe, The ^Ethiopian Hijiorie, Amadis of Fraunce, The
Round Table, bawdie comedies in Latin, French, Italian ,
and Spanifh, have beene thoroughly ranjaokt to furnifh the
playe-houfes in London. Signat. D. 5. b.
Lodge, his antagonift in this controverfy, in his Play of
Plays and Pafimes, a work M'hich 1 have never feeu, urges
us, as Prynne informs us, in defence of plays, that '■'■ they
dihicidale and well explain many darke obfcure hijiories,
imprinting them in men's minds in fuch indelible charac-
ters that they can hardly be obliterated." Hijiriomajlix,
p. 940. Sec alfo Hcywood's Apology for A 6lors, 1612, " Plays
have made the ignorant more apprehenfive, taught the un-
learned the knowledge of many famous hif cries ; \n{[TuQ.ed
fuch as cannot readc. In the difcovery of our Englijh Chro-
nicles : and wl^at man have you now of that weake capa-
city that cannot difcourfe of any notable thing recorded,
even from William the Conqueror, "sy, from the landing of
Brute, untill this day, being poflcll of their true ufe ? " —
InFlorio's dialogues in Italian and Englifh, printed In iSgi.
we have the following dialogue :
" G. After dinner we will go fee a play.
" //. The plaics that they play in England arc not right
comedies.
" T. Yet they do nothing elfe but plaie every daye.
" //. Yea, but they are neither right comedies, nor right
tragedies.
" G. How would you name them then?
" H. Reprefentatlons of Ai^ori«, without any decorum."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 41
guillied chara6lers in Englifli hiflory are intro-
duced , giving a poetical narrative of their own
misfortunes. ' Of this book three editions , with
various alterations and improvements, were printed
between i563 and iSSy.
At length (about the year i5gi) the great lu-
minary of the dramatick -world blazed out, and
our poet produced thofe plays which have now for
two hundred years been the boaft and admiration
of his countrymen.
Our earlieft dramas, as w^e have feen , were re-
prefented in churches or near them by eccle-
fiaflicks : but at a very early period , I believe , we
had regular and eflabliflred players , who obtained
a livelihood by their art. So early as in the year
iSyS. as has been already noticed, the finging-boys
of St. PauVs reprefented to the King, that they had
been at a confiderable expence in preparing a ftage
reprefentation atChriftmas. Thefe, however, can-
not properly be (galled comedians, nor am I able to
point out the time when the profefTion of a player
became common and cllablifhed. It has been fup-
pofed that the licenfe granted by Queen Elizabeth
to James Burbage and others, in 1574. was the firft
regular licenfe ever granted to comedians in Eng-
land; but this is a miflake, for Heywood informs
us that fimilar licenfes had been granted by her
father King Henry the Eighth, King Edward the
Sixth , and Queen Mary. Stowe records , that
" when Kino; Edward the Fourth would fliew him-
fclf in flate to the view of the people, he repaired
to his palace atSt. John's, where he was accuflomed
5 Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors, Vol. I. p. 166.
42 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
to fee the City AElorsy^ In two books in the
Remembrancer's-office in the Exchequer , contain-
ing an account of the daily expences of King Henry
the Seventh , are the following articles ; from which
it appears that at that time players, both French
andEnglifh, made apart of the appendages of the
court , and were fupported by regal eflablifliment.
" Ittm , to Hampton of VVorcefter for making of
balades , 20s. Item, to m.y ladie the kings moders
poete, 66s. 8d. Item, to a Welfh Rymer , in re-
ward, i3s. 4d. Item, to my Lord Privie-Seals
foie, in revv. los. Item, to Pachye the fole, for a
rew, 6s. 8d. Ittm , to the foolifh duke of Lan-
cailer, 3s. Item, to Dix the foles mafter , for a
months wages , 10s. Item, to the King of Frances
fole, in rew. 4I. Item, to the Frenjlie players , in
revv. 20s. Item, to the tumbler upon the ropes, 20s.
Item, for heling of a feke maid, 6s. 8d. [Probably
the piece of gold given by the King in touching
for the evil.] Item, to my lord princes organ-player,
for a quarters wages at Michell. 10s. Item, 10 the
players of Londe.n , in reward , 10s. Item, to Mafter
Barnard, the blind poete , iocs. Item, to a man
and woman for flrawberries, 8s. 4d. Item, to a
woman for a red rofe , 2s/' The foregoing extracts
* Apology for A Bon, 410. 1612. Signal. E. i. b. "Since
ihen," adds Heywood, " that houfe by the princes free gift
hath belonged to the office of the Revels, where our court
playes have been in lale dayes yearcly rehearfed, perfe£led,
and corrected, before they come to the publike view of the
prince and the nobility." This houfe muft have been chofen
on account of its neighbourhood to Whitehall, where the
royal theatre then was. The regular office of the Revels at
that time was on St. Peter's llill, near tlie Blatkfrlars'*
playhoufc.
or TIi£ ENGLISH STAGE. 43
are from a book of which almofh every page is
figned by the King's own hand, in the i3th year
of his reign. The following are taken from a book
which contains an account of e:<pences in the gth
year of his reign: " Item, to Cart for writing of a
boke, 6s. 8d. Item, payd for two plnyes in the hall,
26s. Sd. I Urn , to the kings play.rs for a reward,
loos. Item, to the king to play at cardes , 100s
Item^ loft to my lord Moiging at buttes , 6s. 8d.
Item, to Harry Pyning, the king's godfon , in re-
ward, 20s. - Item, to the players that begged by
the way, 6s. Sd." ^
Some of thefe articles I have preferved as cu-
rious, though they do not relate to the fubje^l
immediately before us. This account afcertains,
that there was then not only a regular troop of
players in London, but alfo a royal company.
The intimate knowledge of the French language,
and manners which Henry mufl have acquu-ed
during his long iojourn in foreign courts, (from
1471 to 1-485.) accounts for the article relative to
the company of French players.
In a manufcript in the Cottonian Library in the
Mufeum , a narrative is given of the lliews and
ceremonies exhibited at Chrlftnias in the fifta year
of this king'sreign , 1490. " L'his Chriilmafs I faw
no difgyfvngs, and but right Jew plays; but ther
was an abbot of mif-ruie , that made muche fport,
and did right well his office. — On Candell Mafs
day, the king, the qwen, my ladye the kings moder,
with the fubftance of ai the lordes temporell prefent
I
' For thefe cxtrafls I am indebted to Francis Grofe, Efq.
to whom every admirer of the venerable remaiiis of Englifti
antiquity has the higheft obligations. -
44 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
at the parlement, &c. -wenten a proceffion from tlie
chapell into the hall, and foo into Weftmynfter
Hall: — The kynge was that daye in a riche
gowne of purple , pirled withe gold , furred wythe
fabuis. — At nyght the king , the qwene , and my
ladye the kyngs moder, came into the Whit hall,
and ther had a pky^ — "On New-yeeres day at
nyght, (fays the fame writer , fpeaking of the year
148S.) ther was a goodly difgyfyng, and alfo this
Criftmafs ther wer many and dyvers playes.'" ■*
A proclamation which was ifTued out in the
year 1647 by King Edward the Sixth , to prohibit
for about two months the exhibition of " any kind
of interlude, play, dialogue, or other matter fet forth
in the form of a play , in the Englilh tongue," de-
fcribes plays as a familiar entertainment, both in
London, and in the country , ' and the profeffion of
an aflor as common and edabliflied. " Forafmuch
as a great number of thofe that be common players
of interludes and playes , as well within the city of
London as elfewhere within the realme, doe for
the raoft part play fuch interludes as contain
-* Leland. Collca. Vol. IV. Append, pp. 235. 256.
edit. 1774.
* Itinerant companies of a<1ors are probnbly coeval with
the firft rife of the En|^li(h flagc. King Henry the Seventli's
bounty to forae ftroUing players has been naentioncd in
the preceding page. In l556. the fourth year of O^ueen
Mary, a remonflrance was IfTued from the Privy-council to
the Lord Prefldcnt of the North, Rating, '^ that certain lewd
[wicked or dlffolute] pcrfons, naming thenifelves to he the
fervants of Sir Francis Lake, and wearing his livery or badge
on their fleeves, have wandered about thcfe north parts,
and reprefenling certain plays and intelrludes, rcfle^ling on
the queen and her confort, and the formalities of the mafs."
Strypc's Memorials^ Vol. III. Append. 111. p. j85.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 45
matter teucUng to {edition," ^' Sec. By commo7i
players of interludes here mentioned, I apprehend,
were meant the players of the city, as contradiftin-
guilhed from the king's own fervants. In a ma-
nufcript which 1 favv fome years ago , and -which
is now in the library of the Marquis of Lanfdovvn ,
are fundry charges for the players belonging to
King Edward the Sixth; but I have not preferved
the articles. And in the houfehold-book of Queen
Mary, in the Library of the Antiquarian Society, is
an entry which ihevvs that flie alfo had a theatrical
eftablifhment: " Eight players of interludes , each
66s. 8d. — 26I. i3s. 4d.'"
It has already been mentioned that originally
plays were performed in churches. ThoughBonner
bifliop of London iffued a proclamation to the
clergy of his diocefe in 1542. prohibiting " all
manner of common plays, games, or interludes,
to be played , fet forth , or declared within their
churches , chapels , " 8cc. the pra£lice feems to have
been continued occafionally during the reign of
Queen Elizabeth ; for the author of The Third Blajt
of Retrait from Plays and Players complains, in
i58o. that " the players are permitted to publifli
their mammetrie in every temple of God, and that
throughout England; "" Sec. and this abufe is taken
notice of in one of the Canons of King James the
• Firfl; , given foon after his acceffion in the year
i6o3. Early however in Queen Elizabeth's reign
the eflablilhed players of London began to aft in
temporary theatres conftruiSled in the yards of
inns; ' and about the year 1670. I imagine, one or
' Fuller's Church Hijiory, B. VII. p. Sgo.
'^ " In procefs of time it [playing] became ;;n occupa-
46 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
two regular playi:iourcs were ere£led. ^ Both tlie
theatre in Blackfriars and that in Whitefriurs were
certainiv buiU b-jTore ]5So. for we learn from a
puritanical pamphlet pubiifhcd in the laft century,
that foon after that year, " many goodly citizens
and well difpofed gentlemen of London , conhder-
ing that play-houfcs and dicing-lioufes were traps
for young gentlemen, and others, and percciviiig
that many inconveniences and great damage would
enfue upon the long fufFering of the fame, — ac-
quainted fome pious magiftrates therewith , — -who
thereupon made humble fuitc to Queene Elizabeth
and her privv-councell, and obtained leave bom
her majelly to thru ft the players out of the citty,
and to pull down all playhoufes and dicing-houfes
within their liberties ; which accordingly was ef-
fe6led, and the playhoufes in Gracious-flrect, Bi-
fliopfgate-flreet, that nigh Paul's , that on Ludgate-
hill, and the White-friers, were quite pulled down
and fuppreiTed by the care of thefe religious fena-
tlon, and many tliere were that followed it for a livelihood,
and, what was worfe, it became the occafioa of much fin
and evil ; great multitudes of people, efpcclally youth, in
Qjieen Elizabeth's reign, reforting to thefc plays : and being
commonly acted on fundays and feftlvals, the churches were
forfaken, and the playlioules th.ronged. Great inns were ufed
for this purpofc, which had fecret chambers and places,
as well as open llages and galleries." Strype's Additions
to SioTji)e's Survey, folio, 1720. Vol. I. p. 247.
8 " In playes either thofe thinges are falned that never
were, as Cupid and PJjchr, played at Panics, [the fchool-
room of St. Paul's,] and a great many comedies more at
the Blachfricrs, and in' every playhmtje in London, which for
brevity fake I over-fl;ippe -, or," Sec. Flays confuted in Jive
Ailions, by Stephen Golfon, no date, but printed about the
year l5So.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 47
tors. " ^ The theatre in Blackfriars , not being
within the liberties of the city of London , efcaped
the lurv of thefe fanaticks. Elizabeth, however,
though (lie yielded in this inllance to the frenzy of
the time , Avas during the whole courfe of her reign
a favourer of thellage, and a frequent attendant
upon plavs. So early as in the year i^Gg. as we
learn from another puritanical writer, the children
of her chapel , who are described as " her majefty's
unfledged minions,") " flaunted it in their hikes
and fattens ," and aded plays on profane fubjedls
in the chapel-royal. » In 1574 fiie granted a licence
to James Burbage , probably the father of the cele-
brated tragedian , and four others , fervants to the
earl ofLeicefler, to exhibit all kinds of flagc-plays,
during pleafare , in any part of England, " as well
for the recreation of her loving fubje£ls , as for her
own folace and pleafure when flie fhould think
good to fee them; " ' and in the year i583. foon
^ Richard Reiilldge's Monjler lately found out and d'ljcc-
vered, or the Jcourging of Tipplers, 162S. pp. 2, 3, 4. What
he calls the theatres in Gratious-ftreet, Bifliopfgate-fiveet,
and Ludgate-hlU , were the temporary fcaffolds crefled at
thcCrofs-Kcys Inn In Cracechurch-flreet, the Bull in Bifhops-
gate-flrect, and the Bell-Savage on Ludgate-hill. " That
nigh Paul's," was St. Paul's fchool-room, behind the Coii-
vocatiQn-houfe.
* "• Even in her majeflies chapel do thefe pretty upftart
youthes prophane the Lordes-day by the Infcivious writhing
of their tender limbs, and gorgeous decking of their apparell,
in fcignhig bawdie fables, gathered from the idolatrous
heathen Poets," Sec. The Children of the Chapel Jiript and
whlpl, iSGg. fol. xiil. b. Thefe cliildrcn ailed frequently
in Qiieen Elizabeth's reign at tlie theatre in "vVhitefriars.
5 For the notice of this ancient theatrical licence we are
indebted to Mr. Steevens. It is found among the unpub-
48 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
after a furious attack had been made on the flagc
by the puritans , twelve of the principal comedians
lifhed coUe^lions of Rymer, which were purchafed by par-
liament, and are depofited in the Britifh Mufeum. Afcoxigh's
Catalogue of Sloanian and other manufcripts, No 4625.
" Pro Jacobo Burbage (J aliis, de liceniia Jpeciali,
" Elizabeth by the grace of God, Quene of England, 8cc.
To all juftices, mayors, fheriffes, baylyffes, head conftablcs,
under conftables, and all other ourc officers and mynifters,
gretinge.
" Know ye, that we of our cfpeciall grace, ccrten know-
ledge, and mere motion, have licciifed and audlorifed, and
by thefe prefents do lycenfe and audorife our loving fub-
jedesjam.es Burbage, John Perkyn, John Lanham, William
Johnfon, and Robert Wilfon, fervaunts to our truftie and
well beloved cofen and counfcyllour the Earle of Leycefter,
to ufc, exercyfe and occupie the arte andfacultye of playenge
commcdies, tragedies, enterludcs, ftage-playes, andfuch other
like as they have alredie ufed and fludied, or hereafter {hall
ufe and ftudie, as well for the recreation of our lovinge
fubjedes as for our folace and pleafure when we fliall thinke
good to fee them, as alfo to ufe and occupie all fuche
inftrumentes as they have alredie pradifed or hereafter (hall
pra6life, for and duringe our pleafure ; and the faid com-
medies, tragedies, enterludes, and llage-plaies, together with
their mulicke, to fhew, publifhe, exercife and occupie to
their bed commoditle, during all the terme aforefaid, as
•well within the liberties and freedomes of anye our cities,
townes, bouroughs, 8cc. whatfoever, as without the fame,
thoroughoutc our realme of England. Wyllinge and com-
maundinge yowe and every of you, as ye tender our pleafure,
to permit and fuller them herein withoute anye lettes, hyn-
deraunce, or molellation, duringe the tcrmc aforefaide, any
ade, ftatute, or proclamation or commaundement heretofore
made or hereafter to be made noiv/ythftandyuge ; provyded
that the faide commedies, tragedies, enterludes and ftagc-
plaves be by the Maftcr of our Revells for tlic tyme beyngc
before fene and allowed ; and that the lame be not publiflicd
or fhewen in the tyme of common prayer, or in the tyme
of greate and common plague in our faide cityc of London.
In wytne* whereof, S;c.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 49
of that time , at the earnefl requell of Sir Francis
Wallingham, were fele^led Irom the companies
then lublifling, under the licence and proie^lion
of various noblemen, * and were fworn her majcn.y''s
fervants. ' Eight ot them had an annual ftipend of
<■>■ Wytues our felfe at VVeRmluner the loth daye of Maye.
{1574.] . „ '
" Per hreve de privato fi^'iUo.''''
Mr. Steevens fiippoled that Mr. Dodfl-y was inaccurate
ill Lying in the prctacc to his coUedion of Old Plays, p. 22.
that "the finf company of players we have any account of
in hiftcry are the children of Paul's in iSyS." four years
fubfequent to the above licence. Eut tlie figures iSyS in
that page r.re merely an error of the prefs for iSyS. as may
be feen by turning to a former page of Mr. Dodflcy's preface,
to which, in p. 22. he himfclf refers.
■* The fervants of the earls of Derby, Pembroke, andEfTcx;
thofe of the Lord Chamberlain ; the fervants of the Lord
Admiral (Nottingham) •, thofe of Lord Strange, Lord SufTex,
Lord Worcefier, Sec. — By the ftatute jg Eliz. c. 4- noble-
men were authorifed to llccnfe players to acl both in town
and country ; the ftatute declaring "■ that all common players
of interuidcs -wandering abroad^ other than players of inter-
ludes belonging to anie baron of this realrac, or anie other
honourable perfonage of greater degree, to be authorifed
to play under the hand and fealc of arms of fiich baron
or perfonage, (hall be adjudged and deemed rogues and
vagabonds."
This ftatute has been frequently mif-ftated, by Prynne and
others, as if It declared fl// players (except noblemen's fervants)
to be rogues and vagabonds : whereas it was only made
agalnft y/r<?//i7io" players.
Long after the playhoufes called the Theatre and the
Curtain had been built, and during the whole reign of
Elizabeth, the companies belonging to diflfcrent noblemen
aded occaGonally at the Crofs-Kcys In Gracechurch-ftreet,
and other inns, and alfo in the houfes of noblemen at
weddings and other feftlvals.
' "■ Comedians and ftdge-playcrs of former time were very-
poor and ignorant in rcfpcd of tliefc of this time ; but
t E
5o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
31. 6s. 8d. each. * At that time there were eight
being now [in i583] grownc very {kilfuU and exquifite aflors
for all matters, they were entertained into the fervicc of
divers great lords ; out of which companies there were
twelve of the heft chofen, and, at the requcft of Sir Francis
WalGngham, they Vv^ere fworue the quecncs fcrvants, and
■were allowed wages and liveries as groomes of the chamber:
and untill this ycare i5S3. the quecne had no players.
Among thefe twelve players were two rare men, viz. Thomas
Wilfon, for a quicke, delicate, refined, extemporall witt,
and Richard Tarleton, for a wondrous plentiluU pleafant
extemporall wit, he was the wonder of his tymc. — Ke
licth burled in Shoreditch church." " Ke was fo beloved,"
adds the writer in a note, " that men ufe his picture for
their fignes." Stowe's Ghron. publifhed by Howes, fub. ann.
l583. edit. l6i5.
The above paragraph was not written by Stowe, not being
found in the laft edition of his Chronicle publilhcd in his
life-time, 4to. l6o5. and is an interpolation by his conti-
nuator, Edmund Howes.
Richard Tarleton, as appears by the rcgiRer of St, Leonard's,
Shoreditch, was buried there, September the third, i5S8,
The following extracl from Strype Ihews in how low a ftatc
the ftagc was at this time :
" Upon the ruin of Paris Garden, [the fall of a fcaffold
there in January 1 583-4] fuit v>ras made to the Lords [of
the Council] to banifti plays wholly in the places near
London : and letters were obtained of the Lords to banifli
them on the Sabbath days.
" Upon thefe orders aguinft the players, the Ojieens players
petitioned the Lords of the Councel, That whereas the time
of their fervicc drew very near, fo that of nccefiity thcy
muft needs have cxercife to enable them the better for the
fame, and alfo for their better keep and relief in their poor
livings, the feafon of the year being pift to play at any of
the houfes without the city : llieir humble petition was,
that the Lords would youchfafc to read a few articles annexed
to their fupplication, and in conGdcration [that] the matter
contained the very ftay and ftate of their living, to grant
unto them confirmation of the fame, or of as many as Ihould
be to their honours good liking ; and withal, their favour-
able letter* to the Lord Maior, to permit them to exercife
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 5i
companies of comedians, each of Avhich performed
twice or thrice a week. ^ ••
King James the Firfl appears to have patronized
the ihige with as much warnith as his predeceiror.
In 1599. while he was yetin Scodand, he folicited
Queen Elizabeth (if we may believe a modern
hiflorian) to fend a company of Englifli comedians
to Edinburgh ; and very foon after his acceflion to the
throne, granted the following licence to the company
at the Globe , which is found in Rymer's Fadera.
" Pro Laurentio Fletcher 8c Willielmo
Shakespeare 'k aliis.
" A. D. i6o3. Pat.
" I. Jac. P. 2. m. 4. James by the grace of
God, Sec to all juG-ices , maiors , flieriffs , confta-
bles, headboroughs, and other our officers and
loving fubjeds, greeting. Know you that wee,
of our fpecial grace, certaine knowledge, and
meer motion , have licenfed and authorifed , and
by thefe prefentes doe licence and authorize thcife
our fervaunts, Laurence Fletcher, William Shake-
STEARE, Richard, Burbage, Augufline Phillippes,
wiUiin the city ; and that their Inters mis^lit contain fomc
orders to thejudices of Midiltfcx In their behalf." Strype's
Ad;Htions to Stowe's Survey^ Vol. I. p. 248.
^ Houfchold-book of Qjiecn Ellz'bctli in 1584. in the
Muleiim, MSS. Slorfn. 3 194. The conti: uator of Stowe f.ivs,
fhc had no phiyers before, (^fce n. 5.) but I liifpecl that he
IS midakeri, for Q. M.iry, and K. Edward the Sixth, Loth
had players on their elt..bii{hrnent.s. See p. 4^-
" For reckoning with the lealle the galne th^t Is reaped
of etiiht ordinaric places in the cilie, (which I know,j by
phiying but once a weeke, (whereas many timts tliey p'ay
twice, and fometimcs thrice,) it imonnteth m two- thoiif nd
ponnds by the y< ar A Sermon prtiaihtU at Paules CroJJe^ hj
Juhn Stockwood, 1578,
E 2
52 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
John Hemings, Hemic Condel , William Sly,
Robert Armin ,'*Ricliard Cowiy, and the reil of
tlieir affociates, freely to ute and exercile the art
and lacuhy of playing comedies, tragedies, hif-
tories, interludes, morals, paUorals, itage-plaies,
and fuch like other as thei have aireadie lludied
or hereafter fhali uie or (ludie, as weil for the
recreation of our loving fubjecls, as for our ioiace
and pleafure wlien we fliall thincke good to Ice
them, during our pleafure: and the faid comedies,
tragedies, hiilories, enterludes, morals, paftorals,
ftage^plaies, and fuch like, to ftiew and exercife
putmqueiy to their bell coramoditie , when the
inleftion of the plague fnall decreai^e , as well
within theire nowe ufuail houfe called the Globe,
within our county of Surrey, as alfo within anic
towne-haiis or moute-liaiis, or other convenient
places within the liberties and freedom of any
ot.ier citie, univerlitic, toun, or boroughe what-
lucver, within our ia^d realmes and dominions.
\Viliiiig and commanding you and everie of yoLi,
as you tender our plealure, not oniie to permit
and luher them herein, without any your Ictts,
hindrances, or molehations, during our pleafure,
b'-it alfo to be aiding or affiRinge to them if any
wioiig be to them offered, and to allow them fuch
former curtefies as hathe been given to men of
their place and quallitie; and alfo what further
favour you fhall fliew to thcife our fervaunts for
our lake, we fliall take kindlie at your handes. In
witnelb whereof, &c.
" Wiinefs our felfe atWeftminfter, thenynteenth
daye of Maye.
" Per Breve dc privato figilloS''
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.
WING now, as concifely as T could, traced
the hiflory of the hngdfli Stage, from its firll: rude
fiate to the period of its maturity and greatefl
Tpicndor. 1 fha'ii endeavour to exhibit as accurate
a delineadon of the internal form and economy of
our ancient theatres, as the diftance at which ^ve
Hand, and the obfcuiity of theiubjc£l, will permit.
The mofl ancient Engliih playh(mlcs ot which
I have found any account, are. the playhoule in
Blackfriars , that in Whitejiiars,^ the Ihcatrc, of
^ Tliere was a tlieatre inWliitefriars, before the yenr l58o.
See p. 46. A ]\'omans a Vt'ealh.crcock was performed at the
private playhoufe in White- friars In 1612. This theatre
was, I imagine, either in Salifbury court or the narrow
ftrf et leadins^ into It. From an extract taken by Sir Henry
Hirbirt (rom the office-book ot Sir George But, his pre-
decefior in the office of Maftcr of t})e Revels, it appears
that the theatre in VVhitefriars was either rtbuilt in i6i3.
or Intended to be rebuilt. The entry Is : "July i3. iGiS.
for a llcenfe to erect anew play-houfe In iheVVhiie-fritrs, 8cc.
£. 20." I doubt however whether this I'chenic was t!>en
carried into execution, becaufe a new playhoufe was cre£led
in Sallfbury-court In 1629. That theatre probib'y was net
on the fite of the old theatre In WhIte-friars, tor Prynne
fpeaks of It as then newly built, not re-built ; and In the
fame place he mentions the re-building of the Fortune and
Red Bull theatres. — Had the old theatre In Whltelii;rs
been pulled down and re-built, he would have ufed the fame
language with refped to them all. The Rump, a comedy by
Tatham, was a^^ed In 1669. in tlie theatre In Saliibury-court
(that built In 1629). About the year 1670 a new theatre was
OTCcled there, (but whether on the fitc of that lafh mentioned
I cannot afccr^aln,) known by the name of . the Tlieatre la
Dorfet Gardens, to which the Duke of York's company under
the condu6l of Sir William D'Avenant's widow removed
from Lincoln's-inn-fields In 1671. The former playhoufe
in Salllbury-court could hardly have fallen Into decay in
E 3
54 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
which I am unable to afccrtain the fituation,' and
The Curtain, in Shoreditch. ' The Theatre, from
its name, was probably the firll building erecled
in or near the metropolis purpofeiy for fcenick
exhibitions.
In the time of Shahfpeave there were feven prin-
cipal theatres;- three private houfcs , namely, that
fo fhort a period as forty years ; but T fnppofe was found
toofmall for the new ftenery introduced atler the Reftornion.
The Prologue to Wycherley's Gentleman Dancing Majier^
printed In iGyS. is addreffcd '" To the city, newly aher the
removal of the Duke's Company from Lincoln's-lnn fields to
their new tlieatre near Salifbnry-iourt."
Maitland in his Hijiory of London^ p. 963. after mentioning
Dorfet Siairs, adds, " near to which place flood the theatre
or playhoufe, a neat building, having a curious front next
the Thames, with an open place for the reception of coaches."
9 It was probably fituated In fome remote and privileged
place, being, I fuppofe, hinted at in the following paflnge
ofaftiraonbyjohn Stockwood, quoted below, andprtached
in 1578. '•'• Have wc not houfes of purpofe built with groat
charges for the mainraiuance of them, [the players,] and that
without the liberties, as who (hall fay, there, iet^ them fay
•what they will, we will play. I know not how I might, with
the codly-learned tfpecially, more difcommend the gorgeous
playing-place erecled in the fields, ihau to term It, as they
plcafe to have it called, a Theatre."
* The.Theatre and The Curtain are mentioned in " A Ser-
mon preached at Paulcs-Crof^ on St. Bartholomew day, being
the S4t}i of Aupuft, iSvS. by John Sioikwood," and in an
ancient Treaiije againji Idlenefs, vaine Plaies and Interludes,
by John Northbrook, bl. 1. no date, but written apparently
about the year l58o. Stuhbes, ]n ]u'> Antony of Ahujei, ^^i. go,
edit. l583. Inveighs agalnft Theatres and Curtaines, which he
calls Venus' Palaces. Edmund Howes, the continuator of
^Wwes Chronicle, fays, (p. 1004.) that before the year iSyo.
he "neither knew, heard, nor read of any fuch theatres, let
ftages, or play-houfcs, as have been purpofeiy built within
man's memory."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 55
in Blackfriars, that in Whiufriars, and The Cockpit
or Phanix,^ in Drury-Lane ; and four that were
called publick theatres ; viz. The Globe on the Bank-
iidc, The Curtain* in Shoreditch, The Red Bull, at
the upper end of St. John's-ftreet, and The Fortune'^
5 This theatre had been originally a Cockpit. It was built
or rc-built not very long before the year 1617. in which
year we learn from Camden's Annals of King James the
Firft, it was pulled down by the mob : " 1G17. Martil 4.
Theatrum ludionum nuper ereclum in Drury-Lane i furente
multitudlne diruitur, 8c apparatus dilaccratur." I fiippofc it
wasfometlmes called The P lies nix from that fabulous bird being
Its fign. It was fituated oppoiitc the Caltle-tavern in Drury-
Lane, and was ftanding fome time after the Reftoration. The
players who performed at this theatre in the time of King
James the Firft, were called the Queen's Servants, till the
death of Queen Anne, in l6ig. After her death they were,
I think, for fome time denominated the Lady Elizabeth's
Servants ; and after the Marriage of King Charles the Firft,
they regained their former title of the Queen's players.
* See Skiahtheia^ an old collection of Epigrams, and
Satires, l6mo. i5g8.
ti ■ if my difpofe
(.(. Perfuade me to a play, I'll to the Rofe,
(,<. Or Curtain, ."
The Curtain, is mentioned in Heath's Epigrams, 1610. as
being then open ; and The Heslor of Germany was performed
at it by a company of young men in l6l5. The original
fign hung out at this playhoufc (as Mr. Steevens has ob-
ferved) was the painting of a curtain ftriped. The per-
formers at this theatre were called The Frince's Servants, till
the acceffion of King Charles the Firft to the crown. Soon
after that period it fcems to have been ufed only by prize-
fighters.
""* The Fortune theatre, according to Maitland, was the
oldeft theatre in London. It was built or re-built in iSgg
by Edward AUeyn, the player, (who was alfo proprietor
of the Bear Garden, from 'l5g4 to 1610.) and coft 52ol.
as appears from the following memorandum in his haad*
writing :
E 4
66 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
in Whitecrofs-flreet. The lad two were chiefly
te "^Vhat The Fortune cofl me, Nov. iSog.
t( Firll for the leas to Brew, - - 240.
(( Then for biiiiciins^ the piay-hons, - 520.
(( For other pilvat buUding.s of myn owne, i o.
c( S ) that it hath coft me for the leaffe, ^.bbo.'
It was a round bruk buiLling, and its dimenfion^ may be
coiiic<Sure(i from the follov^ing a*lvcrtifcment in The Mcrcurius
Polilicus, Tucfday Feb. 14. to Tutfday Feb. 21. 1661. for the
prtferv-iiion ot which we are indebted to Mr. Steevens :
" The Fortune playhoufe fituite between Whitecrofs-ftrect
and Golding-lane, in the pnrifh of Saint Giles, Cripplc^ate,
■wJth the grouTid thereto belonging, is to be lett to be built
upon ; where twenty-three tenements may be ertfted, with
gardens •, and a firect may be tut through for the better
a< cominodation of the buildings."
The Fortune is fpoken of as a playlionfe of ronfiderabic
fize, in the prologue to The Roarin^:^ C'irl, a comedy which
Avas adeil there, and printed in 1611 :
u A ro.;rin'g girl, whofe notes till now ne'er were,
(( Shall fill with laughter OMr i;a/? //jifa'r*'."
See a!fo the concluding lines of Shirley's prologue to The
Doublful Heir, quoted below.
Howes in his continuation of Stowe's Chronicle, p. I004.
edit. i63i. fays, it was burnt down in or about the year
1617. " About foure yeares after, [i. e. after the burning
of the Globe] a fayre Urong new-built play-houfc near
Golden-lane, called the Fortune, by negligence of a candle
vas cleane burnt to the ground, but fhortly after re-built
f.ir fiirer." He is, however, miflakcn as to the time, for
it Wis burnt down in December, 1621. as I learn from a
Ictitr it) Dr. Rircirs collfflion in the Mufciim, from Mr,
Jdhi) Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carlcton, dated Dec. l5.
1621. in which is ihe following paragraph : '• On funday
night here was a great fire at The Fortune, in Golding-Iane,
the firft play houfe in this town. It was quite burnt downe
in two hours, and all their apparell ?.nd play-books loft,
whereby thofe poore companions are quite undone. There
wrre two other houfcs on fire, but with great labour and
danger were f.ivcd." MSS. Birch, 4173. It does not appear
whether this writer, by '■'■ thejirjl play-houfe in thii town,'*
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 5;
frrqu'^nted by citizens/ There were however, but
iix i.oni: anies of comedians ; for the playhoufe in
Biackfiiars, and the Globe, belonged to the fame
troop. Befide thcfe fcven theatres, there were for
fomc time on the Bankfide th:ee odier pubiick
theat-es; The Swan, r,.c Rc^,'' Rnd Th" Hope :'' but
The Hope being ufed chiefly as a bear-garden, and
The Swan and The Rcji: having fallen to decay early
menns the firfl in point of fizc or dij^nity, or tlie oldeR. I
doubt much ot its being tlie oldcR, thonoh that Is the obvious
nicaiiiuo; of the words, and though Maitland has affertcd it:
becaule I have not found it mcniioned in any of the tracts
relitive to the ftagc, written in the middle of Elizabeth's
reign.
Prynncf;;ysthat the Fortune on its rc-hui!ding was enlarged.
Epiille Dcdicat. to Hijiriomafax, 4to. i633.
Before this theatre there was either a pidure or ft^tue of
Fortuue. See The EngliJ, Traveller, by Heywood, l633.
u rie rather fland here,
t( Like a ftatue in the fore- front of your houfe
(( For ever; like the pi£lure of dame Fortune
(( Eefore the fortune play-houfe."
6 Wright's Hifipria Hijirionica, Kvo. 1699. p. 5.
7 The Swan and the Rofe are mentioned by Taylor the
water-poet, but in 16 13 they were fliut up. See his VVork?,
p. 171. edit. l63'i. The litter had been built before 1598.
See p. 55. n. 4. After the year l6'-;o. as appears from Sir
Henry Herbert's offict-book, tliey were ufed octalionally for
the exhibition of piize-fighttrs.
^ Ben Jonfon's Earlholomew -Fair was performed at this
theatre in 1614. He does not give a very favourable defcription
ot it: — " Though the fair be not kept in the fame region
that fome here perhaps would have it, yet think that the
author hath therein obfcrved a fpccial decorum, the place
being as dirty as Snntijield, and as (linking every whit." —
IndiiElion to Barlholomeu) Fair,
It appears from an old pamphlet c\n\t\cd Holland'' s Leaguer,
printed in quarto in i632. that The Hope was occaliotially ufed
as a bear-garden, and that The Swan was then lallen into decay.
58 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
in King James's reign, they ought not to be enume-
rated with the other regular theatres.
All the ellablillied. theatres that were open in
i5g8. were either without the city of" London or
its liberties.'^
It appears from the office-book* of Sir Henry
^ Sunt porro Londini, e>:tra nr'oem^ tlieatra aliquot, in
quibus liiRriones Angli comoedias 8c tragcedias Cngulis fere
diebus, in magna horainum frequenti? agunt; quas variis etiam
faltationibus, fuavifnma adliibita mufica, magno cum populi
applaufu finiri ibient." Hent;:ueri Itinerarlum, 4to. iSgS.
p. l32.
• For the ufe of this very curious and valuable manufcript
I am indebted to Francis Ingrara, of Ribbisford near Bewdley
in Worcefterfliire, Efq. Deputy Remembrancer in the Court
of Exchequer. It has lately been found in the fame old chcft,
which contained the manufcript Memoirs of Lord Herbert of
Cherbury, from which Mr. Walpole about twenty yeai's ago
printed the Life of that nobleman, who was elder brother to
Sir Henry Herbert.
The firft Mafter of the Revels in the reign of Queen Eliza-
beth was Thomas Benger, whofe patent paffed the great feal
Jan. 18. l56o-l. It is printed in Rymer's Fcdera. His
fucceffor, Edmund Tilney, obtained a grant of this office
{thereverfion of which John Lily, the dramatick poet, had
long in vain folicitcd,) on the 24th of July, iSyg. (as appears
from a book of patents in the Pells-office,) and continued in
poffcffion of it during the remainder of her reign, and till
Odober l6lo. about which time he died. This office for
neai fifty years appears to have been confidered as fo de-
firablc a place, that It was conftantly fought for during the
life of the poffeffor, and granted in reverfion. King James
on the sSd of June, l6o3. made a reverfionary grant of it
to Sir George Buc, (then George Buc, Efq.) to take place
whenever it fliould become vacant by the death, refigna-
tion, forfeiture, or furrender, of the then poffelTor Edmund
Tilney; who, if I miftake not, was Sir George Buc's maternal
uncle. Mr. Tilney, as I have already mentioned, did not
die till the end of the year 1610. and fhould feem to have
executed the duties of the office to the laU ; for his executor.
Oi^' iiil'. liNGLlSH STACK. 59
Herbert, MaQer of the Revels to King James the
Firll, and tl^e two fucceeding kings, tiiat very fooii
as 1 learn from one of the E:^itus book* In the Exchequer,
received In the yt-ar i6ii. i2o!. i8s. 3d. due to Mr. Tllney
on the laft day of the precfdlng Oaober, for one year's ex-
pence;, of office. In theedl'Ion of Camden's Ihilannia, printed
in folio In 1607. Sir Georsc Luc Is called .MalUr of the
llevels, Ifufpofe from his having obtained the rcvcrfion of
that phce: for from what I have already flated he could
not have been then In poHeffion of ir April 3. 1612. Sir
John ARIey. one of the gentlemen of the ^rivy-thamber,
obtained a reveifionary grant of this cffice, to take place
on the death, &c. of Sir George Buc, as lien Joiifon, the
poet, obtained a fimilar grant," Ocflober 5 1621. to take
place on the death, Sec. of Sir John /vfUey and Sir
George Buc.
Sir George ^Buc came into poirefTion of the oiTice about
November 1610. and held It till t!ie end of the year 1621.
when, in conff^quence of III health, he rcfigned It to King
James, and Sir John Aftley liiccccdcd him. How Sir Henry
Herbert got polftfiion of this office originally 1 am unable
to afcertain ; but 1 imagine Sir John Aflley tor a valuable
confidcration appointed him liis depuh^ In Auguft iGaS. at
which time, to ufe Sir Henry's own words, he '■'■ was received
as Maftcr of the Revels by his Majefty at Wilton ; " and In
the warrant-books of Phliip tar! of Pembroke, now In the
Lord Chamberlain's office, contulning warrants, orders, 2<c.
between the years iGaS and 1642. he Is confUntly fiyled
Maftcr of the Revels. If Sir Jolui ,'^ftlcy bad formally re-
figned or furrendtred his office, Eenjonfon, In confequence
of the grant obtained In the year 1621. muft have fucr ceded
to if, but lie never derived aiiy emolument from that grant,
for Sir Jolin Aftley, as 1 find from the probate of his will,
in tlic prerocative office, fin which it Is obftrvable that he
calls himfe ifj^; ay?<rr of the ReveU, though both the duties and
emoluments of the office were then exerciled and enjoyed
by another,) did not die till January 1639-40. above two
years aftfr the poet's death. To m .kc his title ftlU more
fecure. Sir Henry Herbert, In conjundlon with Simon Thel-
■wall, Efq. Auguft 22. 1629. obtained a revcrfioniry grant
cf this much fought-for office, to take place on the death.
6o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
after our poet's death, in tlie vear i6'22. there "\vere
but five principal companies of comedians in Lon-
furrender, 8cr. of Sir John Aflley and Benjamin Joiifon.
Sir Henry held the office for fifty years, thoiu^h during the
ufurpation he could not exercife the functions nor enjoy
the emoluments of it.
Sir George Buc •\\rote an exprefs trcatife as he has himfelf
told us, on the fta^e and on revels, which is unfortunately
loft. Previous to ihe exhibition of every play, it was
licenfed by the I\Ialler of the ReveLs, who had an eftab-
li{hed fee on tie occafion. If ever therefore the Office-
books of Mr. Tiiney and Sir George Euc (hall be found,
they will afcertain precifely the chronological order of all
the plays written by Shakfpeare ; and either confirm or
overturn a fyftem in forming w'hich I have taken fome
pains. Having however found many of my conjedurcs con-
firmed by Sir Henry Blerbcrt's manufcript, I have no reafon
to augur ill concerning the event, fhould the regiftcra of
his predecefTors ever be difcovered.
The regular filary of this office was but ten pounds a
year ; but, by fees and other pcrquiCtes, the emoluments
ot Sir George Buc in the firfl year he came into pofffffion
of it, amounted to near lool. The office afterwards became
much more valuable.
Having mentioned this gentleman, 1 take t1iis opportunity
of correding an error into which Anthony Wood h.is {alien,
and which has been implicitly adopted in the new edition
of Biographia Britannica, and many other books. The error
I allude to, is, that this Sir George Buc, who was knighted
at Whitehall by King James the day before his coronation,
July 23. i6o3. was the author of the celebrated Hiflory of
KingRichard the Third; which was written above twenty years
after his deith, by George Buck, EJq. who was, I fuppofe,
his fon. The precifc time of the father's death, I have
not been able to afcertain, there being no will of liIs in
the prerogative office; but I have reafon to believe that it
happened foon after the year 1622. He certainly died before
Au^ufl 1629.
The Office-book of Sir Henry Herbert contains an account
of almofl every piece exhibited at any of the theatres tr'.m
Auguft 1623. to the commencement of the rebellion ini64i.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 61
don; the King's Servants, who performed at the
Gio'oc and in BlaeklViars ; the Prince's Servants,
who performed then at the Curtain ; the Palfgrave's
Servants,' who had podelhon of the Fortune;- the
players of the Revels, \vho acted at the Red Bull; *
and the Lady Llizabetli's Servants, or, as they are
fometimes denominated, the Queen of Bohemia's
plavers, \vho performed at the Cockpit in Drury-
Lane. '
When Prynne publifliedhis//?y?''20???Y?y?/x, (i633.)
there were fix playhoufes open ; the theatre in
and many curious anecdotes relative to tliera, fome of which
1 Ihill prefcntly have occafiou to quote. This valuable
miiuilLript hiving lain for a confiderable time in a damp
plate, is unfcTtunately damaged, and in a very mouldering
condition, however, no material part of it appears to have
pcrifhed.
1 cannot conclude this long note without acknowledging
the obliging attention of W. E. Roberts, Efq. Deputy Clerk
of the Pells, wlilch facilitated every ftarch I wifhed to make
in his office, and enabled me to afcertain lome of the fafts
above ft. te<i.
' " 1622. The Palfgrave's fervants. Frank Grace, Charles
Maily, Richard Price, Richard Fowler, Kane, Curtys
Grcvill." MS. Hrrbert. Three other names have perifhed.
Of thefe one mufl have been that of Richard Gunnel, who
was then the manager of the Fortune theatre ; and another,
that of William Cartwright, who was of the fame company.
* " The names of the chiefe players at the Red Bull, called
tlic players of the Revells. Robert Lee, Richard Pcrkings,
Ellis Woorth, Thomas Baffe, John Blany, John Cumber,
Wiiiiam Robbiiis." Ibidem.
* " 1 he theife ofthcm at thePiioenix. ChrifloplierBeefton,
Jofcph More, Ellard Swanfon, Andrew Cane, Curtis Gre-
vill, William Shurlock, Anthony Turner." Ibidem, Eliard
Swanflon in 1642 j(jined the company at Blacklriars.
That part of the leaf whiih contained the lift of the king's
fervants, and the performers at the Curtain, is mouldered
away.
62 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Blackfiiars ; the Globe; the Fortune; the Red
Bull ; the Cockpit or Phoenix, and a theatre in
Saliibury- court, White- friars.^
All the plays of Shakfpeare appear to have been
periormed either at The Globe, or the theatre in
Blackjtiars. 1 fliall therefore confine my inquiries
principally to thole two. 1 hey behaigcd, as 1 have
aireadv obferved, to the iame company ot come-
dians, namely his majedy's fcr\'arits, which title
they obtained after a licence had been granted to
them by King James' in i6o3. having before that
time, I apprehend, been called the fervants of tiie
Lord Chamberlain. Like the other fervants of
the houfehold, the performers enrolled into this
company were fvvorn into ofhce, and each of them
was allo^ved four yards ofballar-.l Icarlet for a cloak,
and a quarter of a yard of velvet for the cape,
every fecond year.'
^ It has Lieen repeated again and again th.it Prynne enu-
merates feventeen playhoufes in London In his time ; but
this is a miftake ; he exprcfsly fays that there were only
fix, (fee his Epiftle Dedicatory,) and die offite-book of Sir
Henry Herbert confirms his afiertion.
Mr. Dodfley and others have falUn into this mift.^ke of
fuppofing there were feventeen pby-houfi.s open at one time
in London ; into which they were led by the continuator of
Stowe, who mentions that between iSyoand i63o feventeen
playhoufes were built, in which number however he includes
five inns turned into playhcufts, and St. Paijl's Iingin£r-
fchool. He does not fay that they were all open at the
fame time, — A late writer carries tie matttr lU(l further,
and afferts that it appears from Rymtr's MSS. in the \Iu-
fcum that there were twenty-three playhoufes at one time
open in London !
' "• Tliefe are to fignify unto your lorHflilp his majtflies
pleafure, that vou caufc to be I'elivtred unto hi> m.. jellies
players whofe names follow, vix. John Hemmings, John
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 63
The tlieatre in Blackfriars was fituated near the
prefcnt Apothecaries-hall, in the neighbourhood
of which there is yet Playhoujc-yard, not far from
which the theatre probably flood. It was, as has
been mentioned, a private houfe ; but what were
the diflinguifliing marks of a private playhonfe, it
is not eafy to ascertain. We know only that it
was fmalier^ than thofe which were called publick
theatres ; and that in the private theatres plays were
ufually prefented by candle-light.^
In this theatre, which was a very ancient one,
the Children of theReveis occafionally performed.'
Lowen, Jofeph Taylor, Richard Robinfon, John Shank,
Robert Benfield, Richard Sharp, Eliard Swanfon, Tliomas
Polhird, Anthony Smith, Tliomas Hobbes, "William Pen,
Geor2;c Vernon, and James Plorue, to each of them the
fevcral allowance of fonrc yardes of baflarde fcarlet for a
cloake, and a quarter of a yarde of crimfon velvet for the
capes, it beinc; the nfual allowance grnnnted unto them by
his majelly every fecond yearc, and due at Eailer lafl paft.
For the doing whereof thtis Ihall be your warrant. May
6th. 1629." MS. in the Lord C h ami er Will's OJfice,
^ Wright, in his Hijl. Hijirion. informs us, that the theatre
In Blackfriars, the Cockpit,^ and that in Salijhury- Court, were
exa6lly alike both In form and fize. The fmallnefs of the
latter Is afcertalned by thefe lines in an epilogue to Totten-
ham Court, a comedy by Nabbcs, which was afled there :
u When others' fiU'd rooms with ncgle^l difdaln ye,
(( My little houfe with thanks ftiall entertain ye."
9 " All the city looked like a private plaj-houfe, when the
window<: are clapt downe, as if Ibme nocluriial and difraal tra-
gedy were prefenily to be aded." Decker's Seven Deadly
Sinnes of London, 1606. See ulfo Hijloria Hiflrionica.
* Many pieces were performed by them in this theatre
before i58o. Sometimes they performed entire pieces ; at
others, they reprefcnted fuch young chara^lcrs as are found
In many of our poet's plays. Thus we find Nat. Field, John
Underwood, and William OUler, among the children of th«
64 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
It is faid In C:iniden's Annals of the reign of
King ]ames the FirH:, that the theatre in Blackirlars
fell do\vn in t!ie year 162'"^. and that above eighty
perfons were killed by the accident; but he was
mifinformed.* 1 he room which gave way was in
Revels, who reprefentcd feveral of Ben Jonforrs comedies at
the Blackfriars In the eirller part ot Kiiia James's rei<;ti, and.
alfo in the lift of the a£lors of our author's plays prefixed to
thefirftfollo, publifhed in iGsS. They had then become men.
Lily's Cawpafpe was afted at the theatre In Blackfriars ia
1584. and The Cafe is Altered, by Ben Jonfoi, was printed in
1609. as a^fed by the children of Blarl-friers. Some of tlic
children of the Revels alfo acled occafionally at the theatre
in Whitefrlars ; for we find A Woman s a Weathercock p<r-
formed by them at that theatre in 1612. Probably a certain
number of thtfe children were appropriated to each of thefe
theatres, and Infirii(5led by the elder performers in their art ;
by which means this young troop became a prompluary of
a6lors. In a manuftript In the Inner Temple, IS'o 5l5.
Vol. VII. entitled " A booke conteyning feveral particulars
with relation to the kings fervants, petitions, warnnts,
bills. Sec. and fuppofed to be a copy of fome part of the
Lord Chamberlain of the Honfhold's book in or about the
year 1622." I find " A warrant to. the fignet-office (dated
July 8th. 1622.) for a privie i'eale for his majcflies licenfing
of Robert Lee, Richard Perkins, Ellis Vv'oorth, Thomas
Baffe, John Blany, Jolin Cumber, and VVilii.im Robbins,
late comedians of Qiiecn Anne deccafrd, to bring np children
in the qualitie and c\ercije of playing comedies, hlHories, in-
terludes, morals, paltorals, h.ige-plaies, and fuch like, as
well for the follace and pleafure of hij maieHie, as for the
lionefl recreation of fuch as fhall defirc to f ■. e them ; to be
called by the name of The Children of the Reveh ; — and
to be drawne in fuch a muinir and forme a? hath been ujed
in other Ijcenfes of that kinde." Thcle vcrv perfons, we have
feen, were the company of the Revels In 1622. and were
then become men.
' " 1623. Ex occafu domns fcenlcx apnd Blick-fri-rs
Londinl, 81 pcrfonic fpec^ablles necantur." Camdeni Annales
ah anno \^o3 nd annum i623. 410. l6gi. p. 82. That this
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 65
a private lioufe, and appropriated to the fervice of
r^ii'^ion.
1 ara unable to afccrtain at what time tlie Globe
theatre was built. Ileiu.^ncr has alluded to it as
exiiling in iSgS. thoughhe does notexprelsly men-
tion it. ^ ] believe it was not built long before the
ycur 1596.' It was fituated on the Bankfidc, (the
iouthern fide of the rivt;r Thames,) nearly oppofitc
to F nday-l'lrcet, Cheapfide. It was an hexagonal
\vood£n building, partly open to the weather, and
writer wa^ n-iifinforrned, appears from an old tracl, printed
in the fatne year in which the accident happened, enti-
tled, A IVord of Comfort, or a d'lfcoiirfe concerning the late la-
mentable accident of the fall cf z Room at a Catholick fermon
in the Plackfriers, London, whereby about four-fcore perfons
were opprejfed, 4to. 123.
See alfo verfes prefixed lo a play called The (hieen, pub-
liRicd by Alexander Goughe, (probably the fon of Robert
Goua;hc, one of the adors in Shaklpeare's company,) in i653,
u v/e dare not fay —
" tliat Elackfriers we lieare, which in this age
u Fell, when it was a cl^iurch, not when afiage ;
ct Or that the puritans that once dwelt there,
ti Prayed and thrlv'd, thougli the play-houlc were fo
near."
Camden had a paralytick ftroke on the iSth of Anguft
1623. and died on the gih of November following. The
above-mentioned accident liappcned on the 24th otOclober;
■which accounts for his inaccuracy. Tlie room which fell,
was an upper room in Hunfdon-Hoiifc, in which the
French Ambaflador tlien dwelt. Sec Store's Chron. p. lOJJ.
edit. i63i.
* " T^ion longe ab jniohorum iheatrorum, qxi::^ omnia lignea
ftinl, ad Thamehn navis eft rcgia, quE duo egrcgia habct con-
clavia," Sec. Itin. p. i32. By navis regia he means the
royal barge called the Galljfoifl. Sec the South View of
London, as it appeared In iSgg.
' See " The Suit of the Watermen againH: the Players,"
in tlic Works of Taylor the W^ater-poet, p. 171,
t F
65
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
partly thatched/ When Kentzner Avrotc, all the
other theatres as well as this were compoiedofwood.
The Glob(< was a publick theatre, and of con-
fiderable (izc/ and there they always aCiedbyday-
.<^ In the lonp; Antwerp View of London la the Pepyfian
library at Cambridge, is a reprefentation of the Globe
tlicatrc, irom which a drawing was made by the Rev. Mr.
Healcy, and tranfmitted to Mr. Stecvcns. Frcm that drawing
lliis cut was made.
' Ihe Globe, we learn trom A'V'right's Hijtona Hijirionica,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 67
Jiglu.^ On die roof of this and the otlierpublick
theatres a pole was erefted, to which a- flag was
affixed.^ Thefe flags were probably difplayed only
during the hours of exiiibition; and it Ihould feeni
from one of the old comedies that they were taken
doAvn in Lent, in v/iiich time, during the early
part of King James's reign, plays were not allowed
to be reprclenLRd, * though at a fubfequent period
this prohibition \vas difpenfed widi.^
was nesrly of tlie fame fize as the Foriunc, which lias beea
already defcrlbed.
^ Hijioria Hijlrionica, 8vo. 1699. p. 7.
' So, in The Curtain-Drawer of the IVorhi, 1612. "-Each
playhoufc advancetli his fUigge iu the aire, whither quickly
at the waving tliereof arc fummoned whole troops of men,
women, and children." • — Again, in A Mad World, my Majiers^
a comedy by Middlcton, i6c8. "• the hair about the
hat is as good as zfagw^Qu the pole, at a common plqy-
houfe, to waft company." See a Sonlh Vieio of the Ciiy of
London as it appeared in iSgg. in which arc reprefentatlons
of the Globe and Sxoa7i theatres. From the words, " a
common play-honfe," in the paffage lafl quoted, we mav be
led to fnppofe that flags were not difplayed on the roof of
JBlarlfriars^ and the other /.tJt'ct/^ playhoufes.
This ciiftom perhaps took its rife from a mifconceplion of
a line in Ovid :
t4 Tunc neque marmorcopendebant vela theatro, — "
which Heywood, in a tra£l pubiiihcd in 1612. thus tranilates :
u In thole days from the marble ho;ifc did waive
tc ISJo fall, nofilnenj/a^; or cufign hrave."
" From the roof [fays the fame author, defcribing a Roman
amphitiieatrc,) grew a loovcr or turret, of exceeding altitude,
from which an enjlgn offilk loated contimially ; — pendcbanc
\t\.\ theatro." — The milinterprctation might, however, have
arifcn from the Englil'h cuflom.
* " 'TIs Lent in your cheeks; — the flag is dnon.''' A mad
World, my Maflers, a comedy by Middlcton, 160S.
Again, in Jiarlc's Charailers^ 7th edit. l638. " Shreye-
68 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
I fovmeriy conje<5lured that The Globe, though
hexagonal at the outfide, was perhaps a rotunda
tuefday hce [i player] fcares as much as the bawdes, and Leni
is more dangerous to him than the butchers."
* "• ^Received] of the King's pLiytrs for a lenleii dijpen^
Jation^ the other companvs promlfiog to doe as muchc, 44'' •
March aS. 1616.
" Ot Joan Hemmincres, In the name of the four companys,
for toleration In the holydayes, 44s. January sg. 161S."
E>.ir acts from the office-hooh of Sir George Euc, MSS. Herbert.
Thcfc difpcrifatlons did not extend to the fermon-days, as
they were then called ; that is, Wednefday and Friday in
each week.
After Sir Kenry Herbert became pofTcfTed of the office of
Maficr of the Revels, fees for permlffion to perform in Lent
appear to have been conUantly paid by each of the theatres.
Ihe managers however did not always perform plays during
tint feafon. Some of the theatres, particularly the Red-
Eull and the Fortune, were then let to prize-fighters, tum-
blers, and rope-dancers, who fometlmes added a Mafque to
the other exhibitions. Thefe fa6ls are afcertained by the
foUowins; entries :
"• 1622. 21 Martll. For a prife at the R.ed-Eull, for the
howfi. •, the fencers would give nothing, los." MSS. Aftley.
"• Fri^m Mr. Gunnel, [Managtr of the Fortune,] in the
name of the dancers of the ropes for Lent, this l5 March,
1624. £1. 0. O.
" From Mr. Gunnel, to a.\lo\ve oi a. Mafque for the dancers
of the ropes, this ig March, 1624. £2. o. 0."
We fee here, by the way, that Microcofmus, which was
exhibited in 1637. (was not as Dr. Burney fuppofes in his
ingriilous Hijlory of Mtifick, Vol. liL p. 385.) tlie Hrft mafque
exhibited on the publick ftagc,
" From Mr. Elagrave, in tiie name of tJie Cockpit com-
pany, for this Lent, this 3oth .Marcl), 1624. £2. 0. o."
" March 20. 1626. From Mr. Hemminges, for this Lent
allowanfe, £2. 0. o." MSS. Herbert.
Prynnc takes notice of this relaxation in his Hifriomafiix,
4to. i633. " There are none fo addicted to fiagc-playes,
but when they go unto places where they cannot have thtm,
or when as they are fuppreffed by publike authority, (as in
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 69
within, and that It misijht have derived its name
from its circular form.* But, though the part ap-
propriated to the audience was probably circular,
I now beheve that the houfe was denominated only
from its fign ; which was a figure of Hercules lup-
porting the Globe, under which was written, TvLus
inundus agit kijtrionan.^ This theatre was burnt
down on the 39th of June, i6i5. ' but it was
times of pcflilence, and in Lent, till now of late,] can well
fubfift without them." P. 784,
'^ " After thefe" (fays Hcywood, fpeakina; of the build-
ings at Rome, appropriated to fcenick exhibitions,) " thiy
compofed others, but differing in form from the theatre or
amphitheatre, and every fuch was called circus; the fibme
globe-Vike^ and merely round." Apology for AElon, 1612.
iSee alfo our authors prologue to King Henry V :
(( or may we cram
44 Within this wooden 0," See.
But as we find in the prologue to Marflon's Antonio's
Revenge, which was a^led by the Children of PauVs In 1602.
tt If any fpirlt breathes within this round, ."
no Inference refpetling the denomination of the Globe can
te drawn from this expreffion.
^ Stowe Informs us, that " the allowed Stewhoufes [an-
tecedent to the year l545] had fignes on their frontes towards
the Thames, not hanged out, but painted on the walle.s •, as
a Boares head. The Grofs Keyes, Tlie Gunne, The Caflle,
TheGrane, The Cardinals Hat, ThcBell, The Swanne," Sec.
Survey of London, 410. i6o3. p,4og. The lioufes which con-
tinued to carry on the fame trade after the ancient and
privileged edIHces had been put down, probably were
diflingulflied by the old figns ; and the fign ot the Globe,
which theatre was in their neighbourhood, was perhaps,
in Imitation of them, painted on its wall.
^ The following account of tlils accident Is given by Sir
Henry Wotton, in a letter dated July 2. i6i3. ReUq. Wotton.
p. 425. edit. 1685. " Now to let matters of ftatc llecp, 1 will
entertain you at the prefent with what hath happened this
VKck at the Banks fide. The Kings Players had a new play
F 3
70 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
rebuilt in the following year, and decorated with
jnore ornamciit than had been originally bcHovved
upon it. ■'■'
called All is true, reprt fentiug forae princlpul pieces of the
rfign ot. Henry the Liglith, ^\'hkh was fet forth with many
extr«iordiiiury Lirtumltaiices of pomp and majelly, even to
the malting of the flage; the knights of the order with
their Georges and Gart.-r, the guards with their embroidered
coats, and the like : fuRicient in truth within a while to m^^ke
greatnefs very familiar, If not ridiculous. Now King Henry
making a Mafque at the Cardinal WoJfeys houle, and certain
cannonj being {hot oft' at hia entry, fome of the paper or
other ftufi, wlierwith one of them was flopped, did light on
the thatch, where being thought at firfl but an idle fmoak,
and their eyes more attentive to the (how. It kindled Inwardly,
and ran round like a train, confuming within lefs than an
hour the whole houfe to the very ground. This was the
fatal period of that virtuous fabrkk, wherein yet nothing did
pcrilh but xcood ?LndJiraw, and a iev^ forfaken cloaks."
Prom a letter of Mr. John Chamberlaine's to Sir Ralph
Winwood, dated July 8. i6l3. in which this accident is
likewlfe mentioned, wc Icarn that this theatre had only
two doors. " The burning of the Globe or playhoufe on
the Bankfide on St. Peter's day cannot efcape you ; which
fell out by a peal of chjmbers, ( that I know not upon
what occsfion were to be ufed in the play,) the tampin or
flopiple of one of them lighting in the thatch that covered
the houfe, burn'd it down to the ground in lefs than two
hours, with a dwelling-houfe adjoyning; and It was a great
marvailc and fair grace of God tliat the people had fo little
harm, having but teo narronj doors to get out," Winwood's
Memorials, Vol. III. p. 469. Not a hngle life was loft.
In i6l3 was entered on the Stationers' books A doleful bal-
lad of the general conjiagration cf the famous theatre on the Bank-
fide, called the Globe. I have never met with it.
* See Taylor's Skidler, p. 3i. Ep. 22.
a As gold is better that's In fier try'd,
a So is the Bank-fide Globe, that late was burn'd;
(( For where before It had a thatched lildc,
u Now to a (lately theater 'tis turn'd."
See alfo Stowe's Chronicle, p. ioo3.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 71
The exhibitions at tkc Ghht feem to have been
calculated chiefly for the lower clafs of" people ;'
thofe at Blackfriars, for a more felccl:. and juuicioas
' The Globe theatre, being contiguous to the Dear-Garden,
when the fports of the latter were over , the fame fpe6lators
probably rcforted to the former. The audiences at ihe Bull
and ihe Fortune were, it may be yirefumed, of a clafs dill in-
ferior to that of ihe Globe. 'The btttr, being the theatre of
his majefty's fcrvants, muft necelfarily have had a fupcrior
degree of reputation. At all of them, however, it appears,
that noife and fhcw were what chiefly attracted an audience.
Our author fpeaks In Hamlet of '■'• bcraitlin^ the common [i- e.
ihe piiblick] theatres. See alfo yl Pro/^oMe fpoken by a c om-
pany of players who had feccded from the Fortune, p. i8S.
11. 4. from which we learn that the performers at that thea're,
" to fpUi the ears of groumUhi^s,'' ufed '■'■ iu tear a pafjion to
tatters.''''
In fome vcrfes addreffed by Thomas Carew to Mr. [after-
wards Sir V\^llllam] D'Avenant, "• Upon his excellent Play,
7'hejujl Italian,'' l63o. I find a fimiiar charader of the Lull
theatre :
14 Now noife prevails ; and he is tax'd for drov/th
u Of wit, that with the cry fpends not his mouth. — •
n thy riruno; fancies, raptures of the brain
44 DrefsM in poetick flames, they entertain
ti As a bold impious reacli ; for they'll ftlll flight
u All that exceeds Red Bull and Coclpil {lii;ht.
u Thefe are the men in crowded heaps that throng
u To that adulterate fiage, where not a tongue
u Of the untun'd kennel can a line repeat
a Of ferious fcnfe ; but like lips meet like meat :
u Whilfl the true brood of adors, that aione
u Keep natui-al utiflrainM adion In her throne,
a Behold their benclies bare, though they re'icarfe
tt The tcrfcr Lcaumont's or great Jonfon's verfc.'"
The true brood of athrs were the performers at lUacJfriars,
where The Jufl Italian was acted.
Sec alfo Tlic Carelefs Shepherdcfs, rcprtfented at Salilbury-
GOurt ; 4to. lC)56.
u And 1 will haftcn to the money-box,
(( And take my Jliilling out again ; —
F 4
72 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
audience. This appears from the following pro-
lo2;ue to Shirley's Doubtful Heir, vvnicli is inierted
ainonr his pocras, printed in 1646. with this tit:e :
" Prologue at the Gi-Oij'i, to his Comedy called
The Doubtful Heir, which fnould have been pre-
lented at the Blackjrio.rs. ^
c( Gentlemen, I am only fent to fay,
(( Our author did not calculate lils play "
(' For ihis meridian. The Bankjide, lie knows,
tt Is far more fl^ilful at the ebbs and flows
u Of water than of wit -, he did not mean
u For the elevation of your poles, this fcene.
(( Nofliews, — no dance, — and whatyoumoft delighting
(( Grave underflanders,^ her£''s no target-fighting
14 Upon the ftage ; all work for cutlers barr'd ;
(( Ko bawdry, nor no ballads ; — this goes hard :
(( But language clean, and, what aftcfts you not,
u Without impoiTibilliies the plot ;
u No clown, no fquibs, no devil in't. — Oh now, .
(( You fquirrels that want nuts, what will you do?
u Pray do not crack the benches, and we may
(( Hereafter fit your palates with a play.
(c But you that can contrail yourfelves, and fit,
t; As you were now iri the Blacljriars pit,
(( And will not deaf las with lewd noife and tongues,
^i ril go to THE Bull, or Fortune, and there fee
u A play for two-pence, and a jig to boot."
5 In the printed play thefe words are omitted ; the want of
which renders the prologue perfectly unintelligible. The
comedy was performed for the hrft time at the Globe,
June I. 1640.
^ The common people flood in the Glohe theatre, in that
part of the houfe -which we now call the pit ; which being
lower than the ftage, Shirley calls them taiderii3.ndeTs. In
the private playhoufes, it appears from the fubfequent lines,
there were feats in the pit.
, Ben Jonfon has the fame quibble : " — the underjlandin^
gentlemen of the grou»d here."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 73
ii Eecaufe we have no heart to break our lungs,
ti Will pardon our vaji ftage, and not difgrace
a This play, meant for your ptrfons, not the place."
The fupcrior difcernment of the Blackfriars au-
dience may be likewife collei5lcd from a paffage in
the preface prefixed by Herainge and Condell to
the fafl folio edition of our author's works : " And
though you be a magijlrate oj wit, and lit on the
flagc at Blackfricrs , or the Cockpit, to arraigne
plays dailie, kno\v thefe plays have had their trial
already, and flood out all appcales."
A\vriter already quoted " informs us that one of
thefe theatres was a winter, and tlieother afummer,
houfe.' As the Globe was partly expofed to the
weather, and they acled there ufually by day-light,
it appearetl to me probable (when this ElTay was
originally publiflied) that this was the furamer
theatre ; and I have lately found my conjefture con-
firmed by Sir Henry Herbert's Manufcript. The
king's company ufually began to play at the Globe
in the month of May. T. he exhibitions here feem
to have been more frequent'' than at Blackfriars,
* Wright.
^ His account is confirmed by a pafTajr^e in an old pamph-
let, entitled HoUaucrs Leaguer, 4to. l632. "She was mofl:
taken with the report of three famous amphytheators, which
flood fo neere htuated, that her eye might take view of
them from her lowefl turret. One was the Ccmlinenl of the
]i'orid, becaufe halfe ihe yeere a world of beauties and brave
fpiiits reforted unto it. The olher was a b'.iildinc; of ex-
cellent Hope ; and though wild bcails and gladiators did mofl
poffeffe it," Sec.
'* King Lear, in the title-page of the oripinal edition, printed
in 1608. is faid to have been performed by his majellles fer-
vants, playing uJuaUy at ihe Globe on the Eankfide. — See alfo
the licence granted by King James In l6o3. "■ and the
74 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
till the year 1604 or i6o5. when the Bankfidc ap-
pears to have become Icfs faOiionable , and lefs
frequented than it [ormeriy had been. '
Many of our ancient dramatick pieces (as has
been already obferved ) were performed in the yards
of carriers' inns, in which, in the beginning of
Queen Elizabeth s reign, the comedians, who then
lirft united themfelves in companies , erefled an
occafional flage/ The form of theie temporary
playhoufes feems to be preferved in our modern
theatre. The galleries, in both, are ranged over
each other on three fides of the building. The
fraall rooms under the lowed of thefe galleries an-
fwer to our prefent boxes ; and it is obtervable that
faid comedies, tragedies, 8cc. — to fliew — as well witliiii
their now vjiial li^ufe called the Globe, — ." No mention is
made of their theatre in Elackfriars ; from which circum-
flance 1 fulpeiSi: that antecerlcnt to that time our poet's com-
pany played only at the Globe, and purchafed the Blatk-
friars theatre afterwards. In the licence granted by King
Charles the Flrll to John Heminge and his affoclates iu the
year iSaS. they are authorized to exhibit plays, See. "as
well within thefe two their mod ufual houfes called the Globe
in the county of Surrey, and their private houfes fituate
within the precin6l of the Blacl.fryers, — as alfo," Sec. Had
they poirefTed the E-lackfrlars theatre In i6o3. It would pro-
bably have been mentioned In the former licence. In the
following year they certainly had polTcfllon of It, for
Marfton's Maleconlenl was aded there In 1604.
' See The Works of Taylor the Water-poet, p. 171.
edit. i633.
* Fleckno, In his Short Dijcotirje of the Ejiglijli Stage, pub-
lifhed In 1664. fays, fome remains of thefe ancient theatres
were at that day to be feen in the inn-yards of the Crojs-
keys In Gracechurch-Rrcet, and the Bull in Blfhopfgate-ltrctt.
In thefeventeen playhoufes erected between the years iSyo
and i63o. the contlnuator of Stowe's Chronicle xcc^ox\.:i "• hve
ir.rici or common ojleries turned into play-hqufcs."
OF THE ENGLISI-r STAGE. 75
tliefe, even in theatres wlilch were built in a fub-
lequent period cxprefsly for dramaiick exhibitions,
fliiL retained their old name, and are frequently-
called roomsj by onr ancient writers. The yard
bears a fufiicient rcfemblance to the pit, as at pre-
fcnt in ufe. We may fuppofe the ftage to have
been railed in this area, on the fourth fide, with its
back to the gateway of the inn, at which the money
fur admillion was taken. Thus, in fine weather,
a playhoulc not incommodious might have been
formed.
Hence, in the middle o^ ihc Globe, and I fappofe
of the other publick theatres, in the time of Saak-
fpcaie , there was an open yard or area ,^ where the
7 See a prologue to If this be not a good Play, the Devil
is in it, quoted in p. 77. n. 5. Thefe rooms appear to
have been fometimes employed. In the infancy of the (lao-e,
for the purpofes of gallantry. " Thefe plays" (fays Strype
In his additions to Stowe's Survey] " bclug commonly a6led
on fundays and felllvals, the churches were forfaken, and
the play-houfcs thronged. Great Inns were ufed for this
purpcl'e, which had fecret chambers and places as well as
open flages and galleries. Here maids and good citizens'
children were inveigled and allured to private unmeet con-
lra<-Ts." He is fpeaking of the year iSyJ,.
^ " In the play-houfes at London, it Is the fafliion of
yoiithes to go firfl into the yarde, and to carry their eye
through every gallery; then like unto ravens, when they
fpy the cariou, thitlier they five, and prcfs as near to the
falrelt as they can." Plays confuted in Five Jeveral AHions,
"by Stephen GolTon, i58o. Again, in Decker's Guls Jicrne-
hookc, 1609. "The Ihige, like time, will bring you to moft
perted light, and lay you open ; neither are you to be
liuntcd from thence, thowgli {[\e Jcar-croxoes In \.h.& yard hoot
at you, hifs at you, fpit at you." So, in the prologue loan
old comedy called Tire Hog has loji his Pearl, 1614.°
u We may be pelted off for what v.-e know,
u With apples, eggs, or Hones, irom thoje below."
76 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
cornmon people flGod to fee tlie exhibition ; from
which circumftance they are called bv our author
groundlings, and by Benjonfon '' the undcrfcaiiding
gentlemen of the ground.''''
The galleries, or Jcaffolds, as they are fometimes
called, and that part of the houfe which in private
theatres was named the pit,' feem to have been at
the fame price; and probably in houfes of reputa-
tion, fuch as //id Globe, and that in Blackfriars, the
price of admilfion into thoie parts of the theatre
Vv'as fixpence, while in fome meaner playhoufcs it
See alfo the prologue to The Doubtful Heir, ante, p. 72.
u and what you mofi delight In,
u Grave underjlanders, — ."
^ The pit Dr. Percy fuppofes to have received Its name
from one of the play-houfes having been formerly a cock-pit.
This account of the term, however, feems to be fomewhat
queftionEblc. The place where the feats are ranged ia
St. Mary's at Cambridge, Is ftill called the pit ; and no one
can fufpeft that venerable fabrick. of having ever been a
cock-pit ; or that the phrafe was borrowed from a playhoufe
to be applied to a church. A pit Is a place low In Its
relative fituation, and fuch Is tlie middle part of a theatre.
Shakfpeare himfelf ufes cock-pit to exprefs a fmall confined
fituation, without any particular reference :
(( Can this cock-pit hold
c4 The vafty fields of France, — or may we cram,
a Within this wooden O, the very cafques
u That did affright the air at Aglncourt?"
* See an old colledlon of tales, entitled, JVits, Fits, and
Fancies, 4to. l5g5. " VvHien the great man had read the adors
letter, he prefcntly. In anfwerc to it, took a ftieet of paper,
and to\dingfi\pence In It, fealcd It, fubfcribed It, and fent It
to his brother ; Intimating thereby, that though his brother
had vowed not In fevcn years to fee him, yet he for \\\s Ji\ pence
could come and fee him upon the flage at liIs pleafure."
So, In the lndu(5lIon to Tlie Magnelick Lady, by Een Jon-
fon, which was firftrcprefented in Odober, i632. "Not the
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 77
was only a penny,' in oiliers twopence."* The price
of aduniiiun into Vac bid roo?ns or boxes,' was, I
fd'f.cs or grounds of your people, that fit In the oblique
caves and wedges ul' your houfe, your finful fi\penny mc-
chanicliJ'''
See below, Verfes addreffed to Fletcher on his Faithful
SLeplier.ieJs.
'ilsat there were fi:. penny places at the Blucl-frlars playlioufe,
appears from the epilogue to Mayne's Ciiy Match, which was
a£led at that theatre la i63] . being licenfed on the 17th of
I^oyernbLr, in that year :
(( Not that he fears his name can fuffer wrack
(( From them, who Ji^pcnce pay, and fixpence crack;
(( To fuch he wrote not, though fome parts have been
u So like here, that they to themfelvcs came in."
5 So, In Wit iL'ilhout Money, by Fletcher : " break in
at pLys like prentices toi three a groat, and crack nuts witb
the feholars In penny rooms again."
Again, in Decker's Guls Horneboohe, l6og. '■'■ Your ground-
ling and gallery commoner buys his fport by the penny.''''
Again, in Humours Ordinarie, where a Man may be very
merrie and exceeding well ujed for his Sixpence, no date :
u Will you hand fpcnding your invention's treafure
u To teach ftage-parrots'l'peak for penny pleafure?"
■* " Pay thy two-pence toa player. In this gallery you may
fit by a harlot." Eell-mansJS'i^ht-walk, by Decker, 1616.
Again, n\ the prologue to The Woman-hater, by BeaumonC
and Fletcher, 1607. " to the utter difcomiiture of all
two-penny gallery men."
It appears from a paflTage In The Roaring Girl, a comedy by
Middleton and Decker, 161 1, that there was a tn.o-penny
gallery in the Fortune pbyhoufe : " One of them is Nip ; I
took him once at the tu)0-penny gallery at the Fortune.'''' Sec
alfi> above, p. 71. n. 7.
' The boxci In the theatre at Rlachfriars were probably
fmall, and appear to have been enclojed In tlie fame manner
as at prelent. See a letter from Mr. Garrard, dated January
25. (635. Straff. Letters, Vol. I. p. 5ii. "A little pique
Jiappencd betwixt the duke of Lenox and the lord cham-
beilain, about a hox at a new play in the Blaclfriars, of
which the duke had got the key •, which if it had coiuc
78 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
believe, in ouv author's time, a iliilling ;'^ tliouo-li
to be debated betwixt tbem, as it was once intended, forae
lieat or periiaps other inconveaicnce might have happened."
In the Globe and the other puhlich theatres, the boxes were
of coniiderable Czc. See the prologue to If this be not a good
Play, the Der-'d is in. if, by Decker, 2iQ:ed zt the Red Lull :
a Give me that man,
it Who, when the plague of an impoRhum'd brains,
cc Breaking out, infecl? a theatre, and hotly reigns,
t4 Kliling the hearer's lieart?, that the laji rooms
44 Stand empty, like fo many dead men's tombs,
li Can call the banifli'd auditor home," Sec.
He feerns to be here dcfcrlblng Iiis antagonlft Ben Jonfon,
wbofe plays were generally performed to a thin atidiencc.
See Verjes on our author, by Leonard Dlggcs, Vol. II. p.38g«
*• " If he have but tzjiiehepcnce in his purfc, he will give
It for tlie beji room in a playhoufe." Sir Thomas Over-
burv's Charailers, 1614.
So, In the prologue to our author's King Henry VIII :
(,(. Thofe that come to fee
n Only a fhew or two, and fo agree
44 Tlie play rnaypafs, if they be ft'll and willing,
44 I'll undertake may fee away ihe'ir J/tilling
44 In two fliort hour.^."
Again, In a copy of Vcrles prehxed to ^Jallingcr's Eondm,an^
1624.
44 Reader, If you have dllburs'd zJIuUing
44 To fee this worthy liory, ."
Again, In the Guls Hornebooke, iGog. " At a new play
you take up the txo el ve penny room next the ftage, bccanfe the
lords and you may feem to be hall fellow well met."
So late as In the year i658. we find the following adver-
tifement at the end of a piece called The Cruelty of the Spa-
niards in Peru, by Sir William D'Avenant : " Notwlthltand-
ing the great expence necelfary to fccnes and other ornaments,
in this entertainment, there Is good provifion made of places
for a JJdllivg, and It fliall certainly begin at three in the
afternoon."
In The Scornful Lady, which was a^led by the children of
the Revels at Hlackfrlars, and printed In 1616, one-and-f}.-^
penny places are mentioned.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 79
afterwards it appears to have rlfen to two flilUIiigs,^
and half a crown.' At the Blackfriars tlieatre the
price of the boxes w^is, I imagine, higher than at
the Globe.
From fcveral paTfagcs in our old plays we learn,
that fpcclators were admitted on the flage,'' and
that the criticks and wits of the time ufually fat
there.* Some were placed on the ground ; ' others
^ Sec the prologue to The Qjieen of Arragon, a tragedy by
Habington, a£led at Elackfrlirs in May, 1640.
u Ere we begin, that no man may repent
li TwoJhiUings and his time, the author fent
4t The prologue, with the errors of his play,
(( That who will may take his money, and away."
Again, in the epilogue to Maine's City Match, afled a,t
Blackfriurs, in November, iGSy,
(.1 To them who call't reproof, to make a face,
(( Who think they judge, v.beu they frown i'tbe wrong
place,
u Who, if they fpeake not ill o' the poet, doubt
44 They loofe by tlie play, nor have their /a'cT^'^/Zi't^^ out,
44 He fays, " ?cc.
s Sec iVit -u'ilboitl Money, a comedy, a.Q.cd ^t The Phccnia in
Drury-lane before 1620.
44 And who extoll'd you into the half-crown boxes,
44 Where you might fit and mufler all the beauties."
In the playhoufe called The Hope on the BankGde, there
were hve different-priced feats, from fixpcnce to half a crown.
Sec the indu61ion to Barlholomew Fair, by Ben Jonfon, 1614.
9 So, in A mad World my Majiers, by Middleton, 1608.
" The aftors have been found in a morning in lefs com-
pafs tluin ihelr Jlage, tliough it were iit'eTfofult of genllemen.''''
See alfo p. 82. n. 8.
a n to fair attire the ftage
44 Helps much ; for if our other audience fee
44 Toji on the fage depart, before we end,
44 Our wits go with you all, and we are fools. '
Prologue to j^^/Foo/j, a comedy, acted at T/ati/rirtn, l6o5.
44 By fitting on tlie ftage, you have a fign'd patent t©
So HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fat on flools , of which the price was either fix-
pence,'* or a fliilling,^ according, I luppole, lo ilic
engrofTe the whole commoditie of cenjure ; may lawfully
prelume to be a girder, and Rand at the helm to fxter the
palftge of fcenes." Guls Hornebookc, 1609.
Sec alfo the preface to the firft folio edition of our
author's works : " And ihoniih you b(? a ma^if.raie of
zoif, and jJt on ihe fia^e at Blackiiiars to arraignc plays
dailie, — ."
' " Being on your feet, fnealce not away like a coward,
but falute all your gentle acquaintance that are Jpred either
on iJii' rijiics or on ftooles about you ; and draw what troope
you cni! from the ftagc after you." Decker's Guls Horne-
booke^ i6og. So alfo, in Fletcher's Queen of Corinth :
u 1 would not yet be pointed at as he is,
44 For the fine courtier, the womati's man,
44 That tells my lady ftories, diffolves riddles,
44 Ufliers her to her coach, lies at her feel
. 44 Al fuleinn mafquesJ'''
From a pad'age in King Henry IV. Part I. it may be pre-
finncd tliut this v/as no uncommon pratiice in private aiiem-
bllcs alfo :
44 She bids you on the wanton rufhes lay you down,
44 And reft your gentle head upon her lap,
44 And flie will ling the fong that pleafeth you."
Tliis accounts for Hamlet's lilting on the ground at
Ophelia's feet, during the rcprefentaticn of the play before
the king and court of Denmark. Our author has only
placed the young prince in the fame Gtuation in which
probably liis patrons Effex and Southampton were often
fecn at the feet of fome celebrated beauty. What feme
chofe from economy, gallantry might have recommended
to others.
* " By fUlivg on theflage, you may with fmall cofl purchafe
the decre acquaintance of the boyes, have a good y<oo/ for
fxpence^ — ." Guls Hornehooke.
Again, ibidem : " Prcfent not your ftlfe on the ftage,
(efpecially at a new play,) untill the quaking prologue —
Is ready to enter; for then it is time, as though you were
one of the properties, or that you dropt of [1. e.ofj-] the
hangings, to creep from behind the arras, with your tripos,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 8i
commoclioufncfs of the Rtuation. And they were
attended by pages, who fuinifhed them v.ith pipes
and tobacco, which was (raoked here as well as in
other parts of the houfe/ Yet it iliould feem that
peifons were fnffered to fit on the Hage only in the
private plavhoufes, (fuch as Blnckjiiars., Sec. ) where
the audience was more feled, and of a higher clafs ;
or three-legged Jiooli in one liand, and a iejloii mounted be-
tween a foie-iinger and a tliumbc, In the other."
' (( Thefe are the moft worne and mod in fafhion
(( AmongR: the bever gallants, the ftone-riders,
ti The private ftage''s audience, and tvjelvepenny-Jloole gentle-
men."
The R>aring Girl, comedy by Mid;llelon and Decker, l6ll.
So, in the Indu<^ion to Mardon's Ma/(fco?t/(f«<, 1604. "By
God" flid it you had, I would have given you but Ji\pence-
for your ftool." This therefore was the loweft rate 5 and
the price of the moft commodious ftools on the ftage was
a Jhilling.
6 II When young Rogero goes to fee a play,
"■ His pleafure is, you place him on the Jiage,
" The better to demonftrate his array,
" And liow he fits attended by his page,
" That only fervcs to fill thofc pipes xcllh Jniohe^
'■'■ For which he pawned hath his riding-cloak. "
Springes fur Woodcocks, by Henry Parrot, iGlJ.
Agsin, in Skialetheia, a colleclion of Epigrams and Satires,
1598:
14 Sec you him yonder who fits o'er the ftagc,
14 With the lohticco-'pipe now at his mouth? "
This, however, was accounted ''a cuftom more honoured
in the breach than the obfervance ; " as appears from ft
fatirical epigram by Sir John Davies, iSgo:
" Who dares affirm that Sylla dares not fight?
" He that dares lake tobacco on the Jiage ;
" Dares man a vvhoorc at noon-day through the ftrec?5
*' Dares dance in Pauls ; " 8cc»
■: G
S2 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
and that in the Globe and other publick theatres,
no fuch licence was permitted.''
The ftage was fir ewed with ruflies," which, we
learn from Hentzner and Caius de Ephemera,
was in the time of Shakfpeare the uiual covering
of floors in England.' On feme occaiions it was
entirely matted over;* but this was probably very
rare. The curtain \vhich hangs in the front of the
prefent ftage, drawn up by lines andpullies, though
not a modern invention, (for it was ufed by Inigo
Jones in the mafques at court, ) was yet an appa-
ratus to which the fimple mechanifm of our ancient
theatres had not arrived; for in them the curtains
opened in the middle, and were drawn backwards
and forwards on an iron rod.' In fome playhoufes
7 See the mdu£lion to MiTHon s Malecontenf, 1604. which
was a6led by his majefty's fervants at Blacl<friars :
u Tyreman, Sir, the gentlemen will be angry if you fit here.
u Sly. Why, we may fit upon the ftage at the private houfe.
Thou doft not take me for a country gentleman, doft? Doeft
thou think 1 fear liiffing? Let them that have ftale fuits, fit in
the galleries, hifs at me ."
See alfo The Roaring Girl, by Middleton : " the pri-
vate Jiage's audience, ." Ante, p. 85, n.5.
8 " On the very ruJJies where the comedy is to dauncc,
yea, and under the ftate of Cambyfes himfelfe, muft our
feather'd eftridge, like a piece of ordnance, be planted vali-
antly, becaufc impudently, beating down the mews and hiffes
of the oppofed rafcality." Decker's Guls Horneboohe.
9 See alfoBen Jonfon's Every Man out of his Humour, 1600,
*' Fore G — , fweet lady, believe It, I do honour the u^eaneft
fujh in this chamber for your love."
* See p. 70, n. 6.
' The epilogue to Tancred and Gijmiind, a tragedy, iSgs.
concludes thus :
tt Now draw the Curtaines, for our fcene is done.'
Again, in Lady AUnionj, iGSg. " Be your Hzge-cvrtahs
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, 83
they were woollen, in others, made of filk/ To-
wards the rear of the flage there appears to have
been a balcony,^ or upper flagc; the platform of
artificially drawn, and fo covertly {hrowded, that the
fquint-eyed groundling may not peep in."
See aifo a Aage-direcliou in The Firjl Day's Entertainment at
Rutland Hoiije, by Declamation and Mujick, after the Manner of
the Ancients, by Sir William D'Avenant, l658.
a The fong ended, the curtains are draxun open again, and
the epilogue enters."
* See A Prologue upon removing of the late Fortune Players to
ihe Bull, by J. Tatham ; Fancies Theatre, 1640.
41 Here gentlemen our anchor's fixt; and we,
a JJifdainIng Fortune'' s mutability,
ti Expert your kind acceptance ; then we'll fine,
u (Proteded by your fmiles, our ever-fpring,)
it As pleafant as if we had ilill poffeft
(( Our lawful portion out of Fortune's breaft.
tc Only we would requefl; you to forbear
(( Your wonted cuftom, banding tile and pear
(( Agalnfl; our curtains, to allure us forth ; —
(c I pray, take notice, thefe are of more worth;,
(( Pure Naples filk, not worfied. — We have ne'er
t( An aftor here has mouth enough to tear
(( Language by the ears. This forlorn hope (hall he
(( By us refin'd from fuch grofs injury:
(( And then let your judicious loves advance
tt Us to our merits, them to their ignorance."
" See Nabbes's Covent Garden, a comedy, i63g.
u Enter Dorothy and Sufan in the balcone.'"
So, in The Virgin Martyr, by Maffinger and Decker, i6qq*
" They whifpering below. Enter above, Sapritius -, — with
him Artemiatheprincefs,Theophilus, Spungius, andHircius.'^
And thefe five perfonages fpeak from their elevated ntuation
during the whole fcene.
Again, In Marfton's Fatone, lCo6.
"■ Whilft the a6l [I. e. the mufick between one ace and
another] is a playing, Hercules and Tiberio enters ; Tiberio
climbs the tree, and is received above by Dulcimel, Philo-
calia and a priefi : Hercules flays beneath,'"
G 2
84 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
■which was probably eight or nine feet from the
ground. I luppofe it to have been fupported by
pillars. From hence, in many of our old plays,
part of the dialogue was fpoken; and in the front
ol it curtains likevvlfc were hung/ fo as occafionaily
to conceal die perfons in it from the view of the
audience. At each fide of this balcony was a box,
very inconveniently fituated, which fometimes was
jcalled the. privais box. In thefe boxes, which were
at a lower price, fome perfons fat, either from
economy or hngularity*^
See alfo the early quarto edition of our author's Romeo and
jf'diet, where we meet — '•'• Enter Romeo and Julicl, aloft.''''
S J, ill The Taviing of a Shrew (not Shakfpeare's play) : "■Enter
aiofl. the drunkard." — Alaioft the whole of ttie dialogue
an that play between the tinker and his attendants, appears
to have been fpoken in this balcony :
In Middieton's Family oj Love, 1608. Hgnat. B. 2. b. it is
called the upper Jiage.
* This appenrs from a Aage-direcilon in Maflinger's Emperor
cf the Eaft, i632. " The cnrialms drawn above : Theodofius
and his eunuchs difcovered." Again, in Kin °: Henry VIII.
u Let them alone, and dra-a: the curtain clofe."
Plenry here fpeaks from the balcony.
^ " Whether therefore the gatherers of the publique or
private playhoufe Hand to receive the afternoons rent, let
our gallant, having paid it, prcfently advance himfclf to
the throne of the ftage. 1 mean not into the lord's roome,
which ii now but the Jiages Juburhs. No, thofc boxes, — by
the iniquity of cudom, confpiracy of waiting-women, and
gciitlemen-ufliers, that there Aveat together, and the covet-
ous fliarers, — are contemptibly thruft into the reare, and
much new fatten is there darabd, by being fmotherM to
death in darkncfj.." Decker's Guls Hornebooke, l6og. So,
in the prologue to an old comedy, of which I have loft
the title :
li Tlie pricaie box took up at a new play,
(c I'or me and my retinue; a frefh habit
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 85
How little the imaginations of the audience were
aflillcd by fcenical deception, and how much necef-
fity our author had to call on them to " piece out
imperfefiions -with their thoughts, "" may be coliecled
from Sir Philip Sidney, who, defcribing the flate
of the drama and the ftage, in his time, (about the
year i583.) fays, *' Now you fhall have three ladies
walk to gather flowers, and then we mud beleeve
the {lage to be a garden. By and by we heare news
of fliip wrack in the fame place ; then we are to
blame, if v/c accept it not for a rock. Upon the
back of that, comes out a hidious monfterwith fire
and fmoke ; and then the miferable beholders are
bound to take it for a cave ; while in the mean time
two armies fly in, reprefented with four fwords and
bucklers, and then what hard hart wil not receive
it for a pitched field." *
The firft notice that I have found of any thing
like moveable fccnes being ufed in England, is in
(( Of a fadiion never fecn before, to draw
a The gallants' eyes, that fit upon the ftage."
See alfo Epigrams hy Sir John Davles, no date, but printed
at Mlddleburgh, about iSgS.
u PluJus, the couftler, at the tlieatre,
u Leaving the bcft and mofl: confplcuous place,
li Doth either to the ,ftage lilmfelf transfer,
tc Or through a grate doth JJiew his double face,
■ti For that th.e clamorous fry of Innes of court,
a Fills up the private roomcs of greater price j
u And fuch a place wliere all may have rcfort,
4' He In his fingularlty doth defpifc."
It Is not very cafy to afccrtain the precife fituatlon of
tliffc private boxes. A print prefixed to KIrkman's Drolls,
1G73. induces me to thiuk that they were zt each fide of
4he ftagc-balcony.
* Dejcnce of Poefie, i5g5. SIgnat. H. 4.
G 3
86 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
the narrative of the entertainment oiven to Kina:
James at Oxford in Auguft i6o5. when three plays
were performed in the hail of Chrift Church, of
which Ave have the following account by a contem-
porary Avriter. " The ftage ', (he tells us) " was
built dole to the upper end of the hall, as it feemed
at the ftrll fight: but indeed it was but a falfc wall
faire painted , and adorned with {lately pillars ,
\vhich pillars would turn about ; by reafon whereof,
with the help of other painted clothes, their flage
did vary three times in the afting of one tragedy : "
that is, in other words, there were three fcenes em-
ployed in the exhibition of the piece. The fcenery
Avas contrived by Inigo Jones, who is defcribed as
a great traveller^ and who undertook to " further
his employers much, and furniOi them with rare
devices, but produced very little to that which was
expelled." ^
It is obfervable that the writer of this account
was not acquainted even Avith the term, Jcene ,
having ufed painted clothes inflead of it: nor in-
deed is this furprifing, it not being then found in
this fenfe in any dictionary or vocabulary, Englifli
or foreign, that I have met with. Had the com-
mon flages been furniflicd with them, neither this
writer, nor the makers of cliSionaries, could have
9 Lelantl. Collcc. Vol. II. pp. 63i. G46. Edit. 1770. See
alfo p. 639: "■ The fame day, Aug. 28. after fupper, about
nine of the clock they began to aft the tragedy of Ajax
Flagcllifer, wlierein the ftage varied three times. They had all
goodly antique apparel), but for all that, it was not afted fo
well by many degree? as I have fcen it in Cambridge. The
King was very wearie before he came tliither, but much more
wearied by it, and I'poke many words of difllke. "
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 87
been ignorant cf it.' To eiTe^l even what was
^ Florio, who appears to have diligently ftudied our
cufloms, illuRrating his explanations on many occafions by
Engllfh proverbs , fayings , local defcriptions, 8cc. in his
Italian Diillonavy, i5g8. dciints Sccna, in thefc words: A
fccne of a comcdie, or tragedle. Alfo a ftage in a theatre, or
playhoiife, whereon they pla)- ; a fl^affold, a paviUIon, or
fore part of a theatre, ichae players make thcni readie, being
frimmed -L^-ilk hangings, out of which they enter upon the ftage.
Ufed alfo for a comedle or a tragedle. Alfo a place where
one dotli fhew and fet forth himfelfe to the world. " In his
fecond edition, publlflied in 1611. Inftead of the words, " A
fcene of a comedle or tragedle, " we hnd — " Any onefcene
or entrance of a comedle or tragedle," which more preclfely
afeertalus his meaning.
In Gotgrave's French and Engllfli Dldlonary printed In
161 1, the v;ord/ff!Jf Is not found, and If it had cxified either
in France or England, (in the fenfe In which wc are now
conlidcrlng It,) it would probably have been found. From
the woxdfalol., the definition of which I fhall have occafion
to quote hereafter, the writer feems to have been not unac-
quainted with the Englifh ftage.
Bullokar, who was a phyficlan, publlftied an EngVifhExpo filer
in the year In which Shakfpeare died. From his definition
llkeuire It appears, that a moveable painted fcene was then
unknown in our theatres. He defines Scene, " A play, a
comedy, a tragedy, or the dlvllion of a play Into certain parts.
In old time it lignlfied a place covered with bouglies, or the
room where the players made them readle," MInftieu's large
Engllfli Dlcl:Ionary, which he calls A Guide to the "Tongues, was
publlftied in the following year, 1617. and there Scene Is
nothing more than "a theatre.'" Nay, even fo late as In the
year i656. when Cockeram's Englifti Dictionary, ox Interpreter
ef hard Englifh words was publlfhed. Scene is only fald to be
" the divlfion of a play Into certain parts."
Had our EngllOi theatres In the time of Shakfpeare been
furulfhcd with moveable fccnes, painted In perlpefllve, can
it be fuppofed that all tJiefe writers ftiould have been Ignorant
of it?
It is obfervable that Coryate In his Crudities, 410. 161 1.
■when he is boiftlng of the fuperlor fplendour of the Engllfli
G 4
88 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
clone at ChriR-Church , tlie Uiuvcrfity found it
neceffary to employ two of the king's carpenters,
and to have the advice of the cnntrolier of his
works. The Queen's Mafque, ^vhich was exlii-
bited in the preceding January, was not much more
fuccelsful, tliough above Soool. was cxj.-'cnded upon
it. " At niglit." lavs Sir Dudky Carleton, " we
had the Queen's Mafke in the Banqueting-honfe,
or rather her Pageant. There was a great engine
at the loAver end of the room, which had motion,
and in it werettie images of Jea-horles, (with other
terrible liihes,) which were ridden by the Moors.
theatres, compared with thofe of Venice, makes no mention
oijcenes. " I was at one of tlieir playhoufcs, where 1 faw a
coniedic. The houft- is very beggarly and bafc in comparifon
of our flate!y playhonfes in England : nr ithtr can tlicir a6lors
compare with us, (or apparel, Jhows, and mufiche.'''' Crudities^
p. 24.7.
It is alfo worthy of rem.irk that Mr. ChambcrlaiTie, when
he is Ipeaking of the fate of the performames at the Fortnnc
theatre, when it nas burnt down in 1621. laments that "their
apparel ^nd p!a)-book^ were lofl, whrreby thrife poor companions
■Wf-re quite undone*," but f<:ys not a word oVfccnt?. Sec alfo
Sir Henry VVoftou's letter on the burning of the Globe, la
161 3. p. 69. n. 6. Mai.Onf.
^\\?n Jcenes, and the word — fcene, were ufcd in 1618. may
DC proved from the f(dlo\\ inv mareinal note to the prologue
to Barton Holiday's TEXKOrABllA, publifhed In that year :
" Here the upper part of the Jcene open'd ; nhcn ftraight
appear'd an Heaven, and all the pure arts Gtring ?<c. — they
defc ended in otder within thr Jcene, while the mufikc plaid."
A hmilar note is appended to the Epilogue, concluding thus :
" and then the Heaven dofcd.'
1 fcize this opportunity to obfcrvc, that little deference
js due to the authority of ancient Dictionaries, which ufually
content themfelves with allotting a fingle fcnfe to a word,
without attention to its different fliades of meaning.
SteevenS.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 89
The indecorum was, that there was all fifli, and 110
water. At the further end was a great liieii in
form of a fkailop, wherein were four leats ; on the
lowed fat the queen with my iady Bedford ; on the
reft were placed the lanies Suffolk, Darby," ^ &c.
Such were mod of the Mafques in the time of
' Letter from oir Dudley Carleton to Mr. Winwood,
London, Jan. 1604. [i. c. i6o4-5.] Winwood's Memniah^
IL 43. This letter contains fu curioii.s a trait of our Britifli
Solomon, that I cannot forbtai tr;infcribing another paffage
from it, though foreign to our prefent fubjeft : " On Saint
John's day we had the marriage of Sir Philip Herbert and
Lady Sulan performed at Whitehall, with all the honour
could be done a great favourite. The court was great,
and for that day put on the befl bravery. — At night there
was a Mafl<. in the liall, which for conceit and fafliion was
fnitablc to the occafion. The prefents of plate and other
things given by the noblemen [to the bride and bridegroom]
were valued at 25ool.; but that which made It a good
marriage, was a gift of the king's of 5ool. land, for the
bride's jointure. They were lodged in the council-chamber,
where the king in hia Jhirl and ni^hl-gown gave them a
reveille-matin bifore they were up, and fpent a good time
in or upon the bed, choofc which you will believe. No
ceremony was omitted of bride-cakes, points, garters, and
gloves, which have been ever finte the iivcry ot the court;
and at night there was fewing In the fheet, calling of the
bride's left hofe, with many other petty forccrlcj."
Our poet has been ccnfured for indelicacy of language,
partltulorly In Hamlet's couverfatlon with Ophelia, during
the reprefentation of the play belorc the court of Denmark;
but unjufUy, for he undoubtedly reptcfented the manners
and converfation of his own day falthlully. Wliat the
decorum of thofc times was, even In the highefl; clafs, may
be coiijedured from another paffage In the fame letter:
*' The night's work [the night of the queen's malque] was
concluded with a banquet In the great chamber, which
was fo furloufly affaultcd, that down went tables and trcffes,
before one bit was touched." — Such was the court of King
James the Firft.
90 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
James the Firft : triuinplial cars, caflles, rocks,
caves, pillars, temples, clouds, rivers, tritons, kc.
coinpofed the principal part of their decoration.
In the courdy mafqiics given by his facceffor during
the hrft fifteen years of his reign, and in fome of
the plays exhibited at court, the art of fcenery
feems to have been foinewhat improved. In i636
a piece written by Thomas Heyvv'ood, called Love's
Mijlrejs or the Qiicens Majque, \vas reprefented at
Denmark Houfe before their Majeflies. " For the
rare decoreraents" (fays Hey wood in his preface)
" which new apparelled it, when it came the fecond
time to the royal view, (her gracious majefly then
entertaining his highnefs Z-t Denmark Houfe upon his
birth-day,) I cannot pretermit to give a due cha-
racler to that admirable ardft Mr. Inigo Jones,
mafter furveyor of the king's worke, kc. who to
every aci, nay ahnojl to ewtryfcenc, by his excellent
inventions gave fuch an extraordinary luftre ; upon
every occafion changing thejlage, to the admiranon
of all the fpe£lators." Here, as on a former occa-
fion, we may remark, the term Jcejie is notufed:
thejlage was chajiged to the admiradon of all the
fpe6lators. ^
In Auguft i636. The Royal Slave, Avritten by a
very popular poet, William Cartwright, was a6led
at Oxford before the king and queen , and after-
wards at Hampton-Court. Wood informs us, ^
^ If in our author's time the publick ftage had been ehanged,
or in otlier words, had the Globe and Blackfrlars play-
lioufe been furulfiicd with fcenes, would they have created
fo much admiration at a royal entertainment in l636. twenty
years after his death ?
< HiJI. 6- Antiq. Univ. Oxon. L. I. p. 34}.
0>^ THE ENGLISH STAGE. yi
diat the fcenery v/as an cxqulfite and uncommon
piece of machinery, contrived by Inigo Jones.
The play was printed in i63g. and yet even at
that late period, the term Jcene, in the fenfc now
affixed-to it, was unknown to the author; for de-
fcribing the various Icenes employed in this court-
exhibition, he denominates them thus : " The firfl
Appearance, a temple of the fun. — Second Appear-
ance, a city in the front, and a prifon at the fide,"
&c. The three other Appearances in this play were,
a wood, a palace, and a caflle.
In every difquifition of this kind much trouble
and many v\'Ords might be faved, by defining the
fubje^t of difpute. Before therefore I proceed
further in this inquiry, I think it proper to fay,
that by 3. Jcene, 1 mean, A painting in perfpedive
on a cloth Jajlencd to a wooden frame or roller , and
that I do not mean by this term, " a coffin, or a
tomb, or a gilt chair, or a fair chain of pearl, or
a crucifix: " and I am the rather induced to make
this declaration, becaufe a writer, who obliquely
alluded to the pofidon which 1 am now maintain-
ing, foon after the firft edition of this Effay was
pubiiflied, has mentioned exhibitions of this kind
as a proof of the Jcenery of our old plays : and
taking it for granted that the point is completely
eftablilhcd by. this decifive argument, triumphantly
adds, *' Let us for the future no more be told of
the want of propcr/cc/zci and dreHes in our ancient
theatres." ^
^ " My prefent purpofe," fays this writer, " is not fo
much to defcribc this dramatick piece, [The Second Maiden''s
Tiaged)-, written in i6lo or iCn.] as to fhow that It bears
abundant tellimony to the ufe oi Jcenery, and the richnefs
92 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
A paiTage which has been produced from one of
of the habits then worn. Thefe particulars will be fuffi-
ciently exemplified by the following fpeechcs, and liage-
dire£lions :
'.' Enter the Tyrant agon at a fardcr door, which opened
"brings him to the tomb, where the lady lies buried. The
Toombe here difcovered, richlie fet forthe."
Some lines are then quoted from the fame piece, of which
tbe following are thofe which alone are material to the
prefent point :
u Tyrant. — Softlee, foftlee ; —
4; The vaults e'en chide our fteps with murmuring founds.
u All thy ftill flrength,
u Thow erey-eydemonument, fhall notkecp her from us.
tt Strike, villaines, thoe the eccho raile us ail
ti Into ridiculous deafnes ; pierce the jawci
(( Of this could ponderous creature. —
ti O, the moone rifes : What refieclion
(( Is throwne around this fanftified buildinge 1
li. E'en lo a twinkling how the monuments glitter,
tt As if Death's pallaces were all maffic fylver,
4£ And fcorn'd the name of marble!"
" Is it probable," (adds this writer) " that fuch dire<^ions
and fpeeches Ihould have been hai:;ardcd, unlcfs at the fame
time they could be fupported and countenanced by cor-
rcfpondiiig fcenery?"
" 1 fhall add two more of the (lage-direcSlIons from this
tragedy." — " On a fodayne in akinde of noyfc like a Vv'ynde,
the dores clattering, the toombeflone ilies open, and a
great light appears in the raidfl of the toombe •, his lady,
as went owt, (landing in it before hym all in white, ftuck
with Jewells, and a great crucifix on her brcaft." Again,
" They bring the body in a chayre, drcft up in black
velvet, whicii fetts off the paillnes of the hands and face,
and a faire chaync of pcarle crofs the breall, and the crucifix
above it," Sec.
" Let us for tlie future, Mr. Baldwin, be told with lefs
confidence of the want of proper Jcenes and dreffes in our
ancient theatres." — Letter in Tlie St. James Chronicle^
May, 1780.
i'o all this I have only to fay, that it never lias been
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. gS
the old comedies, ^ proves that the common theatres
were furnifiied with fome rude pieces of machinery,
^vh.ich were ufed when it was neceiTary to exhibit
the dcfcent of fome god or faint; but it is manifeft
from what has been ah-eady dated, as well as from
all the contemporary accounts, that the mechanifm
of our ancient theatres feldom. went beyond a tomb,
a painted chair, a finking cauldron, or a trap-door,
and that none of them had moveable fcenes. When
King Henry VUI. is to be difcovered by the dukes
of Suffolk and Norfolk, reading in his fludy, the
fccnical direftion in the firft folio, i623. (which
was printed apparently from playhoufe copies,) is,
" 'The King draws the curtain, [i. e. draws it open]
and fits reading penfively; " for, befide the principal
curtains that hung in the front of the flage , they
ufed others as fubflitutes for fcenes, ^ which were
auertcd, at leaft by me, that In Shakfpeare's time a lomh was
not reprefented on rhe ftagc. The monument of the Capulets
■was perhaps reprefented in Romeo and Juliet, and a wooden
Rruclute might have been ufed for this purpofe in that and
other plays ; of which when the door was once opened,
and a proper quantity of lamps, falfe ftoncs, and black cloth
difplayed, the poet mij^ht be as luxuriant as he pleafed in
del'cribinff the furrounding invifible marble vionr.menls. This
writer, it fliould feem, was thinking of the epigram on
Eutler the poet : we aIkfor/c^?;«, and he gives us only ajlons*
7 " Of whychc the lyke thyng is ufed. to be ftiewed noxo
(ulays in fiage-plajcs, when fome god or iome. Jayni is made to
yppere forth of a cloude -, and fucrourcth the parties which
feemed to be towardes fome great danger, through the Sou-
dan's criicUie." The author's marginal abridgement of his
text is — "■The lyke manner ufed nowe at our days in ftage-
))layc5." Accolqfius, a comedy by T. Palfgrave, chaplain to
King Henry Vlll. l54o.
*' Sec Webfter's Dutchefs of Malfy, a^ed ."i the Globe and
Elackfriars, and printed in l6s3. " Here is difcovered behind
94 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
denominRttd tr aver fes. If a bedchamber is to be
reprefented, no change of fcene is mentioned; but
the property-man is fimply ordered io thrujl forth a
bed, or, the curtains being opened, a bed is exhi-
bited. So, in the old play on which Shakfpeare
formed his King Henry VJ. P. II. when Cardinal
Beaufort is exhibited dying, the flage-diredion is —
" Enter King and Salifbury, and then the. curtaines
he drawn, [i. e. drawn open,] and the Cardinal is
difcovered in his bed, raving and flaring as if he
were mad." When the fable requires the Roman
a iraverje the artificial figures of Antonio aud his cliildren,
appearing as if they were dead." lu The Dtvirs Charier., a
tragedy, 1607. the following ftage-dlrecllon Is found :
" Alexander draweth [that is, draws open] the curla'me of
hisjludie, where he dlfcovereth the devill fitting in his pon-
tificals.'" Again, in 5'a/iroma^ix, by Decker, 1602. "Horace
fitting In his fitidy, behind a curtaine, a candle by him burning,
books lying confufedly," 8cc. In Marfton's What you will, a
comedv, 1607. the following ftage-dire6lIon ftill more deci-
Cvely proves this point : " Enter a Schoole-malRer, — draws
[I. e. draws open] the curtains behind, with Battus, Nows,
Slip, Nathaniel, and Hollfernes Pippo, fchool-boyes, fitting
with bookes In their handcs." Again, in Albovine, by Sir
William D'Avenant, 1629. " He drawes the Arras, and dij-
covers Albovine, Rhodollnda, Valdaura, dead In chaires."
Again, In The Woman in the Moon, by Lily, iSgy, " They
draw the curtins from before Natures fhop, where ftands an
image clad, and forae unclad. They bring forth the cloathed
ihiage." Again, in Romeo and Juliet, iSgy. Juliet, after (he
has {"wallowed the flcepy potion, is ordered to *' throw her-
felfe on the bed, within the curtaines y As foon as Juliet has
fallen on the bed, the curtains being ftill open, the nurfe
enters, then old Gapulet and his lady, then the muficlans ;
and all on the fame fpot. If they could have exhibited
a bed-chamber, and then could have I'ubftituted any other
room for It, would they have fulTercd the muficlans and the
Nurfe's fervant to have carried on a ludicrous dialogue in one
where Juliet was fuppofsd to be lying dead \'
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. g5
capitoi tobereprefented, we find two oflicers enter,
" to lay cuO'iions, as itioen in the capitoi." So, in
King Richard II. Ad. IV. fc. i : " Bolingbroke, ^c.
entei as to the parliament." ^ Again, in Sir 'John
Oldcajilr.^ 1600: " Enter Cambridge, Scroop, and
Gray , as \n 2l chamber." When the citizens of
Anglers were to appear on the Avails of their tOAvn,
and young Arthur to leap from the battlements, I
fuppofe our anceflors were contented \vith feeing
them in the balcony already defcribed; or perhaps
a few boards were tacked together, and painted fo
as to refem,ble the rude difcoioured walls of an old
town, behind which a platform might have been
placed near the top, on which the citizens flood:
butfurely this can fcarcely be called ay<:^»f. Though
undoubtedly our poet's company were furniihed
with fome wooden fabrick fufficiently refembling
a tomb, for which they muft have had occafion in
feveral plays, yet fome doubt may be entertained,
whether in Romeo and Juliet any exhibition of Ju-
liet's monument was given on the flage. Romeo
perhaps only opened with his mattock one of the
ftage trap-doors, fwhich might have rcprefented a
tomb-ftone,) by which he defcended to a vault be-
neath the ftage, where Juliet v.as depofited; and
this notion is countenanced by a paffage in the
play, and by the poem on which the drama was
founded." ""
' See tliefe ftage-dIre(Sions In the firfl: folio.
' " Why 1 dejcend into this bed of death — . " Romeo an,L
Juliet, Adv. So, in The Tragical Hi/iory of Romeus and Juhet^
l562 :
(( And then our Romeus, the vault-fione Jet np-right,
n Dejcended downe, and hi his hand he bore the candle
light.*:
96 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
In all the old copies of the play laR-raentioned
we find the following iiage-direcflion: " They march
about thejiage, and J'rzing-men come forth with their
napkins^ A more decifive proof than this, that
the flage was not furnilhed with fcenes, cannot be
produced. Romeo, Mercutio, &c.-with their torch-
bearers and attendants, are tlieperlons who march
about the flage. 1 hey are in the ftrcet, on their
wav to Capulet's houlc, where a mafquerade is
given ; but Capulet's fer\'ants wh® come forth with
their napkins, arc lupp'ofcd to be in a hall or faloou
of their mafier's lioufe: yet both tlie raafqucrs
without and the lervants within appear on the fame
fpot. In like manner in King Henry VIII. the very
fame fpot is at once the outlide and inhde of the
Council Chamber. '
It is not, however, neceiTary to infift either upon
the term itfelf, in the fenfe of a painting in per-
fpeflive on cloth or canvas, being unknown to our
earlv writers, or upon the various ftagc-direflions
which are found in ike piays of our pc et and his
coniemporaries, and v/hich afford the Urongeft prc-
fumptive evidence that the flage in his dme was
not furnifhed yvitn (cc-nes ; bccaufe we have to the
iame point the concunent tertimony of Shakipearc
himfelf, * of Ben Jonlon, of every writer of the lail
Juliet, however, after lier re( overy, fpeaks and dies upon
the flage. If therefore, the exhibit! n was fui h as has been
now fuppofed, Romeo mufl have brounlit her up in his arms
from the vault beneath tlie fkiijc, after he ha I killed Pa.ris,
and then addreffcd her, — "• O my lovt, my uile, " 8cc.
5 See Vol. XVI. p. 177. n. 8.
'*■ ii, In your iinagi;intion hold
C( Thisjiaiie, the fhip, upon wliofc deck
li Tlie iea-toll Pericles appears to Iptak.'*
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 97
age ^yh.o lins bad occafion to mention tliis fubjeft,
and even of the very peiTon who t-ril introduced
iccnes on the pubnck fiage.
In the vear lojg Jonron's comedy intiticd The
JY,w Inn was performed at the Blackfrlars theatre,
and defcrvedly damned. Ben was lo much incenfed
at the town for condemninc; his piece, that in i 6.3 l
he pubiiHied it with the following title: Tht New
lnrv\ or the light Heart, a comedy; as it was never
acled, but mofl negligcntiv played, by fome, the
kings fervants, and more (queamifhlv belield and
cenfure'i bv oth<^rs, the kings fubje 61s, 1629. And
now at laiL fet a liberty to the readers, his Majefties.
fervants and fubjecls, to be judged, i63j." In
the Dedication to this piece, tlie author, after ex-
pi eCing his profound contempt for the fpeclators,
who Avere at the \\x?i reprefentation of this play,
favs, " What did thev come for then, thou wilt aik
mc. I will as punclually anfwer: to fee and to be
fecne. To make a general muffer of thcmfelves
in their clothes of credit, and pofTefTe the ftage
againft the playe: to diflike all, but marke no-
tliuig: and by their confidence of rifmg between
the a6les in oblique lines, make affidavit to the
whole houfe of their not underflanding one fcene.
ArmM with this prejudice, as the Jlage furniture ,
or arras clothes, they were there; as fpeclators
away; for the faces in the hangings and they beheld
alike."
The exhibition of plays being forbidden fomc
time before the death of Charles I. ' Sir William
* An ordinance for tlic fupprelfing ofal! nas^c-plays and
interludes, was enaclt-d Feb. i3. 1647-S. and Oliver and his
Saints feem to fiave been every dilic;ent in eniorting it. Uroift
t H
gS HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
D'Avenant in 1 656 invented a new fpecies of en-
tertainment, wiiich was exhibited at Rutland Houfe,
at the upper end of Alderfgate-flreet. The title
of the piece, which was printed in the fame year,
is, The Siege oj Rhodes, ma.'le a Reprejenl'ition by
the Art of profpe6five in- Scenes; and the Story
Jung in recitative Mufick. " 1 lie original of this
mufick," fays Dryden ; " and of the Jcenes which,
adorned his work, he iiad from the Italian operas; ^
but he heightened his characters (as I mav pro-
bably imagine) from the examples of Corneille
and fome French poets." If, lixty years before,
the exhibition of the plays of. Shakfpeare had
been aided on the common flage by the advan-
tage of moveable fcenes, or if the term Jcene had
been familiar to D\'\venant's audience , can we
fuupofe that he would have found it necellary to
ufe a periphraflick defcriprion , and to promifc
that his reprefentation fliould be affiRed by t/te art
of p> vj'ptciive injeenesl " It has been often wiihed,"
fays he in his Addrefs to the Reader, " that our
Whltelocke's Afrmoria/5, p. 332. we learn that Captain Ef than.
was appointed ( l3 Dec. 1648. ) Prnvcfl M;irti.il. " witli power
to fcixe upon al! ballad-fingers, and to Jnpprep Jlai^e-play<."
" 20 iJcc. 1649. Some na<ic-phyer> hi Saim John'^-ftreet
[the Red Bull theatre was in this fireet,] wt re appreheniled
by troopers, their cloaths taken away, and themfelves carried
to prifon." Ibidem, p. 419.
" Jan. l655. [l655-6.] Players taken in Newcaflle, and
vjhipt for rogues." Ibid. 619.
" Sept. 4. l65G. Sir William D'Avenant printed his
Opera, iiotwithflanding the nicety of the times." Ibidem,
p. 639.
^ Flcckno in the preface to his comedy entitled Demoifelles
a~la-Mode, 16G7. obfervcs, that " one Italian fcene with four
doors will do" for the reprefentation.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.
99
femes (we having obliged ourfelvcs to the variety
oi Jive changes, according to the ancient draina-
tick diilin6lions made for time,) had not been
confined to about eleven feet in the height
and about fifteen in depth, including the pla-
ces of paffage referved for the mufick.' From
thefe words we learn that he had in that piece
five fcenes. In i658 he exhibited at the old
theatre called the Cockpit in Drury-lane, Tht
Cruelly of the Spaniards in Peru , exprejs'd by
vocal and injirumental Mufuk, and by Art of per-
fpeclive in Scenes.^ In fpring 1662. havino- ob-
'' In " The Publick Intelligencer, communicating the
chief occurrences and proceedings within the dominions of
England, Scotland, and Wales, from Monday, December 20.
to Monday, December 27. l658. " 1 find tlie following
notice taken of D'Avenant's exhibition by the new Protestor, •
Richard :
cc Whitehall, December 23.
" A courfe Is ordered for taking Into confideratlon the
Opera, fhewed at the Cockpitt In Drury Lane, and the perfons
to whom it (lands referred, are to fend for the poet and aflors,
and to Inform themftlves of the nature of the work, and to
examine by what authority the fame Is expofed to publick
view ; and they are alfo to take the bed Information they can,
concerning the acting of ftagc-playes, and upon the whole
to make report, " 8cc.
The Saints were equally avcrfe to every other fpecles of
feftlvity as well as the Opera, and confidered holydays, the
common prayer-book, and a play-book, as equally pernicious ;
for In the fame paper 1 find this notification :
" It was ordered by his HIghnefs the Lord Protedor and
the Council, that effectual letters be written to the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen of the city of London, and to thejuillces
of peace for Wedmlnfler and the liberties thereof, Middlefex
and Borough of Southwark,/ to ufc their endeavour for abolifli-
ing the ufe of the feftlvals of Chriflmas, Eafter, and other
feafts called holydaies -, as alfo for preventing the nie of the
common prayer-book. "
H 2
100 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tained a patent from King Chnrles the Second,
and built a new playhoufe in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields,
he opened his theatre with The Firjl Part of the
Siegs of Rhodes, which hnce its firft exhibition he
had enlarged. He afterwards in the fame vear
exhibited The Second Po.rt of the Siege oj Rhodes, mid
his comedy called The V/iis; " thefe plays," fays
Downes, who himfelfa^led in The Siege of Rhodes,
*' having new /c^/z^j and decorations, being thejirjl
that ever were introduced in England." Scenes
had certainly been ufed before in the mafqu.es
at Court, and in a few private exhibitions, and
bv D'Avenant hirafelf in his attempts at theatrical
entertainments fnortly before the death of Crom-
well : Downes therefore, who is extremely inaccu-
rate in his language in every part of his book, mull
have meant — the hrft ever exhibited in a regular
drama, on a puhlick theatre.
I have faid that I could produce the teRimony
of Sir William D'Avenant himfeif on this fubjcft.
His prologue to The Wits, which was exhibited
in the fpring of the year 1662. foon after the
opening of his theatre in Lincoln"s-Inn-Fields, if
everv other document had peridicd, Vv^ould prove
deciiively that our author's plays had not the
afTillance of painted fcenes. " There are fome,
fays D'Avenant,
n who would the world pcrfuade,
(( That sold is better when the fl<jnip is bad;
u And that an ugly ragged piece of eight
II Is ever true in metal and In wei;Tht ;
It As if a guinny and louis had lefs
li. Intrinfick value for their handfomenefs.
u So dlvcrfe, who outlive the former age.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. loi
«t Allow s the coarfcnefs of the plain oldjlage^
^i And tliiuk rich vefts Rudjcenes are only fit
a Difgulfes for the want of art and wit. "
And no Icfs decifive is the different language
of the licence for ereclins; a theatre, G;ranted to
him by King Charles I. in i63g. and the letters
patent which he obtained from his fon in 1662.
In the former, after he is authorized " to en-
tertain, govern, privilege, and* keep fuch and fo.
many players to exercife aftion, mufical prelent-
inents , fcenes , dancing, and the like, as he the
faid William Davenant fliall think fit and approve
for the faid houfe, and fuch perfons to permit
and continue at and during the plcafure of the
faid W. D. to ad; plays in fuch houfe fo to be
by him creeled, and- exercife mufick, mufical pre-
fentments, fcenes, dancing, or other the like at the
fame or other hours, or times, or after plays are
ended," — the claufe which empowers him to take
certain prices from thole who iiiould refort to his
theatre runs thus :
*• And that it fliall and may be lawful to and
for the faid VV. D. Sec. to take and receive of
fuch our fubje6ls as ihall refort to fee or hear
any fuch plays, Jceius, and entertainments whatioe-
ver, fuch fum or fums of money, as is or hereaf-
ter from time to time fliall be accuhomed to be
given or taken in other playhoules and places
for the like plays, fcenes, prefentmenis, and en-
tertainments."
Here we fee that when the theatre was fttcd up
in the ufual way of that time wiiLioutthe decora-
^ i. c. approve.
H 3
102 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tion of fcenery, (for Jcenes in the foregoing paffages
mean, not paintings, but ftiort ftage-reprefenta-
tions or prefentments,) the ufual prices were au-
thorized, to be taken: but after the Reftoration ,
when Sir W. D'Avenant furnifhed his new thea-
tre with fcenery, he took care that the letters
patent which he then obtained , fliould fpeak a
diiferent language, for there the correfponding ciaufc
is as follows : *
" And that it ihall and may be lawful to and for
the faid Sir William D'Avenant, his heirs, and
aiTigns, to take and receive of fuch of our fubjefts
as iliall refort to fee or hear any fuch plays, fcenes
and entertainments whatfoever, fuch fum or fums
of money, as either have accuflomably been given
and taken in the like kind, or as fliall be thought
reafonable by him or them, in regard of the great
expences of scenes, mufick, and fuch new deco-
rations as have not been formerly ?//<?<:/."
Kere for the firil time in thefe letters patent the
woxAJcene is ufed in that fenfe in which Sir William
had employed it in the printed title-pages of his
mufical entertainments exhibited a few years be-
fore. In the former letters patent granted in iGSg.
the word in that fenfe does not once occur.
To the teflimony of D'Avenant himfelf may be
added that ofDryden, both in the paffage already
quoted, and in his prologue to The Rival Ladies,
performed at the King's theatre in 1664.
in former days
u Good prologues were as fcarce as now good plays. —
u You now have habits, dances, yVewe;, and rhymes;
44 High language often, ay, and lenfe fometimes. "
And flill more exprefs is that of the author of
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. io3
The Gme.rous Enemies, exhibited at the King's The-
atre in iG7;2.
(( I cannot choofe but laugh, when I look back and fee
(I The Arangt vli iflitulcs ot pottrle.
(( Your iged fathers camt- to plays for wit,
t4 And fat kue:c-deep in nutfhclLs in the pit;
t( Coarje hamj^'ings then, in/itad ofjcenes mere worn,
li And Kidderminjler did the jlage adurn :
n Uutycu, their wifcr of^^prit;L', ilid advance
(( To plot ofjigg, and to dramatitk dance, ' ' 8cc.
' Thib explains what Dryden means in his prolosiue to The
Riidl Ladies, quoted above, where, with Jcenes aid the other
novelties intioduced after the Reil'>ration, he nuntions a'antf,
A dance by a boy was not untomrrion in Shakfjieare's time;
but fnch dames as were exhibited at t'le Duke's and King's
theatre, which are here called dramalick dancer, were unknown.
The following prologue to Tvnbridge H'ells, aflcd at the
duke's theatre, and printed in 1678. is more diffnle upon thU
fubjc6l, and confirms what has been ftated in the text :
(I The old Eiiglifh ftaee, cotifin'd to plot and fenfe,
(( Did hold abroad but fmall intelligence;
(( but fiiice the Invafion of the foreign y<;fra^,
(( Jack-pudding farce, and thundering machine,
(( Dainties to your grave anccltors unknown,
(( Who never diflik'd wit becaufe their own,
i( There's not a player but is turn'd a fcout,
it And every fcribbler fend> his envoys out,
n To fetch from Paris, Venice, or from Rome,
a Fantalliik fopperies, to pleafe at home.
a And that each a£l may rife to your defire, |
tt Devils and witches muft each fcene infpire; r
n Wit rnwls in waves, and fhowcrs down in fire. J
a With wh/it flrange eafe a play may now be writ! |
a When the beft halt's conipos'd by painting it, /"
K And that in the air or dance lies all the wit. J
" Truefenfe or plot would fooleries appear |
" Faults, I fuppofe, you fe'dom meet with here, /■
" For 'tis no mode to proHt by the ear. J
" Your fouls, we know, are featcd in your eyes; \
" An aflrefs in a cloud's a Urange furprife, >
" And you ne'er pay'd treble prices to be wife." }
H 4
104 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Thcfe are not the fpeculatioiis of fcliolnrs con>
cerning a cuilom of a [orntcr age, but tl.e telli-
mony of perfuns who were either ipe61atois ot what
they defcribe, or dally convericd with tliole who
had trod our ancient flage : lor D'Avenant's firfl
play, The Cruel Bt oilier , was adted at the Black-
friars in January, 1626-7. and Mohun and hart,
who had thenilelvcs a61ed before the civil wars,
were employed in that company, by whofe imme-
diate luccefTors Tht Generous Erumies was exliibited;
1 mean tlie King'b Servants. Major Mohun a^icd
in the piece before which the lines lad quoted were
fpoken.
I may add alfo, that Mr. Wright, the author of
Hijlorin HiJl.>io7nca, whofe fatlier had been a fpec-
tator of feveral plays before the breaking out of
The Freticli theatre, as we learn from Scaliijcr, was not
furniflied vvi li fcfnts, or even v\ith the ornaments of tapeltry,
in tlie year i56i, SeeScnIigfT, Poelice^, ioWo, i56l. Lih. I.
c. xxi. Both it, however, and the Italian ftaije, appear to
have had the dt coration of fcerery before the Englifh. lu
l638 wab pubiifhtd at Ravenna — Pratica dijablrkar Scene
e machine ne" teafri, di Nitola Sabbatini da Ptfaro. With
refpcft to the French flage, fee D'Avenant's prologue te
The Secontf Pari of ihe Su^e nf Rhodes, ]663,
" many travellers lieic as judges come,
" 1 fiun t^-rli, Florence, Venice, and trom Rome;
*' Who will defiribe, when any Jc en e xve draw,
" By each of ours all that ihcy ever faw:
" Thofe praifiiig for exten|]ve breadth and height,
" An inward dillance to deieive the fight."
It is faid In the Life of Betiertou, that "• he was fent
to Paris by ki-ig Charles the Second, to take a view of the
French theatre, that he might better judge of what might
contribute to the improvement of our own." He went to
Palis probably in the year 1666. when both the Loudon
theatres were fhut.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. io5
the civil wars, cxprefsly fays, that the thtatre had
110 Jcenti.*
But, lays Mr. Steevens, (who differs wiih nie in
opinion on the fubjc£^ before us, and whole lenti-
ments I fhall give beiow,) •' hovv' happened it, that
Shakfpeare hiinleii (iiould have mentioned the a6l
o{'Ji!?f:ing ficnes, if in bis time there were no Icenes
capable of being y/i.yiftra? 1 lius in tiie Chorus to
Ki?ig Henry V:
' Unto Southampton do wejiiifl our Jcene.''
" This phrafe" (he adds) " was hardly more
ancient than tiie cullo.u it delcribeb..'' '
Who does not fee, that hhakfueare in the padage
here quoted ules the word Jcene in the lame lenle
in which it was ufed two thoufand years befoie he
was born ; that is, for the place of aftion repre-
fentcd bv the flage; and not for that moveable
hanging or painted cloth ,. llrained on a wooden
frame, or rolled round a cylinder, which is now
called a scene? If the fmaiiefl doubt could be en-
^ " Shakfpeare, (who as 1 have heard, was a mnch herter
poet than player,) Burbage, Hemmin^s, and others ot the
older fort, were dead before I knew the town ; but in ray
time, before the wars, Lowin nfcd to afl Falftafle," 8cc. —
''Though the town was then not much more than halt fo
populous as now, yet then the piices were fmail, [there being
no Jienes,] and better order kept among the tompany that
came." Hijioria Hijlrionica^ 8vo. iGgg. This Effay is in
the form of a Dialogue between Tnieman, an old Cavalier,
and Lovewit, his friend.
The account of the ol 1 ftage, whith is given by the Cavalier,
Wright probably derived from his father, who was born in
1611. and was himfelf a dramatick wilter.
' Sec Mr. Steevens's Shakfpeare, 1785. Kingjvhn, p. 56.
«. 7.
io6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tertained of his jneanino;, the follovvins; lines in the
fame play would remove it:
(( The king is ftt from London, and tht Jcens
(( Is now Iranjporttd to Southamj ton."
This, and this only, was the. Jliift'ng that was
meant; a movement from one place to anothei in
the prog'efs of the drama.: nor is there f(;und a
fmgle pafiage in his plays in which the word Jctne
is ufed in the fenfe required to fupport the argu-
meht of thofe who fuppofc that the common llages
were furniflied with moveable fcenes in his time.
He coiu'^antly ufes the word either for a llage-
exhibiiion in general, or the component part of a
play, or the place of action repreiented by the
ftage: *
^ And fo do all the other dramatick writers of liis time.
So, in Hey wood's Dcii/j??/^// of Robert Earl of Huntington, l6oi.
u I only mean —
tc Myfelf in pcrfon to prefent £ome fcenes
li Ot trai^ick matter, or perchance of mirth."
Again, in the prologue to Ram Alley, or Merry Tricks, &
comedy, 1611.
a But if conceit, with quick-turn d fceanes, —
(.<. May win your favours, — ."
Again, in the prologue to The Late Lanca/Jtire Witches, 1634,
a we are forc'd from our own nation
u To ground the fcene that's now in agitation."
Again, in the prologue to Shirley's School of Complimtnii,
1629.
u This play is
u The Hrfl fruits of a mufc, that before this
tt Never fainted audience, nor doth meane
*' To fwcar hirafelf a faftor tor the Jcene."
Again, in the prologue to Hannibal and Scipio, iGSy.
u The places fomctimcs chang'd too for the fcene,
a Which is tranflated as the mufick plays," 8cc.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 107
u For all my life has been but as z.fcene,
a Acting that argument." ~ KingHenry IV. Part 11.
n At your indu^rious Jccnes and ads of death."
King John,
a \'\/hd.t fcene of death hath Rofcius now to acTt?"
King Henry VI. Part III.
(( Tluis with imaginM wing our iwiltjcene flies, — ."
King Henry V.
(( To give OUT fcene fuch screwing, — ." Ib'd.
u And fo ourjcene mufl to tlic battle fly, — ." I hid.
a TJiat he might play the woman in ihe Jcene.'"'
Coriolanus
u Aqueeninjefl, only to (ill the/c^rae." King Richard III.
I fiiall add but one more inflance from, AWs
well thai ends well :
a Ourjcene is alterM from a ferious thing,
u And now changed to the Beggar and the King."
from which lines it miglit, I conceive, be as rea-
fonably inferred that Jcenes were cJianged in Shak-
fpeare's time , as from the paiTage relied on in
King Henry V. and perhaps by the fame mode of
reafoning it might be proved, from a line above
quoted from the fame play, that the technical
modern term, wings, or fide-fcenes, was not un-
known to our great poet.
The various circumflances which I have ftated,
and the accounts of the contemporary writers, '
Here tranjlating a fcene means juff the fame as Jl.ifling a
fcene in King Henry V.
I forbear to add more inftances, though almoft every one
of our old plays would furnifh me with many.
' All the writers on the ancient Englifti ftage that I have
met Viith, concur with thofe quoted in the text on this fub-
je£l : "*"Now for the difference betwixt our theatres and
thofe of former times," (fays Vleckno, who lived near enough
the time to be accurately informed,) "• they were but plain
7o8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
furniili us, in my apprelieiifion, v/ith decifive and
■and fimple, toith no other Jcenes nor decorations of ihe Jlages
Int only old lapejlry, and the ftage flrewed with ruflies ; with
their habits accordingly." Short Dijcourjc of the Englijh Stage,
1664. In a fubfequent paiTage indeed he adds, " Forfcenes
and machines, they are no new invention ; our mafqucs»
VLndfomeofourplayes, in former times, (though notfo ordinary,)
having had as good or rather better, than any we have
now." — To reconcile this paffage with the foregoing, the
author muft be fiippofed to fpcak here, not of the exhibi-
tions at the publick theatres, but of mafques and private
plays, performed either at court or at noblemen's lioufes.
He docs not fay, " fome of our theatres^'" • — but, "• our
mafques, and fome of our playes having had," Sec. We
have already feen tiiRt Love's Mijirefs or the (huens Mafque was
exhibited with fcenes at Dcnmark-houfe in i636. In the reign
of King Charles I. the performance of plays at court, and at
private houfes, fecms to have been very common ; and gentle-
men went to great cxpence in thefe exhibitions. See a letter
from Mr. Garrard to Lord Strafford, dated Feb. 7. iGSy.
Strafford's Letters, Vol.11, p. i5o. " Two of the king's fervants,
privy-chamber men both, have writ each of them a play, Sir
John Sutlin [Suckling] and Will. Barclay, which have been
afted in court, and at the Blackfriars, with much applaufc.
Sutlin's play cofc three or four hundred pounds fetting out : eight
or tenfuits of new cloaths he gave the players ; an unheard-
of prodigality." The play on which Sir John Suckling ex-
pended this large fura, was Aglaura,
To the authority of Fleckno may be added that of Edward
Phillips, who, in his Theatrum Poetarum , 1G74. [article,
D'Avenant,] praifes the poet for " the great fluency of his
wit and fancy, cfpecially for what he wrote for the Englifh
Itagc, of which, having laid the foundation before by his
mufical dramas, when the ufual plays were not fufiered to
be a«^ed, he was thefrfl reviver and improver, by painted fcenes.''
Wright alfo, who was well acquainted with the hlftory of
our ancient ftagc, and had certainly converfed with many
perfons who had fcen theatrical performances before the
civil wars, exprefsly fa)s, as I have obferved above, that
" fcenes were firft introduced by Sir \Villiam D'Avenant,
on the publick flage, sit the Duke's old theatre in Lincoln's
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 109
incontrovertible proofs, ' that the flage of Shak-
InnfieMs." — "Prcfentiy aFter the Refloration," tliis writer
informs us, *' the king's players acled publickly at the Red
Buil for fomc time, and ihcu removed to a new-built play-
Jioufc in Vcrc-ftreet, by Glare-market. There they continued
for a year or two, and then removed to tlie theatre-royal in
Drury-lane, where they ^/;^ made ufe of scenes, which had
been a liitle before introduced upon the fublick stage hy Sit
W. D''Axenant at the Dzihe^s old theatre in Lincoln'' s- 1 mifields^
but afterwards very much improved, with the addition o£
curious machines, by Mr. Betterton, at tiie new theatre in
Dorfet Gardens, to the n;reat expence and continual charge
of the players." Hijloria Hijlrionica^ 8vo. i6gg. p. lo.
Wright calls It the Diike's o/^/ theatre in Lincoln's-lnn-Fields,
though in fa6l in i663 it was a new building, becaufc wheu
he wrote, it had become old, and a new theatre had been
built in Lincoln's-lnn-Fields in 1695. He is here fpeaking
of filayi and players^ and therefore makes no account of the
mufical entertainments exhibited Tjy D'Avenant a few years
before at Rutland Houfe, and at the Cock-pit in Drury-
Janc, in which a little attempt at fcenery had been made.
In thofc pieces, 1 believe, no ftage-player performed,
6 1 fubjoin the fentiraents of Mr. Steevens, who differs
■with me in opinion on this fiibje6l ; obferving only that in
general the paffages to v/hich he alludes, prove only that our
author's plays were not exhibited without the aid oi machinery,
which is not denied; and that not a finglc paffage is quoted,
whicli proves that a moveable painted fcene was employed in
any of bis plays in his tlieatre. The lines quoted from The
Staple of JVews, at the bottom of p. Il3. mufl have been tran-
fcribcd from fome incorrect edition, for the original copy,
printed in i63i. reads — scene, not scenes; a variation of
ibmc importance. The words — " the various fiifting of their
SCENE," denote, in my apprehcnfion, nothing more than
freq2ient change of place in the progrefs of the drama : and even if
that were not the cafe, and thcfe words were ufed In the
modern fenfe, they would not prove thatfcenes were employed
on the flage in Shakjp care's time, for The Staple of .\eios was
not exhibited till March, l625-6.
" It mufl be acknowledged^" fays Mr. Steevens, " that
110 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fpcarc was not furniflied witli mcvcable painted
little more is advanced on this occafion, than is fairly fup-
ported by the teftimony of contemporary writers.
••' Were we, however, to reafon on fuch a part of thefubjefi:
as is now before us, fome fufpicions might arife, that where
machinery was difcovered, the lefs complicated, adjun£l of
fcenes was fcarcely wanting. When the column is found
/landing, no one will fuppofe but that it was once accompanied
by its ufual entablature. If this inference be natural, little
Impropriety can be complained of in one of the ftage-dire<^ions
above mentioned. Where the bed is introduced, the fcene
of abed-chamber (a thing too common to deferve deftription)
would of courfe be at hand. Neither fhould any great ftrefs
be laid on the words of Sir Philip Sidney. Are we not ftill
obliged to receive the ftage alternately as a garden, as an
ocean, as a range of rocks, or as a cavern? With all our
modern advantages, fo much oi vratjemhlance Is wanting In a
theatre, that the apologies which Shakfpeare offers for fcenical
deficiency, are ftill in fome degree needful ; and be it always
remembered that Sir Philip Sidney has not pofitlvely declared
that no painted fcenes were in ufe. Who that mentions the
prefeut ftage, would think it neceffary to dwell on the article
of fcenery, unlefs it were peculiarly ftrlking and magnificent?
SirPhllip hasnotfpoken ol ft.ige-habits, andare we tlierefore to
fuppofe that none were worn? Befides, between the time when
Sir •'hilip v.rote his Defence of Poefv, and the period at which the
plays of Shakfpeare were prefented, the ftage In all probability
ha'lreceived much additional embcllifhraent. I^eime repeat,that
if in T52g (the date oi Acolajius) machinery ''•is known to have
exifted. In 1^92 (when Shakfpeare commenced a play-wright)
a greater number of ornaments might naturally be expelled,
as it is ufual for one improvement to be foon followed by
another. That the plays of Shakfpeare were exhibited with
the aid of machinery^ the following ftage-dlredllons, copied
* What happy deceptions could be produced by the aid of frame-
work and painted canvas, we may learn froin Hollnfljed, and yet
more anrient hiftorians. The pancanis and tournaments ai the
bcf inning of Henry Vllllh's reign very frequently req-uired that the
tallies of imaginary beings (hould be exhibited. Of fuch contri-
vaarcs fome dcfcriptions rem;.in. Tiiefe extempore buildings afforded
a natural introduftion to fcenery on the ftage.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. iii
femes, but merely clecoraLcd witK curtains, and
from tiic folio 1623. will abundantly prove. In The Ttm-
peji^ Ariel is faid to enter " like a harpey, claps his wings
on t!ic t.tblc, and with a quaint device tlie banquet vanifties."
In a fubfequcnt (cene of the fame pliy, J'lno "■ defcends;"
and in Cyvihdine, Jupiter " defcends likewifc, in thunder
and lightning, fitting upon an eagle." In Macbeth, " the
cauldron _yf?j/;i, and tlie jipparitions ri/<f." It m;iy be added,
that the dialogue of Sh ;k.fpcare has fuch perpetual reference
to obj'cfls fuppofcd viCble to the audience, that the want
of fcenery could not have failed to render many of the
dcftriptions uttered by his fpeakcrs abfurd and laughable.
— Macduff examines the ouifide of Invernefs caftle with
fuch minutenefs, that he diilinguifhes even the nefts which
the martins had built under the projeding parts of its roof.
— Romeo, ftanding in a garden, points to the tops of fruit-
trees gilded by the moon. — The prologue-fpeaker to The
Second Part of King Henry IV. exprtfsly fliows the fpcdators
" this worm-eaten liold of ragged done," in which North-
umberland was lodged. Jachimo t^kes the moft txa£l in-
ventory of every article in Imogen's bedchamber, from the
Clk and filver of which her tapcftry w^s wrought, down
to the Cupids that iupport her andirons. Had not the
infidc of this apartment, wi'h its proper furniture, been
reprtfented, how ridicu'ous mult the a6lion of Jachimo have
appeared ! He muft have flood looking out of the room
for the particulars fuppofcd to be vifible within it. In
one of the parts of King Henry VI. a cannon is dlfch-rged
againfl; a tower ; and converf..tions are held in aimoft every
fcene from different walls, turrets, and battlements. Nor
is my belief in ancient fcenery entirely founded on conjec-
ture. In the folio edition of Shakfpeare's plays, i6q3. tlie
following traces of it are prtftrved. In King John: " Enter,
before Angiers, Philip king of France," 8cc. — "Enter a
citizen upon the walls.'''' — "Enter the herald of France with
trumpets to the gates." — " Enter Arthur on the walU " In
King Henry V. '" Enter the king, 8cc. with Jcaling ladders at
Harfieur.'" — " Enter the king with all his train before the
gates.''' In King Henry VI. " Enter to tlie protector at the
Toxuer gates, "' 8cc. — "Enter Salifbury and Talbot ok the
•walls," — "The French leap over the walls in their ftiirts."
xi2 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
arras or tapcary hangings, which, when decayed,
— "Enter Piacclle on the top of the iower, tlirufting out a torch
burning." — " Enter lord Scales upon the toioer, walkinp;.
Then filter two or tlirce citizens he low." — "-Enter Kii)g
and Queen and SomcrlVt on ike terrace.'" — "Enter three
watchmen to guard the Kings tent.'" In Coriolaims : " Mar-
cius follows til em to the gates, and is Ji.ut in" In Timon :
•' Ktjter Timon in the v)Qods." * — "Enter Tim ou from his
crttf.'" \i! Julius Cijar : '■•Eutcr 'Bruins in his orchard." Sec. Sec.
— In fht.rt, without ch, racleriflick difcrJminations of place,
the hiRorical dramas of Shakfpi are in parricuhr, would have
Ijecn wrapped in tenfold cotifufion and ohfcurlty •» nor could
the fpectitor have felt the poet's power, or accomp.:nied
his rjpid tranutlons from one fituation to another, without
fuch gu'.dcs as piaintcd canvas only could fupply. The
audience would witli difuculiy have received the catailrophc
of Romeo and Juliet as natural .;nd alieclii;g, unlcfs the
deception was tt>uhrmed to them by the appearance of
a tomb. The rnjuagrr^ who could ralfe gholts, hid the
cauldron fink into the earth, and then exhibit a train of
royal phantoms in Macbeth, could with lefs difficulty fupply
the flat paintinc;s of a cavern or a grove. The artiRs who
can put tlic dragons of Medea lu motion, can more eaiily
reprefent the clouds througli which thty are to pafs. But
for thele, or furfi aiTihauces, the fpe61ator, like Kamlct's
mother, muft have bent his gaze on mortilying vacancy ;
and with the guel't inviterlby the Barmecide, in the Arabian
tale, raufl have furnllhed horn his own imagination the
entertainment of which his tyes were fiditiied to partake.
" It ihould likewife be rem'-rabered, that the intervention
of civil war would eafily orcafion many cuRonis of our
early theatres to be filently forgotten. The limes when
'•= Apemantus mufl have poinicd to tlic fcenes as he fpoke the
following lines :
fhame not thff woods.
Again :
" By pulling on the cutuung ot a carpcT."
will Ihefe moift trees
'' That have ouliiv'd t le eagle," 8cc.
A piece of old lapcflry muft have been regarded as a }3O0r fub^
ftitulc for thefc towcriiij^ fliadcs.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. ii3
appear to have been fometinics ornamented with
Wright and Dov«'nes produced their refpetHIve narratives,
were by no means times of exaflncfii or curiofity. What
they liearl might have been heard impcrfc£l!y ; it might
liavc been unQ^UfuUy related ; or their own memories might
have deceived them :
*• Ad uos vix tenuis famje perlabitur aura.'
" One afTcrtlon miide by the latter of thefe writers, is
chronologically difproved. We may remark likcwife, that
hi private theatres, apart of the audience was admitted on the
Aagc, but that this licence was refufed in the publick play-
houfes. To what circumftances fliall we impute tills difierence
between the cufloms of the one and the other? Perhaps tlie
prii.'ate theatres had nofcenes, tlie publick had; and a crouded
ftage would prevent them from being commodiouflv beheld,
or conveniently fhilted. * The frrjli pi6lures mentioned by
Bcnjonfon in the induclion to his Cynlhias Revels might be
properly introduced to cover old tapeltry; for to hangpiclures
over faded arras, was then and Is fllll fufficlently common in
antiquated manfions, fuch as tliofe In which the fcenes of
dramatick \vrltcrs are often laid. That Shakfpeare himfelf
was no ftrangcr to the raagick of theatrical ornaments, may
he Inferred from a paflage In which he alludes to the fcenery
oi pageants, tlie fafhlonable (hows of his time :
a Sometimes we fee a cloud that's dragonlfh,
a A vapour fometlmes like a lion, a bear,
(( A towred citadel, a pendent rock,
li A forked mountain, or blue promontory
a With trees upon't, that nod unto the world,
* To Jliijt a feme is at leaft a phrafe employed by Shakfpeare.
liimfelf in King Henry V :
" and not till then
" Unto Souihampton do v/c JJiifl our f cent."
and by Bcnjonfon, yet more appofiiely, in The Staple ofjXewsi
"■ Lie. Have you no news o'thc ilage ?
" Tho. O yes ;
" There is a legacy left to the king's players,
" Both lor their various Jhifting of the fcenes,
" And dextrnvis change of their perfons to ajl fliapca
*' And all difjuifes," 'kc,
f I
114 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
pictures ; '' and forae paflages in our old dramas
incline me to think, that when tragedies were per-
formed, the flage was hung with black. *
*c And mock our eyes with air ; — thefe thou haft feen,
(( They are black Vefper's pageants.'''' f
Antony and Cleopalra,
" To conclude, the richeft and mod cxpenfive fcenes had
been introduced to drcfs up thofe fpurioiis children of the
Mufe called Mafques ; nor have we fufficient reafon for believ-
ing that Tragedy, her legitimate ofFspring, continued to be
cxpofetl in rags, while appendages morefultable to her dignity
were known to be within tlie reach of our ancient managers.
Shaltfpcarc, Eurbage, and Condell, rauft have had frequent
opportunities of being acquainted with the mode in which
both mafques, tragedies, and comedies, were reprcfented in
the inns of court, the halls of noblemen, and in the palace
itfelf. "
^ " Sir Crack, I am none of your frefh pii^zir^, that ufe to
beautify the decayed old arras, in a pubVick theatre.'''' Indudlon
to Cynthia'' s Revels, by Bcujonfon, l6oi.
* In the Induclion to an old tragedy called A warning for
fair lVo7nen, iSgg. three perfonages arc introduced, under the
names of Tragedy, Comedy, and Hijiory. After fome conteft
for fuperlorlty. Tragedy prevails; and Hijiory and Comedy
retire with thefe words :
u Hi ft. Look, Comedie, I mark'd It not till now,
(( The Jlage is hung with blacke, and I perceive
a The auditors prcpar'd for tragcdie.
u Com. Nay then, 1 fee fiie (hall be entertalu'd.
(c Thefe ornaments befeem not thee and me ;
IS Then Tragedie, kill them to-day with forrow,
u We'll make them laugh with mirthful jefts to-morrow."
So, in Marfton's Jnfaliate Counlejs, l6l3.
u T\\t Jlage of heaven is hung with lolcmn blacky
ti A time beft fitting to acl tragedies.''''
t After a pageant had pafTed through the flreets, the chara6lers
that compofcd it were ailcmbled in fome hall or other fpacious
apartment, where they delivered their refpeSive fpeeches, and
were finally fet out to view wiih the advantages of proper fcenery
and decoration.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. ii5
In the early part, at lead, of Shakfpcare's ac-
quaiiiiance uith the tliL^atic, the want ot Icenery
feo 111 to have been lupplied by the fimple expedient
oi wilting the names of the ditfeient places where
the Icene was laid in the piogreis of the play,
which were dilpofed in luch a manner as to be
viftbie to the audience.'
I'hough the apparatus for theatrick exhibitions
was thu> fcanty, and the machinery of the hmpleft
kind, the invention of trap-doors appears not to be
modern; for in an old Morality, entitled, All for
Mo'iey, vvc hnd a marginal dirc(il:ion, which implies
that they were very early in uie.*
Ag 111, in Daniel's Civil Jfarres, Fook V. l6o2.
ki Let her be made the Jalle JIage, whereon
u Shall firfl; be acled bloody tragedies,"
Again, III King Henry VI. Part 1.
a Hung be the heavens with hlack^^^ Sec.
Again, more appofittly, in The Rape of Lucrece, l5g4,
u Black Jiage tor tragediei^ and murthers fell."
* " What child is there, that coming to a play and feeing
Tiieheixorti'en upon an old door, doth believe that It is Thebes?"
Defence of Puejie, by Sir Philip Sidney. Signal. G. l5g5.
When U'Avenant introduced fcenes on the publlck ftage,
this ancient practice was ftill followed. See his Introduction
to his Siege of Rhodes, i656. " In the middle of the frecfe
was a compartment, wherein was written — Rhodes."
* " Here — • with fome line conveyance, Pleafure fliall
appeare from beneathe." All for Money, iSyS.
So, in MarUon's Antonio's Revenge, 1602.
u Enter Balurdo from under the Jiage."
In the fourth acl o{ Macbeth feveral apparitions arlfe from
beneath the flage, and again defcend. — The cauldron like-
wife finks :
.4 Wiiy fmks that cauldron, and what noife is this?"
Tn The Roaring Girl, a comedy by MIddlcton and Decker,
1611. there is ». charader called Trap-door.
1 2
ii6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
We learn from Heywood's Apology for Aclors, '
that the covering, or internal roof, of the fiage,
was anciently termed ike heavens. It was probably-
painted of a fky-blue colour; or perliaps pieces of
drapery tinged with blue were fufpended acrofs the
flage. to repreieni the heavens.
It a[)pears from the Oage-dire^lions * given in
The Sjja/njh Tragedy, that when a play was exhibited
witliin a pla'y, (if 1 may fo expreCs myfeif,) as is
the calein tbat piece and in Hanilri, the court or
audience before whom the interlude was performed
lai in the balconv, or upper Rage already dcfciibed ;
and a curtain or traverfe being hung acrofs the
fiage for the nonce, tbe performers entered between
thai curtain and the general audience, and on its
being drawn, began their piece, addreiTing them-
' Apology for Ailor.'!, 1612. Signal. D.
^ Spanif. Tragedy, 1610. A 61; IV. Signal. L.
it Enter H\i:Tor\\mo, He knoclis up the curiam,
4t Enter the duke 0/ Gaftlle.
(( Cajt. How now Hicronimo, whcre's your fellows,
c( That vou tike all this pains ?
4. Hiero. O, fir, ir is for the author's credit
(( To look, that all thlncs may go well.
i( Put, good my lord, let mc entreat your grace,
44 To eive the kino; the copy of the play.
(4 This is the argument of what we Ihew.
44 Caji. I will, Hieronimo.
44 Hiero. Let me entreat your grace, that when
(4 The train are pafl into the gallery,
(4 You would vouchfate to throw me down the key.
(4 CaJi. 1 will, Hieronimo.
44 Enter Balthazar, irilh a chair,
44 Hiero. "Well done, Baltliazar ; hang up the tilt:
(4 Our fcenc IS Rhodes. What, is your beard on ? "
Afttrward.s the tragedy of Solyman and Perjeda is exhibited
before the King of Spain, the iJuke of Caftile, See.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 117
felves to the balcony, and regardlefs of the fpecTla-
tors in the theatre, to whom their backs mult liave
been turned during tbe whole of the performance.
l^rom a plate prefixed to Kirkman's Drolls, printed
in 1672. in which there is a view of a theatrical
bootli, it riiould feem that the flage was formerly
lighted bv t^vo large branches, of a form fimiiar
to thofe now hung in churches; and from Beau-
inor.t's Verfes prefixed to Fletcher's Faithful Shep~
heidfjs, which was afled before the year 161 1. we
iiud that wax lights were uled. ^
Thefe branches having been found incommo-'
dious, as they obflruded the fight of tlie fpeftators,*
gave place at a (ubfequent period to Iraall circular
wooden frames , furnifhed with candles, eight of
which were hung on the ftage, four at either fide:
and thefe within a few years were wholly removed
by Mr. Garrick, Avho, on his return from France
in 1765. firft introduced the prefent commodious
method of illuminating the ilage by lights not
vifible to the audience.
The body of the houfe was illuminated by cref-
fcts, "^ or large open lanterns of nearly the fame fize
with thofe which are fixed in' the poop of a flnp.
' " Some like, if the wax lights be new tl'.at day."
^ Fleckno in 1664. complains of the bad Hiihijng of the
ftage, even at that time : "Of this curious art [fccnery] the
Italians (this latter age) are the c;rcatell mafters ; the French
good proficients •, and we in England only fcho!ars and
learners yet, havlnii proceeded no f.irthtr than to bare
painting, and not arrived to the flupendous wonders of
your great ingeniers ; efpccially not knowing yet how to plae
our lights, for the more advantage mid illuminating oj the Jcenes.''^
Short DiJ'courfe of the Eni;li/h Stage.
' Sec Gotgrave'i French DicSlIonary, 1611. in y, Falcl :
I 3
ii8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
If ail tlie players whofe names arc enumerated
in the firR folio edition of Shakfpcare's v\orks, be-
longed to the fame theatre, they compofed a nume-
rous company; bat it is d{;ubtful wletiier they all
performed at the lame period, or always continued
in the fame houfe. ^ Many of the companies, in
the infancy of the ftage, certainly were lo thin that
the fame perfon played two or three pans : ^ and
a battle on which the fate of an empire was fuppofed
to depend, was decided by half a dozen combatans. *
" A creffcf liglit, f/'"'^' ^^ f^'^y 'ife m playhonjes,) made of
ropes wreathed, pitched, and puf.iiito fmall and open cages
of iron."
The Watclimen of London carried rrelfets fixed on poles
till l53g I'and perhaps later'. Stowe's Survey, p. 160. edii. 1618.
^ An after, vvh""^ wrote a pamphlet aeainft Mr. Pope, foon
after the publication of his edition of Shakfpeare, fays, he
could prove that they belonged to fevera! different companies.
It appears from the MS. R( gificr of lord Stanhope, treafurer
of the cliaraber to king; ]amcs I. th^i J:>Jeph Taylor, in l6i3.
was at the head of a diftinft company from that oi Heminge^
called the lady Elizabeth's fcrvants, who then afted ar the Hope
on the Bankfide. He was probably however, before that
period, of the king's company, of which afterwards he was
a principal ornament. Some of the players too, whofe names
are prefixed to the firfl folio edition of Shakfpeare, were dead
in the year 1600. or/oon afttr; and others there enumerated,
mi£;ht have appeared at a fnbfequent period, to fupply their
lofs. See the Ca'ahgue of ABors, pod.
* In the Indnfllon to Marflon's Antonio and Mellida, 1602.
Piero afks ^/ifr/o what part he afts. He replies, " the necefTity
of the play forceth me to aft two parts.'" See alfo the Dramatis
P^r/o«(f of many of our ancient plays ; and belov/, p. 125. n. 9.
* u And fo our fcene muft to tlie battle fly,
H Where, O for pity ! we (hall much difgracc
t( With four or five mofi vile and ragged foils,
a Right III difpos'd. In brawl ridiculous,
14 The name oi Agincourt. " Kin^ Henry V. Aft IV.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 119
It appears to have been a common pra6lice in their
mock engagements, to difchargc fmall pieces of
ordnance on or behind the flage. '
Before the exhibition began, three flouriflies
were played, or, in the ancient language, there were
three foundings. ■* Mufick was likewife played be-
tween theafts. * The inftruraents chiefly ufed, were
' " Much like to fojne of the players that come to the
fcafFold with drumme and trumpet, to proffer (klrmifti, and
when they have founded alarme, off go tlie pieces, to encounter
a fhadow, or conquer a paper monfler. " Schoole of Abiije, by
Stephen GofTon, iSyg.
So, in The True Tragedie of Richarde Duke o/Yorke, and the
Death of good King Henrie the Sht, 1600. " Alarmes to the
battalle. — York flies; then the chambers be dijcharged ; then
enter the king, " 8cc.
■* (( Come, let's bethink ourfelves, what may be found
u To deceive time with, till the fecond found."
Notes from Blacli-fryars, by H. FItz-Jeoffery, i6l7«
See alfo the Addrefs to the readers, prefixed to Decker's
Satiromaflix^ a comedy, 1602. " Inftead of the trumpelsfounding
thrice before the play begin, " ?cc.
5 See the Prologue to Han7;i^a/ anf/S'c-?/;^^, a tragedy, iGSj :
u The places fometimes chang'd too for the fcenc,
(( Which Is tranflated, as the mufick plays
u Betwixt the a6ts. "
The pradlce appears to have prevailed In the Infancy of our
ftage. See the concluding lines of the fccond ad of Gammer
GurlorCs Needle, iSyS :
u In the towne will I, my frendes to vyfit there,
(( And hethcr ftralght again, to fee the end of this gerc :
(( In the mean time, felowes, pipe iipp your fddles, I fay
take them,
u And let your freyndes here fuch mirth as ye can make
them,"
It hasbeen thought by fomc thatShakfpeare's dramas were
exhibited without any paufes, in an unbroken continuity of
fcenes. But this appears to be a miflake. In a copy oi Romeo
and Juliet, l5gg. now before me, which certainly belonged
to the playhoufc, the eudlngs of the ads are marked in th?
I 4
120 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
trumpets, cornets, hautboys, lutes, recorders, viols,
and organs. ^ The band, which, i believe, did not
confift of more than eight or ten perFormers , fat
(as I have been told by a very ancient fiage-veteran,
who' had his information from Boman, ttie contem-
porary of Betterton,) in an upper balcony, over
what is now called the Rage-box. '
From Sir Henry Herbert's Manufcript I learn,
that the muhcians belonging to Shakfpeare's com-
pany were obliged to pay the Matter of the
Revels an annual fee for a licence to play in the
theatre.
Not very long after Shakfpeare's death theBlack-
marj^in; and dire<ftions are given for mufick to be played
between each act. The marginal diredions in this copy-
appear to be of a very old date, one of them being in the
am lent ftvle and hand — "• Plau vrnfuke.'"
* See the fiage-direflions in Marftou's Sopkonifba, a£led at
the Blackfriars theatre, in l6c6:
" The ladies draw the cnrtalus about Sophonifba ; — the
cornels and organs playing loud full muficke for the a6i.
Signat. B 4-
u Organ m'lxt w'lih recorders, for this act. Signat. D 2.
(( Organs, viols, and voices, play for this a6t. Signat. E 2.
tc A bafe /n?^ and a treble viol play for this a£t." Signat. F 2.
' In the lad fcene of .Mallinger's City Madam, which was
firfta(5led at Blackfriars, May 25. i632. Orpheus is Introduced
chanting thofe ravifhing {trains with which he moved
u Charon and Cerberus, to give him way
u To fetch from hell his loft Eurydice."
The following lUge-dire<Siion, which is found in the pre-
ceding fcene, fupports what has been fuggefled above, con-
cerning the Ration of the muficians In our ancient theatres:
" Muficians come down, [I. c. are to come down,] to make
ready for the fong at Arras." This fong was to be fung behind
the arras.
^ " For a warrant to the Mufitlons of the king's company,
^his gth of April, 1627. — /ii. o. o." MS. Herbert.
OF TBIi ENGLISH STAGE. 121
friars' band was more numerous ; ' and their repu-
tation was fo high as tu be noticed by Sir BuiRrode
Whitelocke, in an account wliich he has left of the
fplenciid Mafque given by the four Inns of Court
on the fecond of February, 163^-4. entitled The
Triumph of Peace, and intended, as he himlelf in-
forms us, " to manifeft the difference ot their
opinion from Mr. Prynne's new learning, and to
confute his Hijlriomrjlix againft interludes."
A very particular account oFtliis malque is found
in his Memorials ; but that which Dr. Burnev has
lately given in his very curious and elegant Hi/lory
of Miifick,'- from a manufcript in the polfeilion of
i)r. Moreton , of the Britilh Mufeum , contains
fome minute particulars not nodced in the former
printed account, and among others an eulogy on
our poet's band of muficians.
" For the Muficke, " fays Whitelocke, " which
was particularly committed to my charge, 1 gave
to Mr. Ives, and to Mr. Lawes, lool. a piece for
their rewards: for the four French gentlemen, the
queen's fervants, I thought that a handfome and
liberall gratifying of them would be made known
to the queen, their miflris, and well taken by her.
I therefore invited them one morning to a collation
att St. Dunftan's taverne, in the great room, the
Oracle of Apollo, where each of them had his plate
lay'd by him, covered, and the napkin by it, and
' In a warrant of protection now before me, figned by Sir
Henry ?Ievberl, and dated from tlie Ofllce of the Revels,
Dec. 27. 1624. ^iicllolas Underiiill, Robert Pallant, John
Rhodes, and feventeeu others, are mentioned as bclni; '* all
imployed by the kings Majeflles Servants ia theire quallity of
playiiigc as mufitions, and other neceffary attendants."
» Vol. 111. p. 376.
122 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
when they opened their plates, they found in each
of them forty pieces of gould , of their mafter's
coyne, for the firft difli, and they had caufe to be
much pleafed with this furprifali.
" The reft of the mufitians had rewards an-
fwearable to their parts and quaiides ; and die ^
whole charge of the muficke came to about one •
thoufand pounds. The clothes of the horfemen
reckoned one with another at £. loo a fuit, att the
lead, amounted to/. 10,000. — The charges of all
the reft of the mafque, which were borne by the
focieties, were accounted to be above^ twenty
thoufand pounds.
" I was fo converfant with the mufitians, and fo
willing to gain their favour, efpecially at this time,
that I compofed an aier my felfe, with the aftiftance
of Mr. Ives, and called it 'Whiidockts Coranto ;
which being cried up, was firft played publiquely
by the Blackefryars Muficke, who were then ejleemed
the hejl of common mufitians in London. Whenever
I came to that houfe, (as I did fomedmes in thofe
dayes, though not often,) to fee a play, the mufi-
tians would prefently play Whitdocke's Coranto;
and it was fo often called for, that they would
have it played twice or thrice in an afternoone.
The queen hearing it, would not be perfuaded that
it was made by an Englifliman, bicaufe flie faid it
was fuller of life and fpirit than the Englifli aiers
ufed to be ; butt ftie honoured the Coranto and the
maker of it with her majeftyes royall commenda-
tion. It grew to thatrequeft, that all the common
mufitians in this towne, and all over the kingdome,
gott the compofuion of it, and played it pub-
liquely in all places for above thiruc years after."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. laS
The ftage, in Shakfpeare's time fecms to have
been fepaiated from the pit only by pales. ' Soon
after the Refloration, the band, I imagine, took the
ftation. which they have kept ever fnice , in an
orcheftra placed between the ftage and the pit. ""
The perfon who fpoke tlie prologue, who entered
immediately after the third founding, ' ufually wore
^ u And now that I have vaulted up fo hye,
u Above the Jiage-rayles of this earthen globe,
a I niuft turn actor." Black Booke, 410. 1604.
See alfo D'Avenant\ Playhonfe to be let:
u Monfieur, you may draw up your troop offerees
u Within the paid. "
* See the firft diredion in The Tempeji, altered by D' Ave-
rautand Dryden, and a(5lcd at the buke's Theutrein Lincoln's*
Ijin-Fiflds, in 1667 :
" The front ot the ftage is opened, and the band of twenty-
four violins, with the harpGcals and theorbos, which ac-
company the voices, are placed between the pit and the Jiage.''^
If this had not been a novel reguUtion, the dire£lion would
have been unncceff.iry.
Cotgrave in his Di^lionary, iGll. following the idea of
ancient Rome, defines Orchcjire, "• The fenntors' or noble-
men>' places in a theatre, between the ft^ge and common feats,
Alfo the ftage Itfclf. " If mulicians had fet in this place,
when he wrote, or the term orchejlre, in Its prefcnt fenfe,
had been then known, there is reafon to believe that he would
have noticed It. See his interpretation of Falot, above, in
p. 118. n. 7.
The word orchejlre is not found In Minfheu's DI6t. nor
Bullukar's E\pofilor.
In Cockeram's Interpreter oj hard ll'ords, l655. it is defined
ajcaffold.
' " Prcfent not your felfe on the ftage, (efpecially at a
new play ) untlU the quaking prologue h ith by rubbing got
culior Into his cheeks, and Is ready to give the trumpets their
cue, that he's upon the point to enter." Decker's GuPs
Honubook, 1609.
124 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
a long biack velvet cloak, ^ which, I fuppofe, was
confidered as bell fuiied to a fupplicatory addrefs.
Of this cuRom, whatever may have been its origin,
lome traces remained till very lately; a black coat
Laving been, ' if I miftake not, withui thefe few
years, the conftant ftage-habiiiment of onr modern
prologue {peakers. The complete drefs of the
ancient prologue-ipeaker is flill retained in the
play exhibited in Hamlet, before the king and court
of Denmark.
An epilogue does not appear to have been a
regular appendage to a play in Shakfpeare's tin)e;
for many of his dramas had none; at leafl, they
have not been preferved. In AWs Well that Ends
Welly A MirJfUnimer JVighCs Dream, As you like it,
Trcilus and CvfJJida, and The Tempejl, the epilogue
is fpoken by one of the perfons of the drama, and
adapted to the character of the fpeaker ; a circum-
6 See the Induclion to Cynlhias Revels, 1601 :
u I. Child, Pray you, away; why children what do you
mean ?
u 2. Child. Marry, that you fiiould not fpeak the prologue.
(C I. Child. Sir, I plead poffelhon ot the c/oa^. Gentlemen,
your fufFrages, for God's lake."
So, in the prologue to The Coronation, by Shirley, 1640.
u Since 'tis become the title of our play,
(( A woman once in a coronation may
(( "With pardon fpeak the prologue, give as free
li A welcome to the theatre, as he
(( That with a little beard, a long black cloak,
n With a RarchM fare and fupple leg, hath fpoke
(( Before the plays this twelvemonth, let me then
(( Prefent a welcome to thefe gentlemen."
Again, in the prologue to The Woman-Hater, by Beaumont
and Fletcher, 1607. " Gentlemen, indudions arc out of
date, and a prologue in verfe Is as ftale as a black velvet
cloake, and a bay garlande."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 126
fiance that I have not obfcrved in the epilogues of
any other author of that age. '1 he e[)ilogiie was
not always fpoken by one of the performers in
the piece; for that (ubjoined to The Second part of
Ki'ig Henry IV. appears to have been delivered by
a dancer.
The performers of male chambers frequently
Avore peri\vi;j,s ^ which in the age of Shaklpeare
^vere not in common ufe. ^ It appears from a paf-
fage in Putienham's Arte oj Engh.fn Poefie, i58g.
that vizards were on fome occafions ufed by the
a6lois of thofe davs;^ and it may be inferred from
a fcene in one of ShaUfpeare's comedies, that they
7 See Hamlet, Ad III. fc. li. " O, h offends me to the
foul, to hcai- a robuQious periwig--pcLted fellow tear a pal-
fion to tatters."
So, in Every Jfoman in her Humour, 1609. " As none
wear hoods but monks and ladies, — and feathers but fore-
horfes. See. tione periwigs but players and pictures."
^^ In Hall's Virgidcmiarum, iSgy. Lib. 111. Sat, 5. the
fafhion of wearing periwigs is ridiculed as a novel and fan-
tartick cuRom :
44 Late travailiniT along in London way,
(4 Mee met, as ft-em'd by his dtJguWd array,
(4 A luftie courtier, whofe curled head
44 With abron locks was fairely furniflied ;
44 I him filutcd in our lavifh wife ;
44 He anfwers my untimely courtefies.
(4 His bonnet veil'd — or ever he could think,
44 The nnruiy winde blowes off his periwiv.ke.
(4 He lights and runs, and quickly hath him fpc.d,
«4 To over-take his over-running head. —
(4 Is't notfweetpride, when men their crowncs rauflfhade
44 With that which jerks the hams of every jade;
44 Oi floor-lfrow'd locks from off the barber's ffiears?
44 Hut waxen Lrownes well gree with borrowed haires."
' " partly (fays he) to fupply the want of players.
when there were more parts than there were perfons,"
126 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
were fometimes worn in his time, by tliofc who
performed female characters. * But this, I imagine,
was very rare. Some of the femafe part of the
audience likewife appeared in raalks. '
* In A Midjumnier J^lghCs Dream, Flute objecls to his
playlnf; a woman's part, becauft he has " a beard a coming."
But his friend Qiiince tells him, "that's all one; you
fhall play it iuaj/u^.i, and you may fpeak as fmall as you
M-ill."
J " In our affemblies at playes in London, (fays Gofion,
in his Schoole cf Abuje, iSyg. Signat. C.) you fhall fee fuch
heaving and fliovinu,, fnch ytching and fliould'ring to fitte
by women, fuch care for their garments, that they be not
trode on ; fuch eyes to their lappes, that no chippes light
in them ; fuch pillows to their batkes, that tliey take no
hurte •, fuch ma/)\ing in their ears, I know not what; fuch
wiving them pippins to pafs the time; fuch playing at foot
iaunte without cardes ; futh licking, fuch toying, fut h fmi-
ling, fuch winking, fuch manning them home when the
fports are ended, that it is a right comedie to mark their
behaviour."
So alfo, the prologue to Marfion's Favne, 1606.
tt nor doth he hope to win
u Your laud or hand with that moft common fin
it Of vulgar pens, rank bawdry, that fmeJls
a Even through your w?// 5, vjque ad naujeam."
Again, in his Scourge vj ViUaime, 1599.
jt Difguifed Meffdline,
u I'll teare thy maji.e, and bare thee to the eyne
tiOf hiding boyes, if to the theatres
tc 1 find tliee once more come for Icrherers."
Again, in B. Jonfon's vtrfes, addrcfTcd to Fletcher on his
Faithful Shepherdejs :
a The wife and many-headed bench that fits
u Upon the life and death of plnys and wits, ^
u Compos'dofgamefttr, captain, kni!;ht, knightsman,
u Lady or pujil, that wears wajfe or tan,
a Velvet or taffata cap, rank'd in the dark
u With the fhops foreman, or fome fuch brave fparkc,
it (That may judge for his AA-]b<";cfj had, bclore
tc Thcv faw it half, damn'd thy whole play."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 127
Both the prompter, or book-holder, as he was
fometimes called, and the property-man, appear to
have been regular appendages of our ancient
theatres. ■*
The ftage-dretTes , it is reafonable to fuppofe,
were much more coftly in fome playhoufes than
others. Yet the wardrobe of even the king's fer-
vants at The Globe and Blackjriars was, we find,
but fcantily furniflled; and Shakfpeare's dramas
derived very little aid from the fplendour of ex-
hibition.
After the ReRoratlon, maflcs, I believe were chiefly worn
in the theatre, by women of the town. Wright complains
of the great number of inaflis in his time : " Of late the
play-lionfes are fo extremely peftercd with vizard-m«//..s and
their trade, (occafioning continual quarrels and abufes) that
many of the more civilized part of the town are uneafy
in the company, and fhun the theatre as they would a houfc
of fcandal." Hijl. Hifirion. l6gg. p., 6.
Ladies of unblemiflied charafter, however, wore mafl^is in
the boxes, in the time of Congreve. In the epilogue to
Durfey's comedy called The old Mode and the JVew, (no date,)
the fpeaker points to the mafks in the fide boxes : but I am
not fure whether what arc now called the Balconies were
not meant.
■* " I aiTure you, fir, we are not fo officioufly befriended
by him, [the author,] as to have his prefence in the tiring-
houfe, to prompt us aloud, ftamp at the book-holder, fwear
for our properties, curfe the poor tire-man, rayle the mu-
licke out of tune," See. Indudion to Cynthia's Revels, l6oi.
' See the lududion to Ben Jonfon's Staple of News, a(5ied
by the king's fervants, i625.
" O Cnriofity, you come to fee who wears the new fuit to-
day -, whofe cloaths are beft pen'd, whatever the part be;
which a£lor has the beft leg and foot ; what king plays
7oilhout cuffs, and his queen without gloves : who rides port
in Jiockings, and dances in boots."
It is, however, one of Pryune's arguments agalnft the
128 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
It is well known, that in tbc time of Shakfpeare,
and lor many years afterwards, female chara6lers
were reprefented foleiy by boys or young men.
Naflie in a pamphlet publilhed in i5g2. fpeaking
in defence of the Englilh flage , boajls that the
players of his time were " not as the players be-
yond fea, a fort of fquirtlng bawdie comedians,
that ha\'e ^vhores and common curtizans to play
women's paits."" ^ What Nafhc confiuered as an
high eulogy on his country, Prynne has made one
of his principal charges againft the EngliOi flage;
having employed feveral pages in his bulky volume,
and quoted many huncired authorities, to prove
that " thofe plaves wherein any men a6l ^vome^'s
parts in woman's apparell mud needs be hnful ,
yea, abominable unto chriiiians." ^ The grand
bafis of his argument is a text in fcripture ;
Daiteronomy, xxii. 5 : " The woman flTall not wear
that which pertaineth unto man, neither ihall a
man put on a woman's garment:" a precept,
which Sir Richard Baker has juflly remarked, is
no part of the moral la\v, and ought not to be
underftood literally. " Where," fays Sir Richard,
f!:a<Te, in tlie inveflive which he publUhed about eight years
after the date cff tlii;. piece, that "■ the ordinary tlieatrical
interludes were ufually a6ted in over-coJil)\ effeminate, fan-
taftick, and g^<:-'.'f() apparel." flifiriumaji. -p. 2\6. Eut little
credit is to be given to that voluminous zealot, on a queflion
of this kind. As the frequenters of the theatre were little
better than incarnate devils, and the mufick in churches the
bleating of brute beajls, fo a piece of coarfe ftulF trimmed
with tinfei was probably in his opinion a moft fplendid
and ungodly drcfs.
* Pierce Penniltfs Ins Supplication to the Devil, 4to. l3g2.
' Hijriumajli.\, 4to. i633. p. 179.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 129
** finds he this precept? Even in the fame place
where he finds alio that we mufl not weare cloaths
of 1 in fey-wool fey: and feeing we lawfully now
■wear cloaths of linfey-woolfey, why may it not be
as laAvful for men to put on women's garments f" *
It may perhaps be fuppofed that Prynne, having
thus vehemently inveighed againfl men's repre-
fenting female charafters on the flage, would not
have been averfe to the introduilion of women in
the fcene ; but finful as this zealot thought it in
me7i to affume the garments of the other fex, he
confidered it as not iefs abominable in womni to
tread the flage in their own proper drefs : for he
informs us, " that fome Frenchwomen^, or monjlers
rather, in Michaelmas term, 1629. attempted to
z.di a French play at the playhoufe in lilac k friers,"
which he reprefents as " an impudent, fiiamefal
unwomanlih, graceiefs, if not more than luJiorJJIi
attempt." ^
8 Thealrum Trhimphans, 8vo. 1670. p. iG. Marlln Luther's
comment on this text is as follows : " Hie non prohlbetur
qiiin ad vitandum pcrlciilum, aut ludendunl joco, vel ad
fallendum hoftes mulier pofiit gerere arma viri, 8c vir uti
vefte muliebri; fed ut ferio 8c iifitato habitu talia non fiant,
tit decora utrlque fexui fervetur dignitas." ' And the learner!
Jjefult, Lorln, concurs with him : " DilTimulatio veftis potefi;
intcrdum fine peccato fieri, vel ad reprefentandam cornice
tragiceve perfonam, vel ad efFugienduni peticulum, vel in
cafu limili." Ibid, p. 19.
9 Hijlriomaftixy p. 414* ^"^^ there calls it only an altempt,
but in a former page (21 5) he fays, " they have nov/ their
female players in Italy and other forelgne parts, as they
i;ad (uch French women a61ors in a play not long fince
perfonated in Blackfriers playhoufe, to which there was great
reforl.^'' In the margin he adds — "in Michaelmas terme,
1629." His account is confirmed by Sir Henry Herbert's
t K
i3o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Soon after the period he fpeaks of, a regular
French theatre was eftabliflied in London, where
Office-book, in which I find the following notice of this
exhibition :
" For the allowlngc of a French company to playe a farfc
at Blackfryers, this 4 of November, 1629. — £.2. o. o.'"
The fame company attempted an exhibition both at the
Red Bull and the Fortune theatres, as appears from the fol-
lowing entries :
" For allowingc of the Frenchc [company] at the Red
Bull for a daye, 23 Npvemb. 1629. — [/'.S. o. O.]
" For allowinge of a Frenche companie att the Fortune
to play one afteruoone, this 14 day of Decemb. 1629. —
£1. o. o.
" I fhould have had another peecc, but in refpefl of
their ill fortune, I was content to bellow a peece back.'*
MS. Herbert.
Prynne, in conformity to the abfurd notions which have
been ftated in the text, Inferted la his Index thefc words :
*' Women aBors notorious whores ;" by which he fo highly of-
fended the king and queen, that he was tried in the Star-
chamber, and fentenced to be imprifoned forlifc, fined 5oool.
expelled Lincoln's Inn, difbarrcd and difqualificd to prac-
tlfe the law, degraded of his degree in the univerfity, to
be fet on the pillory, his ears cut off, and his book burnt
by the common hangman, " which rigorous fentence," fays
Whitelocke, " was as rlgoroufly executed." I quote thefe
words as given by Dr. Burney from Whitelocke's Manu-
fcript. It is remarkable that in his printed Memorials the
word rigorous is omitted ; from which there is reafon to
believe that the editor in 16S2 took fome liberties with,
the manufcript from which that book was printed. The
words there are, " which Jenlence was as Jeverely
executed."
In p. 708 of Prynne's book is the following note, the
infertion of which probably incenfed their majeftics, who
often performed In the court-mafques, not lefs than what
has been already mentioned :
" It is infamous in this author's judgment [Dion Caffius]
for emperors or perfons of quality to da7ue upon ajla^e, or
aft a play.".
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i3i
>vit]'iout doubt women acted. * They had long be-
fore appeared on the Italian as well as the French
* In the Office-book of Philip Earl of Pembroke and
Montgomery, 1 find a warrant for payment of xol. " to Jofias
Florldor for himfelfc and the reft of the French players, for
a tragedy by them afted before his MajelHc in Dec. laft,"
Dated Jan. 8. i635-6. TJicIi houfe had been Hcenfed,
April 18. i635. I find alfo " /]io. paid to John Navarro
for himfcif and the reft of the v.omip^uy oi Spanijh ylayers,
for a play prefented before his Majeftie, Dec. 23. l635."
We have already feen that Henrietta Jvlaria had a pre-
cedent for Introducing the comedians of her own country
Into England, King Henry the Seventh having likewife had
a company of French players.
Sir Henry Herbert's manufcript furniftics us with the
following notices on this fubjed :
" On tuefday night the 17 of February, 1634. [i634-5.]
a Frenche company of players, being tiproved of by the
queene at her houfe too nights before, and commended
by her majefty to the kingc, were admitted to the Cock-
pitt in Whitehall, and there prefented the king and qucenc
with a Frenche comedy called Melije, w-lth good approbation s
for which play the king gives them ten pounds,
*' This day being Friday, and the 20 of the fame monthe,
the kingc tould mec his pleafure, and commanded mee to
give order that this Frenche company fhould playe the too •
fermon dales in the weeke, during their time of piayinge
in Lent, and in the houfe of Drury-lane, where the queenes
players ufually playe.
" The king's pleafure I fignifycd to Mr. Beefton, [the
Manager of Dvury-lanc theatre,] the fame day, who obeyd
readily.
" The houfe-keepers are to give them by promlfe the:
benefit of their intereft for the two days of the firft weeke,
" They had the bcnefitt of piayinge on the fermon dales,
and gott two hundred pounds at leaft ; befidcs many rich
clothes were given them.
" They had freely to themfclves the whole weeke be-
fore the weeke before Eaftcr, which I obtaynd of the king
for til em,
K 2
i3a HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
flage. When Coryate was at Venice, [July, 1608.]
he tells us, he was at one oi" their playhoufcs, and
" The4Aprill, on Eafter monday, they playd the Trompeur
puny^ with better approbation than the other.
"• On Wenfday night the 16 Aprill, i635. the Frcnck
playd Alcimedor with good aprobation."
In a marginal note Sir Henry Herbert adds, " The Frenche
oiTered mee a prefent of /^lo. but I rcfufed itt, and did,
them many other curtefys, gratis, to render the queene my
miflris an acceptable fervice."
It appears from a fubfequent paffage, that in the fol-
lowing month a theatre was erefled exprefsly for this troop
of comedians.
" A warrant granted to Jofias d'Aunay, Kurfiics de Law,
and otl'.ers, for to a6l playes at a new houfe in Drury-lane,
during pleafure. y« 5 may, i635.
" The hing was pleafcd to commande my Lord Cham
berlain to dirc6l his warrant to MonGeur Le Fevurc, to give
him a power to contrail with the Frenchemen for to bullde
a pUyhoufe in the manage-houfe, which was done accord-
inglye by my advifc and allowance."
" Thes Frenchmen," Sir Henry adds in the margin,
*' were commended imto mee by the queene, and have part
through my handes, grarw."
They did not however pafs quite free, for from a fub*
fequent entry it appears, that "•' they gave Blagrave [Sir
Henry's deputy] three pounds for his paines."
In the following December the French pafloral of Flori-
inene was atled at court by the young ladles who attended
the queen from France.
*' The paftorall of Florimene, (fays Sir Henry) with the
defcription of the fceanes and interludes, as it was fent
mee by Mr. Inigo Jones, 1 allowed for the prefs, this 14 of
Decemb. i635. The paflorall is in French, and 'tis the
argument only, put into Engllfh, that I have allowed to
be printed. ,
"■ Le paflorale dc Florimcne full reprcfente devant le rcy
?c la royne, le prince Charles, 8c le prince Palatin, Ic
21 Decern, jour de St. Thomas, par les filles Francoifes
de la royne, 8c hrent tres bicn, dans la grande fale de
Whitehall, aux dcpens de la royne." MS. Herbert.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i33
faw a comedy aftccl. " The houfe, (he adds) is
very beggarly and bafc, in comparifon of our flately
.playhouies in England; neither can their aftors
compare with us for apparell, iiiewes, and muficke.
Here I obferved certaine things that I never faw
before ; for I faw women acl, a thing that 1 never faw
before, though I have heard that it hath been fomc
times ufed in London ; and they performed it with
as good a grace, a6lion, gefture, and whatfoever
convenient for a player, as ever 1 faw any maf-
culine aftor." '
The praftice of men's performing the parts of
women in the fcene is of the highell; antiquity.
On the Grecian flage no woman certainly ever aBed.
From Plutarch's Life of Phocion, we learn, that in
his time (about three hundred and eighteen years be-
fore the Chriflian era) the performance of a tragedy
at Athens was interrupted for fome time by one of
the a6tors, who was to perfonate a queen, refufnig
to come on the ftage, becaufe he had not a fuitable
mafk and drefs , and a train of attendants richly
habited; andDemoIlhenes in one of his oradons,"*
mentions Theodorus and Ariflodemus as having
often reprefented the Antigone of Sophocles. *
' Coryate's Crudilies, 410. 1611. p. 147. I have found no
ground for this writer's affertion, that female performers had
appeared on the EngliQi ftage before he wrote.
^ De fals. leg. Tom. 11. p. 199. edit. Taylor.
' See alio Lucian. de Salt. II. 285. edit. Hemfterhufii.
*' Becaufe" [fays that lively writer) " at firft you preferred,
tragedy and comedy and vagrant fidlers and finoing to the
]iarpc, before dancinc, calling them truly exercifes, and there-
fore commendable, let us, 1 pray, compare tliem fcverally
■with dancing. Where, ifitpleafc you, we will pafs the pipe
and harpe as parts and inllruments of dancing, and coiifider
i34 HISt6rICAL account
This faft is alfo afcertained by an anecdote pre-
ferved by Aulus Gellius. A very celebrated a6lor,
whofe name was Polus, was appointed to perform
the part of Ele£ira in Sophocles's play; who in the
progrefs of the drama appears with an urn in her
hands, containing, as Hie fuppofes, the afhes of
Orefles. The a£lor having fonie time before been
deprived by death of a beloved fon, to indulge his
grief, as it fliould feem, procured the urn which
contained the allies of his child, to be brought
from his tomb ; which afFe£tcd him fo much, that
when he appeared with it on the fcene, he em-
braced it with unfeigned forrow, and burfl into tears.*
tragedy as it is ; fird:, according to its propertyes and drefs.
What a deformed and frightfull fight is it, to fee a man raifed
to a prodigious length, ftalking upon exalted bufkins, Lis face
difguifed with a grlmme vizard, widely gaping, as if he meant
to devour the fpedators ? I forbear to fpeake of his ftuftbrefts,
and fore-bellyes, which make an adventitious and artificial
corpulency, left his unnatural length fhould carry difpropor-
tion to his flendernelfe : as alfo his clamour from within,
"when he breakes open and unlockes himfelfe ; when lie howles
iambicks, and moii; ridiculoufly fings his own fufferings, and
renders himfelf by his very tone odious. For as for the refi,
they are inventions of ancient poets. Yet as long as he pcr-
fonates only fome Andromache and Hecuba, his finging Is
tolerable. But for a Ht-rcules to enter dolefully finging, and
to forget himfelf, and neither to regard his lyons fkynne, nor
clubbe, muft needs appear to any judging man a folecifme.
And whereas you diflike that in dancing men fliould aft
women; this Is a reprchcnfion, which holds for tragedies and
comedyes too, In which are more wdmcns parts, then mens."
Dialogue on dancing, tranflatcd by Jafper Mayne, folio, 1664.
^ Hlftrio In terra Gra:cla fult fama celebri, qui geftus Sc
vocis clarltudlne Sc venuftate ceteris antcftabat. Nomen fulffc
liunt Polum; tragctdlas poetarum nobilium fcite atqnc
aflevcrate aclitavlt. Is Polus unlcc amatum filluin morte amifit.
Eum lu6lum quum fatis vil'us eft eluxiffc, rcdilt ad quseftuni
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i35
That on the Roman ftage alfo female parts were
reprcfcntcd by men in tragedy, is afcertained by
one of Cicero's letters to Atticus, in which he
fpcaks of Antipho,' who performed the part of
Andromache; and by a paflagc in Horace, who
informs us, that Fufms Phocccus being to perform
the part of llione, the wife of Polymneflor, in a
tragedy written either by Accins or Pacuvius, and
being in the courfe of the play to be awakened out
of ileep by the cries of the fhade of Polydorus ,
got fo drunk, that he fell into a real and profound
Ileep, from which no noife could roufc him. ^
Horace indeed mentions a female performer,
called Arbufcula ; ' but as we find from his own
anis. In eo tempore Atheuis EIc6lram Sophoclls aclurus,
ijcflarc urnam quafi cum Orefti oflibus debebat. Ita compofi-
tum tabula? argumentum eft, ut veluti fratrls reliquias ferens
Ele<5lra cornplorct commiferaturque interltum ejus, qui per
vim extin^lus exiftimatur. Igitur Polus lugubrl habitu Elc£tr3e
indutus ofla atquc urnam a fepulchro tulit filii, 8c quafi Orefti
amplexus opplevit omnia non fimiilachris ncque imitamcntis,
fed lu6lu atque lamentis veris 8c fpirantibus. Itaque quum agi
fabula vidcretur, dolor aflus eft." Aul. Gel. Lib. VII. c. v.
Olivet in a note on one of Cicero's letters to Atticus,
(Lib. IV. c. XV. ) mentions a fimilar anecdote of a mime called
Seia, for which he quotes the authority of Plutarch ; but no
fuch perfon is mentioned by that writer. Seia, according to
Olivet, performed the part of Andromache. I fufpc£l he
meant to cite Petrarch. — Seia probably reprefentcd Andro.-»
mache in a tragick pantomime.
7 Epiftol. ad Atticum, Lib. IV. c. xv.
* u Kon magis audivit quam Fufius cbrius olira,
44 Gum Ilionam edormit, Catienis mille ducentis,
u Mater ie appello, clamantibus." Sat. Lib. II. Sat. lii.
Compare Gicero, Tujculan. I. 44*
9 it. fatis eft cquitem mihl plaudere, utaudax
<( Conteinptis alliis explofa Arbufcula dixit."
Lib. I, Sat. X.
K 4
i36 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
authority that men perfonatcd women on the Roman
flage, ihe probably was only an emboliana, \vho per-
formed in the interludes and dances exhibited be-
tween the ads and at the end of the pl'ay. Servius *
calls her mima , but that may mean nothing more
than one who afted in the mimes, or danced in the
pantomime dances; ' and thisfeems the more pro-
bable from the manner in which ftie is mentioned
by Cicero, from whom we learn that the part of
Andromache was performed by a male a6lor on
that very day when Arbufcuia exhibited with the
highefl applaufe. '
T-'he fame pradice prevailed in the time of the
emperors; for in the lift of parts which Nero,
\vith a prepofterous ambition, a6led in the publick
theatre, we find that of Canace, who was repre-
fented in labour on the flnge. '
In the interludes exhibited between the a£ls un-
doubtedly Avomen appeared. The elder Pliny in-
forms us, that a female named Lucce'ia a6fed in
thefe interludes for an hundred years ; and Galeria
Copiola for above ninety years ; having been firft
introduced on the fcene in the fourteenth year of
her age, in the year of Rome 672. when Caius
Marius the younger, and Cneius Carbo were con-
fuls. and having performed in the 104th year of
lier age, fix years before the death of Auguftus, in
' In cclog. X.
' Sunt Mhni, ut ait Claudianus, qui Ixtis falibus facete
rifum movent; Pantomlmi vcro,,ut Idem ait, " nutu manibuf-
que loquaces." Vet. Scliol.
* Epiftol. ad Atticum, L. IV. c. xv.
' Sueton. in >|erone, c. xxi.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. iS;
the confulate of C. Poppasus andOuintus Sulplcius,
A. U. C. 762.'^
Eunuchs alfo fometimes reprefented women on
the Roman flage, as they do at this day in Italy;
for we find that Sporus, who made fo confpicuous
a figure in the time of Nero, being appointed in
the year 70. [A, U. C. 823] to perfonate a nymph,
who, in an interlude exhibited before Vitellius,
was to be carried off by a raviflier, rather than
endure the indignity of wearing a female drefs
on the flage, put himfelf to death: ^ a lingular
end for one, who about ten years before had been
publickly efpoufed to Nero, in the hymeneal veil,
and had been carried through one of the flrcets
of Rome by the fide of that monfter, in the im-
perial robes of the erapreffes, ornamented with
a profufion of jewels.
Thus ancient was the ufage, which, though not
adopted in the neighbouring countries of France
and Italy, prevailed in England from the infancy
of the ilage. The prejudice againft women ap-
pearing on the fcene continued fo ft.rong, that till
near the time of the Relloration, boys conftantly
performed female characters; and, flrange as it
may now appear, 4;he old pra£lice was not deferted
without many apologies for the indecorum of the
novel ufage. In 1669 or 1660. in imitation of the
foreign theatres, women wtrc. firfl introduced on the
fcene. In iG56. indeed, Mrs. Coleman, the wife of
I Mr. Ed^vardColeman, reprefented lanthe'in the Firfl
1 Part ofD'Avenant's5?V^£ of Rhodes ; but the little flie
6 Plln. Hid. Nat. Lib. VIII. c. xlvlll.
' X-pliiliiii Vitel. p. 2og. edit. H. Stepliani, folio, iSgs.
i38 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
had to fay was fpokcn in recitative. The firft woman
that appeared in any regular drama on a publick
ftage, performed the part of Defdemona; but who
the lady was, I am unable to afcertain. The play
of Othdlo is enumerated by Downes as one of the
ilock-plays of the king's company on their opening
their theatre in Drury-lane in April i663. and it
appears from a paper found with Sir Henry Her-
bert's Office-book, and indorfed by him, ^ that it
was one of the ftock-plays of the fame company
from the time they began to play Avithout a patent
at the Red Bull in St. John-ftreet. Mrs. Hughs
performed the part of Defdemona in i663. when
the company removed toDrury-lane, and obtained
the title of the king's fervauts; but whether fhc
performed with them while they played at the
Red Bull, or in Vere-Rreet, near Claremarket, has
not been afceriained. Perhaps Mrs. Saunderfon
made her firft eflay there, though flie afterwards
was enlifted in D'Avenant's company. The received
tradition is, that ihe was the firfl Englifli a£lrefs. *
The verfes which were fpoken by way of intro-
ducing a female to the audience, were written by
Thomas Jordan, and being only found in a very
fcarce mifcellany, ' I fliall here tranfcribe them:
*' A Prologue, to introduce thejirjl xooman that came
to act on thejlage, in the tragedy called The Moor
of Venice.
<; I come, unknown to any of tlie rcfl,
u To tell \ ou news ; 1 faw the lady drcft :
' See the I'lfl of plays belonging to the Red Bull, iu a
fiihlequent page, ad. ann, l66o.
9 Mrs. Saunderfon (afterw^ards Mrs. Bcttcrton) played
Juliet, Ophelia, and, 1 believe, Cordelia,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 1^9
a The woman plays to-day : mlflake me not,
a No man in gown, or page in petticoat :
«i A -^voman to n^y knowledge ; yet I can't,
<t If 1 fliould die, make affidavit on't.
tt Do you not twitter, gentlemen? I know
u You will be ceiifuring : do it fairly though.
(( 'Tis jwjjible a virtuous woman may
«c Abhor all forts of loofenefs, and yet play;
a Play on tlie ftage, — where all eyes are upon her : —
(( Shall we count that a crime, Irance counts an honour?
ii In other kingdoms hufoands fafely truft 'em;
li The dliTerence lies only In the cuftom.
li And let it be our culiom, I advllc ;
a I'm lure this cuilom's better than th' excifc,
a And may procure us cuflcim: hearts of Hint
u ^Vill melt In palfion, when a woman's In't.
ii. But gentlemen, you that as judges fit
u In the har-chamber of the houfe, the pit.
It flionld fcen from the Q2d line of the Epilogue fpoken on
tlie occaiion, that the lady wlio performed Defdemona was
an unmarried woman. Mrs. Hughs was married. The principal
immarried aflrefi in the King's company appears to have been
Mrs, lilarfliail, who Is fald lo have been afterwards leduced
under a pretence of marriage by Aubrey de Vere, earl of
Oxford, and who might have been the original female per-
former of Defdemona. At that time every xmmarrled woman
bore the title of Miilrefs.
It is fald In a book of no authority ( Curl's Uijlory of the
Stage,] and has been repeated in various other compilations,
tliat Mrs. Norris, the mother of the celebrated comedian
Icnown by tlie name oi Jubilee Dick, was the firfl a^lrefs who
appeared on the Engllfh ftage : but this is highly Improbable.
Mrs. Norris, who was In D'Avenant's company, certainly
had appeared In 1662. but flie was probably not young ; for
fie played Goody Fells, in Town Shifts, a comedy aded in
1671. and the jYurfe In Reformation, a£led in 167 5.
* A Royal Arbour of Loyal Porfie, by Thomas Jordan, no
date, but printed, 1 believe, in 1662. Jordan was an ador
as wrzll as a poet.
140 HISTOP.ICAL ACCOUNT
ii Have modeft thoughts of her; pray, do not run
a To give her vifits when the play is done,
a With ' damn me, your moji humble Jervant, lady;''
li She knows thefe things a& well as you, it may be :
44 Not a bit there, dear gallants, flie doth know
u Her own deferts, — and your temptations too.—'
ii But to the point ; — In this reforming age
(i We have intents to civilize the ftage.
4 4 Our women are defective, and fo fiz'd,
44 You'd think they were fome of the guard difguis'd;
44 For, to fpe.ik truth, men a6l, that are between
44 Forty and fifty, wenches ot fifteen;
44 With bone fo large and nerve fo incompliant,
44 When you call Desdemona, enter Giant. —
44 We fhali purge every thing that is unclean,
tc Lafcivious, fcurrilous, impious, or obfcene;
44 And when we've put all things in this fair way,
(4 Barebones himfelf may come to fee a play." *
The Epilogue wliicb confifts of but twelve lines,
is in the lame flrain of apology:
(4 And how do you like her? Come, what is't ye drive at?
. 44 She's the fame thing in publick as in private ;
44 As far from being what you call a whore;
(4 As Defdemona, Injur'd by the Moor:
(4 Then he that cenfures her in fuch a cafe,
44 Hath a foul blacker than Othello's face.
44 But, ladies, what think jjiozi f for if you tax
(4 Her freedom with difhonour to your fex,
44 She means to a6l no more, and this {hall be
44 No other play but her own tragedy.
44 She will fubrait to none but your commands,
44 And take commiffion only from yonr hands."
* See alfo the Prologue to The Second Pari of the Siege of
Rhodes, (a(Sled in April, 1662.) which was fpoken by a woman :
44 Hope little from our poet's wither'd wit,
(4 From infant pUyers, fcarce grown puppets yet;
44 Hope from our women lefs, whofe bafhful fear
n Wonder'd to fee me dare to enter here:
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 141
From a paper in Sir Henry Herbert's hand-
writing I find that Othello was performed by the
Red-Bull company, (after\vards his Majefties fer-
vants,) at their new theatre in Vere-flrcet, near
Claremarket, on Saturday December 8. 1660. for
the firft time that winter. On that day therefore
it is probable an a6lrefs firft appeared on the Eng-
llQi ftage. This theatre was opened on Thurfday
November 8. with the play o^ King Henry the Fourth.
Moft of Jordan's prologues and epilogues appear
to have been written for that company.
It is certain, however, that for fome time after
the Reftoration men alfo a6led female parts ; ' and
u Each took her leave, and wifh'd my danger pad,
t4 And thoiigh I come back fafc and nndifgracM,
u Yet when they fpy the wits here, then I doubt
tt No amazon can make them, venture out-,
u Though I advis'd them not to fear you much,
14 For I prefumc not half of you are fuch."
' In E prologue to a play reprefented before King Charles
the Second very foon after his Reftoration, of which I know
not the title, arc thefe lines, from which It appears that fome
young men afted tlie parts of women in that piece :
ui we are forry
ti We fhould this night attend on fo much glory
a With fuch weak worth *, or your clear fight engage
tt To view the remnants of a ruln'd Rage :
a For doubting we fliould never play again,
<4 We have play'd all our women into men ;
(( That are of fuch large fize for flefh and bones,
u They'll rather be taken for amazons
(.<. Than tender maids ; but your mercy doth pleafe
tt Daily to pafs by as great faults as thefe : .
n If this be pardon'd, we fliall henceforth bring
u Better oblations to my lord the king."
A Royal Arbour^ 8cc. p. 12.
The author of Hifioria H'ifirionica lays, that Major Mohun
played Bellamente\i\^\\n[ty\ Love's Crueliy, after the Reflora-
142 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Mr. Kynafton even after women had affumed their
proper rank on the ftage, was not only endured,
but admired, if we may believe a contemporary
writer; v/ho afuires us, " that being then very
young, he made a complete ftage beauty, perform-
ing his parts fo well, (particularly Arthiope and
Aglaura) that it has fmce been difpu table among
the judicious, whether any woman that fucceedcd
him, touched the audience fo fenfibly as he. "*
In D'Avenant's company, the firft aftrefs that
appeared was probably Mrs. Saundcrfon, who per-
formed lanthe in The Siege of Rhodes, on the open-
ing of his new theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, in
April 1662. * It does not appear from Downes's
account, that while D'Avenant's company per-
formed at the Cockpit in Drury4ane during the
years iGSg. 1660 and 1661. they had any female
performer among them: or that Othello was a£led
by them at that period.
In the infancy of the Englifli ftage it was cuf-
tomary in every piece to introduce a Clown, " by
his mimick geftures to breed in the lefs capable
mirth and laughter.^ The privileges of the-Clown
tlon ; and Gibber mentions, that Kynafton told him he had
played the part of Evadne in The Maicfs Tragedy, at the fame
period, ^vith fuccefi. The apology made to King Charles
the Second for a play not beginning in due time, ("that
the queen was not J/iaved,'''') Is well known. The queen is
faid (but on 'no good authority) to have been Kynafton.
■* Rojtius AngUcanus, p. 19« /
^ In the following year (he married Mr. Betterton, and not
in 1670. as is erroneonfly alfcrted in the Biograplua Brltann'ica.
She a6led by the name of Mrs. Betterton In The Slighlei
Maid, in 1 663.
* Heywood's Hijlory of Wemen^ 1624.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 143
were very extcnfive; for, bet^iccn ihe acls , and
lometimes between the Icenes, be claimed a riga!;
to enter on the (lage, and to excite racrriment by
any Ipecics of bunocncry that flruck him. Like
the Harlequin of the Italian comedy, his wit was
often extemporal, and he lometimes entered into
a contcft of raillery and farcalm with fome of the
andience. ' He generally thrcAV bis thoughts into
hobbling doggrel verfes, which he made fliortcr or
longer as he found convenient; but, however ir-
regular his metre might be, or whatever the length
of his verfes, he always took care to tag them with
^ In Brome's Antipodes, which was performed at the
theatre in Salifbury-court, In l638. 3. ly-play, as he calls it,
is reprefentcd in his comedy ; a word, for the application
of which we are indebted to this writer, there being no
other term in our language that I know of, which fo pro-
perly expreffes that fpecies of Interlude which we find in
our poet's Hamlet and fome other pieces. The adors In
this by-play being called together by Lord Letoy, he gives
them fome infiruiSIons concerning their mode of a61ing,
which prove that the clowns In Shakfpeare's time frequently
iield a dialogue with the audience :
tc Let. — Go ; be ready. —
;t But yon, fir, are incorrigible, and
c( Take licence to yourfcli to add unto
a Your parti your own free fancy ; and fometimes
a To alter or diminifh what the writer
i( With care and fivill compos'd, and when you arc
<t To fpeak to your co-a6lors In the fccne,
(( You hold inlerlocnlion with the audienls.
u Bip. That Is a way, my lord, hath been allow'd
(c On elder ftages to move mirth and laughter.
li Lei. Yes, in the days of Tarleion a.nd Keinpe,
u Before the flage was purgM from barbarifm,
a And brought to the perfetSlIon it now ftiines with.
(( Then fools and jefters fpent their wit, becaufe
tc The poets were wife enough to fay e their ov/n
{t For profitabler ufcs.".
H4 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
words of correfponding found : like Dryden's,
DOEG,
u He fagot ted liis notions as they fell,
u And If they rhym'd and rattled, all was well."
Thomas Wilfon and Richard Tarleton , both
fworn fervants to Queen Elizabeth, were the moft
popular performers of that time in this department
of the drama, and are highly prailed by the Con-
tinuator of Stowe's Annals, for " their wondrous
plentiful, pleafant, 3.nd exlnnporal wit.'" ^ Tarleton,
whofe comick powers were fo great, that, according
to Sir Richard Baker, " he delighted the fpe£lators
before he had fpoken a word, "" is thus defcribed in
a very rare old pamphlet: ' " The next, by his
fute of rulTet, his buttoned cap, his tabsr , his
ftanding on the toe, and other tricks, I knew to
be either the body or refembiance ofTarlton, v/ho
living, for his pleafant conceits was of all men
liked, and, dying, for mirth left not his like." In
iGil was publiflied a book entitled his Jeajts, in
which fome fpecimcns are given ol the extempore
wit which our anceftors thought fo excellent. As
he was performing fome part " at the Bull in
Bifhops-gate-Rreet, where the Oueenes players
oftentimes played," while he was " kneeling down
* Howes's edition of Stowe's Chronicle, l63l. p. 698.
See alfo Gabriel Harvey's Four Lellcrs, 410. 1^92. p. 9.
'■' Who In London hath not heard of — his fond dlfj^ul-
finge of a Mafter of Artcs with ruffianly haire, unfeemely
apparell, and more unfeemely company; his valnewlorious
and Thrafonlcall bravery ; his plperly ;A/e??2/)9r[/i?Jg" and Tar-
lelonizing?" Sec.
5» Kinde-Hartes Dreame, by Henry Chettle, 410. no date,
liut publifhed in Dec. 1 592.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 145
to aflce his fathers b! effing,""' a fellow in the gal-
lery threw an apple at him, which hit him on the
cheek. He immediately took up the apple, and
advancing to the audience, addreffed them in thefc
lines :
u Gentlemen, this fellow, with his face of mspple,^
u Inftead of a pippin hath throwne me an apple ;
44 Eur as for an apple he hath caft a crah,
u So inflead of an honcft woman God hath fent him a.
drab."
" The people," fays the relater, *' laughed heartily ;
for the fellow had a quean to his wife."
Another of thele ftories, which I fliall give in
the author's own words, eftabliOics what 1 have
already mentioned, that it was cuftomary for the
Clown to talk to the audience or the adlors ad
libitum.
• This appears to have been formerly a common faxcafm.
There is a tradition yet preferved in Stratford, of Shakfpeare's
comparincj the carbuncled face of a drunken biackfmith to a
maple. The biackfinith acccfted him, as he was leaning over
a mercer's door, with
a Now, Mr. Shakspeare, tell me, if you can,
44 The difierence between a youth and a young man. '^^
to which our poet immediately replied,
a Thou ion of fire, with thy face like a maple,
ti The fame difference as betwecnafcalded and acoddled
apple."
This anecdote was related near fifty years a?o to a "-entle-
anan at Stratford by a perfon then above eighty years of a^-e,
■whofe father might have been contemporary with Shakfpcare.
It is obfervable that a fimilar imagery may be traced in Tlie
Comedy of Errors :
"• Though now this grained f ice of mine be hid," Sec,
The bark of the maple Is uncommonly rougli, and the graiu
of one of the forts of this tree (according to Evelyn) h
*■* undulated and crifpcd into variety of curls."
t L
146 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
*• At the Bull at BiHiops-gate, was a play of
Htnry the V. [the performance which preceded
Shaklpeare's,] ^vherein the judge was to take a
box on the care; and becaufe he was abfent that
fliould take the blow, Tarlton himfclfc ever for-
ward to pleafe, tooke upon him to play the fame
judge, befides his own part of the clowne ; and
Knel, then playing Henry the Fifth, hit Tarletou
a found box indeed, which made the people laugh
the more, becaufe it \vas he: but anon the judge
goes in, and immediately Tarletcn in his clownes
cloathes comes out, and afks the aftors , What
7iews? O, faith one, had'ft thou been here, thou
fhouldeft have feen Prince Henry hit the judge a
terrible box on the eare. What, man, faid Tarlton,
flrike a judge! It is true, i'falth, faid the other.
No other like, faid Tarlton, anc^ it could not be
but terrible to the judge, when the report fo ter-
rifies me, tliUt methinks the blo\ve rcmaines fall
on my cheeke, that it burnes againe. The people
laught at this mightily, and to this day I have
heard it commended for rare ; but no marvell, for
he had many of thefe. But 1 would fee oiir clo-'unes
in theje days do the like. No, I warrant ye; and
yet they thinke well of themfelves too."
The laft words fliew that this practice was not
difcontinued in the time of Shakfpeare, and we
lure fee that he had abvnidant reafon for his pre-
cept in HaviUt; " Let thoie that play your cloivjiSy
Jpfrtk no more than is fei down for the??! ; for there be
of them, that will of themfelves laugh, to fet on.
fome quantity of barren fpe^lators to laugh too;
though in the mean time fome necejfaiy quejtion of the,
play be then to he conjiderd.'''
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 147
This practice was undoubtedly coeval with the
Englifli ftage ; for we are told that Sir Thomas
More, ^vhile he lived as a page \vith Archbifliop
Moreton, (about the year 1490.) as the Chriflmas
plays were going on in the palace, would fome-
times fuddenly ftep upon the ftage, " without
fludying for the matter," and exhibit a part of his
ov\n, which gave the audience much more enter-
tainment than the whole performance befides. ■*
Bui the peculiar province of the Clown was to
entertain the audience after the play was finiflied,
at which time themes were fometimes given to him
by fome of the fpeftators, to defcant upon ; ' but
more commonly the audience were entertained by
a jig. A jig Avas a ludicrous metrical compofuion,
ohen in rhyme, which was fung by the Clown,
who likewife, 1 believe, occafionally danced, and
was always accompanied by a tabor and pipe. ^ In
thefe jigs more perlons than one were fometimes
* Roper's Life and Death of More, 8vo. 1716. p. 3.
^ " 1 remember I was once at a play in the country',
wliere, as Tarl ton's ufe was, the play being done, every one
io pleafed to throw up his theame : amongR all the reft one
was read to this effect, word by word :
u Tarlton, I am one of thy friends, and none of thy foes,
44 Then I pr'ytliee tell how thou cam'ft by thy flaC
nofe," Sec.
To this chaIlen!?;eTarleton immediately replied in four lines
of loofe verfc. TarltoTi's Jeajls, 4to. 161 1.
' " Out upon them, [the players,] they fpolle ov.r trade,
— they open our croJTc-biting, our conny-catching, our
tralnes, our traps, our gins, our fnares, our fubtikles ; for
no fooner have we a tricke of deccipt, but they make it com-
mon, fiuging gigs, and making jeafts of us, that every boy
can point out our houfes as they paffe by." JCind-Hartes
Dreame, Signal. E. 3. b.
L 2
14S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
introduced. The original of tlie entertainment
See alfo Pierce Pennilejfe, Sec. i5g2.
(( —like the queint comedians of our time,
u Tliat when tlie play is done, do fall to rhime," Sec.
So, in Ajlrange Horfe-race, by Thomas Decker, i6i3.
" Now as a-fter the cleare flream hath glided away in his
owne current, the bottom is muddy and troubled •, and as I
have often feen after the fin'ijhing of Jome worthy tragedy or
cataRrophe in the open theatres, that the I'ceane, after the
epilogue, hath been more black, about a naOy bawdy jV^g^f,
then the moft horrid fcenc in the play was ; the ftinkards
fpeaking all things, yet no man undcrAanding any thing;
a mutiny being amongfl them, yet none in danger; no
tumult, and yet no quictnefs ; no mifchlefe begotten, and
yet mifchicfe borne ; the iwiftnel's of fuch a torrent, the
more it overwhelms, breeding the more pleafure; fo after
thefe worthies and conquerors had left the field, another
race was ready to begin, at which, though the perfons
in it were nothing equal to the former, yet the fhoutes
and noyfe at thefe was as great, if not greater."
The following lines in Kali's Satires, iSgy. feem alfo to
allude to the fame cuRom :
One higher pitchM, doth fet his foaring tliought
On crowned kings, that fortune hath low brought.
Or feme iipreared higli-afpiring fwaine,
As it might be, the Turkifh Tamhurlaine,
Then weenetli he is bafc drink-drowned fpright
Rapt to the three-fold loft of lieaven hight.
When he conceives upon his faincd ilage
The ftalking fleps of his great pcrfonage ;
Graced with huiF-cap termes and thund'ring threats.
That his poor hearers' hayre quite upriglit ieis.
Such foone as fonie brave-minded bungrie youth
Sees fitly frame to his wide-ftrained mouth.
He vaunts his voyce upon an hyred Rage,
With liigh-fet Reps, and princely carriage : —
There if he can with termes Italianate,
Big-founding fentences, and words of Rate,
Faire patch me up his pure iambick verfc.
He ravifhes the gazing fcalfolders. —
" Now iealt fuch frightful ftiov/es of fortunes fall.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 149
which this buffoon afforded our anceflors between
the a<^s and after the play, may be traced to the
fatyrical interludes of Greece,^ and the Attellans
and Mimes of the Roman ftaoe. ^ The Exodiarii >
o
" And bloudy tyrants' rage, fliould chance appall
" The dead-ftruck audience, midji the file nt rout
" Comes leapiiig in a Jelfe-misformed loi't,
" A?id laughes, and grins, and frames his mimich face^
" And jufiles flraight into the princes place:
" Then doth the theatre echo all aloud
" IVith gladfonie noyfe of that applauding croud.
*' A goodly hoch-poch, when vile rtiffellings
•' Are vialcht vjith monarchs and with mighty kings ! " 8cc.
The entertainments here aUudcd to vrere probably "• the
fotid and frivolous jeftures," defcrlbed in the preface to Mar-
lowe's Tanibtirlaine, l5go. which the printer fays, he omit-
ted, " as farre unmeete for the matter, though they have
been of feme vaine conceited fondlings greatly gaped at,
<4vhai: times they were (hewed upon the ftage in their graced
deformities."
It fliould fecm from D'Avenant's prologue to The Wits,
when acled at the Duke's theatre, in 1662. that this fpecics
of entertainment was not even tlien entirely difafed :
u So countryj/'g-i and farces, mixt among
a Heroick fcenes, make plays continue long."
Blount in his Gloffographia, 1681. 5th edit, defines a farce,
*' A fond and diffolute play or comedy. Alfo tlie ji^at the
end of an interlude, wliercin fome pretty knavery is acSed."
Kerape's J'if, n- of the Kitchen-fiuf/e-rvoman, and Philips hisjigg
of the Slyppers, were entered on the Stationers' books in i5g5.
but I know not whether they were printed. There is, I
believe, no jig now extant in print.
^ it Carmine qui tragico vilem certavit oh hircum,
44 Mox etiam agreftes Satyros nudavit, 8c alper
u Incolumi gravitate jocura tentavit, eo quod
u lUecebris erat 8c grata novitate morandus
u Spedator, fundufque facris, 8c potus 8c exlex."
HoR. de Arte Poetica,
2 " Urbicus exodio rifum movet Atellan<e
" Gelllbus Autonoes ; ." Juv. Sat. VL 7 I.
Lr>
3
i5o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
and Emholiarice of the Mimes are undoubtedly the
*■'• E\odiarius In fine Indorum apud vcteres intrpbat, quod
ridiculua foret;^ ut quuquid lacrymarum atque trHlitix coegif-
feiit ex tragicis affedlbus, hujui. fpt ftaculi rifus detergeret."
Vet. Schol. "As an old commentator of Juvenal affirms, tlie
Exodiarii, which were fingers and dancers, entered to en-
tertain the people with light fongs and mimical gedures,
that they might not go away oppreffed with melancholy
from thcfe fatred pieces of the theatre." Dryden's Dedi-
cation to his Tranllation of Juvenal. See alfo LIv. Lib. VII.
c. il. Others contend that the Exodia did not folety Cgnify
the fongs, 8cc. at the conchifion of the piay, but thole alfo
which were fung in the middle of the piece ; and that they
were fo called, bccavtfe they were introduced s^oi'iKO)';, that
is, incidentally, and unconneclcd with the principal enter-
taiuHicnt. Of tliis kind undoubtedly were the s/y-Cohcc or
epifodes. Introduced between the a6ls, as the sicroS'ict were
the fongs fung at the opening of the play.
The Atellan interludes were fo called from Atella, a town
in Italy,, from which they were Introduced to Rome : and
in procefs of time they were aclcd fometimes In the middle,
and fometimes at the end of more ferious pieces. Ihefe,
as we learn from one of Cicero's letters, gave way about
the time of Julius Cxfar's death to the Mirnes, which con-
fifted of a groffer and more licentious pleafantry than the
Atellan Interludes. *•' Nunc venio," fays Cicero, "ad joca-
tlones tuas, cum tu fecundiim Ocnomaum Accli, non ut
olim foltbat, Atellanum, fed ut nunc Jit, mimum introduxifii."
Epiji. ad Earn. IX. l6. The Atelian Interludes, however,
were not wholly difufed after the Introduclion of the Mimes ;
as Is afcertalncd by a paflage In Suetonlus's Life of Nero,
c. xxxix.
" Mirum Sc vel prxclpue notablle inter ha!c fult, nihil eum
patientius quam maledlfla Sc convitia hominum tulifle ;
neque In ullos leniorem quam qui fe diciis ante aut car-
minibus iaceiTiirent, extitilie. — Tranfeuntem eum Ifidorus
Cynicus In publico clara voce corrlpuerat, quod IMauplii
mala bene cantitaret, fua bona male difponeret. Et Datus
Alellanorum hiftrio. In cantico quodam, u*) isi.'!'; rrcCTtp, vjicivs
(j.ihsi), ita demoullraverat, ut bibtntem natantcmque faceret,
cxitum fcilicet Glaudii Agrippluccque CguIKcans •, 8c in no-
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i5i
remote progenitors of the Vice and Clown of our
ancient dramas. * ^
vlffima claufula, Orcus vobis ducit pedts, fenatum gcflu notaret.
Hiftrionem 8c pliilofophum Nero nihil amplius quam urbe
Itali^que fubmovit, vcl contcmptu omnis intamise, vel nc
fateiido dolorem irritaret ingenia." See alfo Galb. c. xiii.
1 do not find that the ancient French tlicatrc had any
exhibition cxacSlly corrtfponding with this, for their SorxiE
rather rtfembled the Atellan farces, in their original Itate,
whtn they were performed as a diftind exhibition, un-
mixed with any other interlude. An extrnfl given by Mr.
Warton from an old Art or Poetry pubiifhcd in 1548.
furnifties us with this account of it : " The French tarce
contains nothing of the Latin comedy. It has neither ds
nor fcencs, which would ferve only to introduce a tedious
prolixity : for the true fubje6l of the French farce or
SoTTiE is every fort of foolery, which has a tendency to
provoke laughter. — The fubjed of the Greek and Latin
comedy was totally different from every thing on the French
ftage ; for it had more morality than drollery, and often as
much truth as fiction. Our Moralities hold a place in-
differently between tragedy and comedy, but our farces are
really what the Romans called Mivies or Priapees, the intended
end and elfed of which was exceflive laughter, and on that
account they admitted all kind of licentioufnefs, as our
farces do at prcfent. In the mean time their pleafantry
does not derive much advantage from rhymes, however
flowing, of eight fyllables." Hist. OF Eng. Poetry, Vol. IU.
p. 35o. Scaliger exprefsly mentions the two fpecies of
drama above defcribed, as the popular entertainments of
France in his time. " Sunto igitur duo genera, c]U£ etiam
vicatim 8c oppiilatim per univevfara Galliam mirificis arti-
ficibus circumferuntnr; Morale, 8c Ridiculum." Foetkes,
Lib. I. c. X. p. 17. edit. l56l.
9 The exa^l conformity between our Clown and tlie £a(J-
diarii and EmboliariiP of the Roman ftage is afcertained, not
only by what 1 have ftated in the text, but by our au-
thor's contemporary Philemon Holland, by whom that paf-
fage in Pliny which is referred to in a former page, —
"• Lucceia ?»n?ia centum annis in fcena pronuntiavit. Galerta
Copiola, ernboliaria, reducla eft iu fcenam, — annum cen^
L 4
i52 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
No writer that I liave met with, intimates that
in the time of Shakfpeare it was cuilomary to ex-
hibit more than a fmelc dramatick piece on oiic
day. * Had any f]iortt;r pieces, of the fame kind
with our modern farces, (befide the ji^s already
mentioned,) been preiented after the principal
performance, fome of them probably would have
been printed; but there are none of tnem extant
of an earlier date than the time of tlie Refloration. '
The pradice therefore of exhibiting two dramas
fucceffively in the fame alternoon, we may be af-
fured, was not eflabliflied before that period. But
teflimum quartum agens," — is tlins trarflated : " Lucceia,
a common Vice in a pUy, followed the ftage, and a6led
thereupon loo yeeres. Such another Vice, that plaied the
foole, and made Jporte belcveene whiles in interludes, named
Galeria Copiola, was brought to ad on the ftage, — wheu
fh6 was in the 104th yccre of her age."
* The YorkJIdre Tragedy, or AlVs One, indeed appears to
have been one oF four pieces that were reprefented on the
fame day •, and Fletclier has alio a piece called Four Plays
in One; but probably thtfe were either exhibited on fome
particular occalion, or were ineffe«5tual eliorts to introduce
anew fpecies of amufemcnt ; for we do not find any other
inflances of the fame kind.
' In l663. as 1 learn from Sir Henry Herbert's MSS. Sir
William D'Avenant produced The Playhonjc to be let. I he
fifth aft of this heterogeneous piece is a mock tragedy,
founded on the aflions of C a; far, Anthony, and Cleopatra.
This, Langbainc fays, ufed to be afted at the theatre in
Dorfet Garden, (which was not opened till November, 167 I.)
after the tragedy of Potnpey, written by Mrs, Catharine
Philips ; and was, 1 believe, the firft farce that appeared
on the Englifh ftage. In 1677. The Cheats of Scapin was
performed, as a fccond piece, after Titus and Berenice, a
play of three afts, in order to furnifh out an exhibition
of the ufual length : and about the fame time farces were '
produced by Duifct, Tate, and others.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i55
though our ancient audiences were not gratlF.ed by
the reprcfentation of more than one drama in the
fame day, the eiUcrtainmcnt in the middle of the
reign of Elizabeth was diverfificd, and the popu-
lace diverted, by vaulting, tumbling, Ilight of
hand, and morrice-dancing; ** and in the time of
Sliakfpeare, by the extemporaneous buffoonery of
the Clov/n, Avhenever he chofe to folicit the atten-
tion of the audience; by finging and daiicmg be-
. twcen the acls, and either a fong or the metrical
jig already dcfcribed at the end of the piece :^ a
" " For tlie eye, befides the beautie of the houfcs and tlie
ftages, he [the devil] fendeth i\i garifli apparel!, mafques,
vauliing, tumbling, dauncing of gigges, galiardes, morijces, hohhy-
horfes, JJ:e'j'ing of juggling cajies, — nothing loicot, tliat might
ferve to fet out the matter wiili pompe, or ravifti the beholders
with variety of pleafure. " Plajes confuted in Jive Anions. By
Stephen GofTon. Siijnat. E.
' See Beaumont's Verfes to Fletcher on his Faithful
SJiepherdefs :
li Nor want tliere thofe, who, as the hoy does dance
44 Between the afis, will cenfore the wholp play."
So alfo, in Sir John Davies's Epigrams, no date, but
printed in l5g8 :
(( For as we fee at all the play-houfe doores,
(( When ended is the play, the dance, and fong,
44 A thoufand townfmen," Sec.
Hentzuer obferves, that the dances, when he was in London
in iSgS. were accompanied with exqnifite mudck. See the
pafTage quoted from his Itinerary, in p. 58. n. 9.
That in the ftage-dances boys in the drtfs of women
fometimes joined, appears to me probable from Prynne's
invei51ive againft the theatre : '"■ Stage-playes, " fays he, "by
our own modern experience are commonly attended with niixt
etfeminate amorous dancing. " Hifiriomaf.ix, p. aSq. From
the fame author we learn that fongs were frequently fang
between the a^s, " By our owne moderne experience there
is nothing more frequent in all our llage-playts then amorous
jiaftorai or obfcenc lafcivious love-fougs, mofl jnelodioufly
i54 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
mixture not more heterogeneous than that with
■which v/e are now daily prefented, a tragedy and
a farce. In the dances, I beHeve, not only men,
but boys in women's dreffes, were introduced: a
practice which prevailed on the Grecian flage, *
and in France till late in the lall century. ^
The amuferaents of our anceftors , before the
commencement of the play, were of various kinds.
While fome part of the audience entertained them-
clianted out upon the ftajfe betweenc eoch feveral a£iion»;
both to fupply that chafme or vacant iiitrrim which the
tyringhoufe takes up In changing the a£l:or>.' robes, to fit them
for fome other part in the enfuing ftene, — as likewife to pleafe
the itchina; eares, if not to inflime the outrageous lufls, of
levvde fpefiators. " Ibidem, p. 262.
In another place the author quotes the following palTage
from Eufebius. " What feeth he who runnes to play-houfes?
Diabolical fonges, dancing wenches, or, that I may fpeake
more truely, girles tofTed up and downe with the furies of the
devil." [ "• A good dejcription (addsPrynne) of our dancing
females.''^] " For what doth this dancereffe ? She moft
impudently uncovers her head, which Paul hath commanded
to be always covered ; flie turnes about her neckc the wrong
\s'ay ; flic throweth aboute herhaire hither and thither. Even
thefe things verily are done by her whom the Devili hath
pofTeffed." Ibidem, p. 534.
It does not appear whether the puritanical writer of this
treatife alludes in the obfervation inferted in crotches to boys
dancing on the ftage in women's cloaths, or to female dancers
in private houfes. The fubje^l immediately before him fhould
rather lead to the former interpretation. Women certainly did
not dance on the ftage in his time.
* See p. i33. n. 5.
' " Dans le ballet du T'riomphe de VAmour en 1681. on vit
pour la premiere fols des danfeufes fur Ic theatre de I'Opera:
auparavant c'etoit deux, quatre, fix, ou huit danfeurs qu'on
habilloit en fcmmes. " Oeuvres de M. De Saint-Foix, Tom. Ill,
p. 416.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i55
felves vvha reading,^ or playing at cards, ' others
were employed in lels refined occupations ; in
drinking ale, * or fmoking tobacco;' with thele
" So, In Fitz-JeofFery's Sa!ircs, 1617 :
u Ye worthy wonhles ! none cllc, might I chufe,
u Doc I deiirc my poejie pertife,
44 For to fave charges ere the play begin,
^l Or when the lord of liberty comes in."
Again, in a fatire at the conclufion of The Majlive, or young
IVhelpe of the old Dogge, — Epigrams and Satires, printed by
Thomas Greedc :
[ Tlie author is fpeaking of tliofe who will probably pur-
chafe his book. ]
u Laft comes my fcoffing friend, of fcowring wit,
u Who thinks his judgement 'boye all arts doth fit.
li He huys the booke, atid hafies him to the play ;
44 Where when he comes and reads, " here's fluIF, "
doth fay :
(4 Becaufe the lookers on may hold liirn wife,
44 He laughs at what he likes, and then will rife,
(4 And takes tobacco; then about will lookc,
44 And more diflike the play than of the booke;
44 At length is vext he (houid with charge be drawnc
44 For fuch flight fights to lay a futc to pavvne."
9 " Before the play begins, fall to cardes.'^ Guls Home-
look, i6og.
* See The Woman-Hater, a comedy, by B. and Fietclier,
1607 : " There is no poet acquainted with "more fhakings and
quakings towards the latter end of his new play, when he's in
that cafe that he flands peeping between the curtains, fo
fearfully, that a bottle of ale cannot be opened, but that he
thinks fome body hiffes."
^ " Now, fir, I am one of your gentle auditors that am
come in; — I have my three forts of tthacco in my pocket;
viy light by me r — and thus I begin." Indufllou to Cynthia's
Revels, by Ben Jonfon, 1601.
So, In Bartholomew Fair, 1614: "• He looks like a fellow
that I have fcen accommodate gentlemen with tobacco at our
theatres."
Again, in Decker's Gt'ls Home-book : " By fitting on the
flage, you may with fmall coif purchafe the dcare acquaintance
i56 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
and nuts and apples they were furniflied by male
attendants, of \vhofe clamour a fatirical writer of
the time of James 1. loudly complains. "* In i633.
when Prynne publifhed his Hijiriomojiix, women
imoked tobacco in the playhoufes as v/ellas men. ^
It ^vas a common pra6lice to carry table-books^
to the theatre, and cither from curiofity, or enmity
to the author, or fome other motive, to write down
pafTages of the play that was reprefented; and
of the boyes •, have a good flool for fixpence; — geiyour match
lighicd, "Sec.
* a Pr'ytliee, what's the play?
u I'll fee't, and Gt it out whate'er. —
i« Had Fate fore-read me in a crowd to die;
4 4 To be made adder-deaf with pippin-cry. "
Notes from Blach-frjers^ by H. Fltz-Jeoffery, 1617.
^ In a note on a paffage in GofTon's Schoole of Abuje, iSyg.
" Inftead of pomegranates they give tliera pippins," 8cc.
quoted by Prynne, he informs us, " Now they offer them
[ the female part of the audience ] the tobacco-pipe, which was
then unk.nov.nc. " Hijiriomajlix, p. 363.
* See the Induftion to MarRon's Malecontent, a comedy,
1604: " I am one that hath feen this play often, and can
give them [Hemlnge, Burbage, See] intelligence for their
adion; 1 have moft of the jefts here in my iahle-book,''^
So, in the prologue to Hannibal and Scipio, iGSy :
i( Nor ftiall he in plufh,
c( That, from the poet's labours, in the pit
ts Informs himfelf, for the exercife of his wit
(.i At taverns, gather notes." —
Again, in the Prologue to Twe IVornan-Haler, a comedy,
1607 :
" If there be any lurking among you in corners, with
ialle-books, who have fome hopes to find fit matter to feed his
malice on, let them clafp them up, and flink. away, or ftay
and be converted. " »
Again, in Every Alan in his Humour, 1601 :
" But to fuch, wherever they fit concealed, let them know,
the author defies them aud their writing-tables, "
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. iSy
tlierc is reafon to believe that the imperfe£l and
mutilated copies of one or two of ShakCpeare's
dramas, Avhich are yet extant, were taken down by
the ear or in fliort-hand during the exhibidon.
At the end of the piece, die aftors, in noble-
men's houfes and in taverns, where plays were fre-
quently performed/ prayed for the health and
proiperity of their patrons; and in the publick
theatres, for the king and queen. ' This prayer
fomenmes made part of the epilogue. ^ Hence ,
probably, as Mr. Stcevens has obferved, the ad-
dition of Vivant 7'cx ^ regina, to the modern play-
bills.
Plays in the time of Shakfpcare, began at one
o'clock in the afternoon; ' and the exhibition was
7 See A Mad Jforld my Mizfters, a comedy, by Mlddleton,
l6oS : " Some fiierry for my lord's players there, firrah ; why
this will be a truefeaU; — a right Mii'/Yfupper ; — a play andall.'"
The night before the Infurre6lion of the gallant and unfor-
tunate Earl of Elfex, the play oi King Henry IV. (not Shak-
fpcare's piece) was acied at his houle.
'^ See the notes on the Epilogue to The Second' Part of
K. Henry IV. Vol. Xlll. p. 254.
9 See Camhyfes, a tragedy, by Thomas Prellon ; Locrine,
l5g5. and K. Henry IV. Part II.
- a Fufcus doth rife at ten, and at eleven
u He goes to Gyls, where he doth cat till one,
C4 Then fees a play."
Epigrams by Sir John Davies, no date, but printed about
1598.
Others, however, were aftuated by a ftronger curiofity,
and, in order to fecure good places, went to the theatre
without their dinner. See tlie Prologue to The Unfortunate
Lovers, by Sir William D'Aveuant, firll performed at Elack-
friars, In April, iG38.
(( You are grown excefflvc proud,
i( Since teu times more of wit than was allow'd
i58 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fometimes finidied in two hours. ' Even in 1667.
they commenced at three o'clock. "^ About thirty
u Your filly anceflors in twenty year,
tt You think in twojliort hours to fwallow here.
a For they to theatres were pleas'd to come,
a Ere they had din'd, to take up the bed room -,
u There fat on benches not adorn'd with mats,
(( And gracioully did vail their high-crownM hats
a To every half-drefs'd player, as he ftill
ii Through hangings pecp'd, to fee the galleries fill,
(( Good eafy-judging fouls, with what delight
u They would expect a jig or target-fight I
(( A furious tale of Troy, which they ne'er thouglit
n Was weakly writ, if it w>re ftrongly fought •
t( Laugh'd at a clinch, the fbadow of a jcft,
• u And^ cry'd — a pajjing good one, 1 protejl.'''
Prom the foregoing lines it appears that, anciently, places
were not taken in tlie beft rooms or boxes, before the rcprc-
fentalion. Soon after the Reftoration, this practice was ellab-
liflied. See a prologue to a revived play, in Covent Garden
Drollery, 1672.
u Hence 'tis, that at netjj plays you come fo foon,
t; Like bridegrooms hot to go to bed ere noon;
u Or if you are detain'd forae little fpacc,
u Thejlinkingfijolmansjent to keep your place,
ti But if a play's revived, you (lay and dine,
tt And drink till three, and then come dropping in."
Though Sir John Davies in the paffage above quoted, men-
tions one o'clock as the hour at which plays commenced, the
time of beginning the entertainment about eleven years after-
wards ii6og) feems to have been later; for Decker in his
Gills Horne-booke makes his gallant go to the ordinary at iioo
o'clock, and from thence to the play.
When Ben Jonfon's Magnetick Lady was aclcd (in i632.)
plays appear to have been over at five o'clock. They
probably at that time did not begin till between two and
three o'clock.
5 See p. 157. n. 2. See alfo the Prologue to K.Henry VJII.
and that to Romeo and Juliet.
* Sec The Demuijelles a la Mode, by Flcckno, 1GG7.
u I. ASlor. Hark you, hark you, whither away fo faft?
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. iSg
venrs afterwards, (In 1696) theatrical entertain-
ments began an hour later. ^
We have feen that in the infancy of our (lagc
MyReries were ufualiy a£led in churches ; and the
pradice of exhibitirjg religious dramas in buildings
appropriated to the fervice of religion on the
Lord's-day certainly continued after the Reforma-
tion.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth plays were
exhibited in the publick theatres on Sundays, as
well as on other days of the week. ^ The licence
a z. Atlor. Wliy, to the theatre, Ws, \\^^ three o'cloc);, and
the play is ready to bcsrin." See alfo note 2. above.
After the Reftoration, (we are told by old Mr. Gibber) it
was a frequent praflite of the ladies of quality, to carry
Mr. Kynallon the a£tor, in his female drefs, aj'ler the pla]\
in their coaches to Hyde-Park.
' See the Epilogue to The She Gallants, printed In that
year,
^ " Thefe, [the players] becaufe they are allowed to play
every Sunday, ra'dke iour or ^ve Sundays, at leaf!, every week."
Schoole of Abuje, iSyg.
C4 In former times, [fays Strype in his Additions to Stowe's
Survey of London,) ingeni(ms tradefmen and gentlemen's fer-
•vaiits would fometimes gather a company of themfelves, and
le^rn interludes, to expofc vice, or to reprefent the noble
adions of our anccllors. Thefe they played at feftivals, iu
private houfes, at weddings, or other entertainments. Bnt
in procefs of time if became an occupation, and thefe plays
being commonly adcd on Sundays and other fcRivals, the
churches were forfakcn, and the playhoufes thronged."
See alfo i Seimon preached at'Paules CroJJe on St. Barlhc
lomew day, being the H. of Augujl, ib-jS. By John Stockwood :
— "Will not a fylthie playe with the blaft of a trurapettc
fooncr call thythcr [to tlie country] a thoufande, than an
lioures tolling of a bell bring to the fermon a hundred ?
IS^y, even heere in the citie, without it be at this place,
and fonic other ccrtainc ordinarle au.lience, Vthcre fhall yon
i6o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
granted by that queen to James Burbage iii i-Syi..
Avhich has been already printed in a former page, ''
fliews that they were then reprefented on that dav,
out of the hours of prayer.
We are told indeed by John Field in his Decla-
ration oj God's Judgment at Paris Garden, that in the
year i.'''8o " tlie magiftrates of the city of London
obtained from Queene Elizabeth, that all heathenifh
playesand entcriucies fhouid be banifiicd upon fab-
bath dayes.'' This prohibition, however, probably
lafted but a fhort time; for her majefly, when fhe
vifited Oxford in 1592. did not fcruple to be pre-
fentata tiieatrical exhibition on Sunday night, the
24th of September in that year. ^ During the reign
of James the Firft, though diaraatick entertain-
ments were performed at court on Sundays,^ I
find a re;;fonabIe company? Whereas if you reforte to ike
Theatre, the Curtaine, and other places ol playcs In the citie,
you Ihall on the Lord's day have thefe places, with many
other that I can reckon, fo full as poflTible tliey can throng."
See alfo Stubbes's Anatomic of Abu Je^, i583. in pref. ; and
The Mirrour of Magijirales fur Cities, 15S4. p. 24.
' P. 47.
* Peck's Memoirs of Cromvell, No. IV. p. i5.
' This is alcertalned by the following account of "Re-
VEIXS and Playes performed and acted at Chrlflmas in the
court at Whitehall, 1622." for the prefervation of which we
are indebted to Sir John Allley, then M-fler of the Revels :
" Upon St. Stcevens daye at night The Spanifh Ctirate v/as
a6led by the klnj;s players.
" Upon St. Johns daye at night was a(5led The Beggars Bujh
by the kings players.
" Upon Childermas daye no playe.
"■ Upon the S'onday following The Pilgrim was afled by
the kings players.
" Upon New-years day at niij^ht The Alchemijl was at^led
by the kings playeri.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 161
bcl'cvc, no plays ^v•^re/'^^/; /?>/;/>> reprefen ted on that
day; * ^md by the flatute o Car. I. c. 1. tlieir exhi-
" Upon Twelfe night, the Mafque belnp; put ofi', tlic
play called A Voioe a:id a good one was acled by the princes
fcrvaijis.
'' Upon S'onday, beins^ tlie 19th of January, the Princes
Mafque appointed for Twelfe dayc, was performed. The
fpeeches and longs compofed by Mr. Ben johnfon, and the
Iccne made by Mr. Inigo Jones, which was tJiree times
changed during the tyme of the mafque: where in the firft
that was difcovered was a profpe^Hve of Whitehall, with
the Banqueting Houfe ; the ftcoad was the Mafijucrs in a
cloud ; and the third a forreR. The French evnbafhidor was
pre fen t.
'• The Antcmafques of tumblers and jugglers.
" The Prince did le^de 'the meafures with the French
embalTadors wife.
" The merdures, braules, cprrantos, and g.iIHirds being
ended, the Mafquers with the ladyes did da'nice 2 coiitrey
daunces, namely The Soldiers March, and H2/,ff Hamukhi^
where the French Enibalfadors wife and MademoyTala St. Luke
did [dannte].
"■ At Candlemas M.ilvolh was acled at court, by the
kings fcrvants.
" At Shrovetide, the king being at Newmarket, and the
prince out of England, there was neytlicr mafque nor
play, nor any other kind of P.evells held at court." MS.
Herbert.
* In the Refutation of the Apohgie for A^ors, by J. G. quarto,
l6l5. it is adced, " If plays do fo much good, why are they
not fulfered on the Sabbath, a day feledl whereon to do
good?" From hence it appears that plays were not permitted
to be publiikly afled on Sundays in the time oi James I.
Yet Beard in his Theatre of God'i Judgment, p. 212. edit.
l63i. tells us, that in the year 1607, '•'■ at a towne in Bed-
fordniire called Rifley, the floore of a chambtr wherein
many were gathered together to fee a ftage-play on the fab-
bath da)\ fell downe." But this was a private exiiibitiun.-—
From a paffage alfo in Prynne's Hijlriow Jli\ , p. 248. it ap-
pears tliat plays had been fometimcs repnfented on Sundays
in the time of Jame-s the Firil, though the pradice was
i62 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
billon on the Sabbatli day was abfolutely prohi-
bited : yet, notvvithftanding this a6l of parliament,
both plays and mafques were performed at court
on fundays, during the firll fixteen years of the
reign of that king. ' and certainly in private houfes,
if not on the publick flage.
then not common. " Dancing therefore on the Lords day
Is an unlawful paftirae puniihable by the ftatute 1 Cavoli, c. I.
which intended to fuppreffc dancing on the lords day, as
well as beare-bayting, buU-bayting, enttrludes and common
playes, which were not fo rife, fo common, as dancing, when
this law was firft ena6ted. "
It is uncertain whether this writer here alludes to publlct
or private exhibitions.
5 May, in his Hijlory of the Parliament of England, 1646.
taking a review of the condu6l of King Charles and his minifters
from 1628 to 1640. mentions that plays were ufually repre-
lented at court on Sundays during tliat period.
There were during this period fimllar exhibitions on
Sundays elfewhere as well as at court, notwithftanding the
ftatute made in the beginning of this reign : but whether they
were permitted then in the publick. theatres, I am unable to
afcertain^ Prynne in his Hijlriomajiix , p. 645. has the follow-
ing pafTage : " Neither will it hereupon follow, that we may
dance, dice, fee mafques ox -^Xdiyi on Lords-day nlghls, [as too
many do, ] becaufe the Lords day is then ended, " Sec. and in
p. 717. he infinuates that the ftatute 3 Gar, I. c. 4, (which
prohibited the exhibition of any interlude or ftage-play on
the Lord's-day, ) was not very ftrictly enforced : " If It were
as diligently executed as it was pioufly enacted, it would
fupprefTc many great abufes, that are ytt continuing among us,
to God? dilhonour and good chriftlans' grief In too many
places of our kingdom ; which our jufilces, our Inferlour
maglflrates, miglit foon rcforme, would they but fet thera-
fclves ferioudy about it, as forae here and there have done."
See alio Withers's Briiaines Remembrancer, Canto VI. p.
197. b. edit. 1628 :
i( And feldom have they lelfurc for a play
t( Or mafque, except upon God's holiday. "
In John Spencer's Difcourfti of diverje Ftliiions, Jic» 4to>
OF THE ENGLISH STAGJE. i63
It has been a qtieflion, whether it was formerly
a common praclice to ride on horfeback to the
playhoule; a circumflancc that would fcarcely
ciefcrvc confideration, if it were not in fome fort
conne(Eied with our author's hiftory, "* a plaufible
ftory having been built on this foundation, relative
to his fiiTi introdu£lion to the ftage.
The modes of conveyance to the theatre, an-
ciently, as at prefent, feem to have been various;
fome going in coaches, ' others on horfeback, ' and
1641. (as I learn from Oldys's Mapufcript notes on Langbalne,)
it is faid, that "John WlHon, a cunning mvificiau, contrived
a curious comedy, which being atied on a Sunday night after
that John bifliop of Lincoln had confecrated the earl of
Gleaveland's fumptuous chapel, the faidjolin Spencer (newly
made the billiop's commilTary general) did prefent the faid
blfliop at Huntingdon for fuffering the faid comedy to be
aftcd iu his houfe on a Sunday, though it was nine o'clock aC
nioht; alfo Sir Sydney Montacute and his lady, Sir Thomas
Iladley and his lady, Mafter Wilfon, and others, aclors of
the fame : and becaufc they did not appear, he fentenced the
biftiop to build a fchool at Eaton, and endow it with 2ol. a
year for a mafter; Sir Sydney Montacute to give five pounds
and five coats to five poor women, and his lady five pounds
and five gowns to five poor widows; and the cenfure, (fays
he,) Hands yet unrepealed. "
^ See Vol. I. Anecdotes at the endof Shakfpeare's Life, Sec,
^ li A pipe there, iirrah ; no fophifticatc ;
a Villaine, the beft; — whate'er you prize It at.
n Tell yonder lady with the yellow fan,
(( I fliall be proud to ufher her anon^;
u My coach ftands ready. > "
Notes from Black-friars, 1617.
The anthoir is defcribing the behaviour of a gallant at the
Black friars theatre.
* See the indu<SIon to Cynthia's Revels, 160 r : " Befides,
they could wifh, your poets would leave to be promoters of
other men's jefts, and to way-lay all the ftale apothegms or
old books they can hear of, in print or otherwife, to farce
M 2
i64 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
many by water. '' To tlic Globe playhoure the com-
tlieir fcenes withal ; — again, tliat feeding their friends with
nothing of their own but what they have twice or thrice
cook'd, they ftiould not wantonly give out, how foon they
had'drefi: it, nor hov>' many coaches came to carry away the
broken meat, bcfides hobb)-horj'es, zndfocl-chalh nags. "
" Ey this time, " (fays Decker, defcribing an ordinary, )
" the parings of fruit and cheefe are in the voycler, cardes
and dice lie llinking in the fire, the guefts are all up, the guilt
rapiers ready to be hanged, the French lacquey and Irifh
footboy fhruggiagat the doores, wilh their mafiers'' hobby horfes,
to ride to the new play; that^ the randevous, thither they are
gallopt in poll; Ictus take a paire of oares and now luRily
afttr them." Ciils Horncbo^ke, ^to. i6og.
7 In the year l6l3. the Company of Watermen petitioned
hlsmajefly, "• that the players might not be permitted to have
a plav-houfe in London or in Middlefex, within four miles of
the city on that fide of the Thames."" From Taylor's jyue
Calif e of the Watermen s Suit concerning Players, and the reafons
thai their playing on London fide, is their [i.e. the Watermen's]
extreme-hindrance, we learn, that the tlieatres on the Eankfide
in South wark v>-ere once fo numerous, and the cuftom ofgoing'
thither by water fo general, that many thoufand watcrmeu
were fupported by It. — As the book is not common, and the
paffage contains fome anecdotes relative to the ftage at that
tlrrie, 1 fhall tranfcribe It :
Afterwards," [i. c. as I conjecture, about the year 1596.]
fays Taylor, who was employed as an advocate in behalf of
the watermen, " the players began to play on the Eankfide,
and to leave playing in London and Middlefex, for the mojl
pari.Thtn there went fuch great concourfe of people by water,
that the fmjU number of watermen remainlug at home [the
m..iority being employed in the Spanifli war] were not able
to carry them., byreafonof the court, tlie tearms, the players,
and other employments. So that we were inforced and
encouraged, hoping that this golden lllrrlug world would liave
lalted ever, to, take and entertalne menand boyes, which
boyes are grown men, and keepers of houfes; fo that the
number of watermen, and thofe that live and are maintained
by them, and by tlie only labour of the oare and fcull, betwixt
the bridge of Wijidfor and Cravcfcnd, cannot be fewer than
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i65
pany probably Avere conveyed by water; * to that
in Blackjriars, tlie gentry went either in coaches, '
forty ihonjand ; thfi caufe oTtlie greater halfe of whlcli muhhude
Jiath bene the players playii\g on the Eankfide; for I have
known three companies, befides the bear-baiting, at once
there; to wit, ihe Globe, ihe Roje, and the Szu an.
" And now it hath pleafed God in this peaceful time,
[from 1604 to l6l3.] that there is no employment at the lea,
as it hath bene accuflomcd, fo that all thofe great numbers of
men remaines at home ; and the players have all ( except the
kings men) left their ufual rcfideucy en {he Bankjule, and doe
play in IMiddiefcx, far remote from the Thames ;. fo that every
day in ihe weeke they do draw unlo them, three or four thonfand
people, that were ufed to fpend their monies by water."
'' His majcfties players did exhibit a petition againftus, in
which they laid, that ourfuit was uiireafonable, and tbat we
micht as juftly remove the Exchange, the walkes iu Pauls,
or MoorGclds, to the Bankfide, for ourproHts, as to confine
them." ^
The affair appears never to have been decided. " Some
(fays Taylor) have reported t'ut 1 took bribes of the players,^
to let the fuit fall, and to that purpofe 1 had a fuppcr of
tliem, ?Ltlhe CardinaVshat, on the Eankfide." M^cr^-^ of Taylor
the water-poet, p. 17 1, edit. l633.
s See an epilogue to a vacation-play at the Qhhc, by Sir
William D'Avenant ; Worhs, p. 245.
u For your own fakes, poor fouls, you had not befl
u Believe my fury v/as fo much fuppreft
ii i' the heat of the laft fcene, as now you may
u Boldly and fafely too cry down our play;
4( For if vou dare but murmur one falfe note,
u Here in the houfe, or going to take boat ;
it By heaven I'll mow you off with my long fword,
u Yeoman andfquire, knight, lady, and her lord."
So, in The Guls Hornebook, i6og. " If you can either for
love or money, provide your felle a lodging by the water-
fide ; — it adds a kind of ftate to you to be carried from thence
to the Jiaiers of your playhotfe.^'
9 See a letter from Mr. Garrard to Lord Strafford, dated
lan.g. l633-4. Stratford's letters, Vol.1, p. lyS. "Here bnh
been an order of the lords of the council hung up iu a table
M 3
i66 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
or on horfeback; and the common people on
foot. *
near PauVs and the Blacli-Jryars, to command all that refort
to the playhoufe there, to fend away thtir coaches^ and to
difperfe abroad in PauCs Churchyard, Ctirter Lane, the Con-
duit in Fleet Street, and other places, and not to return to
fetch their company ; but they mufi: trot a-foot to find
their coaches : — 'twas kept very ftriclly for two or three
weeks, but now, I think, it is difordered again." — It ftiould,
however, be remembered that this was written above forty
years after Shakfpearc's firfl; acquaintance with tlie theatre.
Coaches, in the time of Qrieen Elizabeth were poflefied
but by very few. They were not in ordinary ufc till after
the year l6o5. See Stowe's Annals, p. 867.
In A pleajant Dialogue between Coach and Sedan, 4^^' i636.
it is fdid, that " the firft coach that was feen in England
■was that prefentedto Qiieen Elizabeth by the Earl of Arundel,
in which flie went from Somerfet-Houfe to St. Paule's Groffe,
to hear a fermon on the victory obtained againft the Spa-
niards in f588."
" 1 wonder in my heart," (fays the writer, who was born
in 1578.) " why our nobilltie cannot in fairc weather walkc
the flreets as they were wont; as I have feene the Earlcs
of Shrcwfbury, Darbie, Suffex, Cumberland, Effcx, 8cc. —
befides thofe inimitable prefidents of courage and valour.
Sir Frances Drake, Sir P.Sydney, Sir Martin Forbiflier, 8cc,
with a number of others, — when a coach v/as almoft as
rare as an elephant."
Even when the above mentioned order was made, there
were no hackney coaches, Thefe, as appears from another
letter in the fame colleftlon, were eftablifhed a few months
afterwards. " I cannot (fays Mr. Garrard) omit to mention
any new thing that comes up amongft us, though never
fo trivial. Here is one captain Bailey; he hath been a
fea-captain, but now lives on the land, about this city,
where he tries experiments. He hath ere6led, according
to his ability, fome four hackney coaches, put his men in
livery, and appointed them to fland at the May-pole in tlic
Strand, giving them inltru6lions at what rates to carry men
into feveral parts of the town, where all day they may be
had. Other hackncy-men feeing tliis way, they flocked to
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 167
Plavs in the time of King James the Firft, (and
probably aftenvards,) appear to have been per-
formed every day at each theatre during the "winter
feafon, ' except in the time of Lent, when they
the fame place, and perform their journeys at the fame rate.
So that ("ometimes there Is twenty of them together, which
difpcrfc up and down, that they and others arc to be had
every where, as water-men arc to be had by the water-
fide. Every body is much pleafed with it. For whereas,
before, coaches couki not be had but at great rates, now
a man may have one much cheaper." This letter is dated
April I. 1634. — Strafford's Letters, Vol.1, p. 227.
A few months afterwards hackney chairs were introduced ;
*' Here is aifo another project for carrying people up and
down in clcife chairs^ for the fole doing whereof, Sir Sander
Buncombe, a traveller, now a penfioner, hath obtained a
patent from the king, and hath forty or fifty making ready
for ufe." Ibid. p. 336.
This fpecies of conveyance had been ufed loug before
in Italy, from whence probably this traveller introduced it.
See Florio's Italian Diftionary, iSgS. in v. Carrivola : "A
kinde of chaire covered, ufed in Italic for to carrie men
up and downe by porters, unfeene of anie bodie.' In his
fecond edition, 1611. he defines It, " A kind of covered
chaire ufed In Italy, wherein men and women are carried
by porters upon their JhouldersT
^ Sec p. l63. n. 6. In an epigram by Sir John Davles,
perfons of an Inferior rank are ridiculed for prefumiug to
imitate noblemen and gentlemen In riding to the theatre :
(( Fauflus, nor lord, nor knight, nor wife, nor old,
u To every place about the town doth ride ^
tt He rides into the fields, plays to behold ;
44 He rides to take boat at the water-fide."
Epigrams, printed at Mlddlcburg, about l5g8.
' See Taylor's Suit of the Watermen, Sec. Works, p. 171.
" But my love Is fuch to them, [the players,] that whereas
they do play but once a day, I could be content they
fhould play twice or thrice a day." The players have all
(except the Kings men,) left their ufual refidency on the
Bankfide, and doc play In Middlefex far remote from the
M 4
iCS HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
^vere not permitted on the fermon days, as they
were called, that is, on Wcdnefoay and Friday;
nor on the other days of the \vcek, except by fpe-
ciai licence; which however was obtained by a fee
paid to the xMader of the Revel's. In the fummer
leafon. the ftage exhibitions were continued, but
during the long vacation they were lefs frequendy
repeated. However, it appears from Sir Henry
Herbert's Manufcript, that the king's company
ufually brought out t\vo or three new plays at tlic
Globe every fummer. *
Though, from the want of newfpapers and other
periodical publications, intelligence was nop fo
fpecdily circulated in former times as at pr^fent,
our ancient theatres do not appear to have laboured
under anv difadvantage in this rcfpecl ; for the
Thames, fo that every day in ti-.e week they do draw unto
them tlirce or four thoufan'd people." Ibidem.
In 1 598. Hentzner fays, plays were performed in tlie
theatres wh.ich were then open, almojl every day. "• Sunt
porro Londini extra urbfm tliealra aliquot, in quibus hl-
Rriones Angli comcedias 8c tragcedias fingulis fere diebus in
magna Jiominnm frequcntia agunt." llin. 4to. l5g8.
* In D'Avtnant's Works we find " an Epilogue to a
vacation play at the Globe." See alfo the Epifile to the
Reader, prefixed to Andromache, a tragedy acled at the Duke's
theatre, in iGyS. " This play happening to be in ray hands
in the long vacation, a time when the playhoufcs are willing
to catch at any reed to fave themfelves from finking, to
do the lioufe a kindnefs, and to ferve the gentleman who
it feemed was defirous to fee it on the ftage, 1 willingly
ptrufed it. — The play deferved a better liking, than it
found; and Iiad it been a£led in the good well meaning
times, when the Cid, Heraclius, and other Frencli playes
met with fuch applaufc, tliis would have pafTcd very well ;
but fiuce our audiences have taRcd fo plentifully the firm
EngUflx wit, thefc thin regalia will not down."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 1G9
players printed and expofed accounts of the pieces
that they intended to exhibit, ' wiiich, however, did
not contain a lift of the chaia6lcrs, or the names
of the adlors by whom they were reprefented. ^
^ " Tliey ufc to fet up tlieir billes upon poils fome ceitaine
(lavs before, to aclmoniih the people to make refort lo their
theatres, that they may thereby be the better furnilhed,
and the people prepared to fill their pnrfes with their
treafures." TreaHfe ngainji Idlenefs, faine Plajes and Inter-
lude.:, bl. 1. (no date).
The antiquity of this ciiftom likewife appears from a Hcry
recorded by Taylor tlie watcr-poct, under the head of Wit
and Mirth. 3o. " Mafter Field, the player, riding up Fleet--
flreet a u;reat pace, a gentleman called him, and a{ls.ed him,
what play was played that day. He being angry to be ftaied
on fo frivolous a demand, anfwered, that he might/ee what
play was plaied upon every pojle. I cry you mercy, faid
the gentleman, 1 tookc you for a pajle, you rode fo fafl."
Taylor's Works, p. i83.'
Ames, in his Hijory of Printing, p. 342. fays that James
Roberts [who publilhed fome of cur author's dramas] printed
I'iUs J<jr the plajers.
It appears from the following entry on the Stationers'
books that even the right of printing play-bills was at one
time made a fub}e<^ of monopoly :
" OB. 1587. John Charlewoodc,] Lycenfed to him by
tlie whole confent of the afliftants, the onlye ymprinting of
all manner of billes for players. Provided that if any trouble
arife lierebye, then Charleiooode to beare the charges."
6 This pra^llce did , not commence till the beginning of
tlie prcfciit ceutury. I have feen a play-biil printed in the
year 1697. which exprefTed only tlie titles of the two pieces
that were to be exhibited, and the time wjien they were
to be reprefented. Notices of plays to be performed on a
fuliire day, fimllar to thofe now daily publlflied, firft ap-
peared in the original edition of the SpeEtaton in 171 1.
In thefe early theatrical advertifements our author is always
flyled the immortal Shakfpeare. Hence Pope :
u Shakfpeare, whom you and every plaj-kcufe hill
(( Style the divine, the matchlefs, what you will, — ."
170 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
«
The long and vvhimfical titles which are prefixed
to the quarto copies of our author's plays, were
undoubtedly either written by bookfellers, or tran-
fcribed from the play-bills of the time. ' They were
equally calculated to attract the notice of the idle
gazer in the w'alks at St. Paul's, or to draw a croud
about fome vociferous Autolycus, who perhaps ^vas
hired by the players thus to raife the expedations
of the multitude. It is indeed abfurd to fuppofe,
that the modeft Shakfpeare, who has more than
once apologized for his wnluiorcd lines^ fliould in his
manulcripts have entided any of his dramas mojl
excellent and pleajant performances.^
7 Since the firft edition of this effay I have found flrong
reafon to believe that the former was the cafe. Nafhe iu
the fecond edition of his Supplication to the Devil, 4to. i5g2.
complains that the printer had prefixed a pompous title to
the firfl impreffion of his pampiilet, (publiflied in the fame
year,] which he was much afliamed of, and rejeded for
one more Cmple. " Cutoff," fays he to his printer, " tliat
long-tayld title, and let mee not in the fore-front of my
Looke m:ike a tedious mountebanks oration to the reader."
The printer's title, with which Naftie was difpleafed is as
follows ; "• Fierce Pennilejfe his Supplication io the Divell^
tlefcribing the over-Jp reading of Vice and Jupprejfion of Verlue,
Pleajantly interlaced v.nlh variable delights, and pathetically in-
tcrmixt with conceipted reproof es. Written by Thomas Nalhe,
Gent. i5g2." There is a ftriking refemblance betweeti this
and the titles prefixed to fome of the copies of our author's
plays, which are given at length in the next note. In the
title-page of our author's Merry Wives of IVindfor, 410. 1602.
(fee the next note,) Sir Hugh is called the Welch blight;
a miftake Into which Shakfpeare could not have fallen.
InRead of the fpurlous title above given, Nafhe in his
fecond edition, printed apparently under his own Infpec-
tlon, ( by Abel Jefics, for John Bufbie,) calls liis book only
— Pierce Pennile[fe his Supplication to the Divell.
' The titles of the following plays may ferve to j'lftifj'
what is here advanced ;
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 171
It is uncertain at what, time the ufage of giving
authors a benefit on the third dav of the exhibition
" The moji excellent HlRorie of the Merchant of Venice.
With the e:i'trcame crneltic of Shylocke the Jewe towards
the layd Merchant, in cutting a jui'l: pound of his flelh,
and obtayning of Portia by the choyfe of three catkets.
As it hath been divcrfe times acled by the Lord Chamber-
lalne his Servants. Written by William Shakefpeare. 1600."
" Mr. William Shak-fpeare his True Chronicle HiPiorle
of tlie Life and Death of King Lear and his three Daughters.
With the unfortunate life of Edgar, Sonne and Hcire to the
Earle of Glofter, and his fallen and alTumed humor of Tom
of bedlam : As it was played before the Kings Majeftie
at Whitehall upon S. Stephens Night in Chrlftmas Holll-
dayes. By his Majefties Servants playing ufually at the
Globe on the Bank-Iide. iGoS."
*' A moft Pleafant and Excellent Conceited Comedie of
Syr John Falftaffe, and the ?»Ierry Wives of Wlndfor. En-
termlxcd with fundrie variable and pleafing Humors of Sir
Hugh, the Welch Knight, JuRice Shallow, and his wife
couGn, Mr. Slender. W^itli the Swaggering Vaine of ancient
Pifloll, and Corporal Nym. By W'illiam Shakefpeare. As
it hath been divers times a6led by the Right Honourable
my Lord Chamberlalnes Servants ; both before her Majeftie
and clfewhere. 1602."
*•• The Hlftory of Henric the Fourtli ; With the Battel
at Shrewfburle, betweene the King and Lord Henrle Percy,
furnamed Henry Hot-fpur of the North. With the humor-
ous conceits of Sir lohn Falftaffe. Newly correiSed by
W. Shakfpeare. i5g8."
♦' The Tragedle of King Richard The Third. Contain-
ing his treacherous Plots agaiuft his brother Clarence : The
pitiful Murther of his innocent Nephews : his tiranous ufur-
pation : with the whole courfe of his dctelted Life, and
moft dcferved Death. As it hath been lately a6led by the
Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlalne his Servants.
By William Shakefpeare. i^gy."
172 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
of their piece, commenced. Mr. Oldys, in one
of his manufciipts, indmates that dramatick poets
had anciently their benefit on the firlt day that a
new piay was reprefented ; a regulation which
would have been very favourable to fome of the
ephemeral produ6lions of modern times. I have
found no authority which proves this to have been
the cafe in the time of Shakfpeare; but at the be-
ginning of the prefent century it appears to have
been cuftoraary in Lent for the players of the^ theatre
in Drury-lane to divide the profits of the firfl; re-
prefentation of a new play among them. ^
From D'Avenant, indeed, we learn, that in the
latter part of the reign of Queen Eiizab.eth, the
poet had his benefit on the fccond day. ''. As it Avas
a general pra£iice, in the time of Shakfpeare. to
fell the copy of the play to the theatre, I imagine,
in fuch cafes, an author derived no other advantage
from his piece, than what arofe from the fale of it.
Sometimes, however, he found it more beneficial
to retain the copv-right in his own hands ; and
*' The late and much-admired Play, called Pericles Prince
of Tyre. Wuh the true Relation of the whole Hiflorie, ad-
ventures, and fortunes, of the faid Prince : As alfo, the no
lefs ftrange and worthy accidents in the Birth and Life
of his Daughter jT/anaJta. As it hath been divers and fundry
times aded by his Majefties Servants at the Globe on the
Bank-Cde. By William Shakefpeare. 1609."
^ Gildon's Comparijon between the Stages, 1702. p. g.
* See The Play-Houje to be Let :
ct Player. There is an old tradition,
(c Tliat in the times of mighty l^amburlane^
li Of conjuring Faujius and the Beauchamps bold,
tt You poets us'd to have the Jecond day ;
(( This (hall be ours, fir, and to-inorrow yours.
a Foct. I'll take my venture ; 'tis agreed."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 173
when He did fo, I fuppofe he had a benefit. It is
certain' that the giving authors the profits of the
third exhibition ol their play, which ieems to have
been the ufuai mode during a great part of the laft
century, was an edabiilhed cuftom in the year 1612.
for Decker, in the prologue to one of his come-
dies, printed in that year, Ipeaks of the poet's
third day. *
The unfortunate Otway had no more than one
benefit on the proclu6lion of a new play ; and this
too, it feems, he was fometimcs forced to raort-
' u It is not praife is fouglit for nou', but pence,
u Tliongh dropp'd [lom grcafy-apron'd audience,
tt Clapp'd may he be with thunder, that plucks bays
t; With fucli foul hands, and with fquinteyes doth gare
a On Pallas' fliield, not caring, fo he gains
(( A cram'd ihiiddaj, what liith drops from his brains' "
, Vrologue to If this be not a good Play, the Devil's in t^ l6l2.
Yet the ioilowing paflages intimate, that the poet at a fub-
iequent period had fome interePi in the/ifco?;^/ day's exhibition:
u Whether their fold fcenes be difiik'd or hit,
u Are cares for them who eat by the ftage and wit ;
u H<?'s one whofc nnhought mnfe did never fear
(( An empty J econd day, or a thin {hare. "
Prologue to The City Match./, a comedy, by J. Mayne,
acled at Blacktrlars in iGSc).
So, In the prologue to The Sophy, by Sir John Deuham,
aflcd at Blackfriars in 1642 :
tt Gentlemen, If you difiike the play,
u Pray make no words on't till the fecond day '
u Or third be pad; for we would have you know it,
u The lofs win fill on us, not on the poet,
li For he writes not for money. "
In other cafes, then, it may be prcfumed, the lofs, eliher
of the fecond or third day, did affe£l the author.
Since the above was written, 1 have learned from Sir Henry
Herbert's office-book, that between the year l6-25 and 1G41,
benefits were on the fecond day of rcprefentatlon.
174 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
gage, before the piece was a^led. " Soutlierne was
the firft diamatick \vriter who obtained the emolu-
ments arifing from two reprefentations ; * and to
Farquhar, in the year 1700. the benefit of a third
was granted;^ but this appears to have been a
particular favour to that gcndeman; for for feveral
years afterwards dramadckpoets had only the benefit
of the third and fixth performance. "^
* li Eut which amongH; you i$ there to he found,
4c Will take his third rf^v'.i pa-io:\ for fifty pound?"
Epilogue to Cuius Marius, 1680.
^ " I muft make my boaft, though with the moft acknow-
ledging rcfped, of the favours 01 the fair fex — in fo vlfibly
promoting my intereic on tliofe days chiefly, (the third and
the fixlh,) when I had the tendereft relation to the welfare
of my play. "
Soulherue's Dedication of Sir Antony Love, a comedy, 1691,
Hence Pope :
a May Tom, whom heaven fent down to raifc
4C The price of prologues and of plays," 8cc.
It fiiould feem, however, to have been feme time before
this cuftom was uniformly eftablifhed; for the author of TAc
Treacherous Brothers, a6ted in 1696. had only one benefit:
ii. See't but three days, and fill the houfe, the laji,
a He ftig)} not trouble you again in hafte." Epilogue.
^ On the reprelentation oiThe Gon/lanl Couple, which was
performed fifty-three times in tlie year 1700. Farquhar, on
account of the extraordinary fuccefs of that play, is faid by
one of his biographers, to have been allowed by the managers,
the profits oifour reprefentations.
7 a Let this play live; then we Hand bravely fixt;
\i But let none come his third day, nor the llxth.''''
Epilogue to The IJland Princefs, 1701.
a But ftiould this fail, at Icall our author prays,
(( A truce may be concluded iorjlx days."
Epilogue to The Perplex' d Lovers, 1712.
In the preface to Qlie Humours of the Army, printed In the
following year, the author fays, " It would hi impertinent
£0 go about to juftify the play, becaiile aptodigious full third
OF Tnfe ENGLISH STAGE. 175
The profit of three reprefentatlons did not be-
come the eftabliiilied right of authors till after the
vear 1720. ^
To the honour of Mr. Addifon, it lliould be
remembered, that he firR difcontinued the ancient,
but humiliating, practice of diflribudng tickets,
and foliciting company to attend at the theatre, oa
the poet's nights. '
When an author fold his piece to the fharers ot
proprietors of a theatre, it could not be performed
by any other company, ' and remained for feveral
night and a very good fixlh arc prevailing arguments in its
behalf. "
8 Gibber In his Dedication to Xiinena or the Heroich
Laughter, printed in 1719. talks of bad plays lingering through
fiK nights. At that time therefore poets certainly had but
two benefits.
9 Southerne, by this praftlce, is faid to have gained feveu
hundred pounds by one play.
* " Whereas William Biefton, gent, governor of the kings
and qucenes young company of players at the Cockpit in
Drury Lane, has reprelented unto his majelly, that the
feveral! playes hereafter mentioned, viz. Wit -ioilhout Money :
The j\ighl- Walkers : The Knight of the Burning Fejle : Fathers-
owne Sonne: Cupids Revenge : The Bondman: The Renegade :
A new Way to pay Debts: The great Duke of Florence : The Maid
of Honour: The Tray tor : The Ey ample : The Young Admiral :
The Opportunity : AwittyfayreOne: Loves Cruelty : The Wedding:
The Maids Revenge: The Lady of Pleafure : The Schoole of Coni"
plcmenl: The grateful Serxant: The Coronation : Hide Parke:
Fhilip Chabot, Admiral of France : A Mad Couple well met : All's
loftbyLiift: The Changeling: A fayre (hiarrel : TheSpanifh
Cipfie: The World: The Stcnnes Darling: L^oves Sacrifice : 'Tis
pity Jle's a Whore : George a Greene : Loves Mijrefs : TheCuiin
ning Lovers : The Rape of Lucrece : A Trick to cheat the Divell:
A Fvole and her Maydenhead foone parted : King John and Matilda:
A City Night-cap: The Bloody Banquet : Cupids Revenge: The
conceited Duke : and Appius and Virginia, doe all and every of
176 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
years unpubliilied; ', when tliat was not tlie
them properly and of right beloni^ to the layd houfe, and
conlefiuenlly that they are all in his propriety. And to tlic;
end that any other companies of a£lors in or about London
fhall not prefume to acl any of them to the prejudice of him
the fayd William Biefton and his company, his majefty hath
Csfnined his royal pleafure unto mee, thereby requiring race
to declare foe much to all other companies of a6iors hereby
concernable, that they are not any wayes to intermeddle wiih
or act any of the above-mentioned playes. Whereof I require
all mafters and srovernours oFplayhoufes, and all others whom
it may concerne, to take notice, and to forbeare to impeach
the layd William BleRon in the preraifes, as they tender his
raajeriies difpleafure, and will anlwer the contempt. Given,
&c. Aui;. to. iGJg. " MS.Jn the Lord Chamberlain's office,
entitled in the margin, Coclpili plajss approprled.
3 Sometimes, however, an author, after having fold his
piece to the theatre, either publiflied it, or fulFcred it to be
printed; but this appears to have been confidered as dillionett.
See the preface to Heywood's Rape of Liicrsce, l638 : " 1 had
raihcrfubfcribe in that to their weak cenfure, than, by feeking
to avoid the imputation of weaknefs, to incur a great fufpicion
of hontftv ; for though forae have ufed a double lale of their
labours, lirft to t'ne ftage, and after to the prcife, " Sec.
How careful the proprietors were to guard agaim't the
publication of the plays which they had purchafed, appearv
from the following admonition, direcled to the Statloueri'
Company in the year iBSy. by Philip earl of Pembroke and
Monlgomcrv, then Lord Chamberlain.
"■ After m)' hearty commendations. — Whereas complaint
was heretofore prefented to my dear brother and predcctf-
for, bv his majcllies fervants, the players, that fome of the
company of printers and Aationcrs had procuied, publlfbed,
and printed, diverfe of their books of comedyes and tra-
gedyes, chronicle hilloryes, and the like, which they had
(for the fpecial fervice of his majeftye and for their own
ufe ') bought at\d provided at very dear and high rates. Ly
means whereof, not only they then.felves had mucli pre-
judice, but the books much corruption, to the injury and
difgrace of the author's. And thereupon the mailer and
wardens of "the company of printers and llatloners Averc
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 177
cafe, lie printed it for fale, to which many feem to
advifed by my brother to take notice thereof, and to take
order for the ftay of any further impreflion of any of the
playes or interludes of his majeflles fervants without their
confents; which being a caution given with fuch refpc^l,
and grounded on fuch weighty reafons, both for his ma-
jefties fervice and tlie particular iutereft of tlie players,
and foe agreeable to common juftice and that indifferent
meafure which every man would look for in his own parti-
cular, it might have been prefumed that they would have
needed no further order or diredion in the buiinefs, not-
wlthllanding which, I am informed that fome copies of
playes belonging to the king aud queenes fervants, the
players, and purchafed by them at dear rates, having been
lately ftollen or gotten from them by indired means, are
now attempted to be printed, and that fome of them are
at the prefs, and ready to be printed ; which. If it fhould
be fulFered, would direflly tend to tlieir apparent detriment
and great prejudice, and to the difenabliag them to do their
majeflles fervice : for prevention and redreffe whereof, it
is defired that order be given and entered by the maftcr
and wardens of the company of printers and llatloners,
that if any playes be already entered, or Iball hereafter be
brought unto the hall to be entered for printing, that
notice thereof be given to the king and queenes fervants,
the players, and an enquiry made of them to whom they
do belong; and that none bee fuffered to be printed untlll
the aflent of their majefties' fald fervants be made appear
to the Mafter and ^Vardens of the company of printers
and ftationers, by fome certificate in writing under the
hands of John Lowen, and Jofeph Taylor, for the kings
fervants, and of Ghrlftopher Beefton for the king and queenes,
young company, or of fuch other perfons as fliall from
time to time have the direElion of thefe companies; which
is a courfe that can be hurtfull unto none but fuch as arc
about unjuftly to peravayle ihemfelves of others' goods,
•without refpe£l of order or good governement v which I
am confident you will be careful to avoyd, and therefore
I recommend it to your fpecial care. And if you fhall
have need of any further authority or power either from
his majenyc or the counfcll-table, the better to enal»le you
t N
17S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
have been induced from an apprehenfion that an
impcrreci: copy might be iffued from the prefs
without their confent. * The cuilomary price of
the copv of a play, in the time of Shakfpeare,
appears to have been twenty nobles, or fix pounds
thirteen ihillings and four-pence. ' The play when
in the execution thereof, upon notice given to mee either
by yourfelves or the players, 1 will endeavour to apply
that further remedy thereto, which Ihall be requiCtc. And
foe I bldd you very heartily farewell, and reft
" Your very loving friend,
" June 10. 1637. P. and M.
" To the Mafter and Wardens of the Company of Printers
and Starioners."
* " One only thing affecls me ; to llunk» that fcenes
invented merely to be fpoken, fhould be Inlorcively pub-
liflied to be read ; and that the leafl hurt I can receive,
is, to do myfelf the wrong. But fince others otherwifc
•would do me more, the leaft inconvenience is to be ac-
cepted ; I have therefore myfelf fet forth this comedle."
Marfton's pref to The Malecontent, 1604.
5 See The Defence of Cbneycaiching, iSgs. " Mafter R. G.
[Robert Greene] would it not make you blufli — if you
fold Orlando Furiofo to the queenes players for tii-enly nobles,
and when they were in the country, fold the fame play to
Lord Admirals men, for as much more ? Was not this plain
coneycatching, M. G. ?"
Oldys, in one of his manuftripts, fays, tliat Shakfpeare
received but _^r;e pounds for his Hamlet; whether from the
players who firft adled it, or tlie printer or bookfeller who
firft publllhed it. Is not diftlngulfhed. I do not believe he
had any good authority for this alfertlon.
In the latter end of the lafl century, it fhould feem, an
author did not ufually receive more from his bookfeller
for a draraatick performance than 2ol. or 251. for, Dryden
in a letter to his fon, written about the year 1698. men-
tions, that the whole emoluments which he expefled from
a new play that he was about to produce, would not ex-
ceed one hundred pounds. Otway and Lee got but that
fum by Venice Preferved, The Orphan^ Theodofius, and Alex-
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 179
printed was fold for fixpence; * and the nfual pre-
ander the Great; as GilJon, their contemporary,- informs
us. The ])rofit.s of the third night Avere probably feventy
pounds ; the dedication produced either five or ten guineas,
according; to the munificence of the patron; and the relt
arofe from the fale of the copy.
Southern?, however, in confequence of the extraordinary
fnccefs of his Fatal Marriage in 1694. fold the copy of
that piece for thirty-fix pounds, as appears from a letter
which has been kindly communicated to me by my friend,
the Right Honourable Mr. Windham, and which, as it cori-
tains fome new flage anecdotes, I (hall print entire. This
letter lias been lately found by Mr. Windham among his
father's papers, at Felbrigge, in Norfolk ; but, the fignature
being wanting, by whom it was written has not been
afoertained :
"• Dear Sir, London, March tlie 22. i6g3-4.
" 1 received but 10 days fince the favour of your obliging
letter, dated January the laft, for which I return you a
thoufand thanks. 1 wifli my fcrlbbllng could be diverting
to you, 1 fliould oftner trouble you with ray letters ; but
there is hardly any thing now to make It acceptable to
you, but an account of our winter diverfions, and clilefly
of the new plays which have been the entertainment of
the town.
" The firft that was a6led was Mr. Congreve's, called
T'he DoJihle Dealer. It has fared with that play, as It ge-
nerally docs with beauties officloufly cried up; the mighty
expeJlatlon which was ralfed of it made It fink, even be-
neath its own merit. The characler of 77:c Double Dealer
Is artfully writt, but the a£lion being but Cngle, and con-
fined, within the rules of true comedy, it could not pleafe
the generality of our audience, who rellflr nothing but
variety, and think any thing dull and heavy which does
not border upon farce. — The criticks were fevere upon
this plav, which gave the author occafion to laQi 'em In
his Epiftle Dedicatory, In io defying or he6loring a ftyle,
that It was counted rude even by his heil friends ; fo that
'tis generally thought he has done his bufinefs, and loft
liimfelf : a thing he owes to Mr. Dryden's treacherous fricnd-
fhip, who, being j,ealous of the applaufe he had gott bv
N 2
i8o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fcnt from a patron, in return for a dedication, ^va$
forty fliillings.^
Ills Old Batchelour, deluded liim into a foolifh Imitation of
his own way of writing angry prefaces.
" The 2d play is Mr. Dryden's, called Love Triumphant^
or Nature will prevail. It is a tragi-comedy, but In my opinion
one of the worft he ever writt, if not the very worft; the
comical part defcends beneath the ftyle and fhew of a Bartho-
lomew-fair droll. It was damn'd by the univerfal cry of the
town, nemine contradicenie, but the conceited poet. He fays
In his prologue, that this is the laft the town mufl expeifl: from
him: he had done himfelf a kindnefs had he taken his leave
before.
" The 3d Is Mr. Southern's, calld The Fatal Marriage, of
the Innocent Adultery. It is not only the beft that author ever
wrItt, but Is generally admired for one of the greateft orna-
ments of the ftage, and the moft entertaining play has appeared
upon It thefe 7 years. The plot Is taken from Mrs. Behn's
novel, calld The Unhappy Vow-Breaker. I never faw Mrs.
Barry afl with fo much paflion as fhe does in it-, I could not
forbear being moved even to tears to fee her a£l. Never was
poet better rewarded or incouraged by the town; for befides
an extraordinary full houfe, which brought him about 140I.
5o noblemen, among whom my lord Winchelfea was one,
gave him guineas apiece, and the printer 361. for his copy.
*■' This kind ufage will encourage defponding minor poets,
and vex liuffing Dryden and Congreve to madnefs.
" We had another new play yefterday, called The Ambitious
Slave, or a generous Revenge. Elkanah Settle is the author of
it, and the fuccefs Is anfwerable to his reputation. I never
faw a piece fo wretched, nor worfe contrived. He pretends
'tis a Perfian llory, but not one body In the whole audience
could make any thing of it ; 'tis a mere babel, and will fink
for ever. The poor poet, feeing the houfe would not ad It
for him, and give him tiie benefit of the third day, made a
prefent of it to the women In the houfe, who adit, but without
profit or Incouragcment. "
In 1707 the common price of the copy-right of a play was
fifty pounds ; though in that year Lintot the bookfeller gave
Edmund Smith fixty guineas for Lis Pht^ika and Hippolyius,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.
181
On the firfl day of exhibiting a new play, the
prices of admiffion appear to have been raifed, *
In 17 i5. Sir Richard Steele fold Mr. Addifon's comedy,
called The Dnimmei\ to J. Tonfon for fifty pounds : and In
1721. Dr. Young received the fame price for his tragedy of
The Revenge. Two years before, however, (1719) Southcrne,
whofeems to have underitood author-craft better than any of his
contemporaries, fold his Spartan Dame for the extraordinary fum
of 120I. ; andin 1726 Lintotpaid the celebratedplagiary, James
Moore Smyth, one hundred guineas for a comedy entitled
The Rival Modes. From that time, this appears to have been
the cuflomary price for feveral years •, but of late, ( though
rarely) one hundred and fifty pounds have been given for a
new pla)'. The fineft tragick. poet of the prefent age, Mr.
Jephson, received thatprlce for two of his admirable tragedies.
'' See the preface to the quarto edition of Troilus and
CreJ/lda, 1609 : " Had 1 time, I would comment upon It,
though It needs not, for fo much as will make you think
your tejlerne well beflowed, but for fo much worth as even
poor 1 know to be ftuft In it," Sec.
See alfo the preface to Randolph'sy^n/owi Lovers^ a comedy,
l632 : " Courteous reader, 1 beg thy pardon, if I put thee
to the expence of z fixpence, and the lofs of half an hour. "
^ " I did determine not to have dedicated my play to any
tody, heczuie forty Jhillings I care not for; and above, few
ornone willbeftowon thefe matters." Dedication to/i JVomans
a Weathercock, a comedy, by N. Field, 1612.
See alfo the Author's Epijile popular, prefixed to Cynthia's
Revenge, i6l3 : " Thus do our pie-bald naturalifts depend
tipon poor wages, gape after the drunken harveft oi forty
Jl.illings, and fbame the worthy henefaEiors of Helicon.''''
Soon after the Revolution, five, and fometimes ten, guineas
feems to have been the cuflomary prefent on thefe occaGons.
In the time of George the FIrft, it appears from one of Swift's
Letters that twenty guineas were ufually prcfented to aa
author for this piece of flattery.
2 This may be collected from the following verfes by
J. Mayne, to the memory of Ben Jonfon :
ti He that writes well, writes quick, fince the rule's true,
a Notliing is flowly done, that's always new;
N 3
i82 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fomedmes to double, fometimes lo treble, prices;'
and this feeras to have been occafionally pra£lifed
on the benefit-nights of authors, and on the repre-
fcntation of expenfive plays, to the year i 726 in the
prefent century.
Dramatick poets in ancient times, as at prefent,
were admitted gratis into the theatre. '
(( So when thy Fox had tea times a£led been,
a Each day viasfirjl, but that 'twas cheaper Jeen.''''
9 See the laft line of the Prologue to Tunbridge Wellsj
1672. quoted in p. Io3. n. g.
- Dovvnes, fpeaking of The Squire of Aljaiia, a61ed in
1688. fays, " the poet received for his third day in the
houfe in Drury Lane at Jingle prices, i3ol, which was the
greateft receipt they ever had at fingle prices.^'' Hence it
appears that the prices were fometimes ralfed ; and after
the Reftoratlon the additional prices were, I believe, de-
manded during what is called in the language of the theatre
the firft run of a new piece. At leafx this was the cafe in
the prefent century. See the Epilogue to Hecuba^ a tra-
gedy, 1726.
a What, a new play, without new fcenes and cloaths I
tt Without a friendly psrtv from the Rofe !
(( And what againft a run Alll prepolTefTes,
tt 'Twas on the bills put up at common prices.''''
See alfo the Epilogue to Lote at firjl fight :
ii Wax tapers, gawdy cloaths, rats' d prices too,
u Yet even the play thus garnilVd would not do."
In 1702 the prices of admiflion were In a fluduating
ftate. " The people," fays Glidon, "never were in a better
humour for plays, nor were the houfes ever fo crowded,
though the rales have run very high, fometimes to a fcan-
dalous excefs ; never did printed plays rife to fuch a price,
— never were fo many poets preferred as In the laft ten
years." Compa-^ifon bticoeen the tioojlages, 1702. The price
of a printed play about that time role to eighteen-pence.
' See Vcrfes by J. Stephens, " to liis worthy friend," H.
FItz-Jeoffery, on his Koies from Black fryers, 1617.
u 1 mult,
(( Though it be a player's vice to be unjuft
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i83
It appears from Sir Henry Herbert's Office-book
that the king's company between the years 1622
and 1641 produced either at Blackfriars or the
Globe at lead four new plays every year. Every
play, before it was repreieiited on the ftage, was
licenfed by the Mafter of the Revels, for which he
received in the time of Queen Elizabeth but a
noble, though at a fubfequent period the ilated fee
on this occafion rofe to two pounds.
Neither Queen Elizabeth, nor King James the
Firft, nor Charles the Firll, I believe, ever went
to the publick theatre ; but they frequently ordered
plays to be performed at court, which were repre-
fented in the royal theatre called the Cockpit, in
Whitehall: and the a^fors of the king's company
were fometimes commanded to attend his majelly
in his furamer's progrefs, to perform before him in
the country. * Queen Ilenrietta Maiia, however,
cc To vcrfe not yielding coyne, let players know,
u They cannot recompence your labour, though
u They grace you with a chayre,upon the ftage,
(( And take no money of yov nor your page.^''
So, in The Play-houje to be let, hy Sir W. D'Avenant:
(( Poet. Do you fetup for yourlelvcs, and profefs wit,
u Without help of your authors ? Take heed, firs,
*« You'll get few cuftomers.
(c Houfekceper. Yes, we Ihall have the poets,
a Poet. ^Tis becaufe they pay nothing for their entrance,**
'^ " Whereas William Pen, Thomas Hobbes, William
Trigg, W^IUiam Patrick, Richard Baxter, Alexander Gough,
William Hart, and Richard Hawley, together with ten more
or thereabouts of their fellows, his majefties comedians,
and of the regular company of players in the Blatkfrycrs,
London, are commaunded to attend his majedic, and be
nigh about the court this funimer progrefs, in rcadinefs,
when tliey {hall be called uyjon to a6l before his majeftle :
for the better enabling and cncouraglnsi them whcrcunto,
N 4
i84 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
went fometimes to the pubiick theatre at Black-
hls majefty is gracioufly pleafed that they fliaU, as well
before his majefties fettiug forth on his inaine progrelfe, as
in all that time, and after, till they fhali have occafion
to retiirne homewards, have all freedome and liberty to
repayrc unto all towns corporate, mercate townes, and other»
where they fhall thinke fitt, and there in their common
halls, mootehalls, fchcoi-houfes or other convenient roomes,
acl playes, comedyes, and interludes, without any lett,
hinderance, or moleflation whatfoever, (behaving themfclves
civilly). And herein it is his majefties pieafure, and he
does expecl, that in all places where they come, they be
treated and entertayued with fuch due refpeft and courtefie
as may become his raajefh'es loyal and loving fubje£ls to-
wards his fervants. In teAImony whereof 1 have hereunto
fet my hand and feale at p.rms. Dated at Whitehall, the
lyih of May, i636.
"• To all Mayers, Sec. P. and M."
MS. in the Lord Chamberlain's office.
This Is entitled in the margin — A Player's Pajs.
William Hart, whofe name occurs in the foregoing lift,
and who undoubtedly was the eldefl: fon of Joan Hart,
our poet's Cfler, is mentioned in another warrant, with tea
others, as a dependant on the players, — "employed by his
Majeftles fervants of llie Elackfryers, and of fpecial ufc unto
them, both on the ftage and otherwife."
This paper having efcaped my memory, when my edition
cf Shakfpeare's works, was printing, I fuggefted that Michael
Hart, our poet's youngeft nephew, was probably the father
of Charles Hart, the celebrated tragedlau ; but without
doubt his father was William, (the elder brother of Michael,)
who, we find, fettled in London, and was an a6lor. It is
highly probable that he left Stratford before his uncle
Shakfpeare's death, at which time he was fixteen years
old ; and in confequence of that connexion found an eafy
imrodu(5lIon to the ftage. He probably married in the year
i6q5. and his fon Charles was, I luppofe born In 1626.
Before the acccihon of Charles the Flrll, the chrHUan name
of Charles v;as fo uncommon, that it fcarcely ever occurs
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i85
friars. ? I find from the Council-books that in the
time of Elizabeth ten pounds was the payment for
a play performed before her ; that is, twenty nobles,
or fix pounds, thirteen fliillings, and four-pence,
as the regular and flated fee ; and three pounds, fix
fliillings, and eight-pence, by way of bounty or
reward. The fame fum, as 1 learn from the manu-
fcript notes of lord Stanhope, Treafurer of the
Chamber to King James the Firfl, continued to be
paid during his reign : and this was the dated pay-
ment during the reign of his fucceffor alfo._ Plays
at court were ufually performed at night, by which
means they did not interfere with the regular exhi-
bition at the publick theatres, which was early in
the afternoon ; and thus the royal bounty was for
fo much a clear profit to the company: but ^vhen
a play was commanded to be performed at any of
the royal palaces in the neighbourhood ofLondon,
by which the a£lors were prevented from deriving
any profit from a publick exhibition on the lame
day, the fee, as appears from a manufcript in the
Lord Chamberlain's office, was, in the year i63o.
in our early parifli-rcgifters. Charles Hart was a lieutenant
under Sir Thomas Dallifon in Prince Ruperf's regiment,
and fought at the battle of Edgehill, at which time, accord-
ing to my fuppofition, he was but feventeen years old ;
but Cuch early exertions were not at that time uncommon.
William Hart, who has given occafiou to the prefent note,
died in id3g. and was buried at his native town of Stratford
on the 28th of March in that year.
' " The i3 May, 1634. the Qvieene was at Blackfryers,
to fee Meffengers playe." — The play which her majeftjr
honoured with her prefence was The Tragedy of Cleander^
which had been produced on the 7 th of the fame month,
and is now loft, with many other pieces of the fame writer.
i86 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
and probably in Shakfp care's" time alfo, twenty
pounds ; ^ and this circumftance I formerly Hated,
as flrongly indicating that the fum lafl mentioned
was a very confiderable produce on any one repre-
fentation at the Blackfriars or Globe playhoufe.
The office-book which I have fo often quoted, has
fully confirmed ray conjefiure.
The cuftom of paffing a final cenfure on plays at
their firft exhibition,^ is as ancient as the time of
6 It Whereas by virtue of his majefties letters patent,
bearing date the i6th of June, iGsS. made and graunted in
confirmation of diverfe warrants and privy feales unto you
formerly dire6led in the time of our late foveraigne King
James, you are authorized ( amongft other things) to make
payment for playes a6led before his majefty and the queenc.
Thels are to pray and require you, out of his majtdies
treafure in your cliarge, to pay or caufe to be payed unto
Jolin Lowing, in the behalfe of himfeife and the reft: of the
company his raajeflies players, the fum of two hundred
and fixty pounds ; that is to fay, twenty pounds apiece for
four playes a6led at Hampton Court, in refpe6l and conG-
deration of the travaile and expence of the whole com-
pany In dyet and lodging during the tliTie of their attendance
there ; and the like fomme of twenty pounds for one otlier
play which was aded in the day-time at Whitehall, by meanes
whereof the players loft the benefit of their houfe for that
day ; and ten pounds apiece for fixteen other playes a£led
before his majefty at Whitehall : amounting In all unto the
fum of two hundred and fixty pounds for one and twenty
playes his majePiIes fervaunts aded before his majeftle and
the queene at feverall times, between the 3oth of Sept. and
21 ft of Feb. laft paft. As it may appeare by the annexed
fchedule.
" And thels, &c. March ly.'lGSo-i."
MS. in the Lord Chamberlain's office.
7 The cuftom of expreffing dlfapprobation of a play,
and Interrupting the drama, by the nolfe of catcals, or at
leaft by Imitating the tones of a cat, is probably as ancient as
Shakfpeare's time ; for Decker in his Guls Horncbook^ coun-
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 187
Shakfpeare ; for no lefs than three plays ^ of his
rival, Ben Jonfon, appear to have been dcfervedly
damned ; ' and Fletcher's FailJijul Shepkcrdcfs, "^ and
fels the gallant, if lie wiflies to difgrace the poet, " to whew
at the children's adion, to whiftle at tlie iongs, and mew
at the paHlonate fpeechcs." See alfo the indudion to The
JJlc of Gulls, a comedy, 160G. " Either fee it all or none;
for 'tis grown into a cuflom at plays, if any one rife, (efpe-
cially of any fafhionahle fort,) about what feriou.s buCncfs
foever, the reH, thinking it in diflike of tlie play, (though
he never thinks it,) cry — '■mew, — byjefus, vile,' — and
leave tiie poor heartlefs children to fpeak their epilogue to
the empty feats."
" Stjanus, Catiline, and The Kew Inn, Of the two for-
mer, Jonfon's Ghoji is thus made to fpeak in an epilogue
to Every Man in his Humour, written by Lord Buckhurft,
about the middle of the lalf century :
tc Hold, and give way, for I myfelf will fpeak:
(( Can you encourage fo much infolence,
tt And add new faults ftill to the great offence
ti Your anceflors fo rafhly did commit,
(( Againft the mighty powers of art and wit,
u When they condemn'd thofe noble works of mine,
(( Stjaniis, and my beft-lov'd Catiline?"
The title-page of The jYeu) Inn, is a Sufficient proof of Its
condemnation. Another piece of this writer does not fecm
to have met with a very favourable reception; for Mr.
.Drummond of Hawthornden (Jonfon's friend ) informs us,
that " when the play Q,f The Silent Woman was firft a6led,
there were found verfes, after, on the flage, againft him,
[the author,] concluding, that that play was well named
The Silent Woman, becaufe there was never one man to
fay plaudite to it." Drummond's Works, fol, p. 226.
9 The terra, as well as the prat^llce, is ancient. See the
epilogue to The Unfortunate Lovers, by Sir W. D'Avenant,
>643.
" Our poet
*' will never wifli to fee us thrive,
u If by an humble jepilogue we ilrlve
ti To court from you tliat privilege to-day,
u Which you fo long have had, to dainil a play.'*
i88 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
The Knight oj the burning Pejlk, written by him and
Beaumont, underwent the fame fate. ^
It is not eafy to afcertain what were the emolu-
ments of a fuccefsfuladorin the time of Shakfpeare,
They had not then annual benefits, as atprefent.
The clear emoluments of the theatre, after dedu£l-
ing the nightly expences for lights, men occafionally
hired for the evening, Sec. which in Shakfpeare's
houfe was but forty-five {hillings, were divided into
ihares, of which part belonged to the proprietors,
who were called houfekeepers, and the remainder
was divided among the a<?i:ors, according to their
rank and merit. I fufpe£); that the whole clear
receipt was divided into forty fhares, of which
* See in p. 126. (n. 5.) Verfes addreffed to Fletcher on his
Faithful Shepherdejs.
3 See the epiftle prefixed to the firft edition of The Knight
of the burning Peflle^ In i6i3.
* Gibber fays in his Apology, p. 96. " Mrs. Barry was
the firft perfon whofe merit was difllnguifhed by the indul-
gence of having an annual benefit-play, which was granted
to her alone, if I miftake not, firft in King James's time;
and which became not common to others, till the dlvifion
of this company, after the death of King William's queen
Mary."
But in this as in many other fa^ls he i.s inaccurate ;
for it appears from an agreement entered into by Dr. D'Ave-
nant, Charles Hart, Thomas Betterton, and others, dated
Oflober 14. 1681, that the a61ors had then benefits. By this
agreement five Ihilllngs, apiece, were to be paid to Hart
and Kynafton the players, '■'■ for every day there fliall be
any tragedies or comedies or other reprtfentations a(5led at
the Duke's theatre in Salifljury-court, or wherever the com-
pany fhall a6l, during the refpcftive lives of the faid Charles
Hart and Edward Kynafton, excepting the days the young men
or young women play for their own profit only.''' Gildon's Lift
of Betterton^ p. 8.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. i8g
perhaps the houfekeepers or proprietors had fif-
teen, the actors twenty-two, and three were devoted
to the purchafe of new plays, dreffes, ^c. From
Ben Jonfon's Poetajtcr, it fliould feem that one of
the performers had feven fliares and a half; ' but
of what integral fum is not mentioned. The per-
fon alluded to, (if any perfon was alluded to, which
is not certain,) mufl, I think, have been a pro-
prietor, as well as a principal aftor. Shakfpear in
his Hamlet fpeaks of a whole Jliare, as no con-
tempdble emolument; and from the fame play wc
learn that fome of the performers had only half a
fliare. ^ Others probably had flill lefs.
* " Tzicca. Fare tliee well, my honeft penny-biter: com-
mend me to fev en Jfi ares and a half, and remember to-morrow, —
If you lack ^femice, you fhall play in my name, rafcals ; [allu-
ding to the cuftom of a6lors calling themfelves the Jervants
of certain noblemen,] but you iliall buy your own cloth,
and I'll have ItooJ/iares for my countenance." Poetajier, 1602.
* " Would not this, fir, and a foreft of feathers, (If the
reft of my fortunes turn Turk with me,) with two Provenclal
rofes on my razed flioes, get me a fellowfhip in a cry o£
players, lir?
" Hor. Half a (hare.
" Ham. A whole (hare, I." Hamlet, Aft III. fc. IL
In a poem entitled / would and I xuouLl not, by B. N. l6l4(>
the writer makes a player utter a wifli to poffefs fivi fliares ia
every play; but I do not believe that any performer derived
fo great an emolument from the ftage, unlefs he were alfo
a proprietor. The fpeaker feems to wifh for excellence
that was never yet attained, ( to be able to a6l every part
that was ever written, ) that he might gain an emolument
Juperior to dny then acquired by the mofl popular and
fuccefsful a6lor:
u 1 would I were a player, and could acl
(( As many partes a came upon a ftage,
a And in my bralne could make a full compa<5i
ei Of all that paffeth betwixt youth and age;
190 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
It appears from a deed executed by Thomas
Killigrcw and others, that in the year 1666. the
whole profit arifing from acling plays, mafques, &c.
at the king's theatre, was divided into twelve Jharcs
and three quarters, " of which Mr, Killigrew, the
it That I migiit h.a.vc five Jfi ares in every piay,
u And let them laugh that bear the bell away."
The actors were treated with lefs refped than at prefent,
being fornetimes iutcrrupied during their performance, on
account offuppofed perfonalities •, for the fame author adds —
u And yet I would not; for then do I feare,
li If 1 Ihould gall fome goofe-cap with my fpeech,
c( That he would freat, and fume, and chafe, and Iwear,
tt'As if fome ilea had bit him by the breech;
ct And in fome paflion or ftvange agonic
t; DHlurb both mee and all the companie."
On fome occaGons application was made by individuals
to the Mafler of the Revels, to reftrain this licentioufnefs
of the flage ; as appears from the following note :
" 0£iob. i633. Exception was taken by Mr. Sewfccr to
the fecond part of The Cilly Shnjfier, which gave me occafion
to ftay the play, till the company [of Salilbury Court] had given
him fatisfaftion; which was done the next day, and under
his hande he did certifye mee that he was latisfyed." MS.
Herbert.
7 In an indcntixre, tripartite, dated December 3l. l6G5.
(which 1 have feen) between Thomas Killigrew and Henry
Killigrew, his fon and heir, of the firft part, Thomas Porter,
Efq. of the fecond part, and SIrjohnSayer and Dame Catha-
rine Sayer, his wife, of the third part, it is recited, [inter
alia, ) that the profits arifing by a6llng of plays, mafques,
8cc. then performed by the company of adlors called the
kin<T and queen's players, were by agreement amongft them-
felves and Thomas Killigrew, divided into twelve JJmres and
three quarters, and that Thomas Killigrew was to have two
full {hares and three quarters. And by agreement between
Henry and Thomas, Henry was to have four pounds per
week, out of the two fliares of Thomas, except iuch weeks
when the players did not acl.
In 1682. when the two companies united, the profits of
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 191
manager, had two fhares and three quarters; and
if we may truft to the flatemcnt in another very
curious paper, inferted below, (which however was
probably exaggerated,) each iliarc produced, at the
lowed calculation, about 25ol.^ per ann. 7z<:t; and
the total clear profits confequently were about
01871. 10s. od.
1 liefc fliares were then dillributed among the
proprietors of the theatre, who at that time were
not a6lors, the performers, and the dramatick
poets, who were retained in the fervice of the
theatre, and received a part of the annual produce
as a compenfation for the pieces which they pro-
duced. '
a6llng, we are told by Colky Gibber, were divided into
ttuentyJJiares, ten of which went to the proprietors or patentees,
and the other moiety to the adors, in different divilions
proportioned to their merit.
^ Wright fays in his Hijioria Hijlrionica that he had been
affured by an old aclor, that " for feveral years next after
the Relloration every whole fliarer in Mr. riart's company,
[that is, the King's fervants,] got loool. per ann. But his
informer was undoubtedly millaken, as is proved by the
petition or memorial printed below, (fee n, g.) and by Sir
Henry Herbert's llatement of Thomas Killigrcw's profits.
If every whole fliarer liad god looo\. per ami. then the annual
receipts muft have been near i3oooI. In 1743. after Mr.
Garrick had appeared, the theatre of Drury-lane did not
receive more than iSoool. per ann.
9 Gildon in his Laxos of Poetry. 8vo. 1721. obferves, that
" after the Refloration, when the two houfes ftruggled for
tlie favour of the town, the taking poets were fccured to
either houfe by a fort of retaining fee, which feldom or
never amounted to more than forty fliillings a week, nor
was that of any long continuance." He appears to have
under-rated their profits; but the fa£i: to which he alludes
is incontcflably proved by the following paper, wliich re-
mained long in the hands of the Killigrew family, and is
ig2 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
In a paper delivered by Sir Henry Herbert to
Lord Clarendon and theLordCbamberlain, July 1 1.
now In the poffeffion of Mr. Reed of Staple-Inn, by whom
it was obligingly commnnicated to me fome years ago.
The fuperfcriptlon is loft, but it was probably addreffed
to the Lord Chamberlain, or the King, about the year 1678.
" Whereas upon Mr. Dryden's binding himfclf to write
three playes a yeere, hee the faid Mr. Dryden was admitted
and continued as a fharer in the king's playhoufe for diverfe
years, and received for \A&Jhare and a quarter three or four
liundred pounds, comminibm annis ; but though he received
the moneys, we received not the playes, not one in ayeare.
After which, the houfe being burnt, the company in build-
ing another, contracled great debts, fo that fliares fell much
fhort of what they were formerly. Thereupon Mr. Dryden
complaining to the company of his want of proffit, the
company was fo kind to him that they not only did not
preffe him for the playes which ke fo engaged to write
for them, and for which he was paid beforehand, but they
did alfo at his earneft requeft give him a third day for his
laft new play called All for Love ; aiid at the receipt of the
money of the faid third day, he acknowledged it as a
guift, and a particular kindnefle of the company. Yet not-
•withftandlng this kind proceeding, Mr. Dryden has now,
jointly with Mr. Lee, (who was in penfion with us to the
laft day of our playing, and fhall continue,) written a play
called Oedipus, and given It to the Duke's company, con-
trary to his faid agreement, his promife, and all gratitude,
to the great prejudice and almoft undoing of the company,
'I they being the only poets remaining to us. Mr. Crowne,
being under the like agreement with the duke's houfe, writt
a play called The Dejlruclion ofjerujalem^ and being forced
by their refufall of it, to bring it to us, the faid company
compelled us, after the ftudying of It, and a vaft expence
in fcenes and cloathes, to buy off their clayme, by paying
all the penfion he had received from them, amounting to
one hundred and twelve pounds paid by the king's com-
pany, befides near forty pounds he the faid Mr. Crowuc
paid out of his owue pocket.
" Thefe things confidered. If notvvlthftanding Mr. Drydcn's
faid agreement, promife, and moneys freely given him for
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. igS
1662. which will be found in a fubfequent page,
he ftcues the emolunient*\vhich Mr. Thomas KiUi-
gre\v then derived (from his two fliares and three
quarters,) at 29I. 6s. od. perwetk; according to
which ftatenient each lliare in the king's company
produced but two hundred and ten pounds ten
Shillings a year. In Sir William D'Avenant's com-
pany, from the time their new theatre was opened
in Portugal-row, near Lincoln's-lnn-Fields, (April
1662.) the total receipt (after dedu£ling the nightly
charges of " men hirelings and other cuflomary
expences,") was divided into fifteen fliares, of
which it was agreed by articles previoully entered
into,* that ten fliould belong to D'Avenant; viz.
two " towards the houfe-rent, buildings, fcaftold-
ing, and making of frames for fcenes; one for a
provifion of habits, properties, and fcenes, for a
fupplement of the faid theatre ; and feven to main-
his faid lift new play, and the many titles we have to
his writings, this play be judged away from us, wemuftfubmlt.
Charles Killigrew.
(Signed) Charles Hart,
Rich, Burt.
Cardell Goodman.
Mic. Mohun."
It has been thought very extraordinary that Dryden
Ihould enter into a contract to produce three new plays
every year-, and undoubtedly that any poet {hould formally
Jlipulate that his genius (hould be thus produfllve, is extraor-
dinary. But the exertion itfelf was in the laft age not
uncommon, in ten years, from the death of Beaumont la
l6l5 to the year iGaS. I have good reafon to believe
that Fletcher produced near thirty plays. Maffinger between
1623 and i638 brought out nearly the fame number; and
Shirley in fifteen years furnllhed various theatres with forty
plays. Thomas Heywood was ftill more prolifick.
* Thefe articles will be found in a fubfequent page.
to
1*94 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tain all the women that are to perform or reprcfent
women's parts, in tragedies, comedies, Sec. and in
conlideration of ereftmg and eftablifliing his aftors
to be a company, and his pains and expences for
that purpoie for many years." The other five fharcs
were divided in various proportions among the reft
of the troop.
In the paper above referred to it is dated by Sir
Henry Herbert, that D'Avcnant *' drew from thefe
ten fliares two hundred pounds a week;" and if
that Ratement was corred:, each fliare in his play-
houfe then produced annually fix hundred pounds,
fuppofnig the acSiing feafon to have then lafted for
thirty weeks.
Such were the emoluments of the theatre foon after
the ReRoration ; which I have Rated here, from au-
thentick documents, becaufe they may aflift us in our
conjectures concerningthe profits derived from Rage-
exhibitions at a more remote and darker period.
From the prices of admifuon into our ancient
theatres in the time of Shakfpeare, which have been
already noticed, I formerly conjeclured that about
twenty pounds was a confiderable receipt at the
Blackfriars and Globe theatre, on any one day ;
and my conjecture is now confirmed by indifputabie
evidence. In Sir Henry Herbert's Office-book I
find the following curious notices on this fubje6l,
under the year 1628:
'* The kinges company with a generall confent
and alacritye have given mee the benefiit of too
dayes in the yeare, the one in furamcr, thother in
winter, to bee taken out of the fecond daye of a
revived playe, att my owne choyfe. The houfe*
keepers have iikewyfe given their fhares, their dayly
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. igS
charge only deduced, which comes to Tome 2I. 5s.
diis 2 5 May, 1628.
" The benefitt of the fiiTc day, being a very un-
fealonabie one in relpeft of the weather, comes
but unto /. .4- i5. o."
This agreement fubfifted for five years and a
half, during which dme Sir Henry Herbert had
ten benefits, the moll profitable of which produced
feventeen pounds, and ten fhillings, net, on the22d
ofNov. 1628. when Fletcher's C^^T^o?/; of tlie Country
was performed at Blackfriars ; and the leaft emolu-
ment which he received was on the reprefentalion
of a play which is not named, at the Globe, in the
fummer of the year i632. which produced only
the fum of one pound and five fliiliings, after
deducing from the total receipt in each infliancc
the nightly charge above mentioned. I fliall give
below the receipt taken by him on each of the ten
performances; from which it appears that his clear
profit at an average on each of his nights, was
£. 8. ig. 4.^ and the total nightly receipt ^vas at
an average — £. 11. 4* 4"
3 1628. May 25. [the play not named,] — £. 4. i5. 0.
" The benefitt of the winters day, beinj the fecond
day of an old play called The. cufiome of the Cunlryc-,
came to £.l~. 10. o. tliis 22 of Nov. 16^8. From,
the Kinges company att the Blackfryers.
1629. " The beueiitt of the fumraers day from the khiges
company being brought mee by Blagrave, upon the play of
1 luProphetefs, comes to, this 21 of July, — iGsQ./^G, 7. o.
" The benefitt of the winters day from the kinges
company being brouglit mee by Llagrave, upon the play
of The Moore of Venije, comes, this 22 of Nov. 1629.
nnto — £.g. 16. o.
j63o. [-Vo play ihis Jnmmer on account of the plagvc]
" Received of Mr. Taylcr and Lowins, in the name
O 2
igS HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
On tlie Sotli of 0£lober, i633. the managers of
the king's company agreed to pay him the fixed
of their company, for the benefit of my wiiiter day,
upon the fecond day of Ben Jonfon's play oi Every man
in his humour, this 18 day of February, i63o. [l63o-3l] —
£.12. 4. o.
l63x. " Received of Mr. Shanke, in the name of the kings
company, for the benefitt of their fummcr day, upon yc
fetond daye o{ Richard ye Seconde, at the Globe, this 12
of June, i63i.— /:5. 6. 6.
" Received of Mr. Blagrave, in the name of the kings
company, for the benefitt of my winter day, taken upon
The Alchemijle, this 1 of Decemb. l63i. — £-l^' O. o.
Jl632. " Received for the fummer day of the kings company
yc 6 Novemb. i632. — £.1. 5. 0.
*' Received for the winter day upon The Wild goefe
chafe, yc fame day, — £'^^- o- o.
l633. '' R. of ye kings company, for my fummers day, by
Blagrave, the 6 of June i633. ye fomme of ^'.4. 10.0.
I likewife find the following entry in this book:
" Received of Mr. Benfielde, in the name of the kings
company, for a gratuity for ther liberty gaind unto them of
phyinge, upon the ceifation of the plague, this 10 of June,
l63i. — £3. 10. o. " — " This ( Sir Henry Herbert adds)
■was taken upon Pericles at the Globe. "
In a copy of a play called A Game at Chefs, 1624. which
was formerly in pofTeffion of Thomas Pearfon, Efc^. is the
following memorandum in an old hand: " After nine days,
wherein 1 have heard fome of the adors fay they took fifteen
hundred pounds, the Spanifh faflion, being prevalent, got
it fuppreffed, and the author, Mr. Thomas Middleton, com-
mitted to prifon." According to this ftatemcnt, they received
above 166I. 12s. on each performance. The foregoing extra<Els
flievv, that there is not even a femblance of truth in this ftory.
In the year i6S5. when the London theatres were much
cnlarced, and the prices of admiflion greatly increafed. Shad-
well received by his third day on the reprefentation of The
Squire of Aljatia, only i3ol. which Downes the prompter fays
was the {jreateft receipt liad been ever taken at Drury-Ianc
playhoufe at fingle prices. Rojcius Anglicanus, p. 41.
The ufe of Arabick figures has often occafioned very grofs
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 197
fum often pounds every Cliriftmas, and the fame
fum at Midfummcr, in lieu of his two benefits,
which funis they regularly pay'd him from that time
till the breaking out of the civil wars.
From the receipts on thefe benefits I am led to
believe that the prices were lower at the Globe
theatre, and that, therefore, though it was much
larger than the winter theatre at Blackfriars, it did
not produce a greater fum of money on any rcpre-
fentadon. If we fuppofe twenty pounds, clear of
the nightly charges already mentioned, to have been.
a very confiderable receipt at either of thefe houfes,
and that this fum was in Shakfpeare's time divided
into forty Oiares, of which fifteen were appropri-
ated to the houfekeepers or proprietors, three to
the purchafe of copies of new plays, ftage-habits,
Sec. and twenty-two to the a(Sors, then the per-
former who had two fliares on the reprcfentadon of
each play, received, when the theatre was thus
fuccefsful, twenty fliillings. But fuppofing the
average nightly receipt (after deducting the nightly
errors to pafs current in the world, 1 fuppofe the utmoft
receipt from the performance of Middleton's play for nine
days, (if it was performed fo often,) could not amount to
more than one hundred and fifty pounds. To the fum of
25ol. which perhaps this old a<5lor had feen as the profit made
by this play, his fancy or his negligence added a cipher,^
and thus made fifteen liundred pounds.
The play of Holland's LeagucrvJ<is a£led fix days fuccefhvely
at Salifbury Court, in December l63l. and yet Sir Htnry
Herbert received on account of the fix reprefentations but one
poinid 7iineleenjlnllings, in virtue of the junlh ffiare which he
poffefTcd as one of the proprietors of that houfe. Siippofing
there were twenty-one (hares divided among the atSlors, the
piece, though performed with fuch extraordinary fucccfs, did
not produce more than //x pounds ien Jhillings each niglit,
exclufive of the occafional nightly charges already mentioned.
O 3
iqS historical account
expences) to be aboutnine pounds, wbichwehave
fceii to be the cafe^ then his nightly dividend would
be but nine fhillings, and his weekly profit, if they
plaved five times a week, two pounds five fliiiiings.
The ading feafon, I believe, at that time lafted
forty weeks. In eacli of the companies then fub-
fifting there were about twenty perfons, fix of whom
probably were principal, and the others fubordi-
nate; fo that we may fuppofe two Jhares to have
been the reward of a principal a6ior; fix of the
fecond clafs perhaps enjoyed a \vhole fhare each ;
and each of the remaining eight half a fliare. On
all thefe data, 1 think it may be fafeiy concluded,
that the performers of the firfl clafs did not derive
from their profeffion more than ninety pounds a
year at theutmoft. "* Shakfpeare, Heminge, Condell»
Burbadge, Lowin, and Taylor had without doubt
other fliares as proprietors or ieafeholders ; but what
the different proportions were which each of them
pofTefled in that right, it is now^ impoflible to afcer-
tain. According to the fuppofition already flated,
that fifteen fliares out of forty were appropriated
■* "Tlie verye hyerlings of fomc of our plaiers," [i.e.
men occafionally hired by the night] fays Stephen Golfon
in the year 1579. ^^I'itli ftand at reverfion of vis. by the
weekc, jet under gentlemen's nofes in futes of filke." Schoole
of Abufe, p. 22.
Hart, the celebrated tragedian, after the Refloratlon had
but three pounds a week as an acio)\ that is, about ninety
pounds a year ; for the a6cing feafon did not, I believe, at
that time exceed thirty weeks ; but he had befides, as a
proprietor, fix {hillings and three-pence every day on which
there was any performance at the king's theatre, which
produced about /^56. 5. o. more. Betterton even at the
beginning of the prefeut century had not more than five
pounds a week.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. igg
to tlic proprietors, then was there on this account
a fura of fix hundred and feventy-five pounds an-
nually to be divided among them. Shakfpeare, as
author, aclor, and proprietor, probably received
from the theatre about f.vo hundred pounds a year.
Having after a very long fearch lately difcovered
the will of xMr. Heminge, 1 hoped to have derived
from it fome information on this fubjed; but I
\\D.s difappointed. He indeed more than once men-
tions his feveral parts or Jliares held by kaje in the
Globe and Blackfriars playhoujis;^ but ufes no ex-
preffion by which the value of each of thofe fhares
can be afcertained. His books of account, which
he appears to have regularly kept, and which, he
fays, wilifliew that his fliares yielded him " a good
yearly proju,'' will probably, if they flrall ever be
found, throw much light on our early Hage hiPiory.
Thus fcanty and meagre were the apparatus and
accommodations of our ancient theatres, on which
thofe dramas were firxH: exhibited, that have hnce
engaged the attenuon of fo many learned men, and
delighted fo many thoufand fpeftators. Yet even
then, we are told by a writer of that age,* dra-
^ See his Will In a fubfequent page.
' Sir George Buc. This writer, as I have already ob-
ferved, wrote an exprefs treatife concerning the fc.ngl,{k
fiacre, which was never printed, and, 1 fear, Is now irre-
coverably loft. As he was a friend of Sir Robert Cotton,
I hoped to have found the Manufcript in the Coitonian
librarv, but was dlfappolnted. " Of this art," [the drama-
tick] lays Sir George, " have written largely Pclrus Viclorius,
Sec. as it were in vaine for me to fay any thing of the art,
befides that / have written thereof a particular treatije^ The
Third JJnivcrfity ej England, printed originally in ioi5. and
re-printed at the end of Howes's edition of Stowc , Annals,
folio, i63l. p. 1082. It is fingular that a fmuUr work on
O 4
200 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
matick poefy was fo lively expreffed and reprefented
on the publick flages and theatres of this city, as
Rome in tl^e aiige of her pomp and glory, never
faw it better performed; in relpeft of the aftion
and art, not of the coft and fumptuoufnefs."
Of- the adors on whom this high encomium is
pronomiced, the original performers in Shakfpeare's
plays were undoubtedly the moft eminent. The
following is the only information that I have ob-
tained concerning them.
the Roman ftage, written by Suetonius, [De SpcBacuIis 6"
Certaminibui Ro7nanorum,) has alfo periftied. Some little ac-
count of their fcenery, iud of the feparation of the mimes
and pantomimes from comedies, in which they were ori-
ginally introduced, are the only particulars of this treatife
that have been prefcrved ; for wliich we are indebted to
Scrvius, and Diomedes the grammarian. The latter Iragraent
is curious, as it exhibits an early proof of that competition
and -jealoufy, which, from the firll rife of the ftage to the
prefent time, has difturbed the peace of the theatres :
" Latinae vero comoediffi chorum non habent, fed duobus
tantum membris conftant, diverbio, 8c cantico. Primis autem
temporibus, ut afferit Tranquillus, omnia qua? in fcena ver-
fantiir, in comoedia agebanlur. Nam Pantomimus. &: PIthaules
Sc Choraules in comojdia canebant. Scd quia non poterant
omnia fimul apud omnes artifices parlter excellere, fi qui
erant inter a(51:ores comoediarum pro facultatc 8c arte potiores,
principatum fibi artificii vindlcabant. Sic fa£lum efl, ut
nolentibus cedtre Mimls in arlihcio fuo ca^teris, feparatio
hcret reliquorum. Nam dum potiores Interioribus, qui in
omni ergafterio erant, fervire dedignabantur, feipfoi a co-
moedia feparaverunt : ac fie faclvm eft, ut, exempio femel
fumpto, unufquifque artis fuK rem exequl ceperit, neque in
comoediam venire."
Grammalic(S lingiKS Au6iores Aiiliqui, Putfchii, p. 489.
Hanov. l6o5.
1 liave faid in a former page (60) tliat 1 believed Sir George
Euc dledfoon after the year 1622. and I have fince found my
conjecture confirmed. He died, as I learn frOm one of Sir
Henry Herbert's papers, on the 20th of September, l623.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 201
Names of the Original Actors in the Plays
OF Shakspeare.
From tlie folio-edition of his works, 1623.
WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.
Having now once more occafion to mention
tliis poet, I lliall take this opportunity to correct
an error into which I fufpe6l I have fallen, in a
note on the Account of his Life ; and to add
fuch notices as I have obtained relative either to
him or his friends, hnce that Account was printed
off; to which the prefent article is intended as a
lupplement.
The words in our poet's will, " Provided that if
fuch hulband as flie fliall at the end of the faid
three years be married unto," Sec. feemed to me
to afford a prefumptive proof that Shakfpeare, when
he made his will, did not know of the marriage of
his daughter Judith, (the perfon there fpoken ol,)
which had been celebrated about a month before:
a circumftance, however, which, even when I ftatcd
it, appeared to me very extraordinary, and highly
improbable. On further confideration 1 am con-
vinced that I was miftakcn, and that the words
above-cited were intended to comprehend her then
hnfloand, andany other to whom within three years
fhe might be married. The word dijcharge in the
bequetl to Judith, which had efcapcd my notice, —
" One hundred pounds in difcharge of her mar-
iiage portion," — fliews that he muft have been
apprized of this marriage, and that he had^pre-^
vioufly covenanted to give her that fum.
205 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
In tlie tranfcrlpt of the inftrument by which, a
coat of arms was granted in i5gg to John Shak-
fpeare, our poet's father, ' the original has been fol-
lo\ved with a fcrupulous fidelity; but on perufing
the rough draughts of the former grant of arms in
i5g6. I am fatished that there is an error in the
later grant, in which the following uninteiiigible
paragraph is found:
" Wherefore being folicited, and by credible
report informed, that John Shakfpeare, now of
Stratford-upon-Avon in the counte of Warwick,
great grandfather
late
gent, whofe parent ^ and ^ anteceffor for his
faithefuU and approved fervice to the late moft
prudent prince, king Henry Vll. of famous me-
morie, ^vas advaunced with lands and tenements,
geven to him in thofe parts of Warwickfliere, where
they have continevved by fome defcents in good
reputation and credit," &;c.
On reviewing this inftrument, it appeared not
very eafy to afcertain ^vho the perfon here alluded
to was, if only one was meant ; nor is it at all pro-
bable that the great grandfather of John Shakfpeare
fliould have been his late or immediate predecefTor;
to fay nothing of the v^ordi parent, which, unlefs it
means a relation in general, is as unintelligible as
the reft. On examining the two rough draughts
of the grant of arms to John Shakfpeare in j5g6.
I found that in one of ihefe, (apparently the more
perfefl: of the two,) the correfponding ^vo«l-ds run
thus: " — whofe parents and laic antccejfors tutre
^ See Shahfpeare's Coal of Arms , Vol. I.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2o5
for tlieir valour and faithful fervices to tbe late
mofl prudent prince king Henry VII. " Sec. In
the other thus: " — whofe parents [and] late an-
tecelfors for their faithful and valiant fcrvice," Sec.
The word their is in this paper obliterated, and
his written over it; and ovtr a?iieccJ[ors the word .
grandfather is ^vritten. The draughtlman however
forgot to draw a line through the word for which
grandfather was to be fubftituted. He evidently
was in doubt which of the two expreffions he
iLould retain; but we may prefume he meant to
rejc6i the words " — tohofe parents and late ante-
ceffors,''' and to fubftitute inftead of them, " — whofe
grandfather for his" 8cc.
In the grant of i5gg. we have feen, the words
originally flood, " — whofe parent and antcceffor
was,'" and the words great grandfather and late arc
interlineadons. The writer forgot to erafe the
original words, but undoubtedly he did not mean
that both thofe and the fubflituted words ftiould
be retained, but that the paragraph fliould ftand
thus: " —whofe great grandfather for his faithful
and approved fervice," 8cc. and, inftead of ''great
grandfather,^'' the earlier inftrument induces me to
think that he ought to have written, •* — whofe
latt grandfather."
A minute examination of thefe inftruments led
me to inquire what grounds the heralds had for
their affertion that our poet's anccftor had been
rewarded by a grant of lands from King Henry the
Seventh. But it fliould feem they were fadsfied
with very flight evidence of this fa61; for after a
very careful examination in the chapel of the
204 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Rolls,* from the beginning to the end of that
reign, it appears, that no fuch grant was made.
If any fuch had been made by that king, out of the
forfeited eftates of the adherents of King Richard
the Third, or otherwife, it muft have pafTed the
great feal, and would have been on record. As
therefore it is not found on the rolls, we may be
aifured that no fuch grant was made. However,
from the words of the early inftruments in the
herald's office, which have been already quoted,
" — for his faithful and valiant fervice," &c. it is
highly probable, that our poet's great grandfather
diitinguifhed himfelf in Bofworth field on the fide
of King Henry, and that he was rewarded for his
military fervices by the bounty of that parfimonious
prince, though not with a grant of lands.
Mr. Rowe in his account of our poet's father has
faid that he had ten children. From the Re gift er
of the parifli of Stratford-upon-Avon it appears,
that ten children of John Shakfpeare were bapdzed
there between the year i558. when the regifter
commenced, and the year i5gi. If therefore they
were all the children of our poet's father, Mr.
Rowe's account is inaccurate ; for our poet had a
filler named Margaret, born before the commence-
ment of the Regifter. It is, however, extremely
8 I cannot omit tins opportunity of acknowledging the
politenefs of Mr. Kipling of the Rolls-office, who permitted
every examination which 1 defired, to be made in the vener-
able repofitory under his care ; and, with a liberality feldom
found in publick offices, would not accept of the accuftomed
fee, for any fearch which tended to throw a light on the
liiRory of our great dramatick poet.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, 2o5
improbable, that in fo numerous a family not one
of the fons fhould have been baptized by the
chriftian name of old Mr. Shakfpeare. I now
therefore believe (though I was formerly of a dif-
ferent opinion} that our poets eldefl brother bore
his father's chriflian name, John; and that, like
their eldefl filler, Margaret, he was born before
the regifler commenced. If this was the cafe,
then without doubt the three children who were
born between March i588 and September i5gi.
Urfula, Humphrey, and Philip, were the iflue of
this younger John, by his fecond wife, whofe
chriftian name was Mary ; and the real number of
the children of our poet's father was nine. This
Mary Shakfpeare died in i6oS. and is defcribed as
a widow. If therefore flie was the wife of John
Shakfpeare the younger, then muft he have died
before that year.
About twenty years ago, one Mofely, a mafter-
bricklayer, who ufually worked with his men, being
employed by Mr. Thomas Hart, the fifth defcendant
in a dire6lline from our poet's fifter, Joan Hart, to
new-tile the old houfe at Stratford, in which Mr.
Hart lives, and in which our poet was born, found
a very extraordinary manufcript between the rafters
and the tiling of the houfe. It is a fmall paper-
book confifting of five leaves ftitched together.
It had originally confifled of fix leaves, but un-
luckily the firft was wanting when the book was
found. I have taken fome pains to afcertain the
authenticity of this manufcript, and after a very care-
ful inquiry am perfectly fatisfied that it is genuine.
The writer, John Shakfpeare, calls it his Will ;
but it is rather a declaration of his faith and piou.'j
2o6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
refolutions. Whether it contains the religious
fentiments of our poet's father or elder brother, I
am unable to determine. The handwriting is un-
doubtedly not fo ancient as that njually written
about the year 1600. but 1 have now before me a
manufcript written by Alleyn the player at various
times between 1599 and 1614. and another by
Forde, the dramatick poet, in 1606. in nearly the
fame handwriting as that of the manufcript in
queftion. The Rev. Mr. Davenport, Vicar of
Stratford-upon-Avon, at my requeft endeavoured
to find cut Mr. Mofely, to examine more paiti-
cularly concerning this manufcript; but he died
about tvvo years ago. His daughter, however,
who is now living, and Mr. Hart, who is alio
living, and now fixty years old, perfe£lly well re-
member the finding of this paper. Mofely fome
time after he found it, gave it to Mr. Peyton, an
alderman of Stratford, v»?ho obligingly tranfmitted
it to me through the hands of Mr. Davenport. It
is proper to obferve that the finder of this relique
bore the chara61er of a very honefl, fober, induf-
trious man, and that he neither afked nor received
any price for it; and 1 may alfo add that its con-
tents are fuch as no one could have thought of in-
venting with a view to literary impofition.
If the injun£lion contained in the latter part of
it {that it fhould be buried with the writer) was
obferved, then mufl the paper which has tlius for-
tuitoufly been recovered, have been a copy, made
from the original, previous to the burial of John
Shakfpeare.
This extraordinary will confifled originally of
fourteen articles, but the firft leaf being unluckily
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 207
wanting, I am unable to afcertain either its date or
the particular occalion on which it was written;
both of which probably the hrrt. article would have
furniflied us with, if it was written by our poet's
father, John Sbakfpeare, then it was probably
drawn up about the year iGoo, if by his brother
it perhaps was dated fome time between that year
and i5o8. when the younger John fhould feem to
have been dead,
[Since the fliect which contains the will of John
Shaklpeare was printed, I have learned that it was
originally perfeft, when found byjofeph Mofely,
though the iirfl leaf has fince been lofl. ■* Mofely
tranfcribed a large portion of it, and from his copy
1 have been furnilhed with the introdu6lory ar-
ticles, from the want of which 1 was obliged to
print this ^v•ill in an imperfedl ftate. They are as
follows :
I.
" In the name of God, the father, fonne, and
holy ghoR, the mofl holy and blelfed Virgin Mary,
mother of God, the holy hod of archangels, angels,
patriarchs, prophets, evangeliUs, spoilles, faints,
martyrs, and all the celeflial court and company of
heaven, I John Shakfpear, an unworthy membeu
of the holy Catholick religion, being at this my
prefent \vriling in perfect health of body, and
found mind, memory, and underflanding, but
calling to mind the uncertainty of life and certainty
of death, and that 1 may be poffibly cut off in the
9 The lofl articles, 8cc. (here Inclofed In crotchets) are
fupplled from Mr. Malone's EmendaUons and Additions in his
Vol.1. Part U. p. 3Zq~3i,
2o8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
bloffome of my fins, and called to render an ac-
count of all my tranfgreffions externally and in-
ternally, and that I may be unprepared for the
dreadful trial either by facrament, pennance, fafting,
or prayer, or any other pnrgation whatever, do in
the holy prefence above fpecified, of my own free
and voluntary accord, make and ordaine this my
laft fpiritual will, teftament, confeffion, proteita-
tion, and confeffion of faith, hopinge hereby to
receive pardon for all my finnes and offences, and
thereby to be made partaker of life everlafting,
through the only merits of Jefus Chrift my faviour
and redeemer, "who took upon himfelf the likenefs
of man, fuffered death, and was crucified upon the
crofTe, for the redemption oi finners.
11.
*' Item, I John Shakfpear doe by this prefent
proteft, acknowledge, and confefs, that in my paft
life I have been a moft abominable and grievous
finner, and therefore unworthy to be forgiven
without a true and fincere repentance for the fame.
But trufting in the manifold mercies of my blefled
Saviour and Redeemer, I am encouraged by relying
on his facred word, to hope for falvation and be
made partaker of his heavenly kingdom, as a mem-
ber of the celeftial company of angels, faints and
martyrs, there to refide for ever and ever in the
court of my God.
III.
" Item, 1 John Shakfpear doe by this prefent
proteft and declare, that as I am certain I m.uffc
paffe out of this tranfitory life into another that
will laft to eternity, I do hereby moft humbly
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, aog
implore and intreat my good and guardian angell
to inftruct me in this my folemn preparation, pro-
teR.ation,^and confeffion offaith,]at lead fpiritually,
in Avill adoring and moft humbly befeeching my
faviour, that he will be pleafed to aiTift me in l"o
dangerous a voyage, to defend me from the fnares
and deceites of my infernall enemies, and to con-
duct mc to the fecure haven of his eternall blifle.
IV.
" Ite.m, IJohn Shakfpear doe prolefl that I will
alfo palle out of this life, armed with the lafl; facra-
ment of extreme un6lion : the which if through
any let or hindrance I fliould not then be able to
have, I doe no\v alfo for that time demand and
crave the fame; befeeching his divine majcRy that
Ire will be pleafed to anoynt my fenfes both inter-
nail and externall with the facred oyle of his infi-
nite mercy, and to pardon me all my fins committed
by. feeing, fpeaking, feeling, fmelling, hearing,
touching, or by any other way whatfoever.
V.
Item, IJohn Shakfpear doe by this prefent pro-
teft that I will never through any temptation what-
foever defpaire of the divine goodnefs, for the
multitude and greatnefs of my finnes ; for which
although I confefle that 1 have dcferved htU, yet
will I ftedfaflly hope in gods infinite m(rcy, know-
ing that he hath heretofore pardoned many as great
finners as my felf, whereof I have good warrant
fealed with his facred mouth, in holy writ, whereby
he pronounceth that he is not come to call thejuft,
but finners.
t P
«io HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
VI.
" Item, I John Shakfpear do protefl that | do not
know that I have ever done any good woike meri-
torious of life everlafting: and if I have done any.
I do acknowledge that 1 have done it with a great
deale 'of negligence and imperfedion ; neither
fhould I have been able to have done the leaft with-
out the affillance of his divine grace. Wherefore
let the devill remain confounded; for I doe in no
wife prcfume to merit heaven by fuch good workes
alone, but through the merits and bloud of my
lord and faviour, jefus, flied upon the crofe for me
mofl miferable fmner.
VII.
*' Item, I John Shakfpear do protefl: by this pre-
fent writing, that I will patiently endure and fuffer
all kind of infirmity, ficknefs, yea and the paine
of death it felf: wherein if it fliould happen, which
god forbid, that through violence of paine and
agony, or by fubtilty of the devill, I fliould fall
into any impatience or temptation of blafphemy,
or murmuration againll god, or the catholike faith,
or give any figne of bad example, I do henceforth,
and for thatprefent, repent me, and am mofh hear-
tily forry for the fame: and I do renounce all the
evill vvhatfoever, which I might have then done or
faid ; befeecuing his divine clemency that he will
not forfake me in that grievous and paignefuU
agony.
VIII.
" Item, I John Shakfpear, by virtue of this pre-
fent teflarnent, I do pardon all the injuries and
offences that any one hath ever done unto me,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 211
either in my reputation, life, goods, or any other
\vav Avhatfoever ; beleeching Iweet jelus to pardon
them for the lame: and 1 do defire, that they will
doe the like by me, whome I have offended or
injured in any fort howfoever.
IX.
*' Ilcjn, I John Shakfpear do heere proteft that I
do render infinite thanks to his divine majefty for
all the benefits that I have received as well fecret
as manifeft, Sc in particular for the benefit of my
Creation, Redemption, San6lification, Conferva-
tion, and Vocation to the holy knowledge of him
Sc his true Catholike faith : but above all, for his
fo great expec'ilation of me to pennance, when he
might moll juflly have taken me out of this life,
when I leaft thought of it, yea, even then, when
I was plunged in the durty puddle of my finnes.
Blcflcd be therefore and praifed, for ever and ever,
his infinite patience and charity.
X.
" Itevii, I John Shakfpear do protcfl, that I am
willing, yea, I do infinitely defire and humbly
crave, that of this my laft will and teflament the
glorious and ever Virgin mary, mother of god,
refuge and advocate of finners, (whom I honour
Specially above all other faints,) may be the chiefe
ExecutrclTe, togeather with thefe other faints, my
patrons, (faiiit Winefride) all whome I invocke
and befeech to be prelent at the hour of my death,
that lire and they may comfort me with their defired
prefence, and crave of fvveet Jefus that he will
receive my foul into peace.
P 2
212 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
XI.
" Item^ In virtue of this prcfcnt writing, I John
Shakfpear do likewile moft willingly and with all
humility conllitute and ordaine my good Angel, for
Defender and Proteftour of my foul in the dread-
full day of Judgement, when the finall fentance of
eternall life or death fliall be difcuffed and given ;
bcfeeching him, that, as my foule Avas appointed
to liis cuflody and protection when I lived, even fo
he Aviil vouchfafe to defend the fame at that houre,
and conduct it to eternall blifs.
XII.
*' lUm^ I John Shakfpear do in like manner pray
and befeech all my dear friends, parents, and kinf-
folks, by the bowels of our Saviour jefus Chrift,
that fmce it is uncertain what lot vvill befall me, for
fear noty/ithflanding leaft by realon of my fmnes
I be to pafs and flay a long while in purgatory, they
will vouchfafe to affift and fuccour m,e with their
holy prayers and fatisfaclory workes, efpecially
with the holy facrifice of the mail^e,' as being the
mofl effeduall meanes to deliver foules from their
torments and paines ; from the which, if I fhall by
f^ods gracious goodneffe and by their vertuous
workes be delivered, I do promife that I will not
be ungrateful! unto them, for fo great a benefitt.
Xill.
" Item, I John Shakfpear doe by this my laft
will and teftament bequeath my foul, as foon as it
fhall be delivered and looiened from the prifon of
this my body, to be entombed in the fvveet and
amorous cofBn of the fide of jefus Chrifl; and
that in this lifc-giveing fcpuicher it may refl and
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. jiS
live, perpetually inclofed in that etcrnall habita-
tion of repofe, there to bleile for ever and ever that
direfullironofthc launce, which, like a charge in a
cenfore, formes fo fvveet and pleafant a monument
within the facred breaft of my lord and faviour.
XIV.
" Ifxm, laflly IJohn Shakfpeardoe proteft, that
I will willingly accept of death in what manner
foever it may befall me, conforming my will unto
the will of god; accepting of the«fame in fads-
faftion for my hnnes, andgiveing thanks unto his
divine majefly for the life he hath bellowed upon
me. And if it pleafe him to prolong or fliorten
the fame, blcITed be he alfo a thoufand thoufand
times ; into whofe mod holy hands I commend my
foul and body, my life and death: and I befeech
him above all things, that he never permit any
change to be made by me John Shakfpear of this
my aforcfaid will and tellament. Amen.
" I John Shakfpear have made this prefect
wridng of protefladon, confeffion, and charter, in
pre fence of the bleiTcd virgin mary, my Angell
guardian, and all the Celeitiall Court, as witneifcs
hereunto : the which my meaning is, that it be of
full value now prefently and for ever, with the
force and vertue of teftament, codicil!, and dona-
tion in caufe of death; confirming it anew, being
in perfcd health of foul and body, and figned with
mine own hand ; carrying alfo the fame about me ; and
for the better declaranon hereof, my will and in ten-
don is thatitbe finally buriedwith me after my death.
" Pater nofler, Ave maria, Credo.
'• jefu, fon of David, have mercy on mc. Amen."
P 3
214 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Since my rcmarl<s on the epitaph faid to have
been made by Shakipcare on John o'Comb, were
printed, it occurred to me, that the manufcript
papers of Mr. Aubrey, prelervedin the Afhmolean
Mufeura at Oxford, might throw fome light on that
fubje£l. Mr. Aubrey was born in the year 1626.
or 1626. and in 1642 Avas entered a gentlemen
commoner of Trinity college in Oxford. Four
years afterwards he was admitted a member of the
Inner Temple, and in 1662 ele£led a member of
the Royal Society. He died about the year 1700.
It is acknowledged, that his literary attainments
wereconfiderable; that he was a man ofgoodparts,
of much icaniing and gr.eat application ; a good
Latin poet, an excellent naturalift, and, what is
more material to our prefent object, a great lover
of and indefatigable iearcher into antiquities. That
the greater part of his life was devoted to literary
purfuits, is afcertaincd by the works which he has
publifhed, the correfpondence which he held with
many eminent men, and the collections which he
left in manufcript, and which are now repofited
in the Afhmolean Mufeum. Among thefe col-
le£lions is a curious account of our Englifh poets
and many other writers. While Wood was pre-
paring his Aliunde Oxonicnfcs, this manufcript was
lent to him, as appears from many c[ueries in his
handwriting in the margin; and his account of
Milton, with whom Aubrey was intimately ac-
quainted, is (as has been obferved by Mr. Warton)
literally tranlcribed from thence. Wood afterwards
cjuarreled with Mr. Aubrey, whom in the fecond
volume of his i^^/, p. 262. he calls his friend,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2i5
and on whom in his Hiftory of the UniveiTity of
Oxford he beftows the higheft encomium ; ^ and,
after their quarrel, with his ufual warmth, and in
his loofe diftion, he reprefented Aubrey as " a
pretender to antiquities, roving, magottie-headed,
and little better than crafed." To Wood every
lover of antiquity and literary hiftory has very high
obligations; and in all matters of fa £1 he may be
fafely relied on ; but his opinion of men and things
is of litde value. According to his reprefentation,
Dr. Ralph Bathnrft, a man highly efteemed by all
his contemporaries, was " a moft vile perfon,"
and the celebrated John Locke, " a prating, cla-
morous, turbulent fellow." The virtuous and
learned Dr. John Wallis, if we are to believe Wood,
was a man who could " at any time make black
white, and white black, for his own ends, and who
had a ready knack at fophiftical evafion. ^ How
litde his judgment of his contemporaries is to be
trufled, is aifo evinced by his account of the inge-
nious Dr. South, whom, being offended by one of
his witdcifms, he has grofsly reviled. ' Whatever
9 " Tranfmiffum autem nobis eft illud epitaphium a viro
pcrliumano, Jolianne Alberico, vulgo Aubrey, Armlgero,
hujus collegli ollm gcnerofo commenfali, jam vero e Regia
Societate, Londiiii ; viro inquam, tarn bono, tarn benigno,
lit publico folum commodo, nee fibi omnino, natus ellc
videatur." Hlft. b Intiq. Univ. Oxon. I. ii. p. 297.
* Letter from Wood to Aubrey, dated Jan. 16. 1689-90.
MSS. Aubrey. No. i5. in Muf. Aflimol. Oxon. — Yet in
tbe preface to bis Hijory of the Univerjlly of Oxford, he
defcribes Dr. Wallis as a man— <■' eruditione panUr t hw
fnanilale prdfians.'"
I "Wood's account of South (fays Mr. Warton ) is full
of malicious relleaions and abufive ftories : tbe occafion
P 4
fi6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
"Wood In a peeviHi humour may have thought or
faid of Mr. Aubrey, by whofe labours he highly
profited, or however fantallical Aubrey may have
been on the fubjed of chemiflry and ghofts, his
chara£ler for veracity has never been impeached;
and as a very diligent antiquarian, his teftimony is
-worthy of attendon. Mr. Toland, who was well
acquainted with him, and certainly a better judge
of men than Wood, gives this chara^ler of him:
" Though he was extremely fuperfutious, or feemed
to be fo, yet he was a very honest man, and
MOST ACCURATE IN HIS ACCOUNT OF MATTERS OF
FACT. But the facls he knew, not the reflexions
he made, were what I wanted." "^ I do not wiih
to maintain that all his accounts of our Englifh
writers are on thefe grounds to be implicitly
adopted ; but it feems to me much more reafonable
to queflion fuch parts of them as feem objeclionable,
than to reje£l them altogether, becaufe he may
foraetimes have been miftaken.
He was acquainted with many of the players,
andlived in great indmacy ^vith the poets and other
celebrated writers of the laft age ; from whom un-
of which was this. Wood, on a viflt to Dr. South, was
complaining of a very painful and dangerous fuppreffion
of urine ; upon which South in his witty manner, told
him, that, ' if he could not make toaier, he muft make earih.*
Wood was fo provoked at this unfeafonable and unexpected
jeft, tliat he went home In a paffion, and wrote South's Life.'*
Life of Ralph Bathurft, p. 184. Compare Wood's Alhen,
OiKon. II. 1041.
"" Specimen of a critical hiftory of the Gehick religion, kc.
p. 122.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 217
doubtedly many of his anecdotes were colle£led.
Among bis friends and acquaintances "we find
Hobbcs, Milton, Dryden, Ray, Evelyn, * Afhmole,
SirWilliam Dugdale, Dr. Batharft, BlQiop Skinner,
Dr. Gale, Sir John Denham, Sir Bennet Hofkyns,
(fon of John Hofkyns, who was well acquainted
with the poets of Shakfpeare's time,) Mr. Jofiah
Howe, Toland, and many more. ^ The anecdotes
concerningD'Avenant in Wood's Athena Oxonienjes,
were like the copious and accurate account of
Milton, tranfcribed literally from Aubrey's papers.
What has been there fuggefled, (that D'Avenant
was Shakfpeare's fon) is confirmed by a fnbfeqnent
paffage in the MS. which has been imperfeftly
obliterated, and which Wood did not print, though
in one of his own unpublillied mannfcripts now
in the Bodleian library he has himfelf told the fame
flory. The line which is imperfectly obliterated
in a different ink, and therefore probably by another
hand than that of Aubrey, tells us, (as Mr. Warton
' " With incredible fatisfa^llon I have perufed your
Natural Hiftory of the county of Surrey, and greatly admire
both your induflry in undertaking fo profitable a work, and
your judgment in ihe fever al ohjervatlons you have made.''* Letter
from John Evelyn, Efq. to Mr. Aubrey, prefixed to his Anli-
quiiies of Surrey,
6 Hobbes, whofe life Aubrey Avrote, was born in 1 588.
Milton In 1608. Dryden in i63o. Ray in 1628. Evelyn in
1621. Afhmole in 1616. Sir W. Dugdale in 1606. Dr. Bathurft
in 1620. Bifhop Skinner in l5gi. Dr. Gale about i63o.
Sir John Denham in l6l5. Sir Bennet Holkyns (the fon
of John Hndcyns, Ben Jonfon's poetical father, who was
l)orn in l56G.) about 1600. and Mr. Jof. Howe in 161 j.
2i8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
who lias been able to trace the words through the
obliteration, informs mc,) that D'Avenant was
Shakfpeare's fon by the hollefs of the Crown inn.
The remainder of the context confirms this ; for
it fays, that " D'Avenant was proud of being
thotight fo, and had often (in his cups) owned
the report to be true, to Butler the poet." — From
Dr. Bathurfl, SirBennet Hofkyns, Lacy the player,
and others, Aubrey got fome anecdotes of Ben
Jonfon, which, as this part of the manufcript has
not been pubiillied, I fliall give below; ' and from
^ The article relative to this poet immediately precedes
that of Shakfpeare, and Is as follows :
Mr. Benjamin Johnson, Poet-Laureat.
"• I remember when I was a fcholar at Trin. Coll. Oxon.
1646. I heard Mr. Ralph Bathurft [now Dean of Welles]
fay, that Ben : Johnion was a Warwycklhire man. 'Tis
aq;reed, that his father was a minifter ; and by his Epiftle
DD of Every Man to Mr. W. Camden, that he was
a Weftmiijfter fcholar, and that Mr. W. Camden was his
fchoolmafter. His mother, after his father's death, married
a bricklayer, and 'tis gtally fayd that he wrought fome
time witli his father-ln-lawe, Sc p*ticularly on the garden
wall of LIncolns Inne next to Chancery lane *, 8c that a
knight, a bencher, walking thro, and hearing him repeat
fome Greeke verfes out of Homer, difcourfmg with him &
finding him to have a witt extraordinary, gave him fome
exhibition to maintain him at Trinity College In Cambridge,
where he was : then he went into the Lowe countreys,
and fpent fome time, not very long, in the armie; not to
the difgrace of [It], as you may find in his Epigrames.
Then he came into England, 8c afled 8c wrote at the Greene
Curtaine, but both ill; a kind of Nurfery or obfcore play-
lioufe fomewhere In the fuburbs ( 1 think towards Shoreditch
or Clarkenwell). Then he undertooke againe to write a
play, Sc did hitt It admirably well, viz. Every Man —
which was his firft good one. Sergeant Jo. Hoiklns of
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 219
Dryden and Mr. William Becllon, (fonof Chrif-
Herefordfliire Avas his Father. I remember his fonne (Sir
Bennet HoU^ins, Baronet, who was fometliing poetical in
his youth) told me, that when lie defired to be adopted
his tonne, No, fayd he, 'tis honour enough for me to b?
your brother : I am your father's fonne : 'twas he that
poliflied me : I doc acknowledge it. He was [or rather had
been] of a clear and faire Ikin. His habit was very plain.
I liave heard Mr. Lacy the player fay, that he was wont
to weare a coate like a coachman's coate, with flitts under
the arm-pitts. He would many times exceede in drinke :
Canavie was his beloved liqueur: then he would tumble
home to bed ; Sc when he had thoroughly perfpired, then
to ftudie. I have feen his ftudycing chairc, which was of
flrawe, fu^li as old women ufed ; ik as Aulus Gellius is
drawn in. When I was in Oxon : Bilhop Skiuner [Bp of
Oxford] who lay at our coll : was wont to fay, that he
vinderfiood an author as well as any man in England. He
mentions in his Epigrames, a fonne that he had, and his
epitaph. Long fince in King James time, I have heard
my uncle Davers [Danvcrs] fay, who knew him, that he
lived without temple barre at a combe-maker's fliop about
the Eleph.ts Caftle. In his later time he lived in ^Vell-
minfter, in the lioufe under whiche you palfe, as you goc
out of the church-yard into the old palace ; where he dyed.
He lyes buried in the north aifle, the path fquare of ftones,
the reft is lozenge, oppofite to the fcutcheon of Robertus
de Ros, with this infcription only on him, in a pave-
ment fquare of blew marble, 14 inches fquare, O RARE
BEN: lONSON : which was donne at the charge of Jack
Young, afterwards knighted, who walking there when the
grave was covering, gave the fellow eighteen pence to
cutt it."
It Is obfervable that none of the biographers ofthelaftage,
but Aubrey, appear to have known that Jonfon went to the
Low Countries, in his younger years ; a fad which is con-
firmed by the converfati'on that paffed between Old Ben and
Mr. Drummond of Hawthornden, which was not publifhed
till eleven years after Mr. Aubrey's death. A long account
of Serjeant' John Holkyns, and Skinner, bifhop of Oxford,
piay be found in Wood's Athen. Oxen, 1. 614 — II. ii36.
320 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
toplierBeefton, ShaUfpeare's fellow-comedian, wlio
was a long time manager of the Cockpit playhoufe
in Drury-lanc,) fome particulars concerning Spen-
fer. 1 mention thefe circumflances only to llievv
that Aubrey was a curious and diligent inquirer, at
Not knowing that tlils poetliad a fon who arrived at man's
eftate, I had no doubt that the reverfionary grant of the office
of Mafter of the Revels, which 1 found in the chapel of the
Rolls, was made to old Ben ; [See Mr. Malone's Shahjpeare,
Ford, and Jonfoii, Vol. I.] but 1 am now convinced that I
was miftaken, and that this grant was made either to his fon,
Benjamin Jonfon the younger, who was alfo a poet, though
he has not been noticed by any of oiir biographical writers,
or to fome other perfon of the fame name. A paper whicl^
has lately fallen into my liands, pointed out my miftake. It
appears that Sir Henry Herbert loon after the Reftoration
hrou^ht an adion on the cafe acrainft Mr. Betterton, for the
injury Sir Henry fufferedby the performance of plays without
the accuftomdd fees being paid to the Mafter of the Revels,
On the trial it was neceflary for him to eftablilh his title to
that office; and as the grant made to him was not to take
effedl till after eitJier the death, reCgnatlon, forfeiture, or
furrender of Benjamin Jonfon and Sir John Aftley, it became
necefiary to fhew that thofe two perfons were dead : and
accordingly it was proved on the trial that the faid Benjamin
Jonfon died, Nov. go. l635. The poet-laurcat died, Auguft
l6. ibSy. The younger Jonfon was a dramatick author, having
in conjundiou with Brome, produced a play called A Fault
in FrieudJLip, which was aded at the Curtain by the Prince's
company in October, l6<i3. and in 1672 a colleftion of his
poems was publifhed. To this volume are prefixed verfes
addreffed " to all the ancient family of the Lucyes, " in which
the writer dcfcribes himfelf as "a little flream from that clear
fpring : " a circumftance wljiich adds fupport to Dr. Bathurfl's
account of his fatlier's birthplace. It fliould fccm that he was
not on good terms with his father. *' He was not very happy
in his children, (fays Fuller in his account of Ben Jonfon, ]
" and mojl happy in thofe which deed Jirji, though nond lived
to firvivc him. "
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 221
a time \v'hen fucli inquiries were likely to be attended
with fuccefs.
Dr. Farmer in his admirable J^Jf'iy on the Learning
of Shakjpeare , by which, as Dr. Johnfon juftly
obferved, *' the queilion is for ever decided,"
lias given an extraft Jrom Mr. Aubrey's account
of our poet : ' but as the manufcript memoir
is more copious , and the account given by
Aubrey of our poet's verfes on John o'Combe,
(which has never been publifhed) is materially dif'
ferent from that tranfmitted by Mr. Rovve, I fhall
give an exad tranfcript of the whole article relative
to Shakfpeare, from the original.
MS. Aubrey. Mus. Ashmol. Oxon. Lives,
P. I. fol. 78. a. [Inter Cod. Dugdal.J
Mr. William Shakespeare.
" William Shakefpeare's father was a butcher,
and I liave been told heretofore by forae of the neigh-
bours, that when he was a boy, he exercifed his
father's trade ; but when he killed a calfe, he would
do it in a highjlyle, and make a fpeech. This
William, being inclined naturally to poetry and
acting, came to London, I guefle about 18. and
was an ador at one of the playhoufes, and did a6l
exceedingly well. Now Benjonfon was never a
good a6lor, but an excellent inflru^lor. He began
early to make effays in dramatique poetry, which
^ Dr. Farmer fuppofed that Aubrey's anecdotes of
Shakfpeare came originally from Mr. Becfloti, hut this is
.1 rnlftake. Mr. Beenon is quoted by Aubrey only for foma
particular* relative to Spenfer.
222 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
at that time was verylowe, and his pLiys took well.
He was a handfoiiie well fhaped man; verie good
company, and of a very ready, and pleafant, and
fmooth Witt. The humour of the conftable in
A MidJommer-7iight Dreanie he happened to take at
Creiidon in Bucks, (I think it was Midfommer-
night that he happened to be there ;) which is tlie
road from London to Stratford; and there was
living that conftable about 1642. ^vhen I came nrfl;
to Oxon. Mr. Jof. Kowe is of the parifli, and
knew him. Ben Jonfon and he did gather hu-
mours of men wherever they came. One time as he
was at the taverne at Stratford, Mr. Combes, an
old ufurer, was to be buryed ; he makes-then this
extemporary epitaph upon him :
' Ten in tlie hundred the Devill allowes,
' Eut Combes will have twelve, hefweares and he vowes :
' IF any one aike wh.o lies in this tomb,
' Koh ! quoth the Devill, 'tis my John o'Comb.'
" He \vas wont to go to his native country once a
yeare, I think I have been told that he left near
3ool. to a lifter. He underftood latin pretty well ;
for he had been in his younger yeares a fchool-
mafter in the country. "
Let us now proceed to examine the feveral parts
of this account.
The firft affertion, that our poet's father was a
butcher, has been thought unworthy of credit, bc-
caule " not only contrary to all other tradition, but,
as it may feem, to the inftrument in the herald's-
oftice,"" But for my own part, I think, this affcrdon,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 223
(which it flioukl be obferved is pofitively aflfirmed
on tlie inlbrmation of his neighbours, procured
probably at an early period,) and the received ac-
count of his having been a wool-ftaplcr, by no
means inconfiflent. Dr. Farmer has illuflrated a
paiTagc in Hamlet from information derived from
a perfon who was at once a wool-man and butcher;
and, I believe, few occupations can be named,
which are more naturally conne6led with each
other. Mr. Rovve hrfl. mentioned the tradition
that our poet's father was a dealer in wool, and
his account is corroborated by a circumflance
which I have juft now learned. In one of the
windows of a building in Stratford which belonged
to the Shakfpeare family, are the arms of the
merchants of the flapie ; — JVchule, on a chief gules ^
a. Ii07i pajjanl, or; and the fame arms, I am told,
may be obferved in the church at Stratford, in the
fret-work over the arch which covers the tomb of
John de Clopton, \vho was a merchant of the ftaplc,
and father of Sir Hugh Clopton, lord-mayor of
London, by whom the bridge over the Avon was
built. But it fliould feem from the records of
Stratford that John Shakfpeare, about the year
1679. at which time his fon was fifteen years old,
was by no means in affluent circumRances; * and
why may we not fuppofe that at that period he
endeavoured to fupport his numerous family by
adding the trade of a butcher to that of his prin-
cipal buhnefs; though at a fubfequent period he
was enabled, perhaps by his fon's bounty, to dif-
continue the lefs refpc£lable of thefe occupations?
224 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
I do not, however, think it at all probable, that a
perfoii who had been once bailiff of Stratford
ihould have fuffered any of his children to have
been employed in the fervile office of killing
calves.
Mr. Aubrey proceeds to tell us, that William
Shakfpeare came to London and began his theatrical
career, according to his conjedlure, when he was
about eighteen years old; — but as his merit as an
a£lor is the principal obje6l of our prefcnt difqui-
fition, I ihall poftpone my obfervations on this
paragraph, till the remaining part of thefe anec-
dotes has been confidered.
We are next told, that " he began early to make
eiiays in dramatique poetry, which at that time was
very lowe, and his playes took well."
On thefe points,! imagine, there cannotbe much
variety of opinion. Mr. Aubrey was undoubtedly
miftaken in his conjecture, (for he gives it only as
conjefture,) tiiat our poet came to London at
eighteen ; for as he had three children born at
Stratford in i583 and i584. it is very improbable
that he fhould have left his native town before the
latter year. I think it mod probable that he did
not come to London before the year i586. when
he was twenty-two years old. When he produced
his firll play, has not been afcertained ; but if
Spenfer alludes to him in his Ttfrrs of the Mufes^
Shakfpeare mufl have exhibited fome piece in or
before 1690. at which time he was twenty-fix yea: s
old ; and though many have written for the publick
before they had attained that time of life, any
theatrical peiformance produced at that age, would,
I think, fufficiendy juliify Mr. Aubrey in faying;
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2 25
that be began early to make effays in dramatick
poetry. In a word, we have no/;roo/that he did
not woo the dramatick Mule, even^fo early as in
the year i587 "^^ i58S. in the firft of which years
he was but twenty-three: and therefore till fuch
proof lliall be produced, Mr. Aubrey's alTertion
founded apparently on the information of thofe
who lived very near the time, is entitled to fome
weight.
" He was a handfome well-fhaped man, verie
good company, and of a very ready, and pleafant,
and fmooth, witt."
1 fuppofe none of my readers will find any diffi-
culty in giving full credit to this part of the
account. Mr. Aubrey, I believe, is the only writer,
who has particularly mentioned tlie beauty of our
poet's perfon ; and there being no contradictory
teftimouy on the fubjed, he may here be fafely
relied on. All his contemporaries who have fpoken
of him, concur in celebrating the gentlenefs of his
manners, and the readinefs of his wit. " As he
was a happy imitator of nature, (fay his fellow
comedians,) fo was he a mofl; 2;entle expreffer of
It. His mind and hand went together; and what
lie thought he uttered with that eafmefs, that we
have fcQrce received from him a blot in his papers.'*
" My gentle Shakfpeare," is the compellation ufed
to him by Ben Jonfon. *' He was indeed (fays
his old antagonifl) honejl, and of an open and
free nature; had an excellent fancy, brave notions,
and gentle expreffions ; wherein he flowed with
that facility, that fometimes it was neceffary he
(hould be flopped. Sujjlaminandus erat, as Augflus
faidof Haieriu5.".So alfoiahis verfes on ourpoet:
226 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
a Look how the father's face
^l Lives in his Iflue, even fo the race
a Of Shakfpeare's mind and manners biiglitly fliines
tt In his well-torned and true-Jiled lines."
In like manner be is reprefented by Spenfer (if
in The Tears of the Mujcs be is alluded to, wbich,
it muft be acknowledged, is extremely probable,;)
under tbe endearing defcription of " our pUaJant
Willy," and" that fame gentle Jpirit, from \vhofe
pen flow copious ftreams of honey and ne£lar." In
a fubfequent page I lliall have occafion to quote
another of his contemporaries, who is equally lavifli
in praifmg the uprightnefs of his conduct and the
gentlenefs and civility of his demeanour. And
conformable to all thefe ancient teftimonies is that
of Mr. Rowe, who informs us, from the traditional
accounts received from his native town, that our
poet's " pleafnrable wit and good-nature engaged
him in the acquaintance and entitled him to the
friendfliip of the gentlemen of his neighbourhood
at Stratford."
A man, whofe manners were thus engaging,
whofe wit was thus ready, and whofe mind \Aas
flored with fuch a plenitude of ideas and fuch a
copious afTemblage of images as his writings ex-
hibit, could not but have been what he is repre-
fented by Mr. Aubrey, a delightful companion.
" The humour of the conftable in A Midjommer-
night-Dreame he happened to take at Crendon in
Bucks, (I think it was Midfomer-night that he
happened to be there :) which is the road from
London to Stratford; and there was living that
conllable about 1642. when I came firfl to Oxon.
Mr. Jof. Howe is of the parifh, and knew hini,"
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 227
It mud be acknouiedc;ed that there is here a
flight miftake, there being no fuch charader as a
conftable in A MidJummtr-XighCs Dream. The
pcrlon in contemplation undoubtedly was Dog-
berry in Much Ado about Nothing. But this mif-
take of a name does not, in my apprehenfion, de-
tracl in the fmallefl degree from the credit of the
fa6l itfelf; namely, that our poet in his admirable
charafler of a foolifli conftable had in view an in-
dividual who lived in Crendon or Grendon, (for ic
is written both ways,) a town in Buckinghamfhire,
about thirteen miles fiom Oxford. Leonard Digges,
who was Shakfpeare's contemporary, has fallen
into a fimilar errour; for in his eulogy on our
poet, he has fuppofed the charafter of Ma lv olio,
which is found in Twelfth Night, to be in &\uch
Ado about Nothing.
As fome account of the perfon from whom Mr.
Aubrey derived this anecdote, who was of the fame
college with him at Oxford, may tend to eflabliili
its credit, I fhall tranfcribe from Mr. Warton's
preface to his Life of Sir Thomas Pope, fuch notices
ofMr. Jofias Llowe, as he has been able to recover.
*' He was born at Crendon in Bucks, [about the
year 1611] andelecfed a fcholar of Trinity College
June 12. i632. admitted a fellow, being then ba-
chelor of arts. May 26. iGSy. By Hearne he is
called a great cavalier and loyalift, and a mofl: in-
genious man. * He appears to have been a general
and accomplifhed fcholar, and in polite literature
one of the ornaments of the univerfity. — In 1644
■* RoIj. Glouc. Gloss, p. 669.
O 2
22S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
he preached before King Charles the Fivh, at
Chriri: Church cathedral, Oxford. The fermon was
prmted, and in red letters, by his majefty's fpecial
command. — Soon after 1646. he was ejected from
his fellovvfliip by the prefbyterians ; and reftored
in 1660. He lived forty-t^vo years, greatly re-
fpeded, after his reftitution, and arriving at the
age of ninety, died fellow of the college where he
conflantly refided, Auguft 28. . 1 701." I\lr. Tho-
mas Howe, the father of this Mr. Jofias Howe, (as
I learn from Wood) was minifler of Crendon, and
contemporary with Shakfpeare; and from him his
fon perhaps derived fome information concerning
onr poet, which he might have communicated to his
fellow-collegian, Aubrey. The anecdote relative
to the conftable of Crendon, however, does not
Hand on this ground, for we find that Mr. Jofias
Howe perfonally knew him, and that he was
living in 1642.
I now proceed to the remaining part of thefe
anecdotes :
*' Ben Jonfon and he did gather humours of
men wherever they came. One time as he was at
the taverne at Stratford, Mr. Combes, ' an old
ufurer, was to be buried;^ he makes then this ex-
temporary epitaph upon him:
^ This cuflom of adding an s to many names, both in
fpeaking and writing, was very common in the laft age.
Shakfpeare's fellow-comedian , John Hemi7ige, was always
called Mr. Hemingshy his contemporaries, and Lord Clarendon
conflantly writes Blfliop Earles, inftead of Bifliop Earle.
" S (fays Camden in his Remaines, 4to. i6o5,) alfo is
joyned to moft [names] now, as Manors, Knoles, Crofts,
Hilles, Combes," &c.
* Mr. Combe was burled at Stratford, July li}. 1C14. The
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 229
*■ Ten in tlic hundred the devill allowes,
' But Combes will have twelve, he Iwears and he vowcs:
' If any one afke, ' who lies in this tomb,
' Hoh I quoth the devil), 'tis my John o'Combc'
Little credit is due to Mr. Rowe's account of
Shakfpeare's having fo inccnfcd that gentleman
by an epitaph which he made on him in his pre-
fence, at a tavern in Stratford, that the old gen-
tleman never forgave him. And Mr. Aubrey's
account of this matter, which I had not then fcen,
fully confirms what I fuggefted on the fubje£l: for
here \ve find, that the epitaph was made after
Combe's death. Nor is this fprighdy efFufion in-
confiflent with Shak-fpeare's having lived in a cer-
tain degree of familiarity with that gentleman;
whom he might have refpefted for fome qualities,
though he indulged himfelf in a fudden and playful
cenfure of his inordinate attention to the acquire-
ment of wealth, at a time when that ridicule could
not aflFe6l him who was the obje£i; of it.
Mr. Steevens has jufliy obferved, that the verfes
exhibited by Mr. Rowe, contain not a jocular epi-
entry in the Reglfter of that parifh confirms the obfervatiou
made above; for, though written by a clergyman, it ftands
thus: " July 12. 1614. M.x.}o\in Combes^ Gener. "
^ This appears to have been in our poet's time a common
form in writing epitaphs. In one which he wrote on Sir
Thomas Stanley, which has been given in Vol. I. p. 35. wc
again meet with It :
tt AJk, who lies here, " 8cc.
Again, in Ben Jonfon's epitaph on his fon :
(( Refl In foft peace, and rt/Zi'i, fay, here doth lie
a Ben Jonfon his bed piece of poetry. "
23
?3o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
taph, but a malevolent predii^tion ; and every reader
will, I am lure, readily agree with him, that it is
extremely improbable that Shakipeare fhoald have
poifoned the hour of confidence and friendfliip by
producing one of the fevereft cenfures on one of
his company, and fo wantonly and publickly ex-
prefs ids doubts concerning the lalvation of one of
his fellow creatures. The foregoing more accurate
flatement entirely vindicates our poet from this
iraputadon.
Thefe extemporary verfes having, I fuppofe, not
been fet dovv'n in writing by their author, and
being inaccuraLely tranfmitted to London, appear
in an intirely different -Ihape in Brajthwaite's Re-
mairies, and there we find them affixed to a tomb
ere6led by Mr. Combe in his life-time. I have
already fhewn that no fuch tomb was ere6led by
T\!r. Combe, and therefore Braifhwaite's (lory is as
lif.le to be credited as Mr. Rowe's. That fuch
various reprefentadons fliould be made of verfes
of which the author probably irever gave a written
copy, and perhaps never thought of after he had
uttered them, is not at all extraordinary. Who
has not, in his own experience, met with fimilar
variations in the accounts of a tranfa6lion which
palTed but a few months before he had occafion to
examine minutely and accurately into the real ftatc
of the faft?
In further fupport of Mr. Aubrey's exhibldon
of thefe verfes, it may be obferved, that in his
copy the fird couplet is original; in Mr. Rowe's
exhibition of them it is borrowed from preceding
epitaphs. In the fourth line, Ho (not Oh ho, as
Mr. Rowe has it,) was in Shakfpeare's age the
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2S1
appropriate exclamation of Bobin Goodfellow,
alias PucRE, alias Hobgoblin.^
Mr. Aubrey informs us laflly, that Sliakfpeare
" was wont to go to his native country once a
yeare. I thinke I have been told that he left near
'-^ool. to a filler. He underllood Latin pretty well,
for he had been in his younger years a ichool-
niafter in the country."
Many tradidonal, anecdotes, though not per-
feftly accurate, contain an adunabranon of the
truth. It is obfervable that Mr. Aubrey fpeaks
herewith fome degree of doubt; — " I think I have
])een told;" and his memory, or that of his in-
former, led him into an erronr with refpe6l to the
perfon to whom our poet bequeathed this legacy,
who, we find from his will, was his daughter, not
his fifter: but though Aubrey was miftaken as to
the perfon, his information with refpe£l to the
amount of the legacy was perfedly cotrcd; for
5ool. was the precife fum which Shakfpeare left
to his fecond daughter, Judith,
In like manner; I am flrongly inclined to think
that the laft affcrtion contains, though not the
truth, yet fomcthing like it ; I mean, that Shak-
fpeare had been employed for fome time in his
younger years as a teacher in the country; though
Dr. Farmer has inconteflably proved, that he could
not have been a teacher of Latin, I have elfewhere
fuggcfled my opinion, that before his coming to
London he had acquired fome jliare of legal know-
ledge in the office of a petty country conveyancer,
or in that of the lleward of fome manerial court.
S See Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry, Vol. III. p. 202.
Q 4
232 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
It is not neceffary here to repeat the reafons on
which that opinion is founded. If he began to
apply to this ftudy at the age of eighteen, two
years aftenvards he might have been fufficiently
converl^ant with conveyances to have taught others
the forms of fuch legal afiurances as are ufually
prepared by country attorneys ; and perhaps fpent
two or three years in this employment before he
removed from Stratford to London. Some uncer-
tain rumour of this kind might have continued to
the middle of the lall century; and by the time it
reached Mr. Aubrey, his original occupation was
changed from a fcrivener's to that of a fchool-
maftcr.
1 now proceed to the more immediate obje£l of
our prefent inquiry ; Shakfpeare's merit as an a^lor.
*' Being intlmed naturally (fays Mr. xA.ubrey) to
poetry and acling, he came to London, I gueffe
about 1 S. and was an a£lor at one of the play-
houfes, and did ac), exceedingly well. Now Ben
Jonlon never was a good ador, but an excellent
inflru£lor."
The firfl obfervation that I fliall make on this
account is, that the latter part of it, which informs
us that Ben Jonfon was a bad a6lor, is inconteflably
confirmed by one of the comedies of Decker; and
therefore, though there \vere no other evidence, it
might be plaufibly infeired that Mr. Aubrey's in-
formation concerning our poet's powers on the
flage was not iefs accurate. But in this inflance I
am not under the necelfuy of retting on fuch an
inference; for 1 am able to produce the teflimony
of a contemporary in fupport of Shakfpeare's
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 235
hiftrionick merit. In the preface to a pamphlet en-
titled Kinde-Hartis Dreame, publiflicd in December
1592. the author, Henry Chcttle, who was himlclf
a dramatick writer, and well acquainted with the
principal poets and players of the time, thus fpeaks
of Shakfpeare:
" The other,' Avhom at that time I did not {o
much fpare, as fince I Avifli 1 had, for that as 1 have
moderated the hate of living writers, and might
have ufed my own difcredon, (efpecially in fuch a
cafe, the author [Robert Greene] being dead.) I am
as forry as if the original fault had been my fault;
becaufe my felfe have feene his demeanour no Icfs
civil than he excellent in the qualitie he profejjesr
befides, divers of worfliip have reported his up-
rightnefs of dealing, which argues his honeftie,
and his facetious grace in writing, that approves
his art."
To thofe who are not converfant with the lan-
guage of. our old writers, it may be proper to
obferve, that the words, " the qualitie he prof>j[f'S,''''
particularly denote his profefTion as an <7^or. The
latter part of the paragraph indeed, in which he
is praifed as a good man and an elegant writer,
fhews this: however, the following pafTagc in
Stephen GofTon's Schoole oJAhvJe, 1579. ^" which
the very fame words occur, will put this matter
beyond a doubt. " Over-lafhing in apparell (fays
Goffon) is fo common a fault, that the verve hyer-
lings of forae of our plaiers, which ftand at the
leverfion of vi s. by the weekc, jet under gentle-
■' By the words The other, was meant Shakfpeare.
234 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
men's nofes in futes of filke, exercifmg themfelves
in prating on the flage, and common fcoffing when
they come abrode ; where they looke afkance at
everv man of whom the fonday before they begged
an almes. I fpeak not this, as though every one
ih?ii prof ilfrth the qualitie, fo abufed him felfe; for
it is well knowen, that fome of them are fober,
difcreet, properly learned, honefl houfeholders, and
citizens well thought on amonge their neighbours
at home, though the pride of their fliadowes (I
meane thofe hange-byes who me they fuccour with
flipend) caufe them to bee fomewhat talked of
abrode."^
Thus early was Shakfpeare celebrated as an
a£lor, and thus unfounded was the information
which Mr. Rowe obtained on this fubje6t. Wright,
a more diligent enquirer, and who had better op-
portunities of gaining theatrical intelligence, had
fald about ten years before, that he had " heard
our author was a better poet than an aglor;" but
this defcription, though probably true, may flill
leave him a confiderable portion of merit in the
latter capacity: for if the various powers and pe-
culiar excellencies of all the a6lors from his time
to the prefent, were united in one man, it may
well be doubted, whether they would conftitute a
performer whole merit fliould etititle him to " bench
by the fide" of Shakfpeare as a poet.
A paifage indeed in Lodge's Incarnate Devills of
the age, i SgG. has been pointed out, as levelled at
Shakfpeare's performance of the Ghoft in Hamlet.
^ In the margin this cautious puritan adds — " Some players
mode ft, if I be not deceived, "
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 235
But diis in my apprehenfion is a miflake. The
ii..icule intended to be conveyed by the pafTage in
quellion was, I have no doubt, aimed at the aftor
who performed the part of the Ghofl: in fome mi-
ferable play which was. produced before Shakfpcare
commenced either a61or or writer. That fuch a
play once exifted, I have already ilievvn to be highly
probable; and the tradition tranfmitted by Bet-
terton, tliat his performance of the Ghoft in his
ow^n Hamla was his chej aoeuvn, adds fupport
to my opinion.
That Shakfpcare had a perfect knowledge of his
art, is proved by the inflru6tions which are given
to the player in Hamlet, and by other paflages in
his works ; which in addition to what 1 have
already flated, incline me to think that the tradi-
tional account tranfmitted by Mr. Rowe, relative
to his powers on the flage, has been too haftily
credited. In the celebrated fcene between Hamlet
and his mother, flie thus addreffes him:
a Alas, how is't with you?
c( Thzt you do bend your eye on vacancy,
ti And with the incorporeal air do hold dijcciirje ?
u Forth at your eyes your Jpirils wildly peep ;
n And, as the flcepinc; I'oldiers in the alarm,
n Your bedded hair, like lite In excrements,
a Starts up, and ftands on end. — Whereon do you look
a Ham. On him I on him! look you, how pale he
glares I
it His form and caufe conjoln'd, preaching to ftones,
u Would make them capable. Do not look upon me,
a Left with this piteous a£lion, you convert
ii My ftern efie^ls : then what I have to do
if. Will want true colour; tears perchance for blood."
Can it be imagined that he would have attributed
thefe lines to Hamlet, unlefs he was confident that
236 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
in his own part he could give efficacy to that piteous
afiioji of the Ghoft, which he has fo forcibly de-
fcribed? or that the preceding lines fpoken by the
Queen, and the defcrlption of a tragedian m King
Richard III. could have come from the pen of an
ordinary aftor?
It Rich. Come, coufin, can'ft thou quake and change
thy colour ?
a Murther thy breath in middle of a word ?
c( And then again begin, andjiop again,
li As if thou xi^ert dijiraught, and mad with terror?
ii. Buck. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;
li Speak, and look big, z.nA pry on every fide ^
li 'Tremble andftarl at wagging of afiraxo,
li Intending deep fifpicion : ghajlly looks
(( Are at my fervice, like enforced fmiles ;
t« And both are ready in their offices,
a At any time, to grace my ftratagems."
I do not, however, beHeve, that our poet played
parts of the lirfl rate, though he probably dif-
tinguiflied himfelf by whatever he performed. If
the names of the a£lors prefixed to Every Man in
his Huraour were arrano-ed in the fame order as the
O
perfons of the drama, he mufl have reprefented
Old Knowell; and if we may give credit to an anec-
dote he was the Adam in his own As you like it.
Perhaps he excelled in reprefehting old men. The
following contemptible lines written by a con-
temporary, about the year 1611. might lead us
to fuppofe that he alfo a61:ed Duncan in Macbeth,
and the parts of King Henry the Fourth, and King
Henry the Sixth:
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 237
" To our Engllfh Terence, Mr. William
Shakespeare.
-ti Some fay, good Will, which I in fport do fing,
a Hadfl thou not play'd fome h'nigly parts in fport,
(( Thou liadfl; been a companion for a king.
a And been a king among the meaner fort-
t( Some others raile, but raile as they think fit,
*i Thou haft no railing but a raigning wit ;
it And honefty thou fow'ft, which they do reape,
<i So to increafe their ftock which they do keepe."
The Scourge of Folly, by John Davles, of Here-
ford, no date.
RICHARD BURBADGE,'
tlie moft celebrated tragedian of his time , was
the fon of James Burbadge , who was alfo an
aftor, and perhaps a countryman of Shakfpeare,
He lived in Holywell-flreet, in the parifii of St.
Leonard, Shoreditch, from which circumflance I
conjedure that he had originally played at the
Curtain theatre, which was in that neighbourhood ;
for he does not appear to have been born in that
parifli ; at leaft I fearched the regifler from its
commencement in i558. in vain, for his birth.
It is ftrange, however, that he Hiould have con-
tinued to live from the year 1600 to his death, in a
place which was near three miles diflant from the
Blackfriars playhoufe, and flill further from the
Globe, in which theatres he a6led durins; the whole
of that time. He appears to have married about
^ In writing this performer's name I have followed the
fpelling ufed by his brother, who was a witnefs to his will ;
but the name ought rather to be written Burbidge, (as it often
iormerly was, ) being manifeftly an abbreviation or corruption
of Borough-brid^^^
23S HISTORICAL y\CCOUNT
the year 1600. and if at that time wc fuppoie him
thirtv years old, his birth muft be placed in iSyo.
By his wiic, whofe chriflian name was Winefrid,
he had fonr danghters ; Juliet, or Julia, (for the
name is \VTitten both ways in the regifter,) who
was baptized Jan. 2. 160 2-3. and died in 1608.
Frances, baptized Sept. 16. 1604. Winefrid, bap-
tized Oftob. 5. i6i3. andburied in Ofiober, 1616.
and a fecond Juliet, (orjulia,) who was baptized
Dec, 26. 1614. This child and Frances appear
to have furvived their father. His fondnefs for
the name of Juliet, perhaps arofe from his having
been the original Romeo in our author's play.
Camden has placed the death of Burbadge on the
gth of March, 1619."* On what day he died, is
now of little confequence; but to afcertain the
de2:ree of credit due to hiflorians is of fome im-
portance ; and it may be worth while to remark
how very feldom minute accuracy is to be expected
even from contemporary writers. The fafl is, that
Burbadge died fome days later, probably on the
i3th of that month; for his will was made on the
I2th. and he was buried in the church of St. Leo-
nard, Shoreditch, on the 16th of March, 1618-19.
His laft will, extracted from the regiflry of the
Prerogative court, is as follows:
*• Memorandum, That on Frydaye the twelfth
of March, Anno Domini, one thoufand fix hundred
and eighteen, Richard Burbage of the parifli of
Saint Leonard, Shoreditch, in the county of Mid-
dlefex, gent, being fick in body, but of good and
* " 1619. Martli 9. Richardiis Burbadge, alter Rofclus,
cbllt."
Regni regis Jacoli I, Apnalium Apparatus, 410, 1691.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 289
perfed remembrance, did make his laft will and
teftament, nuncupative, in manner and form foi-
lowincr; viz. He the faid Richard did nominate
and appoint his well beloved wife, Winifride Biir-
bage to be his fole executrix of all his goods &:
chattels whatfoever, in the prefence and hearing of
the perfons undernamed:
CuthbertBurbadge, brother to the tefiaton
X The mark of Elizabeth, his wife.
Nicholas Tooley.
Anne Lancafter.
-Richard Robinfon.
X The mark of Elizabeth Graves.
Henry Jackfonne.
ProhaHm Juit tejlamtntum Juprajcriptum apud
London, coram judice, 22° Apr His, 16 1 g. jur^i-
mento Winijride Bur badge, reliclce dicli defiuiBi
*br executricis in eodtm tejiamento nominat. cui
commijfa Juit adminijtr alio de bene, <bc. jurat.'"
Richard Burbadge is introduced in perfon in an
old play called The Rtturnefrom Parnajfus, (written
in or about 1602.) and inftru£ts a Cambridge
fcholar how to play the part of King Richard the
Third, in which Burbadge was greatly admired*
That he reprefented this chara£ler, is afcertaincd
by Bifhop Corbet, who in his Tier Boreale, fpeaking
of his hoft at Leicefler, tells us.
a when he would have fakl. Ring Richard died,
(( And call'd a horfc, a horfe, he Burbage cry'd."
He probably alfo performed the parts of King
John, Richard the Setojid, Henry the Fifth,
240 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Timon, Brutus, Coriolanus, Macbeth, Lear, and
Othello.
He was one of the pruicipal fliarers or proprietors
of the Globe and Biackhiars theatres; and was of
fuch eminence, that in a letter prelerved in the
Btidfii Mufeum, written in the year ibi3. (MSS.
liarl. 7002.) the a6lors at the Globe are called
Bur badge's Company. ^
The following charader of this celebrated player
is given by Fleckno in his Short Dijcourje of the
EngliJ}i Stage, 1664.
" He was a delightful Proteus, fo wholly trans-
forming himfelf into his parts, and putdng off
himfelf with his cloaths, as he never (not fo much
as in the tyring houfe) alfumed himfelf again, untill
the play was done. — He had all the parts of an
excellent orator, animating his words with fpeak-
ing, and fpeech with a£lion ; his auditors being
never more delighted than when he fpake, nor
more forry than when he held his peace : yet even
then he was an excellent a£lor flill: never failing
in his part, when he had done fpeaking, but with
his looks and gefture maintaining it flill to the
height."
It fliould not, however, be concealed, that Fleckno
had previoufly printed this charafter as a portrait
of An excellent a^or, in general, and there is reafon
to believe that this writer never law Burbadge : for
^ In Jonfon's Majque of ChriJImas, 1616. Burbadge and
Hemin<Te are both mentioned as managers : " I could ha' had
money enough for him, an 1 would h'a been tempted, and
lia' fet him out by the week to the kiug's player.. : Mafter
Burbadge hath been about and about with me, and fo has
old Mr, Heminge too j they ha' need of him. "
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 241
Fleckno did not die till about tlie year 1682 or
i683. and confequently, fuppofing him then fe-
venty-five years old, he mud have been a boy when
this celebrated player died. T he teftimony of Sir
Richard Baker is of more value, who pronounces
him to have been " fuch an aftor, as no age muft
ever look to fee the like." Sir Richard Baker was
born in i558. and died in 1644-5. and appears,
from various paiTages in his works, to have paid
much attention to the theatre, in defence of ^vhich
he wrote a treatife."
In Philpot's addidons to Camden's Remains, we
find an epitaph on this tragedian, more concife
than even that on Ben Jon fon; being only, '' Exitf
Burhid'ge.''''
The following old epitaph on Burbadge, v;hlch
is found in a MS. in the Mufeum, (MSS. Sloan.
1786.) is only worthy of prefervadon, as it fliews
how high the reputadon of this ador was in his
own age :
♦' Epitaph on Mr. Richard burbage, the player. ^'
tt This life's a play, fcean'd out by natures arte,
t( Where every man hath his allotted parte.
ti This man hathe now (as many more can tell)
(( Ended his part, and he hath a£led well.
»( The play now ended, think liis grave to be
u The detiring howfe of his fad tragedle ;
(( Where to give his fame this, be not afraid,
ti Here lies the beft tragedian ever plaid."
* 1 did not till lately difcover that there is an original
pi£lure of this admired aclor in Duhvlch College, or his
portrait fhould have been engraved for this work. Ho\v-
ever, the defeft will very fpeedily be remedied by Mr. Syl-
n^a HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
JOHN HEM INGE
is fald by Roberts the player to have been a tra-
gedian, and in conjunction with Condell, to have
ioilowed the bufmefs of printing;^ but it does not
appear that he had any authority for thefeafiertions.
In fome tra6l of which I have forgot to prefers «
the tide, he is iaid to have been the original per*
former of FalPtafr'.
1 fearched the regifler of St. Mary's Alderman-
bury, (in which parifli this ailor lived,) for the
time of his birth, in vain. Ben Jonfon in the year
1616. as we have juft feen, calls him old Ivlr.
Heminge : if at that time he was fnity years
of age, then his birth mufl be placed in i556. I
lufped that both he and Burbadge were Shakfpeare's
countrymen, and that Heminge was born at Shot-
lery, a village in Warwickfliire, at a very fmall
dlftance from Stratford-upon-Avon ; where Shak-
fpeare found his wife. I hnd two families of this
name fetded in that town earlv in the reisrn of
Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth, the daughter o^ John
Heming o^S\\o\.ttxy, was baptized at Stratford-upon
vefler Harding^ who means to give the puhlick in twenty
numbers, at a very moderate price, not only all luch
portraits as can be found , of the a6lors who perfondted
the principal characters In Shaki'peare's plays, while he
was on the ftage, but alfo an nlTemblace of genuine heads
oi: the re-'! pcjfoua^es reprcfcnted in them; together witli
various views of the rllfie'-ent places in which the ftene of
liis hiftorlcal dramas is placed.
' Anfwer to Pope, 1729.
OB' THE ENGLISH STAGE. 243
Avon, March 19.. '[56']. This John might have
been the father of the aflor, though I have found
no entry relative to his baptifm : for he, was
probably born before the year i558. when the Re-
gifler commenced. In the village of Shottery alfo
lived Richard Hemyng, who had a fon chriflcned by
the name of John, March 7. 1570. Of the Bur-
badge family the only notice I have found, is, an
entry in the regifler of the parifli of Stratford,
061ober 12. 1.565. on which day Philip Green wag
married in that town to Urfula Burhadge, who
might have been filler to James Burbadge, the
father of the' a6lor, whole marriage I fuppofe to
have taken place about that time. If this con-
je£i:ure be well founded, our poet, we fee, had an
eafy introdu6lion to the theatre.
John Heminge appears to have married in or
before the year i58g. his eldefl daughter, Alice,
having been baptized October 6. 1590. Behdc
this child, he had fourfons; John, born in 1598.
who died an infant; a fecondjohn, baptized Au-
guRy. 1599. William, baptized Odobcr 3. 1602.
and George, baptized February 11. i6o3-4. and
eight daughters; Judith, Thoraafme, Joan, Re-
becca, Beatrice, Elizabeth, Mary, (who died in
1611.) and Margaret. Of his daughters four only
appear to have been married; Alice to John Atkins
in January, i6i2-i3. Rebecca to Captain William
Smith; Margaret to Mr. Thomas Sheppard, and
another to a perfon of the name of Mereheld. The
cldeft fon, John, probatDlv died in his father's life-
time, as by his lafl will he conPdtuted his fou
"William his executor.
William, whofe birth Wood has erroneoufly
R 2
tf
244 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
placed in \6o5. was a fhident of Chiift-clmrch,
Oxford, where he took the degree of a Mafter of
Arts in 1628. Soon after his father's death he
commenced a dramatick poet, having produced in
March, 1 632-3. a comedy entitled The Courfinge of
a Hare, or the Madcapp, ^ which was performed at
the Fortune theatre, but is now loft. He was like-
wife author of two other plays which are extant;
The Fatal ContraB, publifhed in i653. and The
Jews Tragedy, 1662.
From an entry in the Council-books at White-
hall, I find that John Heminge was one of the
principal proprietors of the Globe playhoufe, be-
fore the death of Queen Elizabeth. He is joined
with Shakfpeare, Burbadge, &c. in the licence
granted by King James immediately after his
acceffion to the throne in i6o3. and all the pay-
ments made by the Treafurer of the Chamber in
161 3. on account of plays performed at court, are
" to John Heminge and the reft of his fellows." So
alio in feveral fubfequent years, in that and the
following reign. In i623. in conjundion with
Condell, he publiflied the firft complete edition of
Shakfpeare's plays; foon after which it has been
fuppofed that he withdrew from the theatre; but
this is a miftake. He certainly then ceafed to a£l, ^
s MS. Herbert.
* That he and Condell had ceafed to a£l in the year
1623. is afcertained by a paffage in their Addrefs " to thr
great varietie of readers," prefixed to Shakfpeare's plays.
" Reade him therefore, and againe, and againe : and if
then you do not like him, furely you are in forae manifeft
danger not to nnderftand him. And fo we leave you to
other of his friends, whom if you need, can be your guides."
i.. e. their feUow-comediansj Avho ftill continited on the ftace,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 24^
bnt he continued chief direftor of the king's com-
pany of comedians to the time of his death. He
died at his houfe in Aldermanbury, where he had
long lived, on the 10th of October i63o. in, as I
conjecture, the 74th or 75th year of his age, and
was buried on the 12th, as appears by the Regifter
of St. Mary's Aldermanbury, in which he is flyled,
*' John Hcininge, player.'"'
1 fufpcct he died of the plague, which had raged
fo violently that year, that the.playhoufes were fhut
up in April, and not permitted to be opened till
the I2th of November, at which time the weekly
bill of thofe who died in London of that diftem-
per, was diminiflied to twenty-nine. * His fon
William, into whofe hands his papers muft have
fallen, furvived him little more than twenty years,
having died fome time before the year i653: and
where thofe books of account of which. his father
fpeaks, now are, cannot be afcertained. One can-
not but entertain a wifli that at fome future period
they may be difcovered, as they undoubtedly would
throw fome light on our ancient flage-hiltory. The
day before his death, John Heminge made his will,
of which I fubjoin a copy, exira£led from the
Regiftry of the Prerogative Court. In this inftru-
ment he flyles himfeir a grocer, but how he ob-
tained his freedom of the grocers' company, does
not appear.
and, by reprefentinw Shakfpeare's playg, could elucidate
tbem, and thus fcrve as guides to the publick.
^ MS. Herbert.
R
246 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
.N the name of God, Amen, the gth day of
October, i6'3o. and in the f:xth year of the reign
of our fovereign Lord, Charles, by the grace of
God king of Luigland, Scotland, France, and Ireland,
defender of the faith, Sec. L John Heminge, citizen
and grocer of London, being of perfe6l mind and
memory, thanks be therefore given unto Almighty
God, yet well knowing and conlidering the frailty
and incertainiy of man's liie, do therefore make,
ordain, and declare this iiiy lad will and tellament
in manner and form following.
Firjl, and principally, I give and bequeath ray
foul into the hands of Almighty God, my Maker
and Creator, hoping and affuredly believing through
the only merits, death and paflion, ofjefus Chrift my
faviour and redeemer, to obtain remiflion and pardon
of all ray fms, and to enjoy eternal happinefs in the
kingdom of heaven ; and my body I commit to the
earth, to bq buried in chriflian manner, in the
parifli church of Mary Aldermanbury in London,
as near unto my loving wife Rebecca Heminge,
who lieth there interred, and under the fame ftonc
which lieth in part over her there, if the fame
conveniently may be: wnierein I do defire my
executor herein after named carefully to fee ray
will performed, and that my funeral may be in
decent and comely manner performed in the even-
ing, without any vain pomp or coft therein to be
bellowed.
Itejn, My will is, that all fuch debts as I Hiall
happen to ow^e at the time of my deceafe to any
perfoji or perfons, (being truly and properly mine
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 247
own debts,) fliall be well and truly fatisfied and
paid as foon after my deceafe as the fame conve-
niently may be; and to that intent and purpofe my
will and mind is, and 1 do hereby limit and ap-
point, that all my leafes, goods, chatdes, plate,
and houfebold flufFe whatfoever, which 1 leave or
fliali be poffelTed of at the time of my deceafe,
fliall immediately after my deceafe be fold to the
raofl; and bell benefit and advantage that the lame
or any of them may or can, and that the monies
thereby raifed iliall go and be employed towards
the payment and difcharge of my laid debts, as
foon as the fame may be converted into monies
and be received, without fraud or covin ; and that
if the fame leafes, goods, and chattels, fliall not
raife fo much money as fliall be fufficient to pay
my debts, then ray will and mind is, and i do
hereby will and appoint, that the moiety or one
half of the yearly benefit and profit of the feveral
parts which 1 have by leale in the feveral play-
houfes of the Globe and Black-fryers, for and
during fuch time and term as 1 have therein, be
from time to time received and taken up by my
executor herein after named, and by him from
time to time faithfully employed towards the pay-
ment of fuch of my laid own proper debts which
fliall remain unfadsfied, and that propordonably
to every perfon and peifons to whom 1 Ihall then
remain indebted, unul by the faid moiety or one
half of the faid yearly beneiTt and profit of the faid
parts they ihall be fausfied and paid without fraud
or covin. And if the faid moiety or one half of
the faid yearly benefit of my laid parts in the faid
play-houfes Hiall notin fomc convenient time laife
R4 . .
2^8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fufficient moneys to pay my faid own debts, then
my will and mind is, and I do hereby limit and
appoint, that the other moiety or half part of the
benefit and profit of my faid parts in the faid play-
houfes be aifo received and taken up by my faid
executor herein after named, and faithfully from
time to time employed and paid towards the fpeedier
fatisfa6lion and payment of my faid debts. And
then, after rny faid debts fhali be fo fatisfied and
paid, then I limit and appoint the faid benefit and
profit arifmg by my faid parts in the faid play-
lioufes, and the employment of the fame, to be
received and employed towards the payment of the
legacies by me herein after given and bequeathed,
and to the raifmg of portions for luch of my laid
children as at the time of my deceafe fliall have
received from me no advancement. And 1 do
hereby delue my executor herein after named to
fee this my will and meaning herein to be well and
truly performed, according to the trufl and con-
fidence by me in him repofed.
Item, I give, devife, and bequeath, unto my
daughter Rebecca Smith, now wife of Captain
William Smith, my beftfuit of linen, wrought with
cutwork, which was her mother's; and to my fon
Smith, her hufband, his wife's pifture, fet up in a
frame in my houfe.
Item, I give and bequeath unto mv daughter
Margaret Sheppard, wife of Mr. Thomas Sheppard,
iny red cufhions embroidered with bugle, which
were her mother's; and to my laid fon Sheppard,
his wife's picture, which is alfo fet up in a frame in
my houfe.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 249
Elizabeth, my green cufliions which were her
mother's.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter
Mere field my clothe-of-filver flriped cufliions which
were her mother's.
Item, I give and bequeath unto fo many of my
daughter Merefield's, and my daughter Sheppard's
children, as ihall be living at the time of my de-
ceafe, fifty fhiliings apiece.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandchild,
Richard Atkins, the fum of five potinds of lawful
money of England, to buy him books.
Item, I give and bequeath unto ray fon-in-law
John Atkins, and his now wife, if they fliall be
living with me at the time of my deceafe, forty
fliillings, to make them two rings, in remembrance
of me.
Item, I give and bequeath unto every of my fel-
lows and fliarers, his majeflies lervants, which (liall
be living at the time of my deceafe, the fum of
ten (hillings apiece, to make them rings for remem-
brance of me.
Item, I give and bequeath unto John Rice, Clerk,
of St. Saviour's in Southwark, (if he fhall be living
at the time of my deceafe,) the fum of twenty
fhiliings of lawful Englifii money, for a remem-
brance of my love unto him.
Item, I give and bequeath unto the poor of the
parilh of St. Mary, Aldermanbury, where 1 long
lived, and whither I have bequeathed my body for
burial, the fum of forty lliillings of lawful EngliOi
money, to be diflributcd by the churchwardens of
the fame parifh where mofl need iliall be.
Item, My will and mind is, and I do hereby
f5o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
limit and appoint, that tlie,feveral legacies and fums
of money by me herein before bequeathed to be
paid in money, be raifed and taken out of the yearly
profit and benefit which fhall arife or be made by
my feveral parts and fliares in the feveral playhoufes
called the Globe and Blackfriers, after my laid
debts fhall be paid, with as much fpeed as the fame
conveniently may be; andl do hereby will, require,
and charge my executor herein after named efpe-
cially to take care that my debts, firft, and then
thofe legacies, be well and truly paid and dif-
charged, as foon as the fame may be fo raifed by
the fale of my goods and by the yearly profits of
my parts and fliares; aud that my eflate may be fo
ordered to the beft profit and advantage for the
better payment of my debts and difcharge of my
legacies before mentioned with as much ipeed as
the lame conveniently may be, according as I have
herein before in this will dire6^cd and appointed
the fame to be, without any leffening, diminifliing,
or undervaluing thereof, contrary to my true intent
and meaning herein declared. And for the better
performance thereof, ray will, mind, and defire is,
that my faid parts in the faid play-houfes fliould
be employed in playing, the better to raife profit
thereby, as formerly the fame have been, and have
yielded good yearly profit, as by my books will in
that behalf appear. And my will and mind is, and I
do hereby ordain, limit, and appoint, that after
my debts, funerals, and legacies fliall be paid and
fatisfied out of my eflate, that then the refidue and
remainder of my goods, chattels, and credits what-
foever fliall be equally parted and divided to and
araongfl fuch of my children as at the drae of my
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 201
deceafe fhallbe unmarried or unadvanced, and fliall
not have received from me any portion in marriage
or otherwiTe, further than only for their education
and breeding, part and part like; and I do hereby
ordain and make my fon William Heminge to be
the executor of this my lad will and tellameht, re-
quiring him to lee the fame performed in and by
all things, according to my true meaning herein
declared. And I do deiire and appoint my loving
friends Mr. Burbage' and Mr. Rice to be the over-
feers of this my laft \viil and teftament, praying
them to be aiding and affifting to my laid executor
with their befl advice and council in the execution
thereof: and I do hereby utterly revoke all former
wills by me heretofore made, and do pronounce,
publifli, and declare this to be my lalf will and
tellament. In witnefs whereof I have hereunto
put my hand and feal the day and year firfl above
written.
Probatumfuit tejlamcntitm Juprajcriptnm cpud Lon-
don coram vmerahiliviro, magijlro Willielmo
James, Ugum do5lore, Surrogato, undecimo die
menfis Oclohrh, Anno Domini, i63o. jura-
menio V/illiclmi Heminge /ilii naturalis (ir legi-
tim. dicli dcfnncii, 6' exccutoris, cui, ^c. dc
bene, ^c. jurat.
AUGUSTINE PHILIPS.
This performer is likewife named in the licence
granted by King James in i6o3. It appears from
Hey wood's Apology jor ABors, printed in 1G.12. that
he was then dead. In an extraordinary exhibition,
5 Cuthbert Burbadge, brother to the ador.
252 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
entitled The Seven deadly Sins, written by Tarleton»
of which the MS. plot or {cheme is in my poX-
fefTion, he rcprefented Sardanapalns. I have not
been able to learn Avhat parts he performed in Shak-
fpcare's plays; but believe that he was in the fame
ciafs as Kempe, and Armine ; for he appears, like
the former of thele players, to have publiflied a
ludicrous metrical piece, which was entered on the
Stationers' books in i595. Pliilips's production
was entitled "X^'^J^SS oj ihe Slippers,
WILLIAM KEMPE
was the fucceffor ofTarleton. "Here I mufl: needs
remember Tarleton, (fays Heywood, in his Apology
for Actors,) in his time gracious with the queen his
foveraigne, and in the people's general applaufe;
whom fucceeded Will- Kemp, as well in the favour
of her majeftie, as in the opinion and good thoughts
of the general audience." From the quarto edi-
tions of fome of our author's plays, we learn that
lie was the original performer of Dogberry in Much
Ado about Nothing, and of Peter in Rovieo andjuliet.
From an old comedy called The Return from Par-
iiajfus, we may colle6lthathe was the original Juftice
Shallow; and the contemporary writers inform us
that he ufually acled the part of a Clown ; in which
charafter, like Tarleton, he was celebrated for his
extempora I wit. * Launcelot in The Merchant of
Venice^ Toucliftone in As you like it, Launce in
The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and the Grave-digger
* See p. 143. n. 7.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 253
in Hamlet^ were probably alfo performed by this
comedian. He was an author as wcil as an ailor. '
So early as in the year i58g Kempe's comick
talents appear to have been highly eftimated, for
an old pamphlet called An Almond for a Parrot.,
\vritten, 1 think, by Thomas Nalhe, and publilhed
about that time, is dedicated " to that mod comi-
call and conceited Cavaleire Monjieur du Kempe,
Jeftmonger, and vice-gerent generall to the Ghofl
of Dicke Tarleton.""
' See TAei?f?wr?!/romParna^«5, a comedy, 1606. " In dee do
M. Kempe, you are very famous, but that is as well for
worhes in print as your part in cue." Kempe's New Jigg of
the Kilchenjluff Woman was entered on the books of tlie
Stationerb' company in l5g5- and in the fame year was
liceufed to Thomas Goffon, " Kempes New Jigge betwixt a
Souldier and a Mifer and Sym the Clowne."
Sept. 7. i5g3. was entered on the Stationers' books, by
R. Jones, " A. comedie entitled A Knack how to knoio a
Knave, newly fet forth, as it hath been fundrye times plaied
by Ned Allen and his company, with Kempes applauded
merryment of The Men of Gotham.''''
In the Bodleian Library, among the books given to ic
by Robert Burton, is the following traft, bound up with,
a few others of the fame fue, in a quarto volume marked
L. Gad. art. :
" Kemps nine dales wonder performed in a daunce from.
London to Norwich. Containing the pleafure, paines and
kind entertainment of William Kemp between London and
that city, in his late mortice. Wherein is fomewhat feC
downe worth note ; to reprooue the flaundcrs fpred of him :
many tilings merry, nothing hurtfull. Written by himfelfe,
to latisfie his friends." ( Lond. E. A. for Nicholas Ling,
1600. b. 1. — With a wooden cut of Kempe as a morris-
dancer, preceded by a fellow with a pipe and drum, whom
he (in the book) calls Thomas Slyc, his taberer.) It is
dedicated to " The true ennobled lady, and mofl: bountiful!
miltrls, miflris Anne Fitton, raayde of honwi]r to the njoft
facred naaydc royall tj^ueene JLliiiabethe"
2^4 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
From a paffage in one of Decker's trails it may
be prefumed that this comedian was dead in the
year i6og. *
In Br3.ith.w3.itc s Re7nai?is, 1618. he is thus com-
memorated:
"'Upon Kemfe and his Morice, with his
Epitaph.
li Welcorae from Norwich, Kempe : all joy to fee
(( Thy fafe return morifcoed luflily.
(( But out alas ! how foone's thy raorice done,
(( When pipe and tabor, all thy friends be gone ;
(( And leave thee now to dance the fecond part
tt With feeble nature, not with nimble art !
(( Then all thy triumphs fraught with ftrains of mirth,
(( Shall be cag'd up within a cheft of earth :
4( Shall be ? they are ; thou haft danc'd tliee out of breath :
(( And now muft make thy parting dance with death."
THOMAS POPE.
»
This a6lor hkewife performed the part of a
Clo\vn.^ He died before the year 1600.*
GEORGE BRYAN.
I have not been able to gather any intelligence
concerning this performer, except that in the ex-
^ " Tufh, tufh, Tarleton, Kempe, nor Singer, nor all the
litter of fooles that now come drawling behind them, never
played the clownes part more naturally than the arranteli
lot of you all." Guls Hornebooke, i6og.
7 (( what meanes Singer then,
44 And Pope, the clowne, to fpealc fo borifli, when
44 They counterfaite the clownes upon the flage?"
Humours Ordinarie, where a Man may he verie mem
and exceeding v)ell ujed for his Sixpence. (No date.)
* Hey wood's Apology for Aclors.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 255
hibltion of The Scvm deadly Sim he reprcfented the
Earl of Warwick. He was, 1 believe, on the flags
before the year i588.
HENRY CUNDALL
is faid by Roberts the player to have been a come-
dian, but he does not mention any other authority
for this aiTertion but Rage-tradition. In Webfler s
Dutchejs of Ma If y he originally ac^ed the part of the
Cardinal; and as, when that play was printed in
iGsS. another performer had fuccecded him in tha*
part, he had certainly before that time retired from
the flage. He flill, however, continued to have
an mtereft in the theatre, being mentioned with
the other players to whom a licence was granted
by King Charles the Fiift in 1625. He had pro-
bably a conhderable portion of ihtjliares or property
of the Globe and Blackfriars theatres. Tliis actor
as well as Heminge lived in Aldermanbury, in
which parifli he ferved the office of Side.7na?i in the
year 1606. 1 have not been able to afcertain his
age; but he appears to have married about the
year 1598. and had eight children, the eldefl of
whom was born in Feb. 1598-99. and died an in-
fant. Three only of his children appear to have
furvived him; Henry, born in 1600. Elizabeth
in i6o(). and William, baptized May 9.6. 1611.
Before his death he refided for fome time at Ful-
liam, but he died in London, and was buried in
hisparifh church in Aldermanbury, Dec. 29. 1627.
On the i3th of that month he made his will, of
which I fubjoin a copy, extracted from the regiflry
of the Prerogative Court.
256 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" 111 the name of God, Amen, I Henry Cundali
of London, gentleman, being fick in body, but
of perfe6l mind and memory, laud and praife be
therefore given to Almighty God, calling to my
remembrance that there is nothing- in this v/orld
more fure and certain to mankind than death,
and nothing more uncertain than the hour thereof,
do therefore make and declare this my laft will
and teftament in manner and form following; that
is to lay, firft I commend my foul into the hands
of Almighty God, trufling and affuredly believing
that only by the merits of the precious death and
palTion of my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrifl I fliall
obtain full and free pardon and Temiffion of all my
fins, and fliall enjoy everlaflinglife in the kingdom
of heaven, amongft the ele6t children of God.
Mv body I commit to the earth, to be decently
buried in the night-time in fucli parifli where it
fliall pleafeGod to call me. My worldly fubftance
I difpofe of as followeth. And lirfl concerning
all and {ing-ular mv freehold mclTuages, lands,
tenements and hereditaments whatfoever, with their
and every of their appurtenances, whereof I am
and fland feizcd of any manner of eflate of in-
heritance, I give, devife and bequeadi the fame
as followeth:
Imprimis, I give, devife and bequeath all and
lingular my freehold meifuages, lands, tenements
and hereditaments whatfoever, with their and every
of their appurtenances, fituate, lying and being in
Helmett-court in the Strand, and elfewhere, in the
county of Middlefex, unto Elizabeth my well
beloved wife, for and during the term of her na-
tural life; and from and immediately after her
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2^7
dcceafe, unto mv Ton Henry Cundall, and to the
heirs of his body lawfully to be beg(.)iten, and for
wani of fuch ilFue unto my fon William Cundall,
and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten;
and for default of fach iffue unto my daughter
Elizabeth Finch, and to her heirs and ailigns for
ever.
Item, I give, devife and bequeath all and fmgu-
lar my freehold melluages, lands, tenements, and
hereditaments, whatlocver, with their and every of
their appurtenances, fituate, lying and being in the
parifli of St Bride, alias Bridgett, near Fleet-Qreet,
London, and ellewhere in the city of London, and
the fuburbes thereof, unto my well beloved wife
Elizabeth Cundall and to heraflicins, untill rav faid
fon William Cundall his term of apprenticehood.
fliall be fully expired by effluxion of dme; and
from and immediately after the faid term of ap-
prcnucchood fliall be fo fully expired, I give,
devife and bequeath the fame meffuages and pre-
mifes fituate in the city of London, and the fub-
urbes thereof, unto my faid fon William Cundall,
and to the heirs of his body la"\vfully to be begotten,
and for default of fuch iffuc, unto my faid fon Henry
Cundall, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be
begotten, and for default of fuch iffue unto my faid
daughter Elizabeth Finch, and to her heirs and
alhgns for ever. And as concerning all and fmgular
my goods, chattels, plate, houfehold fluff, ready
money, debts, and perfonal cflate, whatfoever and
■whcrefoever, I give, devife, and bequeath the fame
as followeth: viz.
Imprimh, Whereas I am executor of the lad will
and tcflament of John Underwood, deceafed, and
f S
258 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
bv force of the fame execntorfhip became poffeffed
of fo much of the peifonal eftate of the faid John
Underwood, which is expreffed in an inventory-
thereof, made and by me exhibited in due form of
law into the ecclehailical court. And ^vhcreas alfo
in difcharge of my faid executorfhip I have from
luDfi to time difburfed divers fums of money in the
education and bringing up of the chilchen of the
faid John Underwood deceafed as by my accompts
kept in that behalf appeareth. Now in difchargc
ol mv confcience, and in full performance of the
truft repofed in me by the faid John Underwood,
) do charge my executrix faithfully to pay to the
furviving children of the faid John Underwood all
and whatfoever fiiall be found and appear by my
accompts to belong unto them, and to deliver unto
them all fuch rings as was their Iste father's, and
•which are by me kept by themfelves apart in a
little calket.
lUm, I do make, name, ordain and appoint my
faid well beloved wife, EHzabeth Cundall, the full
and lolc executrix of this my lafl will and tefta-
ment, rec^uiring and charging her, as fhe will an-
fwer the contrary before Almighty God at the
dreadful day of judgment, that llie will truely and
faithfully perform the fame, in and by all things
according to my true intent and meaning; and I
do earneftly defire my very loving friends, John
Heminge, gentleman, Cuthbert Burbage, gentle-
man, my fon-in-law Herbert Finch, and Peter
Saunderfon, grocer, to be my overfcers, and to be
aiding and ahifting unto my faid executrix in the
due execudon and performanee of this my laft will
and teftament. And I give and bequeath to every
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. sSg
of my faicl four overfeers the fum of five pounds
apiece to buy each of them a piece of plate.
Item, I give, devife, and bequeath, unto my
faid fon William Cundall, all the clear yearly rents
and profits which fhall arife and come from the
time of my deccafe, of and by my leafes and terms
of years, of all my mefl'uages, houfcs, and places,
fituate in the Blackfriars London, and at the Bank-
fide in the county of Surry, until fuch time as that
the full fum of three hundred pounds by thofe renti
and profits may be raifed for a flock for my faid
fon William,' if he Ihall fo long live.
Item, for as much as 1 have by this my \vill dealt
very bountifully with my well beloved wife EUza-
beth Cundall, confidering my eftate, I do give and
bequeath unto my fon Henry Cundall for his main-
tenance, either at the univcrfity or eifevvhere, one
annuity or yearly fum of thirty pounds of lawful
money of England, to be paid unto my faid fon
Henry Cundall, or his affigns, during all the term
of the natural life of the faid Elizabeth my wife,
if my laid fon Henry Cundall fhall fo long live, at
the four moft ufual feaft-days or terms in the year, -
that is to fay, at the feafis of the birth of our Lord
Jcfus Chrifl, the Annunciation of the bleffed Virgin
Mary, Nativity of Saint John Baptift, and St.
Michael the Archangel; or within the fpace of
twenty and eight days next enfulng after every of
the fame feaft-days, by even and equal portions:
the firft payment thereof to begin and to be made
at fuch of the faid feail-days as fliall firfl and next
happen after the day of my deceafe, or within the
• He was probably bound apprentice to Peter Sauudexfon,
^ocer.
S 2
fl6o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
fpace of twenty and eight days next enfuing after
the fame feaft-day.
Item, I give and bequeath unto widow Martin
and widow Gimber, to each of them refpcftively,
for and during all the terms of their natural lives
feveraily, if my leafes and terms of years of and
in my houfes in Aldermanburv in London fliall fo
long continue unexpired, one annuity or yearly fum
of twenty iliillinqs apiece, of lawful money of
England, to be paid unto them feveraily, by even
portions quarterly, at the feaft-days above men-
tioned, or within the fpace of tv/enty and eight
davs next enfuing after every of the fame feaft-
days; the firft payment of them feveraily to begin
and to be made at fuch of the faid feafts as ffiall
firft and next happen after my deceafe or within
the fpace of twenty and eight days next enfuing
after the fame feafl.
lUra, 1 give, devife, and bequeath, unto the
poor people of the parifti of Fulhara in the county
ofMiddlefex, where I now dwell, the fum of five
pounds, to be paid to mafter Do61or Glewett, and
mafter Edmo'nd Powell of Fulham, gentleman, and
by them to be diftributed.
Item, I give, devife, and bequeath unto my faid
well beloved vi^ife Elizabeth Cundall, and to my
faid well beloved daughter Elizabeth Finch, all
my houfehold ftufF, bedding, linen, brafs, and
pewter, whatfoever, remaining and being as well
at my houfe in Fulham aforefaid, as alfo in my
houfe in Aldermanbury in London; to be equally
divided between them part and part alike. And
for the more equal dealing in that behalf, I will,
appoint, and requcft my laid overleers, or the
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. «6i
crrcater number of them, to make divifion thereof,
and then ray \vife to have the preferment of the
choice.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my coufui Frances
Gurney, alias Hulfc, my aunt's daughter, the fum
of five pounds, and I give unto the daughter of
the faid Frances the like fum of five pounds.
Item, I give, devife and bequeath unto fuch and
fo many of the daughters of my coufm Gilder, late
of New Buckenham in the county of Norfolk, de-
ceafed, as fhall be living at the time of my deceafe,
the fum of five pounds apiece.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my old fervant
Elizabeth VVheaton, a mourning gown and forty
fiiillings in money, and that place or priviledgc
which flie now excrcifeth and enjoyeth in the
houfes of the Blackfryers, London, and the Globe
on the Bankfide, for and during all the term of her
natural life, if my eftate fhall fo long continue in
the premifes; and I give unto the daugbtei of the
faid Elizabeth Wheaton the fam of five pounds,
to be paid unto the faid Elizabeth VVheaton, for
the ufe of her faid daughter, within the fpaceof
one year next after my dsceafc. And I do hereby
will, appoint and declare, that an acquittance under
the hand and feal of the faid Elizabeth Wheaton,
■npon the receipt of the faid legacy of five pounds,
for the ufe of her faid daughter, fhall be, and fhall
be deemed, adjudged, conUrued, and taken to be,
both in law and in equity, unto my now executrix
a fufficient relcafc and difchargc for and concern-
ing the payment of the fame.
Item, I give, devife, and bequeath, all the reft
and reiidue of my goods, chattels, Icafes, money
S 3
s6j historical ACCOUNT
debts, and per foil al eflate, whatfoever, and where-
foever, (after my debts fliall be paid and my fu-
neral charges and all other cliarges about the
execution of this my will hrft paid and difchar-
ged) unto my faid well beloved wife, Elizabeth
Cu>idall.
Ittm, My will and mind is, and I do hereby de-
fire and appoint, that all fuch legacies, gifts and be-
quefts as 1 have by this my will given, devifed or
bequeathed unto any perfon or perfons, for pay-
ment whereof no certain time is hereby before
limited or appointed, (hall be well and truly paid
bv my executrix within the fpace of one year next
after my deceafe. Finally, I do hereby revoke,
counterm.and, and make void, all former wills, •
teftaments, codicils, executors, legacies, and be-
quefts, whatfoever, by me. at any time heretofore
named, made, given, or appointed; willing and
minding that thefe prefents only fhall fland and be
taken for my laft will and teftament, and none
other. In witnefs whereof 1 the faid Henry
Cundall, the teftator, to this my prefent laft will
and teftament, being written on nine Iheets of
paper, with my name fubfcribed to every ftieet,
have fet mv feal, the thirteenth day of December,
in the third year of the reign of our fovereign lord
Charles, by the grace of God king of England,
Scotland, trance, and Ireland, defender of the
faith, Sec.
HENRY CUNDALL.
Signed, fealed, pronounced and declared, by the
faid Henry Cundall, the teftator, as his laft will
and teftament, on the day and year above written,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 363
in the prefencc of us whofe names are here under
written:
Robert Yongc.
Hum. Dyfon, Notary Publique.
And of me Ro. Dickens, fervant unto the
faid Notary.
ProbatumJuittcJlammtinnJupraJcriptumapudLond.
coram ma gifiro Richardo Xjjuche, Ugum doclore,
Surrogaio, 24" dii Fcbniarii, 1621 . jurammio
Elizabtthce Cundally rclicla diBi defundi <&
exccutr. cui, 'be. de bene, ixc. jurat,
WILLIAM SLY
was joined with Shakfpeare, Sec. in the licence
granted in i6o3. — He is introduced, perfonally. in
the induftion to Mariton's MaUcontcnt, 1604. and
from his there uhng an affeded phrafe of Ofrick's
in Hamlet, we may coiled that he performed that
part. He died before the year 161 2. *
RICHARD COWLEY
appears to have been an ador of a low clafs, having
performed the part of Verges in Much Ado about
Nothing. He lived in the parifli of St. Leonard,
Shorcditch, and had two fons baptized there;
Cuthbert, born in iBc^-j. and Richard, born in
i5gg. I know not when this acSlor died.
JOHN LOWIN
was a principal performer Shakfpeare's plays. If the
dale on his pi6lure in the Allimolean Mufcum at
* Hcywood's Apology for Ailofs.
S 4
j26i HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Oxford is accurate, be was born in 1576. Wright
mcnlions in his Hijioria Hijirionica that " belorc
the v.ars he ufed to a6l the part of Falflaff with
mighty appLaufc;" but without doubt he means
during the reign of King Charles tlie Firfl, from
162.5 to 164.1. Wlicn Shaklpeare's King Henry JV.
was firh exhibited, Lowin was but twenty-one
years old; it is therefore probable that Heminge
or fome other aclor, originally reprefented the fat
knight, and that feveval years afterwards the part
was refgncd to I.owin.
He is laid by Roberts the player to have alfo
performed King. Henry the Eighth and Hamlet;
but Avith refped to the latter his account is cer-
tainly erroneous ; for it appears from more ancient
writers, that Joleph Taylor was the original per-
former of that character.
Lowin is introduced, in perfon, in the Indu6lion
to Marflon's Mateconlmt, printed in 1604. and he
and Tavlor are mentioned in a copy of verfes,
written in the.ycar i632. loon after the appearance
of Jonfon's Magnetidi Lady, as the two moll ce-
lebrated a£lors of that drnc:
(( Let Louin ceafe, and Taylor fcorn to touch
41 The loathed ftage, for thou haft made h I'uch."
Bcfide the parts already mentioned, this a^or
reprefented the following chara6lers: Morofe, in
The Silenl Woman; — Volpone, in TheFox; — Mam-
mon, in The A Ichymijt; — Melantius, in The Maid's
Tragedy ; — Aubrey, in The Bloody Brother , — Bofola,
4 H'l/ior. Hijlrion. and Rojcha AngUcanus,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. s65
in The Dutchffa of Maljy ; — Jacomo, in The Dc-
JeivingFavourTte ; — Eubulus, inMaflinger'sP/^wrf ;
— Doinitian, in The Roman ABor ; — anclBelleur, in
The WUd Gooje Chace.
Though Heminge and Con dell continued to have
an interelt in the theatre to the time of their death,
yet about the year j623. I believe, they ceafed to
a£l:; and that the management had in the next year
devolved on Lowin and Taylor, is aTcertained by
the following note made by Sir Henry Herbert in
his office-book, under the year i633-
" On Friday the nineteenth of Odlober/ i633.
I fent a warrant by a meifenger of the chamber to
fupprcfs The Tamer Tamd, to the Kings players, for
that afternoone, and it was obeyd ; upon complaints
of foule and offenfive maters conteyncd therein.
" They a6led The Scornful Lady inflead of it.
I have enterd the warrant here.
' Thefe are to will and require you to forbearc
the a£iinge of your play called The Tamer Tamd,
or th(. Taminge of the Tamer, this afternoone, or
any more till you have leave from mee ; and this
at your perill. On friday morninge the 18 06lob.
i633.
' To Mr. Taylor, Mr. Lowins, or any of the
King's players at the Blackfryers.'
" On faterday morninge followinge the booke
was brought mee, and at my Lord of Hollands
requeil 1 returned it to the players y^ monday
morninge after, purged of oaths, prophanefs, and
ribaldrye, being y^ 21 of06lob. i633.
'' So the MS. though afterwards Sir Henry Herbert calls
it " friday the 18th."
266 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" Becaufe the floppinge of the a£ling of this
play for that afternoone, it being an ould play,
hath rayfed fome difcourfe in the players, though
no difobedience, I have thought fitt to infert here
ther fubmiffion upon a former difobedience, and to
declare that it concernes the Matter of the Revells
to bee careful! of their ould revived playes, as of
their new, lincc they may conteyne ofFenfive matter,
which ought not to be allowed in any time.
" The Mafter ought to have copies of their
new playes left with him, that he may be able to
ihew what he hath allowed or difallowed.
" All ould plays ought to bee brought to the
Mafter of the Revells, and have his allowance to
them for which he fliould have his fee, fmce they
may be full of ofFenfive things againft church and
flate; y'= rather that in former time the poetts
tooke greater liberty than is allowed them by mee.
*• The players ought not to fludy their parts till
I have allowed of the booke.
' To Sir Henry Herbert, K.* mafter of his
Majefties Revels.
* After our humble fervife^ remembred unto
your good worfhip. Whereas not long fmce wc
afted a play called The Spanijhe Viceroy, not being
licenfed under your worfliips hande, nor allowd of;
wee doe confefs and herby acknowledge that wee
have offended, and that it is in your power to
punifhe this offenfe, and are very forry for it; and
doe likewife promife herby that wee will not a6l
* In the margin here Sir Henry Herbert has added this
note : " 'Tis entered here for a remembrance againft their
difordcrs."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 267
any play without your hand or fubdltuts hereafter,
iior doe any thinge tljatmay prejudice the authority
of your office: So hoping that this humble fub-
miffion of ours may bee accepted, wee have ther-
unio Ictt our hands. This twenticilic of Dccemb.
1G24.
Jofeph Taylor. J<^hn Lowen.
Kichard Kobinfon. John Shaiickc.
Elyard Swanflon. John Rice.
Thomas Pollard. Will. Rowley.
Robert Benfeilde. Richard Sharpc.
George Burght.
" Mr. Knight,
*' In many things you have faved mee labour;
yet wher your judgment or penn layld you, 1 have
made boulde to ufe mine. Purge ther parts, as I
have the bookc. And I hope every hearer and
player will thinke that I have done God good fer-
vife, and the quality no vvronge ; who hath no
greater enemies than oaths, prophanefs, and pub-
lique ribaldry, which for the future 1 doe abfolutely
forbid to bee prefentcd unto mee in any playbooke,
as you will anfwer it at your perill. 21 0£lob.
i633."
" This was fubfcribed to their play of The Tamer
Tamd, and dire6led to Knight, their book-keeper.
" The 24 0(Slob. i633. Lowins and Swanfton
were forry for their ill manners, and craved my
pardon, which I gave thera in prefcnce of Mr.
Taylor and Mr. Benfeilde.""
After the fupprehion of the theatres, Lowin be-
came very poor. In i652. in con]un(5tion with
Jofeph Taylor, he pubUllied Fletcher's comedy
26S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
called The Wild Goofe Chafe, for bread ; and in his
latter years lie kept an inn [The Three Pidgeons) at
Brentford, in which town, Wright" fays, he died
very old. ^ But that writer was raiftaken with re-
fpecl to the place of his death, for he died in Lon-
don at the/age of eighty-three, and was buried in
the ground belonging to the parifli of St. Martin
in the Fields, March 18. 1658-9. On the 8th of
the following October adniiniftradon of the goods
of John Lowin was granted to Martha Lowin, I
fuppofe the ador's widow. In the Regifter of
perions buried in the parifli of Brentford, which I
carefully examined, no perfon of this name is
mentioned between the years i65o. and 1660.
SAMUEL CROSS.
This a£lor was probably dead before the year 1 600.
for Heywood, who had himfelf written for the
flage before that dme, fays he had never feen him.
ALEXANDER COOKE.
From The Plait of the Seven deadly Sinns, it ap-
pears, that this aftoi^was on the ftage before i588.
and was the ftao-e-heroine. He acled fome woman's
part in Jonfon's Se.janus, and in The Fox; and we
may prefume, performed all the principal female
charaders in Shakfpeare's plays.
SAMUEL GILBURNE. Unknown.
ROBERT ARM IN.
performed in The Alchemijl in 1610. and was alive
in i6ii. fome verfes having been addrelfed to him
* Hijiow Hifirion. p. 10.
OF THE EN GUSH STAGE. 269
m tliat year by John Davles of tTereford; from
which he appears to /have occafionally performed
the part of the Fool or the Clown.'
He was author of a comedy called The Two
Maids of More-clackc [Mortlak^ it ought to be.]
i6og. I have alfo a book, called A JVeJl of jYinnics
Jimply of themfelves, without compound, by Robert
Armin, publiflied in 1608. And at Stationers'
Hall was entered in the fame year, ** a bookxalled
Phantajm the Italian Taylor and his Boy, made by
Mr. Armin, fcrvant to his majclty."
Mr. Oldys, in his MS. notes on Langbaine, fays,
that " Armin was an apprentice at firil to a gold-
fniith in Lorabarcl-flreet," He adds, that " the
means of his becoming a player is recorded in
■ Tarleion'sjefts, printed in 1611. where it appears,
this 'prenuce going often to a tavern in Grace-
church-flreet, to dun the keeper thereof, who was
a debtor to his mafter, Tarlcton, who of the mafter
of that tavern was now only a lodger in it, faw
fome verfes written by Armin on the wainfcot,
upon his mafter's faid debtor, whofe name was
Charles Tarleton, and liked them fo well, that he
wrote others under them, prophecying, that as he
was, {o Armin {honXd be: therefore, calls him his
adopted fon, to \vear the Clown's fviit after him.
And lo it fell out, for the boy was fo plcafcd with
what Tarleton had written of him, fo refpe£led
• u To honcft, gamefome, Robert Amine,
4t Who tickles tlie fpleene like a liarmlefs vermin."
11 Arniine, what fliall I fay of thee, but this,
II Thou art a. fool and knave ; — both? — Re, I mlfs,
44 And wrong thee much; fith thou indeed art neither,
44 Although in Jhew thou jjla^efi both together."
270 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
his perfon, fo frequented his plays, and fo learned
his humour and manners, that from his private
pra(^ice he came to publick playing his parts ; that
he was in good repute for the fame at the Globe on
the Bank-fide, Sec. all the former part of King
James's reign."
WILLIAM OSTLER
had been one of the children of the Chapel ; having
a6fcd in Jonfon's PoetaJler\ together with Nat.
Field, and John Underwood, in 1601. and is laid
to have performed women's parts. In 1610 both
he and Underwood afted as men in Ben Jonfon's
Alchcmijt. In Davies's Scourge of FoUy, there are
fome verfes addreffed to him with this title: " To
the Rojcius of thefc times, William Oftler." He
aclcd Antonio in Webller's Dutchejs oj Malfy^ in
1623. 1 know not when he died.
NATHANIEL F I E L D. 1
JOHN UNDERWOOD.)
Both thefe a6lors had been children of the
Chapel ; ' and probably at the Globe and Black-
friars theatres performed female parts. Field,
when he became too manly to reprelent the cha-
raders of women, played the part o{ BuJJy d'Ambois
in Chapman's play of that name. From the pre-
face prefixed to one edition of it, it appears that
he was dead in 1641.
There is a good portrait of this performer in
Dulwich College, in a very hngular drefs.
^ See Cynthia's Revels^ iQoi. in which thfy both adcd»
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 271
Flcckno, in liis little trad on the Englifh Stage,
fpeaks of him as an ador of great eminence. ^ A
perfon of this name was the author of two comedies,
called A Wumans a Weathercock, and Amends for
Ladies, and affifted Maffinger in writing The Fatal
Dowry, but he fcarcely could have been the player ;
for the firft of the comedies abovementioned was
printed in 1612. at which time this a£lor muft have
been yet a youth, having performed as one of the
Children of the Revels, in Jonfon's Silent Woman,
in 1609.
The only intelligence I have obtained of John
Underwood, befide what I have already mentioned,
is, that he performed the part of Delio in The
Dutchejs of Ma If y, and that he died cither in the
latter end of the year 1624 or the beginning of
the following year, having firft made his will, of
which the following is a copy:
" In the name of God, Amen. I John Under-
wood, of the parifli of Saint Bartholomew theLefs,
in London, gent, being very weak and lick in
body, bat, thanks be given to Almighty God, in
perfed mind and memory, do make and declare
my laft will and teftament, in manner and form
following: viz. Firft, I commend and commit my
foul to Almighty God, and my body to the earth,
to be buried at the difcretion of my executors;
and my worldly goods and eftate which it hath
pleafed the Almighty God to blefs me with, I
\vill, bequeath, and difpofe as followeth ; that i^
to fay, to and amongft my five children, namely,
John Underwood, Elizabeth Underwood, Bnr-
bage Underwood, Thomas Underwood, and
^72 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Ifabell Underwood, (my debts and other legacies
herein named paid, and ray funeral and other
juft dues and duties difcharged) all and fmg'i-
lar my goods, houiehold iluff, plate aiid othn*
things Nvhatfoever in or about mv now d\velimi2:
houfe, or elfewhere ; and alfo all the right, title, or
intereft, part orfiiire, that 1 have and enjoy at this
prefent bv leafe or.othervvile, or ought to have,
poffefs and enjoy in any manner or kind at this
prefent or hereafter, within the Blackfryars, I.on-
don, or in the company of hisMajeUies fervants, my
loving and kind fellows, in their houfe there, or
at the Globe on the Bankfide ; and alfo that my
part and Oiare or due in or out of the playnou(e
called the Curtaine, fuuate in or near Hoilouay
in the pariil] of St. Leonard, London, or in any
other place; to my faid tive children, equally and
proportionably to be divided araongft them at
their feveral ages of one and twenty years; and
during their and every of their minorities, for and
towards their education, maintenance, and placing
in the world, according to the dilcretion, dlredion,
and care which I repofe in my executors. Pro-
vided always and my true intent and meaning is,
that my faid executors fhall not alienate, change or
alter by fale or other\v"ife, direclly or indircclly,
any my part or fhare which I now have or ought
to hold, have, poCTefs, and enjoy in the faid play-
houfes called the Blackfryars, the Globe on the
Bancke-fide, and Curtaine aforementioned, or any
of them, but that the increafe and benefit oui and
from the fame and every of them Ihall come,
accrue and arife to my faid executors, as now it is
to me, to the ufe of my faid children, equaiiy to
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 273
be divided amongfl them. Provided alfo that if
the life and increafe of my laid cllate given (as
aforelaid) to my faid children, fhall prove infuf-
ficient or defe£l;ive, in refpefl of the young years
of my children, for their education and placing
of them as my faid executors fliall, think meet,
then my will and true meaning is, that when the
eldcfl of my faid children fhali attain to the age of
one and twenty years, my faid executors fhall pay
or caufe to be paid unto him or her fo furviving or
attaining, his or her equal fliare of my eftate fo
remaining undifburfed or undifpofed'. for the ufes
aforefaid in their or either of their hands, and fo
for every or any of my faid children attaining to
the age aforefaid: yet if it fhall appear or feem fit
at the conipletion of my faid children every or any
of them at their -faid full age or ages, which fliall
firfl happen, my eflate remaining not to Tbe equally
iliared or difpofed amongfl the refl liMviving in
minority, then my will is, that it fliall he left to
my executors to give unto my child fo attaining
the age as they fhall judge will be equal to tl ic reft
furviving and accomplifliing the aforefaid age; and
if any of them fhall die or depart this life before
they accomplifli the faid age or ages, I will i nd
bequeath their part, fliare or portion to them, h. m
or her furviving, at the ages aforefaid, equally 11
be divided by my executors as aforefaid. And 1
do hereby nominate and appoint my loving friends
(in whom I repofe my trufl for performance of the
premiles) Henry Cundcll, Thomas Sanford, and
Thomas Smith, gentlemen, my executors of this
my laft will and teflament; and do intrcat my
loving friends, Mr. Jolm Heminge, and John
t T
274 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Lowyn, my fellowes, oyerfeers of tlie fame my lalt
will and tellament : and I give to my faid execntors
and oveiTeers for their pains (which I entreat them
to accept) the fum of eleven Ihillings apiece to buy
them rings, to wear in remembrance of me. In
witriefs whereof I have hereunto fet my hand and
feal the fourth day of Oftober, in the year of our
Lord one thoufand fix hundred tvventy four.
JOHN UNDERWOOD.
A Codicil to be annexed to the lafl will and
teftament of John Underwood, late of the parifh
of Little St. Bartholomew, London, deceafed,
made the tenth day of the month of Oftober,
Anno Doroiini one thoufand fix hundred tvventy
four or the;reabouts, viz. his intent and meaning
was, and fo he did will, difpofe, and bequeath (if
his eftate ""ivould thereunto extend, and it flioulcl
feem convenient to his executors,) thefe particu-
lars following in manner and form following : Jcilt,
to \i\n danghter Elizabeth two feal rings of gold,
one v/itli a death's head, the other with a red flone
in it,. To his fon John Underwood a feal ring of
gol d with an A and a B in it. To Burbage Un-
derwood a feal ring with a blue flone in it. To
If.abell one hoop ring of gold. To his faid fon
,j|ohn one hoop ring of gold. To his faid daugh-
ter Elizabeth one wedding ring. To his faid fon
Burbage one hoop ring, black and gold. To his
faid fon Thomas one hoop ring of gold, and one
gold rine with a knot. To his faid daughter Ifa-
bell one blue faphire and one joint ring of gold.
To John Underwood one half dozen of filver
fpoons and one gilt fpoon. To Elizabeth one
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 275
filver fpoon and three gilt fpoons. To Burbage
Underwood, his fon aforenamed, one great gilt
fpoon, one plain bowl and one rough bowl. To
Thomas Underwood his fon, one filver porrenger,
one fuver tafter, and one gilt fpoon. To Ifabell
his faid daughter, three filver fpoons, two gilt
fpoons, and one gilt cup. Which was fo had and
done before fufncient and credible witnefs, the
faid teflator being of perfeft mind and memory.
Probatum fuit tejlame^itum Jiiprajcriptum una cum
codicillo cidem annex, apud London, coram,
judice, primo die menfis Fcbniarii, Anno Do-
mini 1624. juramcnto Henrici Cundell^ unius
executor, cui, 'be. de bene, <bc. jurat, refer^
vata potejlate fimilem commijfioncvi faciendi
Thome Sandford b Thome S^iiilh, execuioribus
ttiam in hujujmodi tejiamcnto nojiiinat. cum
venerint earn petitur.
NICHOLAS TOOLEY
a^led Forobofco in The Dutchtjs of Malfy. From
the Piatt of the Seven deadly Sinns, it appears, that
he fomctimes reprefented female chara£lers. He
performed in The Alcheraijl m 1610.
WILLIAM ECCLESTONE.
This performer's name occurs for the firfl time
m V>tn]on{on\ Alchemijl, 1610. No other ancient
piece (that 1 have feen) contains any memorial of
this ador.
JOSEPH TAYLOR
appears from fome verfes already cited, to have
been a celebrated aftor. According to Downes the
T 2
276 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
prompter, lie was inftrufted by Shakfpeare to play
Hamlet; and Wright in his Hijloria Hijlrionica^
fays, " He performed that part incomparably well."
From the remembrance of his performance of
Hamlet, Sir William D'Avenant is faid to have
conveyed his inftru(?dons to Mr. Betterton. Taylor
likevvife played lago. He alfo performed True-
wit in The Silent Woman, Face in Tke Alchimijt,*
and Ivlofca in Volponc ; but not originally.' He
reprefented Ferdinand in The Dutchefs of Malfy,
after the death of Burbadge. He afted Mathias
in The Picture, by Maihnger ; Paris in The Roiitaii
A5lor ; the Duke in CarlelFs Dejerving Favourite ;
RoUo in The Bloody Brother ; and Mirabel in The
Wild Goofe Chafe. There are verfes by this per-
former prefixed to Mairmger's Roman ABor, 1629.
In the year 1614. Taylor appears to have been
at the head of a diftinft company of comedians,
who were diftinguifhed by the name of The Lady
Elizabeth's Servants. ^ However, he afterwards
returned to his old friends; and after the death of
Burbadge, Heminge and Condeli, he in conjunc-
tion with John Lowin and Eliard Swanfton had
the principal management of the king's company.
In Sept. 1639 he was appointed Yeoman of the
Revels in ordinary to his Majefly, in the room of
Mr. William Hunt. There were certain perqui-
fites annexed to this office, and a falary of fixpencc
a day. When he was in attendance on the king
he had 31. 6s. 8d. per month.
* Hiji. Hijlnon.
5 Taylor's name does not occur In the lift of a^lors prhited
by Jonfon at the end of Volpone,
* MS. Vertue.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, 277
I find from Fleckno's CharaHers^ that Taylor
died either in the year i653 or in the following
year : ^ and according to Wright he was buried at
Richmond. The Regifler of that parifli antece-
dent to the Reftoration, being loft, I am unable
to afcertain that fa6l. He was probably near
fevcnty years of age at the time of his death.
He is faid by fome to have painted the only
original pi£lure of Shakfpeare now extant, in the
pofleffion of the duke of Chandos. By others,
ivith more probabihty, Richard Burbadge is re-
ported to have been the painter: for among the
pi6lures in Dulwich college is one, which, in the
catalogue made in the time of Charles the Second by
Cariwright the player, is faid to have been painted,
by Burbadge.
ROBERT BENFIELD
appears to have been a fecond-rate a6lor. He per-
formed Antonio in The Dutchejs of Malfy, after the
death of Oftler. He alfo aded the part of the
King in The Dejerving Favourite ; Ladiflaus in The
Picture; Junius Rufticus in TJ-e Roman Aclor; and
De-gard in The Wild Gooje Chafe.
He was alive in 1647. being one of the players
who figned the dedication to the folio edition of
Fletcher's plays, publiflied in that year.
^ " He is one, who now the fta^c is down, a.£ls the
parafite's part at table ; and, fince Taylor'' s death, none can
play Mofca fo well as he." CharaBer of one who imitates,
the good Companion another Way. In the edition of Fleckno's
Charafters, printed in lC65. he fays, " this cliarafler was
w'lltten in i654," Taylor was alive in i652. having pub-
lilhcd The Wild Gooje Chace in that year.
T 3
278 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
ROBERT COUGH E.
This acior at an early period performc»J female
cliara£lers, and was, I fuppofe, die father of yl/ex-
ander Goughe, who in this particular followed
Robert's fleps. In The Siven deadly Sins, Robert
Goughe played Afpatia; but in the year i6ii he
had arrived at an age which entitled hiui to repre-
fent male characters; for in The Second Maidens
Tragedie, ^ which was produced in that year, he
performed the part of the ularping tyrant.
RICHARD ROBINSON
is faid by Wright to have been a comedian. He
aded in Jonfon's Caiiline in i5ii. and, it fhould
feem from a paflage in The Devil is an Afs, [Act II.
fc. viii.] 1616. that at that time he ufually repre-
fented female chara£lers. In The Second Maidens
Tragedie, he reprefented the Lady oj Govianus. I
have not learned what parts in Shakfpeare's plays
were performed by this a61or. In The Dejerving
Favourite, 1629. he played Orfinio ; and in The
Wild Gooje Chafe, Le-Caiire. In Maffinger's Uornan
Aclor, he performed /Efopiis ; and in The Dutchefs
oJ Maljy, after the retirement of Condell, he
played the Cardinal. Hart, the celebrated ador,
was originally his boy or apprentice. Robinfon
was alive in 1647. his name being figncd, with
feveral others, to the dedication prefixed to the firfl
folio edition of Fletcher's plays. In the civil wars
he ferved in the king's army, and was killed m an
engagement, by Harrifon, who was afterwards
* MS. in the colieclion of the Marquis of Lanfdown. See
p. 91. n. 6.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 279
hanged at Charing-crofs. Harrifon refufed him
quarter, after he had laid down his arms, and Ihot
him in the head, faying at the fame time, " Curfed
is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently."'
JOHN SHANCKE
v.-as, according to Wright, a comedian. He was
but in a low clafs, having performed the part of
the Curate in Fletcher's Scornful Lady, and that of
Hillario (a fervant) in the Wild Goojc Chafe. He
was a dramatick author as well as an aflor, having
produced a comedy entided Shankes Ordinary^
which was a£led at Blackfriars in the year 1623-4. ^
JOHN RICE.
The only information I have met with concern-
ing this player, is, that he reprcfented the Marquis
of Pefcara, an inconfiderable part in Webfter's
Dutchefs of Malfy. He was perhaps brother to
Stephen Rice, clerk, who is mentioned in the will
of John Heminge.
The foregroinsiliftis faid in the firll folio to contain
the names ohh.tprincipal a6lors in Shakipeare's plays.
Befide thefe, we know that John Wilfon played
an infignificant part in Much Ado about Nothing.
Gabriel was likewife an inferior aftor in Shak-
fpeare's plays, as appears from The Third Part of King
Henry VI. p. i5o. edit. 1628. where we find —
" Enter Gabriel.'"' In the correfponding place in
7 H'tji. Hifirion. p. 8.
* " For the kings company. Shankes Ordinaiie, written
by Shankes himfelfe, this l6 March, l623. — £.i. o. 0."
MS. Herbert.
T 4
o8o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
the old play entitled The True Tragedie of Richarde
Duke of Torke, 8cc. we have — " Enter a Mejfmger.'"
Sinkler or Sinclo, and Humphrey, ^ were likewife
players in the lame theatre, and of the fame clafs.
William BarkRed, * John Duke, and Chriftopher
BccPion, ' alfo belonged to this company. The latter
from the year 1624 to i638. when he died, was
iiianager of the Cockpit theatre in Drury-lane.
Jn a book of the lafl age of no great authority,
we are told that " the infamous Hugh Peters, after'
he had been expelled from the Univerlity of Cara-
«» bridge, went to London, and enrolled himfelf as
a plaver in Shakipeare's company, in which he
ufuaiiy performed the part of the Clown." Hugh
Peter (for that was his name, not Peters, as he
was vulgarly called by his contemporaries,) was
born at Fowey or Foye in Cornwall in i^gg. and
was entered of Trinity College, in Cambridge, in
the year i6i3. In 1617 he took the degree of
Bachelor of Arts, and that of Mafter of Arts in
1622. On the 2 3d of December 1621. as 1 find
from the Regiftry of the Biihop of London, he
was ordained a deacon, by Dr. Mountaine then
bifliop of that fee ; and on June 8. 1623. he was
ordained a prieft. During his refidence at Trinity
College he behaved fo improperly, that he was
once publickly whipped for his infolence and con-
9 In The Third Part of King Henry VI. p. l58. firft folio,
tlie following flage-dircdion is found : " Enter Sinklo and
Humphrey." In the old play in quarto, entitled The true
Tragedie of Richarde Duke of Torke, " Enter two Keepers.''^
* He was one of the children of tlie Revels. See the
Dramatis Perjona: of Ben Jonfon's Silent Woman.
' Dramatis Perfon<e of Every Man in his Humour.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 281
tumacy;* but I do not find that lie was expelled.
It is, however, not improbable that he ^vas ruiU-
cated for a time, for fome mircoridu6l ; and perhaps
in that interval, inftcad of retiring to his parent's
lioufe in Cornwall, his rcRlefs fpirlt carried him
to London, and induced him to tread the flage.
If this was the cafe, it probably happened about
the time of Shal<fpearc's death, when Hugh Peter
Avas about eighteen years old.
Langbaine was undoubtedly miflaken in fup-
pofmg that Edward AUeyn was " ah ornament to
Black friars." Wright, who was much better ac-
c[uainted with the ancient ftage, fays, " he never
heard that Aileyn aflcd there:" and the lift in the
firft folio edition of Shakfpearc's plays proves
dccifively that he was not of his company ; for fo
celebrated a performer could not have been over-
looked, when that lift was forming. So early as
in i5g3. we find " Ned AUeyn's company men-
tioned." * Aileyn was fole proprietor and manager
of the Fortune theatre, in which he performed
from i5gg (and perhaps before) till 1616. when,
I believe, he quitted the ftage. He was fervant to
the Lord Admiral (Nottingham): all the old
plays therefore which are faid to have been per-
formed by the Lord Admirars Servanti^ were repre-
lented at the Fortinie by Aileyn's company.
4 Warton''s Milton, p. 432.
J P. 253. n. 5.
^ In a former edition I had faid, on the autliority of
Mr. Oldys, that "Edward Aileyn, the player, mentions
in his Diary, that he once had fo flender an audience in
his theatre called the Fortune, that the whole receipt of
the houfe amounted to no more than three pounds and
iome odd fiullings." But I have fince feen Alleyu's Diary,
•
2S2 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
HE hiflory of the flage as far as it relates to
Shakfpeare, naturally divides itfelf into three periods :
the period which preceded his appearance as an
aclor or dramatick Avriter ; that during which he
flourifiied; and the time which has elapfed fmce
his death. Having now gone through the two
former of thefe periods, 1 fhall take a tranfient
view of the ftage from the death of our great poet
to the year 1741. ftill witli a view to Shakfpeare,
and his works.
Soon after iiis death, four of the principal com-
panies then fubiifting, made a union, and were
(vvlilcli was tlien minaid,] and find Mr. Oldys was rniflaken.
The memorandum on which the intellip,eT)ce conveyed by
tlic Librarian of Dulwich College to that Antiquary, was
founded, is as follows : '' 061. 1617. 1 went to the Red
Bull, and rd. for The Younger Brollur hut £3. 6. 4."
It appears from one of Lord Bacon's Letters that Alleyn
had in 1618 left the ftage. " Allen that xvas the player,"
he calls him. The money therefore which he mentions to
have received for the play of The Younger Brother, muft
have been the produce of the fecond day's reprefentation,
in confequence of his having fold the property of that piece
to the fharers in the Red Bull theatre, or being in fomc
other way entitled to a benefit from it. Alleyn's own
play-houfe, the Fortune, was then open, but I imagine, he
had fold off his property in It to a kinfman, one Thomas
Allen, an aclor llkewife. In his Diary he frequently men-
tions his going from Dulwich to London after dinner, and
Tupping with him and fome of " the Forlmus vicn.'' From
this MS. I expelled to -have learned feveral particulars re-
lative to our ancient ftage ; but unluckily the Diary does
not commence till the year 1617. (at which time he had
retired to his College, at Dulwich,) and contains no thea-
trical intelligence whatfoever, except the article already
quoted.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2 83
afterwards called The United Companies; but I
know not precifely in v^liat this union conlifled.
I fufpect it urole from a penury of adors, and that
the managers contra£ted to permit the performers
in each houfeoccafionally to affift their brethren in
the other theatres in the reprefentation of plays.
We have already feen that John Heminge in 1618
pay'd Sir George Buck, " in the name of the Jon r
companys, for a lenten difpenfation in the holydaies,
44s.;" and Sir Henry Herbert obferves that the
play called Come fee a Wonder, *' written by John
Dave for a company of ftrangers," and reprefented
Sept. 18. 1623. 'was " afted at the Red Bull, and
licenfcd^vi^hout his hand to it, becaufe they [i. e.
this company of flrangers] were none of the /o7/r
companys.'" The old comedy entitled Amends for
Ladies, as appears from its title-page, was a£led at
Blackjriars before the year 1618. " both by the
Prince's fervants and Lady Elizabeth's,'''' though
the theatre at Blackfriars then belonged to the
king's fervants.
After the death of Shakfpeare, the plays of
Fletcher appear for fevcral years to have been
more admired, or at leaR to have been more fre-
quently aded, than his. During the latter
part of the reign of James the Firft, Fletcher's
pieces had the advantage of novelty to recom-
mend them. I believe, between the time of
Beaumont's death in 1015 and his own in 1626.
this poet produced at leaft twenty-five plays. Sir
Afton Cokain has informed us, in his poems, that
of the thirty-five pieces improperly afcribed to
Beaumont and Fletcher in the folio edition of
1647. much the greater part were written after
2^54 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Beaumont's deatli ; ^ and Ins account is partly con-
firmed by Sir Henry Herbert's Manufcript, from
which it appears that Fletcher produced eleven new
plays in the laft four years of his life. If we were
poffeffed of the Regifler kept by Sir George Buck,
we lliould there, I make no doubt, find near twenty
dramas written by the fame author, in the interval
bet^v•een i6i5 and 1622. As, to afcertaiu the fhare
which each of thefe writers had in the works which
have erroncoufly gone under their joint names, has
long been a defideratum in dramatick hihory, I fliall
here fet down as perfeft a lift as I have been able
to form of the pieces produced by Fletcher in his
latter years.
The Honejl Mans Fortune, though it appeared
firft in the folio 1647. was one of the few pieces
in that colle£lion, which was the joint produftion
of Beaumont and Fletcher. It was firll performed
at the Globe theatre in the year i6i3. two years
before the death of Beaumont. *
7 n For what a foul
li And Inexcufable fauU it is, [that -whole
(c Volume of plays being almoji every one
t(. After the death of Beaumont writ^) that none
(1 Would certifie them fo much?"
Verfes addreffed by Sir Aflon Cokain to Mr. Charles
Cotton.
See alfo his verfes addreffed to Mr. Humphry Mofeley
and Mr. Humphry Robinfon :
u In the large book of playes you late did print
4c In Beaumont and in Fletcher's name, why in't
t( Did you not juftice ? give to each his due?
it For Beaumont of thofc many writ in few ;
u And Maffinger in other few ; the main
t4 Being lole ilTnes of fweet Fletcher's brain."
* A Manufcript copy of this play is now before me,
marked i6i3.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2 85
The Loyal Subject was the fole produ6lion of
Fletcher, and was iirft reprefented in the year
1618.
It appears from Sir Henry Herbert's Manufcript,
that the new plavs which Fletcher had brought ouc
in the courfe of the year, were generally prefented
at court at Chriftmas. As therefore The Ijland
Piincejs, The Pilgrim, and The Wild Gooje Chafe arc
found among the court exhibitions of the year
1621. we need not hefitate to afcribe thefe pieces
alio to the fame poet. The Wild Gooje Chafe,
though abfurdly printed under the joint names of
Beaumont and Fletcher, is exprefsly afcribed to
the latter by Lowin and Taylor, the aftors who
publiilied it in i552. The Beggars Bufi, being
alfo a£ted at court in 1622. was probably written
by Fletcher. The Tamer tamed is expreisly calTd
his by Sir Henry Herbert, as is The Mad Lover by
Sir Afton Cokairt: and it appears from the ma-
nufcript fo often quoted that The jXight-Walker
and Love's Pilgrimage, having been left imperfect
by Fletcher, were corre£led and finiftied by Shirley.
I h'ave now o-iven an account of nine of the
pieces in which Beaumont appears to have had no
fhare; and fubjoin a lift of eleven^ other plays
written by Fletcher, (with the afilftance of Rowley
in one only,) precifely in the order in which they
were licenfed by the Mafter of the Revels.
1622. May 14. he produced a new play called
The Prophelefs.
June 22, The Sea Voyage. This piece was
a6led at the Globe.
Oftober 24. The Spanijh Ciiraic. A^led
at Blackfriars,
286 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
1623. Auguft 29. The Maid oj the Mill, written
by Fletcher and Rowley; afted at the
Globe.
06lober 17. The Devi II of Dow gate, or
Ufury put to vje. A£i:ed by the king's fer-
vants. This piece is loft.
Decemb. 6. The Wandering Lovers ; a£led
at Black friars. This piece is alfo loft.
1624. Way 27. ^1 Wife Jor a Month. Ailed by'
the King's fervants.
06lob. 19. Rule a Wife and, have a Wije.
1625-6. January 22. The Fair Maid of the Inn.
A6ted at Blackfriars.
Feb. 3. The JVoblc Gentleman. A6led at
the fame theatre.
In a former page an account has been given of
the court-exhibitions in 1622. In Sir Henry Her-
bert's Oflhce-book I find the following " Note of
fuch playes as were afted at court in 1623 and
1624.'' which confirms what I have fuggefted, that
the plays of Shakfpeare were then not fo much
admired as thofe of the poets of the day.
" Upon Michelmas night att Hampton court,
The Mayd of the Mill by the K. Company.
" Upon AlUhoUows night at St. James, the prince
being there only, The Mayd of the Mill againe, with
reformations.
" Upon the fifth of November at Whitehall,
the prince being there only. The Gipfye, by the
Cockpitt company.
•' Upon St. Stevens daye, the king and prince
being there, The Mayd of the Mill by the K. com-
pany. Att Whitehall.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2S7
'** Upon St. John's night, the prince only being
there, The Bondman by the queene [of Bohemia's]
company. Att WhitehaU.
" Upon Innocents night, falling ont upon a
Sonday, The Buck is a theif, the king and prince
being there. By the kings company. "At Whitehall.
" Upon New-years night, by the K. company.
The Wandering Lovers, the prince only being there,
Att Whitehall.
•• Upon the Sonday after, beinge the 4 of Ja-
nuary 1623. by the Queene of Bohemias company.
The Changelinge; the prince only being there. Att
Whitehall.
" Upon Tvvelfe Night, the malke being put off.
More dijfemhlers bejides Womeii,'^ by the kings com-
pany, the prince only being there. At Whitehall.
*' To the Duchels of Richmond, in the kings
abfence, was given The Winters Tale, by the K.
company, the 18 Janu. iGqS. Att Whitehall.
*' Upon All-hollows night, 1624. the king beinge
at Roiflon, no play.
" The night after, my Lord Chamberlin had
Rule a wife and have a ivife for the ladys, by the
kings company.
" Upon St. Steevens night, the prince only
being there, [was a6led] Rule a wije and have a
ivife, by the kings company, Att Whitehall,
" Upon St. John's night, [the prince] and the
duke of Brunfwick being there, The Fox, by the
. . . At Whitehall.
" Upon Innocents night, the [prince] and the
duke of Brunfwyck being there, Cupids Revenge,
9 ** The worft play that ere I faw," fays the writer in.
a marginal note*
288 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
by the Oueen of Bohemia's Servants'. Att White-
hall, 1624.
" Upon New-years night, the prince only being
there, The firft part of Sir John Fuljlajf, by the
king's company. Att Whitehall, 1624.
" Upon Twelve night, the Mafque being putt
of, and the prince only there, Tu Quoque, by the
Queene of Bohemias fervants. Att Whitehall,
1624.
" Upon tlie Sonday night follo>ving, being the
ninthe of January. 1624. the MaJque was per-
formed.
*' On Candlemas nisrht the q Februarv, no plav,
the king being att Newmarkel."
From the time when Sir Henry Flerbert came
into the office of the Revels to 1642. when the
theatres were fhut up, his Manufcript does not
furnilh us with a regular account of the plays ex-
hibited at court every year. Such, however, as he
has given, 1 fhali now fubjoin, together with a few
anecdotes which he has prefcrved, relative to fome
of the w^orks of Shakfpeare and the dramatick writers
who immediately fucceeded him.
" For the king's players. An olde playe called
Winters Tale, formerly allowed of by Sir George
Bucke, and likewvfe by mee on Mr. Hemmings his
^vorde that there was nothing prophane added or
reformed, thogh the allowed booke was miffinge ;
and therefore I returned it without a fee, this 19 of
Auguft, 1623.
*' For the king's company. The Hijlorye of Henry
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. sSg
the Fir/l, ' written by Damport [Davenport}; this
10 April. 1624. ^ — £. 1. 0. o.
" For the king's company. An olde play called
Tk'- Ho.'ieji Mom Fortune, the originall being loft,
was re-allowed by mee at Mr. Taylor's intreaty,
and on condition to give mee a booke [77t<? Arcadia],
tliis 8 Februa. 1624."
The manufcript copy of The Honejl Mari's For-
tune is now before me, and is dated 16 i3. It was
therefore probably the joint production ofBeaumont
and Fletcher. This piece was a£l:ed at the Globe,
and the copy which had been licenfed by Sir George
Buc, was without doubt destroyed by the fire which
confumed that theatre in the year 161 3. The al-
lowed copy of The Winter s Tale was probably de-
flroyed at the, fame time.
" 17 July, 1626. [Received] from Mr. Hem-
mings for a courtehe done him about their Black-
friers hous, — £. 3. o. 0.
" [Received] fiom Mr. Hemming, in their com-
pany's name, to forbid the playing of Shakefpeare's
plavs, to the Red Bull Company, this 11 of Aprill,
1627. — £. 5. 0. o.
" This day, being the 11 ofjanu. i63o. I did
refufe to allow of a play of Meffinger's, ' becaufc
* This play In a late entry on the Stationers' books
was afcribed by a fraudulent bookfeller to Shakfpeare.
' Maffingcr's Duke of Miilahie and Virgin Marljr were
printed in iGsB. It appears from the office-book of Sir
Henry Herbert that his other plays were produced in the
foUowlni:!; order :
The Bondman, Dec. 3. iGsS. A^led at the Cockpit la
Drury lane.
The Renegado, or ihe Gentleman of Venice^ April 17. 1624,*
Aded at the CockpitU
t V
290 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
itt did contain dangerous matter, as the depoling
of Sebaftian king of Portugal, by Philip the [Se-
~ The Parliament of Love, Nov. 3. 1624. Afted at the Cock-
pit. Of tliii play the laft four a61s are yet extant in
manufcript.
The SpaniJJi Viceroy, aded in 1624. This play is loft.
The Roman A£ior, 06lober 11. 1626. Aded by the king's
company.
The judge^ }\\ne. 6. 1627. A(fled by the king's company.
This play is loft.
1'he Great Duke was licenfed for the Queen's Servants,
July 5. 1627. This was, I apprehend. The Great Duke of
Florence, which was a£lcd by that company.
The Honour of Women was licenfed May G. 1628. 1 fufpe(5i
that this was the original name of The Maid of Honour,
which was printed in i63i. though not entered for the ftagc
in Sir Henry Herbert's book.
The Piilure, June 8. 1629. A6ledby the king's company.
Minerva^s Sacrifce, Nov. 3. 1629. Aclcd by the king's
eompany. This play is loft.
The Emperor of ike Eaji, March 11. l53o-3l. Aisled hy
the king's company.
Believe as you iiji. May 7. l63l. Acledby the king's com-
pany. This play is loft.
The JJnforlnnale Piely, June i3. i6ji. Acled by the
king's company. This play is loft.
The fatal Dowry does not appear to have been licenfed
for the ftage under that title, but was printed in i632.
It was a£led by the king's company.
The City Madam, May 25. lG32. At\ed by the king's
company.
A uexo Way to pay old Debts does not appear to have been
licenfed for the ftage, but was printed in Nov. l632.
The Guardian was licenfed, Oclob. 3i. i533. A<^ed by
tjie king's company.
The Tragedy of Oleander, May 7. 1634. Acled by the
king's company. This play is loft.
A Very Woman, June 6. 1634. Adled by the king's com-
pany.
The Orator, Jan. 10. l634-5. A(^ed by the king's com-
pany. This play is loft.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 291
coiid,] and tlier being a peace fworen twixte the
kings of England and Spayne. I had my fee not-
withftandinge, which belongs to me for reading
itt over, and ought to be brought always with the
booke.
" Received of Knight, '* forallo^vingofBenJohn-
fons play called Humours reco7icil''d, or ihe Magjietick
Lao), to bee acted, this 12th of 06i:ob. i632.
£. 2. o. o.
Tht Bajiful Lot'£)\ May g. i636. Aded by the king's
company.
The King and the Suhjefi, Jtme 5. i63S. Acled by the
fame company. This title, Sir Henry Herbert fays, was
changed. 1 I'ufpcd it was new named The T)ranl. The
play is loft.
Alexius, or the Chajle Lover, Sept. 25. iG3g. A(n;ed by
the king's company.
The Fair Anchorefs vf Paufdippo, Jan. 26. 1G39-40. A£led
by the king's company.
Several otiier pieces by this author were formerly in
poflefiion of John Warburton, Efq. Somerfet Herald, but
I know not when they were written. Their titles are,
Antonio and Vallia, The Woman s Plot, Philenzo and Hippolita,
1 ajle and Welcome.
'* The book-keeper of Blackfriars' playhoufe. The date
of this piece of.Ben Jonfon has hitherto been unafcertained.
Immediately after tliis entry is another, which accounts
for the defe^l offeveral leaves in the edition of Lord Erooke's
Poems, i633. " Received from Henry 5'eyle for allowinge
a booke of verfes of my lord Brooks, entitled Religion^
Humane Learning, Warr, and Honor, this 17 of October
l632. in mony, £.1. o. c. in books to the value of/".i. 4. o.'*
— In nil the publiflied copies twenty leaves on the fubjeft
of Religion, are wanting, having been cancelled, probably
by the order of Archbifhop Laud.
The fubfequent entry afcertalu- the daie of Cowley's
earlicft production :
" More of Seyle, for allowinge of two other fmall peccefi
of verfes for the prcfs, done by a boy of this towa called
Cowley, at the ia^mt t;me. £.0. 10. 0,"
2Qi HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" ivS Nov. i632. In the play of The Ball, writ-
ten by Slierley, * and u6led by the Queens players,
ther were divers perfonated fo naturally, both of
lords and others of the court, that I took it ill, and
would have lorbidden the play, but that Bifton
[Chriftopher Bcefton] promifte rnanv things which
I found faulte withall (liould be left out, and that
he would not fuller it to be done by the poett any
more, who defcrves to be punillit; and the firft
that offends in this kind, of poets or players, fliall
be fure of pubiique puniihmcnt.
' Such of the plays of Shirley as were regiftercd by Sir
Henry Herbert, v/ere licenled lu the following order:
Lnije Tricks, u-ilh Complemenls, Feb. lo. 1624-5.
Mayds Revenge, Feb. 9, 162.5-6.
The Brothers, Nov. 4. 1626.
The Witty fair One, Oaob. 3. 1C28.
The Faithful Servant, Nov. 3. 1629.
The Traytor, May 4. i63l.
The Diike, May 17. i63l.
Loves Cruelty^ Nov. 14. i63l.
The Changes, Jan. 10. l63i-2.
Hyde Park, April 20. i632.
The Ball, Nov. 16. i632.
The Beivties, Jan. 21. i632-3.
The Young Admiral, July 3. l633.
The (iameji^r, Nov. 11. i633.
The E\ample, June 24. 1634.
The Opportunity, Nov. 2g. i634.
The Coronation, Feb. 6. l634-5. /
Chahot, Admiral of France, April 29. i635.
The Lady of Plcafure, 0(Sob. l5. lG35.
The Dukes Mijref-, Jan. 18. l635-G.
The Royal Mafier, April 23. i63S.
The Gentleman of Venije, 3o O(5lob. 1639.
Rofania, 1 June. 1&40.
7 he Impojhir, Nov. 10. 1640.
The Politique Father, May 26. 1641,
The Cardinall, Nov. 25. 1641.
The Sifters^ April 26. 1642.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. agS
'• R. for allowinge oiThe Tale of the Tuhb, Vitru
Hoop's parte wholly flrucke out, and the motion
ot the tubb, by commande from mv lord chaia-
berlin ; exceptions being taken againfl it by Inigo
Jones, fiirveyor of the kings workcs, as a perfoiial
injury im to him. Mav 7. iGS.-^. — /. 2. o. o."
In this piece, of which the precife date was
hitherto unknown, Vit.ru Hool), i. e. Vitrnvius lAu-o-^,
undoubtedly was intended to reprefent Inigo Jones.
** "^rht comtdy C2.\\td The Tonge Admu all. being
free from oaths, prophanefs, or obfceanes, hath
2;iven mee much deli<rht and fatisfaction in tlie-
readings, and may ferve for a pattern e to other
poetts, not onlv for the bettring of maners and-
language, but for the improvement of tiie cjuality,'
which hath received fome bruiliings of late. '
*' When Mr. Sherley hath read this approbation,
I know it will encourage him to purfue this bene-
ficial and cleanly \vay of poetry, and when other
poetts heare and fee his good iuccels, 1 am confi-
dent they will imitate the original for their own-
credit, and make fuch copies in this iiarmltfs way,
as fliall fpeak them matters in their art, at the firfl
fight, to all judicious fpe^lators. It may be a6^ted
this 3 July, i633. .
" 1 have entered this allowance, for direction to-
my fuccelfor, and for example to ail poetts, tiiat
iJiall write after the date hereof.
" Received of Bifton, for an ould play called
Hymens Holliday, newly revived at their houfe, be-
ing a play given unto him for my ufe, this i5 Knv.
i633. £. 3. o. 0. Received of him for forae alte-
cations in it, £. 1. o. o.
*' Meetinge with him at the ould exchange, he
V 3
294 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
gave my wife a payre of gloves, that cofl him at
leafl twenty {hillings.
** Upon a fecond petition of the players to the
High Commiffion court, wherein they did me
right in my care to purge their plavs of all ofFenfe,
my lords Grace of Canterbury bcftowed many
words upon mee, and difdharged raee of any blame,
and layd the whole fault of their play called The
MagneJifkLady, upon the players. This happened
the 24 of 06lob. I 633. at Lambeth. In their firft
petition they would have excufed themfelves on
mee and the poett."
** On Saterday the i 7 th of Novemb. ^ being the
Queens birth day, Richarde the Thirds was afted by
the K. players at St. James, wher the king and
queene were prefent, it being the firlt play the
queene fawe fince her Majeflies delivery of the Duke
of York. i633.
" On tulday the igth of November, being the
Ling's birth-day, The Tong Admirall was afted at
St. James by the queen's plavers, and likt by the
K. and Queen.
*' The Kings players fent mee an ould booke of
Fletchers called The Loyal SuhjeB, formerly allowed
by Sir George Bucke, 16 Novemb. 1618. which
according to their defire and agreement I did per-
ufe, and with fome reformations allowed of, the
23 of Nov. i633. for which they fent mee accord-
ing to their promife £. 1. o. o. ^
" On tufday night at Saint James, the 26 of
'' This is a miftake. It fhould be the iGth of November.
She was born Nov. 16. l6og.
' In the margin the writer adds — " The firft ould play
fent mee to be perufed by the K. players."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 295
Novemb. 1633, was acled before the King and
Quecue, The Taminge oj the Shrno. Likt.
" On thurfday night at St. James, the 28 of
Novemb. i633. was a6led before the King and
Queene, The Tamej- Tamd, md.de- by Fleichcr. Very
well likt.
" On tufday night at Whitehall the 10 of De-
cemb. i633. was a£led before the King and Queen,
The Loyal Subjeci, made by Fletcher, and very well
likt by the king.
" On Monday night the 16 of December, i633,
at Whitehall was a£led before the King and Ouecn,
Hymens Holliday or Cupids Fegarys^ an ould play of
Rowleys. Likte.
•* On Wenfday night the firft of January, i533.
Cymhelinc was a61cd at Court by the Kings players.
Well likte by the kinge.
" On Monday night the fixth ofjanuary and the
Twelfe Night, was prefented at Denmark- houle,
before the King and Oueene, Fletchers paftorall
c2L\\td The Fill ihjull Shepheardfjfe, in the clothes the
Queene had given Taylor the yeare before of her
owne paftorall.
*' The fcenes were fitted to the paftorall, and
made, by Mr. Inigo Jones, in the great chamber,
i633.
" This morning being the 9th of January, i633,
the kinge was pi easel to call mee into his with-
drawinge chamber to the windowe, wher he wenc
overall thati had croPie in Davcnants play-booke,
and allowing o^ faith ^ndjlisht to bee aifeverations
only, and no oathes, niarkt them to ftande, and
fome other few things, but in the greater pari;
allowed of my reformations. This was done upoi3,
V 4
596 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
a complaint of Mr. Endymlon Porters in De-
cember.
" The kinge is pleascl to {.dkcjailh, death, Jlighl,
for alTeverations, and no oatlis, ^ to which 1 doc
humbly fubmit as my mailers judgment ; but under
favour conceive them to be oaths, and enter them
here, to declare my opinion and fubmiffion.
" The loofjanuary, i633. I returned unto Mr.
Davenant his play-booke of The Wilis, corrected
by the kinge.
" The kinge would not take the booke at Mr.
Porters hands ; but commanded him to bring it
unto niee, which he did, and likevvife commanded
Davenant to come to me for it, as I believe;
otherwife he would not have byn fo civill.
*' The Guardian, a play of Mr. Meffengers, was
a6led at court on Sunday the 1 2 January, i633. by
the Kings players, and well likte.
" The Tale of the Tub was a^led on tufday night
at Court, the 14 Janua. i633. by the Oueenes
players, and not likte.
" The Whiten Tale was a£led on thurfday night
at Court, the 16 Janu. i633. by the K. players,
and likt.
" The Witts was afted on tufday night the 28
January, ]633. at Court, before the Kinge and
Queene. Well likt. It had a various fate on the
ftage, and at court, though the kinge commended
the language, but dlflikt the plottand characters.
* In a fmall tra61 of the laft age, of which I have forgot
the title, we are told that Charles tlie fecond, being repri-
manded by one of his bifhops for frcquenlly introducing
profane oaths in his difcourfe, defended himfelf by faying,
,^'Your martyr f\vore ^wic? more than 1 do,"
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 297
" The jYight-walkcrs was aded on thurfday night
the 3o Janu. i633. at Court, before the JCing and
Queen. Likt as a merry play. Made by Fletcher. '
"^ " The Inns of court gentlemen prefented their
mafque at court, before the kinge and queene, the
2 February, i633. and performed it very well.
Their fliew through the ftreets was glorious, and
in the nature of a triumph. — Mr. Surveyor Jones
invented and made the fcene ; Mr. Shcrley thcpoett
made the profe.and verfe.
•' On thurfciay night the 6 of Febru. i633. The
Gurnejie.r was a6led at Court, made by Sherley, out ,
of a plot of the king's, given him by mee ; and
well likte. The king fayd it was the beft play he
had feen for feven years.
" On Shrovetufday night, the 18 of February,
i633. the Kinge dandle his Mafque, accompanied
\vith 11 lords, and attended \viLh io pages. It was
the nobleft mafque of my time to diis day, the beft
poetrye, beft fceues, and the beft habltts. The
kinge and c|ueene were very well pleasd with ray
fervice, and the O. was pleasd to tell me before
the king, ' Pour les habits, elle n'avoit jamais rien
veu de fi brave.'
" Bulfy cCAmhoiJc was pJaydby the king's players
on Eafter-monday night, at the Cockpitt in court.
" The Pajlorall was playd by the king's players
on Eafter-tufday night, at the Cockpitt in court.
" I committed Cromes, a broker in Longe Lane,
the 16 of Febru. 1634. to the Marflialfey, for lend-
* In a former page the following entry is found :
" For a play of Fletchers corroded by Sherley, called
Xhe Night Walkers, the ii May, i633. £.1. o. o. For the
queen's players."
298 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
ing a church-robe with the name of Jesus upon it
to the players in Salifbury Court, to prefent a
Flamen, a priell of the heathens. Upon his petitioji
of fubmiffion, and acknowledgment of his fauke,
I releasd him, the 17 Febr. 1634.
*' The Second part of Arviragus and Philicia
playd at court the 16 Febru. I&35. with great ap-
probation of K. and Queene.
** The Silent Woman playd at Court of St. James
on thurfday y'^ iS Febr. i635.
•' OnWenfday the 23 ofFebrn. i635. the Prince
d'Amoui^ gave a mafque to the Prince Elector and
his brother, in the Middle Temple, wher the
Oueene was pleald to grace the entertaynment by
putting of majelly to putt on a citizens habitt, and
to fett upon the fcaffold on the right hande amongft
her fubjefts.
" The queene was attended in the like habitts
by the Marques Hamilton, the Countefs of Den-
tighc, the Countefs of Holland, and the Lady
Elizabeth Feildinge. Mrs. BaiTe, the law-woman, *
ieade in this royal citizen and her company,
'* The Earle of Holland, the Lord Goringe,
Mr. Percy, and Mr. Jermyn, were the men that
attended.
*' The Prince Eleflor fatt in the midfl;, his
brother Robert on the right hand of him, and the
Prince d'Amours on the left.
" The Mafque was very well pcrformd in the
dances, fcenes, cloathinge, and mufique, and the
Oueene v.as plcasd to tell mee at her going away,
that fhe liked it very well.
* i. e. the woman who had the care of the hall belong-
ing to the Middle Temple.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 299
" Henry Laufe ? 1 a r
,.,.,,y , r > made the mulique.
" vVilliam l.auie S
" Mr. Corfeiiles made the i'cencs.
" Loves Aftergame,'^ played at St. James by the
Salifbnry Court players, the 24 of Feb. i635.
" The Dukes Mijires played at St. James the 22
of Feb. i635. Made by Sherley. :
" The fame day at Whitehall J acquainted king
Charles, my mailer, with the danger of Mr. Hunts
ficknefs, and moved his Majeily, in cafe he dyed,
that he would bee pieasd to give mec leave to
commend a ntt man to fucceede him* in his place
of Yeoman of the Revells.
" The kingc tould mee, that till then he knew
not that Will Hunt held a place in the Revells,
To my rcquelt he was plcasd to give mee this
anfwer. Well, fays the king, I will notdifpoleof
it, or it fliali not be difpofed of, till i hcare you.
Ipjyfimis verbis. Which 1 enter here as full of
grace, and for ray better remembrance, fmfe my
majler'''s cujlom ajjords lioljo many words, nor Jo figni-
JicanL
" The 28 Feb. The Knight of the Burning Pejilc
playd by the Q. men at St. James.
'* The firft and fccond part of Arviragus a?id
Philicia were a£led ai the Cockpitt, [Whitehall]
before the Kinge and Queene, the Prince, and
Prince Elector , the 18 and ig Aprill, i636. being
monday and tufday in Eafter wceke.
" At the increafe of the plague to 4 within the
citty and 54 in all. — 1 his day the 12 May, i636.
I received a \varrant from my lord Chamberiin lor
' The Proxy, or Love''s Aflergaw.e, was produced at the theatve
at Sallfbury-court, November 24. 1634.
^00 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tlie fuppreffing of playes and (he^vs, and at tlic
fame time delivered my (everall warrants to George
Wilfoii for the four companys of players, to be
ferved upon them.
'* At Hampton Court, i636.
" The firft part of Arviragus, Monday After-
noon, 26 Decemb.
" The fecond part of Arviragus, tufday 27 De-
cemb.
*' Love and Hofiou?', on New-years night, fonday.
" The Elder Brother, on thurfday the 5 Janua.
" The Kinge and no Kinge, on tulday y- kj Janua.
" The Royal Slave, on thurfday the 12 ofjanu.
- — Oxford play, written by Cartwright. The king
gave him forty pounds.
" Rollo, the 24 Janu.
" Julius Cafar, at St. James, ^the 3 1 Janu. i636.
" Cupides Revenge, at St. James, by Beeflon's
boyes, the 7 Febru.
'• A Wife for a monthe, by the K. players, at St.
James, the g Febru.
" Witwithout money, by the B. boyes at St. James,
the 14 Feb.
" The Governor, by the K. players, at St. James,
the 17 Febru. i636.
'* Philafler. by the K. players, at St. James,
Ihrov-tufday, the 21 Febru. i636.
" On thurfday morning the 23 of February the
bill of the plague made the number at forty foure,
upon which decreafe the king gave the players their
liberty, and they began the 24 February iG36.
[ 1636-7.]
*' The plague encreafingc, the players laye flill
tmtillthe 2 ofOdober, when they had leave to play.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3oi
** Mr. Beeftpn was commanded to make a com-
pany of boyes, and began to play at the Cockpitt
with them the fame day.
" 1 dlfpofed of Perkins, Summer, Sherlock and
Turner, to Saifbury Court, and joynd them with
the belt of that company.
" Received of Mr. Lowens for my paines about
Me'Iniger's play called The King and the SubjeBy
2 June, i638. £. i. o. o.
" The name of The King and the SubjcB is altered,
and I aliowtd the play to bee a6i;ed, the reforma-
tions mofl ftrittiy obferved, and not otherwife, the
5 th of June, i638.
" At Greenwich the 4 of June, Mr. W. Murray,
gave mee power from the king to ailowe of the
play, and tould me that hee would warant it.
u Monys ? Wee'Ie rayfe fupplies what ways we pleafe,
tt And force you to fubfcribe to blanks, in which
i« We'le mulci you as weefhall thinke fitt. The Cxfars
t( In Rome were wife, acknowledginge no lawes
(( But what their Avords did ratifye, the wives
ic And dausrhlers of the fenators bowinse to
<•<■ Their wills, as deities," Sec.
«
' ' This is a peece taken out of Phillip Meflino-ers
play, called The King and the Subject, and enterd
here for ever to bee rememberd by my fon and
thofe that call their eves on it, in honour of Kin oe
Charles, my mafter, who, readinge over the play at
Newmarket, fet his marke upon the place with
his owne hande, and in thes words :
* This IS too injolent, and to hee changed. '
" Note, that the poett makes it the fpeech of
a king, Don Pedro king ofSpayne, and ipoken to
his fubje£ls.
3o2 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" On thurfday the 9 of Aprill, 1640. my Lord
Chamberlen beflow'd a play on the Kinge and
Queene, calfd CUodora, Qnceiie of Arragon, made
by my cozen Ablngton. It was performd by my
lords fervants cut of his own family, and his
charge in the cloaihes and fceanes, which were very
riche and carious. In the hall at Whitehall.
" The kingandqueene commended the generall
entertaynment, as very well acted, and well fet out.
It vv^as acled the fecond tyme in the fame place
before the king and queene.
" At Eatler 1640. the Princes company went
to the Fortune, and the Fortune company to the
Red Bull.
" On Monday the 4 May, 1640. William Beefton
was taken by a meffenger, and committed to the
Marihalfey, by my Lord Chamberlens warant, for
playinge a playe without licenfe. The fame day
the company at the Cockpitt was commanded by
my Lord Chamberlens warant to forbeare playinge,
for playinge when they were forbidden by mee,
and for other difobedience, and lave (till monday,
tufday, and wenfday. On thurfday at my Lord
Chamberlens entreaty I gave them their liberty, and
upon their petition of fubmiihon fubfcribcd by
the players, 1 reftored them to their liberty on
thurfday.
" lire play I cald for, and, forbiddinge the play-
inge of it, keepe the booke, becaufe it had relation
to the paffages of the K. s journey into the Northc,
and wascomplaynd of by his MajeQy to mee, with
commande to punifhe the offenders.
*' On Twelfe Night, 1641. the prince had a
■^\a.y Q^litd llie ScoriijuL Lady, at the Cockpitt, btu
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3o5
the klnge and qnecne were not there; and it was
the only play adted at courte in the whole Ghriftinas.
" [1642. juiTc] Received of Mr. Kirkc, for a
ncAv play which i burnte for the ribaldry and of-
fenfe that •>vas in it, £. 2. o. 0.
" Received of Mr. Kirke for another ne^v play
called Tht Irijlie Rebellion, the 8 June, 1642.
/• 2. 0.0. •
" Here ended my allowance of plaies, for the
war began in Aug. 1642."
Sir William D'Avenant, we have already feen,**
about hxteen months after the death of Benjon-
fon, obtained from his'majelly (Dec. i3. iS38.) a
grant ol an annuity of one hundred pounds jOe/" ann,
which he enjoyed as poet laureat till his death. \x\
the following year (March 26. i63g.) a patent
palled the great feal authorizing hirn to ered a
playhoufe, which was then intended to have been
built behind The Three Kings Ordinary in Fleet-
flreet: but this fcheme was not c;;irried into exe-
cution. I find from a Manufcript in the Lord
Chamberlain's Office, that after the death of Chriflo-
pher Beefton, Sir W. D'Avenant was appointed by
the Lord Chamberlain, (June 27. i63y,) " Gover-
nor of the King and Queens company afting at
the Cockpit in Drury Lane, during the Icafe which
Mrs. Elizabeth Beefton, alias Hutchefon, hath or
doth hold in the faid houfe:" and I fuppofe he
appointed her fon Mr. William Leefton his deputy,
for iVom Sir Henry Herbert's ofiice-book, he ap-
pears for a fliort time to have had the management
of that theatre.
*♦ Vol. II. [Note *', on article Shakfpeare, Ford, ami
fonjonj]
3o4 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
In the latter end of the year i6.5g. fome months
before the Reftoratton of K. Charles II. the theatres,
which liad been iuppreffed durmg the ufiirpation,
began to revive^ and leveral plays ^vere performed
at the Red Bull in St. John's-Areet, in that and the
following vear, before the return of the king. In
June 1660. three companies feem to have been
formed; that already mentioned; one under Mr.
William Beedon in Saiiibury-court, and one at the
Cockpit in Drury-iane under Mr. Rhodes, who
had been wardrobe-keeper at the theatre in Black-
friars before the breaking out of the Civil Wars.
Sir Henry Herbert, who ftill retained his office of
Mafter of the Revel's, endeavoured to obtain from
thele companies the fame emolumeiits which he
had formerly derived from the exhibition of plays;
but after a long ftruggle, and after having brought
feveral a£lions at law againfl Sir William D'Ave-
nant, Mr. Betterton, IMr. Mohun, and others, he
was obliged to relinquifli his claims, and his office
ceafed to be attended with either authority or profit.
It received its death wound from a grant Irom
King Charles II. under the privy fignet, Auguft 2 i .
1660. authorizing Mr. Thomas Killigrew, one of
the grooms of his Majefty's bedchamber, and Sir
William D'Avenant, to ere^l two new playhoufes
and two new companies, of which they were to
have the regulation ; and prohibiting any other
theatrical reprefentation in London, Wellminfter,
or the fuburbs, but thofe exhibited by the faid two
companies.
Among the papers of Sir Henry Herbert feveral
are preferved relative to his difputed claim, fome
of which 1 £hali here infert in their order, as con-
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3o5
taining fome curious and hitherto unknown par^
ticulars relative to the ftage at this time, and
alio as illuRrative of its hiftory at a precedent
period.
I.
'• For Mr. William Beeflon.
'• Whereas the allowance of plays, the ordering
of players and piaymakers, and the permiffion for
creeling of playhoufes, hath, time out of minde
whereof the memory of man is not to the con-
trary, belonged to the Mailer of his MajeRie^ office
of the Revells ; And whereas Mr. William Beeflon
hath defired audiority and lycence from mee to
condnue the houie called Salifbury Court playhoufe
in a playhoufe, Avhich was formerly built and
erefted into a playhoufe by the permiffion and
Ivcenee of the Mader of the Revells.
" Thefe are therefore by virtue of a grant under
the great feal of England, and of the conftant
pra6lice thereof, to continue and conftitute the
laid houfe called Salifbury Court playhoufe into a
playhoufe, and to authorize and lycence the faid
Mr. Beeflon to fett, lett, or ufe it for a playhoufe,
wherein comedies, tragedies, tragicomedies, paf-
toralls, and interludes, may be afted. Provided
that noe perfons be admitted to a6lin the faid play-
houfe but fuch as fliall be allowed by the Mafter
of his Majefties office of the Revells. Given under
my hand and feale at the office of the Revells,
this "
[ This paper appears to be only a copy, and is
not dated nor figned; ending as above. 1 believC;
it was written in June 1660. j
tx
3o6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
II.
" To the kings mofl excellent Majefly.
" The humble Petition of John Rogers,
" Moft humbly flievveth,
*' That your petitioner at the beginning of the
late calamitys iofl thereby his whole eftate, and
during the warr fufteyned much detriment and
impriionment, and loit his limbs or the ufe there-
of; who ferved his Excellency the now Lord Ge-
neral, Uoth in England and Scotland, and performed
good and faithfuii fervice ; in conf; deration whereof
and by being foe much decreapittas not to act any
more in the wars, his Excellency was favourably
plealed, for your petitioners future fubfiftance with-
out being further burthenfome to this kingdom, or
to your Majelly for a penfion, to grant him a tol-
leration to erefi a playhoufe or to have a fhare out
of them already tollerated, your petiuoner thereby
•undertaking to fupprels all riots, tumults, or mo-
leftations that may thereby arife. And for that
the faid graunt remains imperfcft unlefs corro-
borated by your majefly.
" He therefore humbly implores your moil
facred Majefly, in vender compaffion, out
of your kingly clemency to confirm unto
him a fhare out of the profitts of the
faid playhoufes, or fuch allowance by
them to be given as formerly they ufed
to alow to perfons for to keep the peace
of the fame, that he may with his wife
and family be thereby preferved and re-
lieved in his maimed aged years ; and he
ihall daily pray."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. Soy
" At the Court at Whitehall, the yih of
Augalt, i6Gu.
•* His MajeRy is gracioufly pleafed to refer this
petition to Sir Henry Herbert, Mafter of his Ma-
jeities Ixevells, to take fuch order therein, as fhall
be agreable to equity, without further troubling
his njajcfly.
" (A true Copye.) J. HOLLIS."
•' Augufl2o. i65o. From the office of the Revells.
*' In obedience to his Majefties command! have
taken the matter of the Petitioners requefl into
confideration, and doe thereuppon conceive it very
reaionablc that the petitioner Qiould have the fame
allowance weekly from you and every of you, for
hiinleire and his men, ' for guarding your play-
houfcs from all moieflations and injuries, Vv'hich you
formerly did or doe allow or pay to other perfons
for the fame or fach like fervices ; and that it be
duely and truely paid him without denial. And the
rather for that the Kings molt excellent Majeftie upon
the Lord General Monks recommendation, and the
confideration of the Petitioners loffes and fufFer-
ings, hath thought fitt to coramilferate the Peti-
tionerjohn Rogers his faid condition, and to refer
unto me the relief of the faid petitioner. Given at
his Majeflies ofBce of the Revells, under my hand
and the fcale oi the faid office, the twentieth day of
Auguft, in the twelve yeare of his Majeflies raigne.
" To the AcloTS at the playhoufcs called
the Red Bull, Cockpit, and theatre
* It appears from anotherpapcr tlut his men werefoidieri.
X 2
3o8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
in Salifbury Court, and to every of
them, in and about the citties of
London and VVeilminRer."
III.
" To the kings inofl excellent Majcllic.>
'* The humble petition of Sir Henry Herbert, Knight,
Mailer of your Majefties office of the Revels.
" Shevveih,
" That whereas your Petitioner by vertue of
feverail Grants under the great feale of England
hath executed the (aid office, as Mailer of the
Revells, for about 40 yeares, in the limes of King
James, and of King Charles, both of blefled me-
mory, with exception only to the time of the late
horrid rebellion.
" And whereas the ordering of playes and play-
inakers and the permiffion for ercclmg of play-
houlcs are peculiar branches of the faid office, and
in the conftant pra&ice thereof by your petitioners
predecelfors in the faid office and hiaifelfe, with
exception only as before excepted, and authorized
by grante under the faid greate feale of England;
and that no perfon orperfons have ere6led anyplay-
houfes, or rayfed any company of players, without
licence from your petitioners faid predccefTors or
from your petitioner, but Sir \Viliiam d'Avenant,
Knight, who obtained leave of Oliver and Richard
Cromwell to vent his operas, at a time when your
petitioner owned not their authority.
" And whereas your Majefty hath lately fignified
your pleafure by warrant to Sir Jeifery Palmer,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 809
Knight and Bar. your Majefties Attorney General,
for the drawing ot a grunte for your Majeflies
fignature to pafs the greate feale, thereby to enable
and empower Mr. Thomas Killegrew and the laid
Sir William D'Avctiant to erc6l two new plav-
honfes in London, Weflminfler, or the fubbnrbs
thereof, and to make choice of two companies of
players to bee under theire fole regulation, and
that noe other players iiiall be authorized to play
in London, Weftminfter, or the fubburbs tb.ereof,
but fuch as the faid Mr. Killegrew and Sir VViUiarn
D'Avenant iliail allow of.
'* And whereas your petitioner hath been repre-
fented to your Majefly as a perfon confenting unto
the faid po\vers expreffed in the faid warrant.
Your petitioner utterly denies the leafl conlent or
fore-knowledge thereof, but looks upon it as an
unjuft furprize, and dellru6five to the po\ver grant-
ed under the faid greate feale to your petitioner,
and to the conflant prai^ice of the faid office, and
exercifed in the office ever hnce players were admit-
ted by authority to a6f playes, and cannot legally
be done as your petitioner is advifed; and it may
be of very ill confequence, as your petitioner is
advifed, by a new grante to take away and cut of
a branch of your ancient powers, granted to the
faid office under the great feale.
" Your petidoner therefore humbly praies that
your Majefly would bejufllv as gracioully pleafed to
revoke the faid warrant from your Majeflies faid
Attorney Generall, or to refer the premifes to the
confideration of your Majeflies faid Attorney Gene-
rall, to certify your Majefly of the truth of them,
and his judgement on the whole matters in queflion
X 3
3io HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
betwixt the faid Mr. Killegre-.'/, Sir Vv''illiam D'Ave-
nant, and your petitioner, in relation to the legality
and confequence of their demands and your peti-
tioners rights.
" And vour petitioner fliali ever pray/'
•' At the Court at Whitehall, 4 Auguft, i66o.
** His MajeRie is pleafed to refer this petition to
Sir Jeffery Palmer, Knigiu and Baronet, hisMajeflies
Attorney CTenerail; who liaveing called before
him all perfons concerned, and examined the peti-
tioners right, is to certify what he finds to be the
true flate of the matters in difference, together
with his opinion tliereupon. And then his Majeftie
will declare his further pleafare.
EDW. NICHOLAS."
" May it^leafe your mofl. excellent Majefly.
" Although I have heard the parties concerned
in this petition feverally and apart, yet in refpeft
Mr. Killigrew and Sir William D'Avenant, having
notice of a time appointed to heare all parties to-
gether, did not come, 1 have forborne to proceed
further; having alfo recea\'ed an intimation, by
letter from Sir William D'Avenant, that I was freed
from further hearing this matter.
" 14 Sept, 1660. J. PALMER."
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3ii
IV.
" From Mr. Mofely concerning the playes, Sec.
Auguft .3o. 1660. '
•' Sir,
•' I have beene very much folicited by the gen-
tlemen a£lors of the Reel Bull for a note under my
hand to certifie unto your worfliip what agreement
I had made with Mr. Rhodes of the Cockpitt play-
houfe. Truly, Sir, I am fo farr xiom anv agree-
ment with him, that I never fo much as treated
with him, nor with any from him, neither did I
ever confent direftly or indiredly, that hee or any
others fhould aft any playes that doe belong to
mee, without my knowledge and confent had and
procured. And the fame alfo 1 doe certify con-
cerning the Whitefryers playhoul'e ^ and players.
" Sir, this is all 1 have to trouble you withall
ait prefent, and therefore I fliall take the boldnelTe
to remaine,
YourWorfn.* mofl humble Servant,
HUMPHREY JVIOSELY."
" Augua 3o. 60." 8
V.
On the 21ft of Au[TuR 1G60. the following- g-rant,
agamlt which Sir Henry Herbert had petitioned to
be heard, paffcd the privy fignet:
* This is the indorfement, written by Sir Henry Herbert's
own hand.
' j. e. the playhoufe in Salifljury-court.
* The date Infcrted by Sir Henry Herbert.
X 4
3i2 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" Charles the Second by the grace of God, of
England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, de^
fender of the fayth, kc. to all to whome thefe
prefents (hall come greeting. Whereas wee are
given to unaerlland that certain perfons in and
about our citty of London, or the luburbs thereof,
doe frequenUy affemble for the performing and
ailing of playes and enterludes for rewards, to
which divers of our fubjecls doe for their enter-
tainment rcfort ; which faid playes, as we are in-
formed, doe containe much matter of prophanadoii
and fcurrility, foe that fuch kind of entertainments,
which, if well nianage'l, miglit ferve as morall in-
ftrudions in humane life, as tne fame are now ufed,
doe for the mod part tende to the debauchinge of
the manners of fuch as are prefent at them, and
are very Icandalous and offenfive to all pious and
well difpofed perfons. We, takeing the premlfles
into our princely confideration, yett not holding
it neceflary totally to fupprefTe the ufe of thea-
ters, becaufe wee are allured, that, if the evill
and fcandall in the playes that now are or haue bin
a6led were taken away, the fame might ferue as
innocent and harmleffe dluertifement for many of
our fubjefts ; and haueing experience of the art and
fkill of our trufty and well beloued Thomas Kille-
grew, efq. one of the Groomes of our Bedchannber,
and of Sir William Dauenant, knight, for the pur-
pofes hereafter mentioned, doe hereby giue and
grante vnto the faid Thomas Killigrew and Sir
William Dauenant full power and authority to erre^l
two companies of players, confiflinge refpeftively
of fuch perfons as they iliall chufe and appoint,
and to purchafe, builde and ercft, or hire at their
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3i3
charge, as they niall thinke fitt, two houfes or
theaters, with all convenient roomes and other
neceflaries therennto appertaining, for the repre-
fentation of tragydies, comedyes, playes, operas,
and all other entertainments of that nature, in con-
venient places: and likevvife to fettle and eflablifh
fuch payments to be paid by thofe that fhall refort
to fee the faid reprefentadons performed, as either
haue bin accuflomely giu^n and taken in the like
kind, or as lliall be reafonable in regard of the
great expences of scenes, mufick, and fuch new
decoradons as haue not been formerly uied; with
further power to make fuch rdlowances out oi that
which theyTnallfo receiue, to the a61ors, and other
perfons employed in the laid repreltntations m
both houfes refpe6live!y, as they fliall think fitt:
the faid companies to be under the gouernement
and authority of them the faid Thomas Killigrew
and Sir VViUiam Dauenant. And in regard of the
extraordinary licentioufnefs that hath been lately
uled in things of this nature, our pleafure is, that
there fliall be noe more places of reprefentadons,
nor companies of a£lors of playes, or operas by
recitadve, mufick, or reprefentations by danceing
and fcenes, or any other entertainments on the
flage, in our citties of London and Weflminfler,
or in the liberdes of them, then the two to be now
ere<5led by vertue of this authority. Never thelefs
wee doe hereby by our authority royal ftriftly en-
joine the faid Thomas Killcgrew and Sir William
Dauenant, that they doe not at any dme hereafter
caufe to be aded or reprefented any play, enter-
lude, or opera, containing any matter of propha-
nation, fcurrility or obfcenity: And wee doe fur-
3i4 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
ther herebv authorize and command them the faid
Thomas Klllcgrcw and Sir VViiiiam Dauenant to
perufe all playes that haue been formerly written,
and to expunge all prophanefie and fcurriiity from
the fame, before they be reprefented or a61ed. And
this our grante and authority made to the faid
Thomas Killegrew and Sir William Dauenant, fliall
be cfFeciuall tand remaine in full force and vertue,
notwithftanding any former order or direction by'
us given, for the fuppreinng of playhoufes and
playes, or any other entertainments of the ftage.
Given, 8cc. Auguft 21. 1660."
VI.
The following paper is indorfed by Sir Henry
Herbert :
" Warrant fent to Rhodes, and broughtbackeby
him the 10 of 0(?tob. 60. with this anfwer—
That the Kinge did authorize hi??!.'''
" Whereas by vertue of a grante under the great
feale of England, playes, players and playmakers,
and the permilhon for ere£ling of playhoufes, have
been allowed, ordered and permitted by theMaflers
of his Majeflics office of the Revells, my predecefTors
fucceflfiveiy, time out of minde, \vhercof the me-
mory of man is not to the contrary, and by mee
for almoR forty yeares, Avith exception only to the
late times :
" Thefe are therefore in his Majeflles name to re-
quire you to attend mee concerning your playhoufe
called the Cockpitt playhoufe in Drury Lane, and
to bring with you fuch authority as you have for
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3i5
creeling of the faid lioufe into a playhoufe, at your
perill. Given at his Majefties office of the Revells
the Sth day of Oclob. 1660.
HENRY HERBERT."
" To Mr. John Rhodes at the Cockpitt
playhouic in Drury Lane."
VIL
Copv of the Warrant fent to the a£lors at the
Cockpitt in Drury Lane by Tom Browne, the
i3 Oaob. 60.
" Whereas feverall complaints have been made
ao-ainfl vou to the Kings mofl excellent Majefty by
Mr. K'llegrew and Sir William D'Avenant, con-
cerning the unufuall and unreafonable rates taken
at vour playhoufe docres, of the refpeftive perfons
of quality that defire to refrefli or improve them-
felves bv the fight of your morrall entertainments
which were conflitntcd for profitt and delight.
And the faid complaints made ufe of by the faid
Mr. Killegrew and Sir William Davenant as part
of the'.r fuggeH-ions for their pretended power, and
for vour late rellrainte.
" And whereas complaints liave been made
t!iercof formerly too mee, wherewith you were ac-
quainted, as innovat ons and exaftions not allowed
by mee; and that the like complaints are now
made, that you do practice the laid CAattions in
takeing of exceffive and unaccuftomed rates uppon
the reft-itution of you to your liberty.
" Thefe are therefore in his Majeflies name to re-
quire you and every of you to take from the pcr-
fons of qualilie and others as daily frequent your
3i6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
play-houfe, fuch ufnall and accuftomed rates only
as were formerly taken at the Blackfryers by the
late company of adors there, and noe more nor
othcrwife, for every new or old play that fiiall be
allowed you by the Mafler of the Revells to be
afted in the faid playhoufe or any other playhoufe.
And you are hereby further required to bringe or fende
to me alljuch old plates as you doe intend to act at your
Jaid playhouje, that they may be reformed of prophanes
and ribaldry, atyour perill. Given at the ojfice of the
Revells. '
HENRY HERBERT."
^' To Mr. Michael Mohun,
and the reft of the aftors
of the Cockpitt play-
houfe in Drury Lane.
The i3th of Oaqber,
1660."
VIII.
" To the Kings moft excellent Majeftie.
" The humble Petition of Michael Mohun, Ro-
bert Shatterel, Charles Hart, Nich. Burt,
Wm. Cartwright, Walter Clun, and Williapi
Winterfell.
" Humbly fheweth,
" That your Majefties humble petitioners, hav-
ing been fuppreft by a warrant from your Majeftie,
Sir Henry Herbert informed us it was Mr. Kille-
5 The words in Italick charaders were added by Sir
Henry Herbert's own liandt
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 2l^
grew had caufcd it, and if wee would give him foe
much a weeke, he would protect them againft Mr.
Killegrew and all powers. Ihe complaint againft
us was, fcandalous plays, raifing the price, and
acknowledging noe authority; all which ended in
foe much per weeke to him; for which wee had
leave to play and promife of his proteclion: the
which your Majeliy knows he was not able to per-
formc, fince Mr. Killegrew, having your Majefties
former gran te, fuppreftns, untill wee had by cove-
nant obliged ourfelves to a6l with woemen, a new
theatre, and habitts accorduig to our sceanes.
And according to your Majeflies approbation, from
all the companies we made election of one com-
pany ; and fo farre Sir Henry Herbert hath bene
from protecting us, that he hath been a continual
difturbance unto us, who were [united] by your
Majefties commande under Mr. Killegrew asMafter
of your Majeflies Comedians; and wee have an-
next unto our petition the date of the warrant
by which wee were fuppreft, and for a protection
againfl that warrant he forced from us foe much a
weeke. And if your majeflie be graciouily pleafed
to cafl your eye upon the date of the warrant here-
to annext, your majeflie fhall find the date to our
contrail fucceeded ; wherein he hath broke the
covenants, and not your petitioners, haveing abufed
your majeflie in giveing an ill charafter of your
petitioners, only to force a fum from theire poore
endeavours ; who never did nor fhall refule him all
the refeits and jufl profitts that belong to his place ;
hec having now obtained leave to arrefl us, only to
give trouble and vexation to your petitioners, hope-
ing by that meanes to force a fumme of money il-
legally from us.
3i8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" The premiles confidered, your petitioners
humbly beleech your inaje'lie to be gra-
tioufly plcafed to fignify your royal plca-
fuie to the Lord Cliamberlaiue, that your
petitioners may not bee molefted in their
calling. A.nd your petiduners in duty
bound ihail piay, Sec.
" Nlch.Burt. " Robt. Shatterel."'
William Winterfliall.
Charles Hart/'
Mr. Thomas Eetterton having been a great
admirei" of Shakfpeare, and having taken the trouble
in the beginning oi this century, when he was
above feventy years of age, of travelling to Strat-
ford-upon-Avon to colle6l materials for Mr. Rowe's
life of our author, is entitled to particular nonce
from an editor of his works. Very inaccurate
accounts of this 3.3.0T have been given in the
Biographia Biitannica and feveral other books.
It is obfervable that biographical writei-s often give
the world long difiertations concerning facls and
dates, when the hdi contelled might at once be
afcertained by vifiiing a neighbouring parilh-church :
and this has been pardcularly the cafe of Mr.
Betterton. He was die fon of Matthew Better-
ton (under-cook to King Charles the Firfl) and
was baptized, as I learn from the regifler of St.
Margaret's parifli. Auguft ii. i635. He could
not have appeared on the flage in i656. as has
been alferted, no theatre being then alloAved. His
* Michael Mohura, William Cartwright, and Walter Clun
did not fign.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. Sig
firft: appearance was at the Cockpit, in Drury Lane,
in Mr. Rhodes's company, who played there by a
licenle m the year iG5g. when Betterton was
twenty-four years of age. He married Mrs. Mary
Saunderfon, an a6lrefs, who had been bred by Sir
William D'Avenant, fome time in the year i663.
as appears by the Dramatis Perjoace of The Slighted
Maid, printed in that year.' From a paper now
before me which Sir Henry Herbert has entitled a
Brevuit of matters to be proved on the trial of an
a6lion brought by him againft Mr. Betterton in
1662. 1 find that he continued to a6lat the Cockpitt
till November i66u. when he and feveral other
performers entered into articles with Sir William
D'Avenant; in coufequence of which they began
in that month to play at the theatre in Salifbury
Court, from whence after fome time, I believe,
they returned to the Cockpit, and afterwards re-
moved to a nev/ theatre in Portugal Row neaE
' This celebrated ador continued on the ftage Hfty years,
and died Inteftate in April, 17 10. No peilon appears to
have adnnnihered to him. Such was his extreme modefty,
that not long before his death " he coniclied thai he was
yet learning to be an aclor." His wife furvived him two
vears. By her laft will, which was made, March lo.
17 1 1-12. and proved in the toHowing month, Ihe bequeathed
to Mrs. Mary Head, her GRer, and to two other perfons,
2ol. apiece, *■' to be paid out of the arrears of the penfion
whicli her Majelly had been gratioufly pleafed to grant
lier-, " to Mrs. Anne Betterton, Mr. Wilks, Mr. Dent,
Mr. Dogget, and Mrs. liraceglrdle, twenty Ihillings each
for rings, and to her reliduary legatee Mrs. Frances Wli-
Jiamfon, the wife of VVilli^imfon, "her dearly be-
loved hufband's pi£lure."
Mrs. Mary Head muft have been Mr. Bettextou's lifter; for
Mrs. Be tier ton's own name was Mary.
320 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Lincoln's Inn Fields, Thefe Articles were as
fqllcrivs :
ARTICI.ES OF AGREEMENT tripartite, in-
dented, made, and agreed upon this fifth day of
November in the t^velfth yeere of the reigne of our
fpvcrclgne Lord king Charles the Second, Annoque
Domini 1G60. betVv-een Sir VVm. Davenant of Lon-
don, Kl. of tl.'e lirR part, and Thomas Batterton,
Thomas Sheppf-y, Robert Noakcs, James Noakes,
Thomas Lovell, John Mofeley, Cave Underbill,
Robert Turner, and Thomas LilleQon, of the fe-
cond part; and Kenrv Harris of the citty of Lon-
don, painter, of the third part, as followeth.
Imprimis, the faid Sir VVilliam Davenant dotli
for himfelf, his executors, adminiflrators and af-
ligns, covenant, promife, grant, and agree, to and
with the faid Thomas Batterton, Thomas Sheppey,
Robert Noakes, James Noakes, Thomas Lovell,
John Mofeley, Cave Underbill, RobertTurner, and
Thomas Lillefton, that he the faid Sir William
Davenant by vertue of the authority to him de-
rived for that purpofe does hereby confiitute, or-
deine and ered them the faid Thomas Batterton,
Thomas Sheppey, Robert Noakes, James Noakes,
Thomas Lovell, John Mofeley, Cave Underbill,
Robert Turner, and Thomas Lillefton and their
affociates, to bee a company, publiquely to aft all
manner of tragedies, comedies,- and playes what-
foever, in any theatre or playhoufe ereded iu
London or Weftminfter or the fuburbs thereof,
and to take the ufual rates for the fame, to the ufes
hereafter expreft, untill the faid Sir William Dave-
nant fliall provide a newe theatre with scenes.
Item, it is agreed by and between all the faid
w
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. Sai
panics to tliefe prefents, that tlie faid company
(untill the faid theatre bee provided by the faid Sir
William Davenant) be authorized by him to acl
tragedies, comedies, and playes in the playhoufe
called SalifDury Court playhoufe, or any other
lioufe, upon the conditions only hereafter follow-
ing, vizt.
That the generall receipte of money, of the faid
playhoufe fliall (after the houfe-rent. hirelings,*
and all other accuftomary and neceffary expences
in that kind be defrayed) bee divided into fower-
teene proportions or fiiares, whereof tjiie faid Sir
William Davenant fliall have foure full proportions
or {hares to his owne ufe, and the reft to the ufe
of the faid companie.
That dureinge the time of playing in the faid
playhoufe, (untill the aforefaid theatre bee provided
by the faid Sir Wrn. Davenant,) the faid Sir Wm.
Davenant fliall depute the faid Thomas Batterton,
James Noakes, and Thomas Sheppey, or any one
of them particularly, for him and on his behalfe.
to receive his proportion of thofe ihares, and to
furvcye the accompte conduceinge thereunto, and
to pay the faid proportions every night to lum the
faid Sir Wm. Davenant or his aiTignes, which they
doc hereby covenant to pay accordingly.
That the 'faid Thbmas Batterton, Thomas Shep-
pey, and the reft of the faid company fhall admit
fuch a confort of muftclens into the faid playhoufe
for their neceffary ufe, as the faid Sir WiUiam fliall
nominate and provide, duringe their playinge in
the faid playhoufe, not exceedinge the rate of 3os.-
* 1, c. men hired occafionally by the nlglit : in modcra
language, Jupcrnuueyaries.
t Y
S22 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
the day, to bee defrayed out of the general expences
of the boufe before the faid fowerteene fhares bee
devidcd.
That the faid Thomas Batterton, Thomas Shep-
pcy, and the refl of the faid companie foe authorized
to play in the playhoufe in Salifbury Court or elfe-
where, as aforefaid, fliall at one weeks warninge
given by the faid Sir William Davenant, his heires
or aihgnes, diifolve and conclude their playeing at
the houfe and place aforefaid, or at any other houfe
where they fl.all play, and fhall remove and joyne
with the faid Henry Harris, and with other men
and women provided or to bee provided by the
faid SirWm. Davenant, to performe fuch tragedies,
comedies, plaves, and reprefentationsin that theatre
to be provided by him the faid Sir William as
aforefaid.
lUm, It is agreed by and betweenc all the faid
parties to thefe prefents in manner and form fol-
lowinge, vizt. That when the faid companie, to-
gether with the faid Henry Harris, are joyned with
the men and women to be provided by the faid Sir
Williarrf D'Avenant to a£l and performe in the
faid theatre to bee provided by the faid^ Sir Wm.
Davenant, that the generall receipte of the faid
theatre (the generall expence firR beinge deduced)
fliall be devided into fifteene fhares or proportions,
wheieof two fliares or proportions fliall bee paid
to the faid Sir Wm. Davenant, his executors, ad-
miniflrators, or afiigns, towards the houfe-rent,
buildinge, fcaffoldinge, and makeing of frames for
SCENES, and one other fhare or proportion fhall
likewife bee paid to^ the faid Sir William, his exe-
cutors, admiuiUrators and Affignes, for provifion
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 323
of babltts, properties, and scenes, for a fupple-
nicnt of the faid theatre.
That the other twelve fliares (after all expences
of men hirelinges and odicr cuflomary expences
dedi\6ted) fliall bee devided into feaven and five
Iharcs or proportions, wheieof the faid Sir Wm.
D'Avenant, his executors, adminillrators, or ahigns,
fliall have feaven fhares or proportions, to main-
teine all the women that are to performe or repre-
fent womens parts in the aforefaid tragedies, co-
medies, playes, or reprefentations ; and in confi-
dcratitjn of ere6linge and eftablifliinge them to bee
a companie, and his the faid Sir Wms. paines and
expences to that purpofe for many yeeres. And
the other five of the faid lliares or proportions is
to bee devided amongft the reft of the perfons
[parties] to theis prefents, whereof the faid Henry
Harris is to have an equal fliare with the greateft
proportion in the faid five fiiares or proportions.
That the general 1 receipte of the faid theatre
(from and after fuch time as the faid Companie
have performed their playeinge in Salifbury Court,
or in any other playhoufe, according to and noe
longer than the tyme allowed by him the faid
William as aforefaid) fliall bee by ballaiine, or
tickets fealcd for all doores and boxes.
That Sir Wm. Davenant, his executors, ad-
miniftrators or alTignes, fhali at the general chardge
of the whole receipte provide three perfons to re-
ceive money for the faid tickets, in a roome ad-
joyning to the faid theatre; and that the actors in
the faid theatre, nowe parlies to thefe prefents,
who are concerned in the laid five fliares or pro-
pordons, ihall davly or weckely appoint two of
Y 2
324 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tliree of tliemfelves, or the men hirelings deputed
by them, to fit with the aforefaid three perfons
appointed by the faid Sir William, that they may
furvey or give an accompt of the money received
for. the faid tickets: That the faid feaven fhares
iliail be paid nightly by the faid three perfons by
the faid Sir Wra. deputed, or by anie of them, to
him the faid Sir VVm. his executors, adminiftrators,
or aflignes.
That the faid Sir William Davenant Hiall appoint
half the number of the door-keepers neceffary for
the receipt of the faid tickets for doores and boxes,
the wardrobe-keeper, barber, and all other ne-
ceuary perfons as hee the faid Sir Wm. fliall think
fitt. and their fallary to bee defrayed at the publiquc
chard ge.
That when any fiiarer amongft the actors of the
aforefaid fhares, and partiss to thefe prefents, iLall
dve, that then the faid Sir Wm. Davenant, his
executors, adminiftrators or affignes, fliall have the
denomination and appointment of the iucceflor and
fucceffors. And likewife that the Vv^ages of the
men hirelings fhall be appointed and eftabiiftied
by the faid Sir Wm. Davenant, his executors, ad-
miniftrators, or aftignes.
That the faid Sir Wm. Davenant, his executors,
adminiftrators, or aftignes, ftiall not bee obliged out
of the fhares or proportions allowed to him for the
fupplyeinge of cloathes, habitts, and fcenes, to
provide eyther hatts, , feathers, gloves, ribbons,
fworde-belts, bands, ftockings, or ftioes, for any
of the men aftors aforefaid, unles it be a pro-
pertie.
That a private boxe bee provided and eftabllflicd
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. ^25
for the ufe of Thomas Killigrew, Efq. one of the
frroomes of his Majefties bedchamber, fufhcient to
conteine fixe perfons, into which the faid Mr.
Killigrew, and fuch as he fhall appoint, fhali have
hberty to enter without any fallaiy or pay for their
entrance into fuch a place of the faid theatre as the
faid Sir Wra. Davenant, his heires, executors, ad-
miniflrators, or affignes fliall appoint.
That the faid Thomas Batterton, Thomas Shep-
pey, Robert Noakes, James Noakes, Thomas Lovell,
John Mofeley, Cave Underbill, Robert Turner,
and Thomas Lillefton, doe hereby for themlelves
covenant, promife, grant and agree, to and with the
faid Sir W. D. his executors, adminiftrators. and
affignes, by thefe prefents, that they and every of
them Ihall become bound to the faid Sir Wm.
Davenant, in a bond of 5oool. condldoned for the
performance of thefe prefents. And that every
fuccelTor to any part of the faid five lliares or pro-
portions lliall enter into the like bonds before bee
or they fliall bee admitted to Ihare anie part or
propordon of the faid Ihares or proportions.
And the faid Henry Harris doth hereby for him-
felf his executors, adminiftrators, and affignes,
covenant, promife, grant and agree, to and with
the faid Sir Wra. Davenant, his executors, ad-
miniftrators, and aflignes, by thefe prefents, that
hee the faid Henry Harris fhall within one weeke
after the notice given by Sir Wm. Davenant for
the concludinge of the playeinge at Salifbury
Court or any other houfe elfe abovefaid, become
bound to the faid Sir Wm. Davenant in a bond of
5oool. conditioned for the performance of thefe
[prefents]. And that every fuccefl^or to any of the
Y 3
326 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
faid five fhares fliall enter into the like bond, before
hee or they ihall bee admitted to have any part or
proportion in the laid five fhares.
litJii, it is mutually agreed by and betweene all
the parties to thefe preients, that the faid Sir Wil-
liam Davenant alone fliall bee Mafler and Superior,
and fiiall from time to time have the fole govern-
ment oftlie faid Thomas Batterton, Thomas Shep-
pey, Tobert NoaK.es, James Noakes, Thomas
Lovell, John Mofeley, Cave Underbill, Robert
Turner and Thomas Lillefton, and alfo oftlie faid
Henry Harris, and their affociates, in relation to
the piayes [play-houfe] by thefe preients agreed
to bee erre61cd.
On the i5th of Nov. 1660, Sir William D'Ave-
nrait's company began to a61 under thefe articles at
the theatre in Salifbury-court, at which houfe or at
the Cockpit they continued to play till March or
April, 1662. In 0(!:tober, 1660. Sir Henry Her-
bert had brought an aftion on the cafe againfl Mr.
Mohun and feveral others of Killigrevv's company,
which was tried in December, 1661. for repre-
fenting plays without being licenfed by him, and
obtained a verdi6l againit them, as appears from a
paper which I fliall infertin its proper place. En-
couraged by his faccefs in that fuit, foon after
D'Avenant's company opened their new theatre in
Portugal Row, he bi*ought a fimilar adlion (May 6.
1662) againft Mr. Betterton, of which I know
not the event. * In the declaration, now before
* Prom a paper which Sir Henry Herbert has intitled
-' A Brevial'''' of matters to be proved on this trial, it ap-
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 827
me, it is flated that D'Avenant's company, be-
tween tlie i5th of November 1 660. -and , die 6th of
May 1662. produced ten new plays and 100 revived
plays ; but the latter number being the ufual ityle
of declarations at law, may have been inlerted
without a ftri^l regard to the fad.
Sir Henry Herbert likewife brought tv/o a6lions
on the fame ground againfl Sir William DAvenant,
in one of which he failed, and in the other was
fuccefsful. To put an end to the conteft, Sir
William in June 1662 befought the king to in-
terfere.
" To the Kings mofl Sacred Majcfly.
'* The humble petition of Sir William Davenant,
Knight.
" Sheweth,
*• That your petitioner has bin molefted by Sir
Henry Harbert with feveral profecutions at law.
" That thofe profecutions have not proceeded by
your petitioners default of not paying the laid
pears that he was poffelTed of the Office-books, of his
predecelfors, Mr. Tilney and Sir George Buc -, for, among
other points of which proof was intended to be produtcit,
he ftatcs, that " Several plays were allowed by Mr. Tliucy
in 1598. which is 62 years fince :
C Sir William Lons:f-uJord^ . ,, j . i n i* . i;^Q
c. A t T-; c • ,^ J rr , I Allowed to be adltd in iDQO,
" As < 1 he tair Maidof Londony c i u 1
I n- I J /I J ;• I J>ce the booK.es,
l^hichard Cordelion. j
King and no King allowed to be aded-i
in iGii.aud the lame to be printed. I Allowed by Sir
Hogg halh lojl its Pearle, and hun- ^George Bucko"
dreds more, ■^
Y 4
32S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Henry Harbert his pretended fees, (he nevej hav-
ing lent for any to your petitioner,) but becaufe
your petitioner liath publiquely prefented plaies ;
notvvithflanding he is auihoriz'd thereunto by
pattent from your MajeHies mpft royall Father, and
by feveral warrants under yourMajelUes royal hand
and fignet.
" That your petitioner (to prevent being out-
law'd) has bin inforc'd to anfwer him in two tryals
at law, in one of which, at WeRminfter, your
petitioner hath had a verdiil againft him, where
it was declar'd that he hath nojurifdiftion over any
plaiers, nor any right to demand fees of them. In.
the other, (by a London jury,) the Matter of Re-
vels was allowed the corre6iion of plaies, and tees
for foe doing; but not to give plaiers any licence
or authoritie to play, it being proved that no plaiers
were ever authorized in London or Weftminfler, to
play by the commiffion of y*^ Mafler of Revels, but
by authoritie immediately from the crowne. Nei-
ther was the propordon of fees then determined,
or made certaine; becaufe feverall witnefies afhrm'd
that variety of payments had bin made; fometimes
of a noble, fometimes of tv;enty, and afterwards
of forty Oiinings, for correfting a new play; and
that it was the cuflome to pay nothing for fuper-
vifuig reviv'd plaies.
" That without any authoritie given him by that
laft verdi«Sl, he fent the day after the tryall a pro-
hibition under his hand and feale (directed to the
plaiers in little Lincolnes Inn fields) to forbid
them to a6l plaies any more.
** Therefore your petitioner humbly praies
that your Majefly will graciouily pleafc
OF ^THE ENGLISH STAGE. 329
.."(two vcrdi6ls having pafs'd at common
law contradi£ling each other) to referr
the cafe to the examhiadon of fuch ho-
nourable pcrfons as may fatisfy your Ma-
jelly of the juft authoride of the Mafter
of Kevells, that fo his fees, (if any be
due to him) may be made certaine, to
prevent extorfion; and dme prefcribed
how long he iliall keep plaies in his hands,
in pretence of correfting them ; and whe-
ther he can demand fees for reviv'd
plaies; and laftly, how long plaies may
be iay'd afyde, ere he lliall judge them to
be reviv'd.
'* An.i your petitioner (as in duty
bound) fhali ever pray," See.
•' At the Court at Hampton Court, the ooth of
June, 1662.
'• His Majelly, being gracioufly inclin'd to have
a juft and friendly agreement made betweene the
petitioner and the laid Sir Henry Harbert, is
pleas'd to referr this petition to the right honorable
the Lord high Chancellor of England, and the
Lord Chamberlaine, who are to call before them,
as well the peddoner, as the faid Sir Henry Har-
bert, and upon hearing and examining their cUf-
ferences, are to make a faire and amicable accom-
modation betv/een them, if it may be, or other-
wife to cerdfy his Majefty the true flate of this
bufmefs, together with their Lordfliips opinions.
EDWARD NICHOLAS.
33o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
" Wee appoint Wednefday morning next be-
fore tenn of the clock to heare this bufi-
neffe, of which Sir Henry Harbert and the
other parties concern'd are to have notice,
my Lord Chamberlaine having agreed to
that hour.
''July 7. 1662. CLARENDONE."
On the reference to the Lord Chancellor and
Lord Chamberlain, Sir Henry Herbert prefented
the following ftatement of his claims :
*' To the R.*^ Honnourable Edward Earle of Claren-
don, Lord High Chancellor of England; and
Edward Earle of Manchefter, Lord Chamber-
lain of his Majeflies Houfehold.
" In obedience to your lordfliips comandes figni-
fyed unto mee on the ninth of this inftant,
July, do make a remembrance of the fees,
profittes, and incidents, belongeinge to y^ office
of the Reuells. They are as foUoweth :
£. s. d.
" For a new play, to bee bronght with) ^^ ^^ ^^
the bookc _ - 3
" For an old play, to be brought with7 ^^^ ^^ ^^
the booke - - ^
*' For Chriftmaffe fee - - oo3 00 00
«« For Lent fee - - - op3 00 00
*^ The profittes of a fummers day play^ ^^^ ^^ ^^
at the Black fryers, valued at 3
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE.
33.
400 00 00
I s. d.
- The profitts of a winters day/' at^^^^ ^^ ^^
Blackfryers _ _ -
" Refides feuerall occafionall gratui-
tyes from the late K.^ company at
B. fryers.
" For a fliare from each company of
four companyes of players (befides
the late Kmges Company) valued
at a lool. a ycare, one yeare with
another, befides the ufuall fees, by
the yeare _ _ _ -
" That the Kinges Company of
players couenanted the 11th of
Auguft, 60. to pay Sir Henry Her- /'004 00 00
bert per week, from that tyme,
aboue the ufual fees - J
" That Mr. William Beefton coue-')^,
nanted to pay weekly to Sir Henry ^004 00 00
Herbert the fumme of ~ )
" That Mr. Rhodes promifed the ">
,., , ^ < 004 00 00
hke per weeke - - •>
*' That the 12I. per weeke from the three fore-
named companyes hath been totally deteyned
from Sir Henrv Herbert fmce the faid i ith Aug.
* It is extraordinary that the MaRer of the Revels fhould
have ventured to ftate fifty pounds as the produce of each
of the benefits fijiven him by the king's company. We
have feen (p. ig5) that at an average they did not pro-
duce nine pounds each, and after a trial of fome years he
compounded with that company for the certain fum often
pounds for his winter's day, and the like fum for his
fummer benefit.
532 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
60. "by illegal and unjuft means; and all ufual
fees, and obedience due to the office of the
Rcvells.
" That Mr. Thomas Killegrew drawes 19I. 6s. per
\veek from the Kinges Company, as credibly
informed.
" That Sir William Dauenant drawes io fhares of
l5 fliares, which is valued at 200I. per week,
cleer profitt, one week with another, as credibly
informed.
■ * Allowance for charges of fuites at law, for that
Sir Henry Herbert is unjaflly putt out of pof-
feffion and profittes, and could not obtaine an
appearance gratis.
*' Allowance for damages fufteyned in creditt and
profittes for about two yeares hnce his Majefties
happy Reflauration.
'* Allo\vance for their New Theatre to bee ufed as
a playhoufe.
*' Allowance for new and old playes afted by Sir
William Dauenantes pretended company of
players at Salifbury Court, the Cockpitt, and
now at Portugall Rowe, from the 5th Novemb.
60. the tyme of their firit conjunction with Sir
William Dauenant.
" Allowance for the fees at Chriftmaffe and at
Lent from the faid tyme.
" A boxe for the Mailer of the Reuells and his
company, gratis; — as accuftomed.
" A fubmiffion to the authority of theRevells for
the future, and that noe playes, new or old, bee
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 333
afted, till tliey are allowed by tlie Mafter of Llie
Reuells.
'* That rehcarfall of plays to be aSed at court, be
made, as hath been accudomed, before the
Mafter of the Reuells, or allowance for them.
" Wherefore it is humbly pray'd, that delay
being the faid Dancnants beft plea, which he hatli
exerciled by iilegal adlinges for aimoft two yeares,
he may noe longer keep Sir Kenry Herbert out of
pofTeffion of Wib riglues; but that your Lordfhippes
would Ipeedily ali'ci t the rights due to the Mafter
of tiie Reuells, and afcertaine his fees and damages,
and order obedience and payment accordingly.
And in cafe of difobedience by the faid Dauenant
and his pretended company of players, that Sir
He;iry Herbert may bee at liberty to purfue his
courfe at law, in confidence that he Hiall have the
benefittof his Majelliesjuflice, as of your lordfliip-
pes fauour and promifes in fatisfa61ion, or liberty to
proceed at law. And it may bee of ill confequence
that Sir Henry Herbert, dating for 4^ yeares
raeniall fervice to the Royal Family, and hauing
purchafed Sir John Afiiley's intereft in the faid
office, and obtained of the late Kings bounty a
grante under the greate feale of England for two
Hues, fliould have noe other compenfation for his
many yeares faithfuU fervices, and conftarit ad-
herence to his Majefties intereft, accompanyed with
his great fuiferinges and lolfes, then to bee outcd
of his juft poffeffion, rightes and profittes, by Sir
William Dauenant, a perfon ^vho exeicifed the
office of Mafter of the Renells to Oliuer the Tyrant,
and wrote the Firjl a?id Second Parle of Peru, as^ed
/"
334 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
at tlie Cockpitt, in Oliuers tyme, and foly in his
fauour; wherein hee fett of the juflice of Oliuers
a6linges, by comparifon with the Spaniards, and
endeavoured thereby to make Oliuers crueityts
appease mercyes, in refpc£l of the Spanilh crueltyes;
but the meicyes of the wicked are cruell.
" That the faid Dauenant publiflied a poem in
vindicadon and juflihcation of Oliuers actions and
gouernment, and an Epithalamium in praife of
Olivers daughter M'. Rich; — as credibly in-
formed. ^
" The matters of difference betweenc Mr.
Thomas Killegrew and Sir Henry Herbert are
upon accommodation.
" My Lordes,
" Your Lordfliippes very humble Servant,
-Julyinb62. HENRY HERBERT.
Cary-houle.
Another paper now before me will explain what
is meant by Sir Henry Herbert's concluding words :
" ARTICLES of agreement, indented, made
and agreed upon, this fourthe day of June, in the
14 yeare of the reigne of our fouveraigne lord
Kinge Charles the Second, and in the yeare of our
Lord 1662. betweene Sir Henry Herbert of Ribs-
ford in the county of Worcefler, knight, of the
one part, and Thomas Killegrew of Couent Garden,
Efq. on the other parte, as followethe:
'• Imprimis, It is agreed, that a firme amity be
7 This poem Sir William D'Avenant fuppreffed, for It
docs not appear in h'n works.
OF THE ENGLISH. STAGE. 335
concluded for life betvveene the fald Sir Henry
Herbert and the faid Thomas Killegre^v.
" liim. The faid Thomas Killegrevv doth for
him feUe couenant, promife, grant, and agree, to
paye or caufe to be pay'd unto Sir Henry Herbert,
or to his aUignes, on or before the fourthe day of
Augiill next, all monies due to the faid Sir Henry
Herbert from the Kinge and Queens company of
plavers, called Mychaeli Mohun, William Winter-
fnail, Robert Shaterell, William Cartwright, Ni-
cholas Burt, Walter Clunn, Charles Hart, and the
reft of that company, for the new plaies at fortie
fiiiilings a play, and for the old reuiued plaies at
twende fiiiilings a play, they the faid players haue
afted lince the eleuenthe of Auguft, in the yeare of
our Lord, 1660.
•' liem, The faid Thomas Killegrevv, Efq. doth
for himfelfe couenant, promife, grante, and agree,
to paye or caufe to be pay'd unto the laid Sir
Henry Herbert, or to his aflignes, on or before the
fourthe day of Aiigufl next, fuch monies as are
due to him for damages and loffes obteyned at law
ag.^ Michaell Mohun, William Winterfhall, Robert
Shaterell, William Cartwright, Nicholas Burt,
Walter Clunn, and Charles Hart, upon an a£lion
of the cale brought by the faid Sir Henry Herbert
in the courte of Comon Pleas ag.'^ y= faid Mychael
Mohun, William Winterfliall, Robert Shaterell,
William Cartwright, Nicholas Burt, Walter Clunn,
and Charles Hart, wherupon a verdi£l hath been
obtayned as aforefaid ag.' them. And likewife doe
promife and agree that the coftes and charges of
fuitc upon another a6lion of the cafe brought by
the faid Sir Henry Herbert, ag.^ the faid MychaeL
336 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Mohun &: y*^ reft of y*= players aboue named, fhall
be alfo payd to the faid Sir Henry Herbert or to
his affignes, on or before the faid fourthe day of
Auguft next.
" Item, The faid Thomas Killegrew doth for
himfelfe couenant, promife, grante, and agree, that
the faid Michaell Mohun and the reft of the Kinge
and Oueenes company of players flrall, on or be-
fore the faid fourthe day of Auguft next, pave or
(caufe to be payM unto the faid Sir Henry Herbert,
or to his aihgnes, the fura of hftie pounds, as a
prefent from them, for his damages fufteyned from
them and by their means.
" Ite7n, That the faid Thomas Killigrew, Efq.
doth couenant, promife, grante, and agree, to be
aydinge and aftiftinge unto the faid Sir Henry
Herbert in the due execution of the OfHce of the
Reuells, and neither dire6lly nor indireftly to ayde
or afhile Sir William Dauenant, Knisrht, or anviDf
his pretended company of players, or any other
company of players to be rays'd by him, or any
other company of players whatfoever, in the due
execution of the faid office as aforcfaide, foe as
y^ ayd foe to bee required of y*^ faid Thomas Kille-
grevv extend not to y' filencing or opprefticn of
y^ faid King and Queenes company.
•' And the faid Sir Henry Herbert doth for him-
felfe couenant, promife, grante, and agree, not to
moleft y^ faid Thomas Killegrew, Efq. or his heirs,
in any fuite at lavve or otherwife, to the preiudice
of the grante made unto him by his Majeftie, or to
difturbe the receiuinge of y^ profits aryfing by con-
trail: from the Kinge and Queens company of player..
to him, but to avde and aihfte the faid Thorn:
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 33}
KiUegrew, in die due execution of the legall pow-
eio graiuod unto liim by his iMajcftie for the orderin-
ge of tiio laid company of players, and in t!ie levyinge
and rccciuinge of y^ monies due to him the faid
Thoiuas Killt^grevv, or vviiich fhall be due to him
from y*^ faide company of players by any contrail
made or to be made between them or amongfl the
fame; and neither diredliy nor indirectly to hinder
the payment of y^ laid monies to be made Vv'eekly
or otherwife by y^ laid company of players to y^
faid Thomas Killegrcw, Efq. or to his aiFigncs, but
to be ayding and aiiiHinge to die laid Thomas
Killegre^v, El'q. and his alhgnes therein, if there
be caufe for ii, and that the faid Thomas KiUegrew
dcfne it of y^ laid Sir Henry Herbert.
" And the faid Sir Henry Herbert doth for him-
felfc couenant, promife, grante, and agree, upon
the performance of the matters which are herein
contayned, and fo be performed by the laid Tho-
mas KiUegrew, accordinge to the daies of pay-
ment, and other things lymited and expreiled in
thefe articles, to deliver into the hands of y^ faid
Thomas KiUegrew the deede of couenants, fealed
and deliuered by the faid Mychaell Mohun and y'^
others herein named, bearing date the i i Auguft,
iGGo. to be cancelled by the laid Thomas KiUe-
grew, or kept, as he fhail thinke fitt, or to make
what further advantage of the fame in; my name or
right as he Pnall be advifed." ^
Idle adors who had performed at the Red Bull,.
S Oil tlie back of tins paper Sir Henry Herbert has
wr'tteii — "Copy of the Articles fealed and delivered the
5tli June, 62. between Sir H. H. and Thomas KiUegrew-
Bonds ot 3oool. for the performance of covenants.'''
t z
338 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
afled under the dire^ion of Mr. Killigrew daring
the years 1660,, 1661, 1662. and part of the year
i663. in Gibbon's tennis-court in Vere-ftreet, near
Ciare-market; during which time a new theatre
was built for them in Drury Lane, pO which they
removed in April i663. The following lift of their
ftock-play^, in which it is obfervable there are but
three of Shakfpeare, was found among the papers
of Sir Henry Herbert, and was probably furnifhed
by them foon after the Reftoradon.
" Names of the plays acled by theRedBull adors.
T'lie Humorous Lieutenant, Elder Brother.
Beggars BuJIie.
Tamer Tamed. '
The Trrytor.
Loves Cruelty.
Wit without Money.
Maydes Tragedy.
Fhihjln:
Rollo Duke of Normandy.
Claricilla.
The Silent Woman.
The Weddinge.
Henry the Fourthe..
Merry Wives of Windfor.
Kinge and no Kinge.
Othello.
Dumboys.
The Unfortunate Lovers.
The Widoiu.
Downes the prompter has given a lift; of what
he calls the principal old (lock plays afted by the
king's fervants, (which title the performers under
iMr. Kiilegrew acquired,) between the time of the
Refloration and the junftion of the two companies
in 1682. from which it appears that the only plays
of Shakfpeare performed by them in that period,
were K. Henry IV. P. I. The Merry Wives of Wind-
for, Olhello, 2Lud Julius Citfar. Mr. Hart reprefented
Othello, Brutus, and Hotfpur ; Major Mohun,Iago,
and Cafilus; and Mr. Cartwright Falftalf. Such
^v•as the lamentable talle of thcic times that the
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 33g
plays of Fletclier, Jonfon and Shirley were mucli
oftner exhibited than thofe ot Shakfpeare. Of this
the following lift furnifiies a melancholy proof.
It appears to have been made by Sir Henry Herbert
in order to enable him to afcertain the fees due to
him, whenever he fliould eftablifli his claims, which
however he never accomplifhed. Between the play
entitled Argalus andParthenia, knd The Loyal SubJeSl,
he has drawn a line ; from which, and from other
circumftances, I imagine that the plays which I
have printed in Italicks were exhibited by the Red
Bull a£lors, who afterwards became the king's
lervants.
1660. Monday the 5 Nov. Wit without money.
T"ucfday the 6 Nov. The Traytor.
Wenfday the 7 Nov. The Beggars BiiJJie.
Thurfday the 8 Nov. Henry the Fourth.
[Firft play a£led at the new
theatre.]
Friday the g Nov. The Merry Wives of Wind/or^
Saturday the 10 Nov. The Sylent Woman.
Ti-ifday the i3 Nov. Love lies a bleedinge.
Thurfday the i5 Nov. Loves Cruelty.
Friday the 16 Nov. The Widow.
Saterday the 17 Nov. The Mayds Tragedy.
Monday the 19 Nov. The Unfortunate Lovers^
Tufday the 20 Nov. The Beggars BnJJie.
Wenfday the qi Nov. The Scornfull Lady,
Thurfday the 22 Nov. The Traytor.
Friday the 2 3 Nov. The Elder Brother.
Saterday the 24 Nov. The Chances.
Monday the 26 Nov. The Opportunity.
Thurfday the 29 Nov. The Humorous Lieutenants
Saterday the i Dec. Clarecilla.
Monday the 3 Dec. A hinge and no Kinge.
Thurfday the 6 Dec. RoUo, Duke of J^ffrmartd)'^
Z p.
S40 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
j66o. Saterday the 8 Dec.
Monday the 9 Jan.
Saterday the 19 Jan.
Thurfday the 3i Jan.
Feb. - - -
The Moore ofVenr/e.
The Weddinge.
The Lojl Lady.
ArZ'ilus and Parthenig,.
1 66 1. March)
April \
May J
"
Decemb.
10
Decemb.
1 1
Decemb.
i3
Decemb.
16
Decemb.
17
Decemb.
20
Decemb.
23
Decemb.
28
Decemb.
3o
Janu. 6
-
Jan. 10
-
Jan. 11
-
Jan. 21
-
Jan. 28
Feb. 1 5
-
Feb. 25
-
Feb. 27
-
March i
-
March 3
-
March 1 1
-
March 1 5
-
4662. April 4
April ig
April 2 5
May 5
May 12
May 17
-
Loyal Subjeft.
Mad Lover.
The Wild-go ofe Chafe.
Airs Lofte by Lufte.
The Mayd in the Mill.
A Wife for a Monthc
The Bondman.
A Dancing Mafter.
Vittoria Corombona.
The Country Captainc.
The Alchymift.
Bartholmew" Faire.
The Spanilli Curate.
The Tamer Tamed.
Aglaura.
BulTy D'ambois.
Mery Devil of Edmonton,
The Vir,:;in Martyr,
Philafterr
Jovial Crew.
Kule a wife and have a wife.
Kinge and no Kinge.
The Mayds Tragedy.
Aglaura; the tragical way.
Humorous Lieutenant.
Selindra — a new play.
TheFrenche Dancing Mafter,
The Little Thecf.
Northcrne Laffe.
Fathers own fon.
The Surprifal — anew play.
Kt. of the Burning pelUc.
Brenoralt.
Love ill a maze.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 341
1661. OAob. 26 - - Loves Miftrcfs.
Difcontented CollonelL
Love at firft fight.
i66«. June i - - Cornelia, a new play. — Sir
W. Banleys.
June 6 - - Renegado.
July 6 - - The Brothers.
The Antipodes.
July 23 - - The Cardinail.
From another lift, which undoubtedly was made
by Sir Henry Herbert for the purpofe 1 have men-
tioned, I learn that Macbeth Avas revived in i553
or 1664. I iuppofe as altered by D'Avenant.
■' Nov. 3. i663. Flora s Fignries - £• i-
" A paftoral called The Ex- >
pofure ■■ - - J ■ ' "
" 8 more - - 16.
'•'• A new play - -. i. - -
'■'■ Henry the 5th - - 2. - -
" Revived play. Taming the^^
Shrew - - 3 '
••' The Generall - - 2. - -
'•'• Parfons Wedinge - 2.
" Revived play. Macbeth 1.
'^ K. Henry 8. Revived play i.
'• Hovfc to be let - - 2. - -
'" More for plays, whereof;
Elvira the laft - ] ^'
"Forplayes ''- £.41.'"
Sir William D'Avenant's Company, after having
played for forae time at the Cockpit in Drury-lanc,
and at Salifbury-court, removed in March or April
1662. to a new theatre in Portugal-row, ncarLin-
coln's-inn-fields. Mr. lietterton, his principal
Z 3
342 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
a£lor, we are told by Downcs, was admired in the
part of Pericles, which he frequently performed
before the opening ol the new theatre: and while
this company continued to a£l in Portugal-row,
thfcy rcprefented the following plays of Shakfpeare,
and it fliould feera thofe only: Macbeth and The
Tanptjl, altered by DVVvenant; King Lear, Hamlet,
King Henry the Eighth, Rumeo and Juliet, and Tiuelfth
A^'ight. In Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark was
reprefented by Mr. Better ton ; the Ghofl by Mr.
Richards; Horatio by Mr. Harris; the Queen by-
Mrs. Davenport ; and Ophelia by Mrs. Saunderfon.
In Romeo ana Juliet, P^omeo was reprefented by Mr.
Harris, Mercutio by Mr: Betterton, and Juliet by-
Mrs. Saunderfon. Mr. Betterton in Twelfth JS^ight
periOTmed Sir Toby Belch, and in Henry the Eighth,
the King. He vs^as without doubt alfo the per-
former of King Lean. Mrs. Saunderfon repre-
fented Catharine in King Henry the Eighth, and it
may be prefumed, Cordelia, and Miranda. She
alfo performed Lady Macbeth, and Mr. Betterton
Macbeth.
The theatre which had been erecled in Portugal
Row, being found too fmall, Sir William D'Ave-
nant laid the foundation of a new playhoufe in
Dorfet Garden, near Dorfet Stairs, which however
be did not live to fee completed; for he died in
May )668. and it was not opened till 1671. There
being ffrong reafon to believe that he was Sbak-
fpeare's fon, I have been induced by that circum-
ftance to inquire with fbme degree of minutenefs
into his liiRory. I have mentioned in a preceding
page that the account given of him by Wood, in
iiii Athena OxonienJeSf was taken from Mr. Aubrey's
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 843
Manufcript. Since that (licet was printed, Mr.
Warton has obligingly, furniilied me w^itii an exadl;
tranfcript of the article relative to D'Avenant, which
n:s it contains Tome particulars not noticed by Wood,
1 (hall here fubjoin :
" MS. Aubrey. Mus Ashmol. Lives.
Sir W I L L I A M DAVE N A N T, ICnight^
Poet-Laureai ,^
\vas borne about the end of February in
ftreet in the city of Oxford, at the CrovvneTaverue ;
baptized 3 of March A. D. i6o5-6. His father
was John Davenant, a vintner there, a very grave
and difcrect citizen: his mother was a very beau-
tiful woman, and of a very good witt, and cf con-
verfation extremely agreeable. They had 3 ions,
viz. Robert, William, and Nicholas ; (Robert was
a fellow of St. John's Coll. in Oxon. then prefercl
to the vicarage of Weiikington by Bp. Davenant,
whole chaplain he was ; Nicholas was an attorney : )
and 2 handfome daughters; one m. to Gabriel
Bradly, B. D. of C. C. C. benehced in the vale of
White Horfe; another to Dr. Sherburne, minifter
of Pembordge [ — bridge] in Heref. and canqn of
that church. Mr. \Vm. Shakfpeare was wont to
goe into Warwickfhire once a yeare, and did co-
monly in his journey lie at this houfe in Oxon.
where he was exceedingly refpeCled. Now Sir
William would lornetimes, wlien he was pleafant
'^ Mr. Wartou informs me, that " It appears by Aubrey's
letters that this Life of Davenant was fent to Wood, and
drawn up at his requeit."
Z 4
544 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
over a glaffc of wine with his moft intimate friends,
{c. g. Sam Butler, author -of HudibTas, <b-c. tb'c.)
fay, that it leem'd to him, that he writt with tlie
very ipirit that Shakefpeare [wrote witii ], and
was contented enough to bee thought his (on r he
would tell them the flory as above. He went to
fchooicatOxon. to Mr. Silvefter; Charles VVheare,
F. IJuivs] Degorii VV. was his fchoolfellow : but I
feare, lie was arawue from fchoole, before he was
ripe enoughe. He was preferred to the firft
l>utchcl& ol KichmontI, to \vayte on her as a page.
1 reniember, he toid me, ihc lent him to a famous
apothecary for iome unicorne's home, which he
was reloivcd to try with a fpyder, which he empaled
iji It. but without the expelled fuccels : the fpider
would goe over and through and thorough, un-
concerned, lie was next a lervant (as 1 remember,
a page alio) to Sir Fulke Grevil Ld. Brookes, with
whom he lived to his death; which was, that a
fervant of his that had long way ted on him, and
his lor — [lordfhip] had often toid him, that he
would doe foniething for him, but did not, but
ilill put him oli with delay ; as he was trufling up
his lord's pointes, comeing from floole, [lor then
their breeches were {aliened to the doubletts with
pointes ; then came in hookes and eies, which not
to have fahened was in my boyhood a great crime,]
flabbed him. "1 his was at the fame trnie that the
duke of Buckingham was dabbed by Felton ; and
the great noife and report of the duke's, Sir W.
told nie, quite drown'd this of his lord's, that was
fcatce taken notice of. This Sir Fulke G. was a
good wit, and had been a good poet in his youth:
he wrote a poeme in folio, which he printed nut,
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 545
till he was old, and then, as Sir W. faid, with too
much judgement and refining fpoiled it, which
was at firlt a delicate thing. He [Dav. ] writt a
play, or plays, and verfes, which he did with fo
much fweetneffe and grace, that by it he got the
love and friendfiiip of his two M'jecenaces, Mr.
Endymion Porter, and Mr. Henry Jermyn, [fince
E. of St. Albans] to whom he _has dedicated his
poem called Madegafcar. Sir John Suckling was
his great and intimate friend. After the death of
Ben Johnfon, he was made in his place Poet Lau-
reat. He got a terrible c — p of a black handfome
wench, that lay in Axe-Yard, Wethii. : whom he
thought on, when he fpeaks of Daiga, [in Gon-
dibert] which cofl him his nofe ; with which un-
lucky mifchance many witts were fo cruelly bold,
e. g. Sir John Menis, Sir John Denham, 6t. <bc.
In 1.641. when the troubles began, he was faine to
fly into France, and at Canterbury he was feized
on by the Mayor.
it. For Win had in his face the flaws
tt And markes received in country's caufc.
u They flew on him like lyons pafl'ant,
u And tore his nofe, as much as was on't ;
44 And call'd him fuperflitious groomc,
44 And Poplfii dop;, and cur of Rome.
" 'twas furely tlie firft time,
44 That Will's religion was a crime."
" In the Civill Warres in England, he was iw
the army of William Marqueffe ofNewcaftle, [fmce
Duke] where he was generall of the ordinance. I
have heard his brother Robert fay, for that fervice
there was owirig to him by King Charles the Firft
loocl. During that warre 'twas his hap to have
346 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
two Aldermen of Yorke his prifoners, who were
fomethinge ftubborne, and would not give the ran-
fome ordered bv the councill of warre. Sir Wil-
liam ufed them civilly, and treated them in his
tent, and fate them at the upper end of his table
d la mode de France. And having done fo a goo.d
while to his charge, told them (privately and
friendly) that he was not able to keepe fo charge-
able gueds, and bade them take an opportunity to
efcape; which they did; but having been gon a
litde way, they confidered with themfelves, that in
gratitude they ought to goe back, and give Sir
William their thankes, which they did: but it was
like to have been to their great danger of being
taken by the foldiers; but they happened to gett
fafe to Yorke.
" The king's party being overcome, Sir W. Dave-
nant, (who had the honour of knighthood from
the D. of Newcaftle by commiffion,) went into
France, and refided in Paris, where the Prince of
Wales then was. He then began to write his ro-
mance in verfe called Gondibert; and had not writt
above the firft booke, but being very fond of it
printed it, before a quarter finiflied, with an epiftle
of his to Mr. Th. Hobbes, and Mr. Hobbes' ex-
cellent epiftle to him printed before it. The
courtiers, with the Prince of Wales, could never be
at quiet about this piece, which was the occafion
of a very witty but fatirical litde booke o£verfes
in Svo. about 4 flieets, writt by G. D. of Bucks,
' Sir John Denham, 'be. 'be.
44 That thou Forfak'd thy fleepe, tliy diet,
4 4 And what is more than that, our quiel." -
* Thefe lines are inaccurately quoted by memory from
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 847
** This laftvvord, Mr. Hobbes told me, was the
occafion of their writing.
" Here he lay'd an ingeniofc defigne to carry a
coiifiderable number of anificers (chiefly weavers)
from hence to Virginia; and by Mary the ^'s.
mother's meanes he got favour from the K. of
France to goe into'the prifons, and pick and chule:
fo when the poor dammed wretches underltood,
what the defigne was, they crytd uno ore., tout t:[-
Jcran, we are ail weavers. Well, 36. as I remember,
he got, if not more, and fiiipped them : and as he
was in his voyage towards Virginia, he and his
tijferan were all taken by the; lliips then belonging
to the parliament of England. The Haves, 1 iup-
pofe, they fold,- but Sir William was brought pri-
foner into England. Whether he was firft a pri-
foner in Carefbroke Caftle in the lile of Wight, or
atthcTowr of London, I have forgott; he was pri-
fonerat both: his Gondibert was finiilied at Caref-
broke Caflle. He expecled no mercy from the par-
liament, and had no hopes of efcaping with his life.
It pleafed God, that the two aldermen of Yorke
aforcfaid, hearing that he was taken and brought
to London to be tryed for his life, which they
underftood was in extreme danger, they were
touched with fo much generolity and goodnes,
as upon their own accounts and mere motion
to try what they could to fave Sir Wilham's life,
who had been fo civil to them, and a means of
faving theirs; to come to London; and acquaint-
ing the parliament with it, upon their pediion,
Certain Verjes written by fever al of the author's friends, lo be re'
printed with thejecond edition of Gondibert, i653.
348 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
tbc. Sir William's life was faved. ' 'Twas Harry
Martyn, that faved Sir William's life in the houfe:
when they were talking of facrificing one, then
faid Hen. that ' in facrifices they always offered
pure and widiout blemini ; now ye talk of making
a facrifice of an old rotten .rafcal.'' Vid. H.
Martyn's life, ^vhere by this rare jeft, then for-
got, the L.<^ Falkland faved H. Martyn's life.
" Being freed from iraprifonment, becaufe plays
(fcil. tiage. and comedies) were in thefe prefbyte-
rian times fcandalous, he contrives to fet up an
opera, Jiylo recitativo ; wherein Sergeant Maynard
and feveral citizens were engagers: it began in
Rutland Hoi"ife in Charter-houfe-yard: next, fcili-
cet anno — at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane, where
were a£led very well, Jlylo recitativo, SirTrancis
Drake, and the Siege of Rhodes, ifl and 2nd part.
It did affe£l the eie and eare extremely. This firfl
brought SCENES in fafliion in England: before, at
plays was o?i/y an hangrng. ■*
" Anno Domini 1660. was the happy reftauration
of his Majelly Charles Ilnd. ; then \vas Sir William
made — — — — — and the Tennis-
Court in Little Lincoln's Inn Fields was turned
into a playhoufe for the Duke of York's players,
where Sir William had lodgings, and Avhere he
3 Mr. Wavton obferves to me, that "Aubrey does not
fay here that Millon (with the- two aldermen) was inltru-
mental in faying D'Avenant's life. Dr. Johnfon is puzzled
on what authority to fix this anecdote. Life of Millon,
p. 181. 8vo. edit. I believe that anecdote was firft retailed
in print by Wood, Ath. Oxon. II. 412."
* Here we have another and a decifive confirmation of
what has been ftated in a former page on the fubje6t of
fcenes. See p. gS. t feq.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 349
dyed, Aprill -166 — . I was at his. funeral:
he had a coffin of walnut tree: Sir John Denham
faid, that it ^v•as the fiaeit cofHn that he ever faw.
His body was carried in a hearlc from the play-
houfe to ^Veilmirifler-Ab^ey, where at the great
weft dore he was received by the fmg [ing] men
and choriiicrs, who fang the fervice of tke-church
[I (tm (he. Rffurredion, <bc. ^c.) to this grave, which
is near to tlie monument of Dr. liaac Barrov/,
Avhich is in the South Croffe aille, on which in a
paving iione of marble is writt, in imitation of
I hat on Ben. Johnfon, O rare Sir William Da-
venant.
" His firR lady was Dr. 's daughter, phy-
fitian, by whom he had a very beautiful and inge-
niofe fon, that dyed above twenty years fince. His
fccond lady was daughter of , by whom he
had Icveral children. 1 faw fome very young ones
at the funeratl. His eldeft. is Charles D'Avenant,
tile Do6lor, who inherits his father's beauty and
phancy. He practices at Doftor's Commons. He
■vvritt a play called Circe, which has taken very well.
Sir William hath writt about s.S plays, the romance
called Gondiberl, and a litde poem called JMada-
gajcar.
" His private opinion was, that religion at laft
\(.'g. a hundred years hence] would come to fet-
tleinent; and that in a kind of insieniofe Quaker-
lime:
' The following plays, written by Sir William D'Avenant,
v/ere licenfed by the Maflcr of the Revels lu the follow*
iii5 order :
The Cruel Brother^ Jan. 12, 1626-7.
35o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
On the gtli Novemb. 1671. DWvenant's com-
•
The Colonel, July 22. 1629.
Ike Jujt Italian^ Odob. 2. 1629.
The IVils, Jan. tg. l633-4.
Love and Honour, Nov. 20. i634.
Neimfrom Plymouih, Aug. i. i635.
Platonick Lovers, l^ov. 16. i635.
Britannia Triumphans, llcenfetl for prefs, Jan. 8. iGSy.
Utif'oriunate Lovers, April 16. i638.
Fair Favouriie, Nov. 17. i638.
The Spaniffi Lovers, Nov. 3o. iGSg.
This piece is probably the play which in his works is
called The Dipeps. _ ,
Lov^ and Honour was originally called The Courage of Love.
It was ailervvards named by Sir Henry Herbert, at iJ'Ave-
nani's rcqueft. The Nonpareilles, or the MatMeJi Maids.
In 1668 was publifhed Sir WiUiam D'Avenant's Voyage to the
other World, with his Adventures in the Poet's Elizium, written
by Richard Flecknoe, which 1 fubjoia to the memoirs of
that poet. ConfiRing of only a fmgie fheet, the greater
part of the Imprehion has probably periOied, for 1 have
never met with a fecond copy of this piece :
" Sir Wiiliani D'Avenant being dead, not a poet would
afford him fo much as an elegie ; whether becaufe he fought
to make a monopoly of the art, or ftrove to become rich
in fpight of Minerva : it being with, poets as with mufli-
roomj, which grow onely on barren ground, iurich the
foyl once, and then degenerate : onely one, more humane
than the reft, accompanyVi him to his grave with this
eulogium :
' Now Davenant's dead, the ftage will mourn,
' And all to barbarifm turn •,
' Since he it was, this later age,
'' Who chiefly civiliz'd the ftage.
' Great was his wit, liis fancy great,
' As e're was any poet's yet ;
*• And more advantage none e\r made
* O' th' wit and fancy which he had.'
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 35 1
pany removed to their new theatre in Dorfet
' Not onely Dedalus' arts lie knew,
' But even Prometheus's too ;
' And living maclilns made of men,
' As well as dead ones, for the fcene.
' And if tlie fiage or* tlieatre be
' A little world, 'twas chiefly he,
' That, Atlas-like, fupported it,
' By force of induftry and wit.
' All this, and more, he did befide,
' Which having perfe(5led, he dyM :
' If he may properly be faid
"■ To die, whofe fame will ne'er be dead/
'■'■ Anotlier went further yet, and ufing the privilege of
youT antient poer'^, who with allmoft as much certainty
as your divines, can tell all that paffes in the other world,
did thus relate his voyage thither, and all lils adventures
in the poet's elyzium.
" As every one at the inflant of their deaths, liave
paffports given them for feme place or other, he had his
for the poets' elyzium ; which not Avithout much difficulty
he obtained from the officers of Parnaffus : for when he
"^ aliedg'd, he was an heroick poet, they afk'd him why he
did not continue it? when he faid he was a dramatick too,
they afk'd him, why he left it off, and onely fludied to
get mony ; like him who fold his horfe to buy him pro-
vender: and finally, wheu he added, he was a poet laureate,
they laugh'd, and faid, bayes was never more cheap than
now ; and that fince Petrarch's tira'^e, none had ever been
legitimately crown'd.
"•' Nor had he lefs difficulty with Charon, who hearing
he Avas rich, tliought to make booty of him, and aflv'd an
extraordinary price for his paffage over ; but coming to
payment, he found he was fo poor, as he was ready to
turn him back agen, he having hardly fo much as his
nmdum, or the price of every ordinary paffcnger.
" Being arriv'd, they were all much amaz'd to fee him
there, they having never heard of his being dead, neither
by their weekly gazets, nor cryers of verfes and pamphlets
352 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Gardens, which was opened, not with one of
up and down •, { as common a trade there, almoA as it is
here:) nor was he iefs amaz'd than they, to find never a
poet there, antient nor modern, whom in fome fort or other
he had not diioblig'd by his difcommendations ; as Homer,
Virgil, Taffo, Spcnter, and efpccially Een. Johnfon ; con-
trary to Pliuies rule, never to difcommend any ot the frimc
profeffion with our ftlvcs : ' for either they are better or
worfe than you (fays he); if belter, if they be not worthy
commendations, you much Iefs; if worfe, if they be worth
commendations, you much more : fo every ways advan-
tagious 'lis for us to commend others.' Nay, even Shake-
fpear, whom he thought to have found his greateft friend,
was as much offended with him as any of the reft, for fo
fpoiling and mangling of his plays. But lie who moft
vext and t<^rmented him, was his old antagonift Jack Donne,
who inock'd him v;ith a hundred paiTa^cs out of Gondi-
bert ; and after a world of other railing and fpightful lan-
jfuage (at which the doftor was excellent) fo exafperated
the knight, 'at lafl, as they fell together by the ears : when
but imagine
' What tearing nofes had been thr re,
* Had they but ncfes for to tear.' ^•
" Mean time the coraick poets made a ring about them,
as boys do when they hifs dogs together by the ears ; till at
laff they were feparated by Pluto's officers, as diligent to keep
the peace and part tlie fray, as your Italian Sbirri, orSpanift
Alguaiilo ; and fo lliey drag'd them both away, the doflor
to the (locks, for raifing tumult and diflurbances in hell, and
the knight to the tribunal, where Minos, JLacus, and Rha-
danianthus were to fit in judgement on him, with Momus the
common accufer of the court.
" Here being arriv'd, and (ilence commanded, they aflv'd
liim liis quality and profeiTion: to whom he anfwcr'd, he
was a Poet-laureate, who for poetry in gentnl had not
Lis fellow alive, and had left none to equal him now he
was dead : and for eloquence,
* John Donne, the cldcft fon of Donne the poet, was a Civilian.
He is faid t* have met with a xniitoriune fimilar to that of
B'Avcaaat.
■%
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE, 353
Shakfpcare's plays, but ^vith Dryden's comedy
called Sir Marliji Marall.^
" Hoxo never any lr;perbolies
" Were highe)\ ur Jarlher fiyeUWd than his;
" jVor ever comparijons again
" Made thiiic^s compared more clear and plain.
Then for liis plays or dramatick poetry.
" How that o/Tlie Unfortunate Lovtrs
" The depth of tragedy dijcor:ers ;
" Jus Love and Honour j^c it might fee
"■ The height of tragecumedy ;
'■'■ And for his y<I as, the comick f.re
" In none yet ever Jlarnd uh higher :
" But coming to his Siege ot Rhodes,
" It onlwenl all the rejt hy odds ;
"• And JomewhaCs hit, that does oui-do
"■ Both th^antienls and the moderns loo.
•' To which Momus anfwered : that thougli tlicy were
never fo good, it became not him to commend llicm as he
did; lliat there wtre faults enough to be found in them;
and that he had mai'd more good plays, than ever he had
made *, that all his wit lay in hyperbolies and comparlfons, ■
wdiich, when acceflory, were commendable enough, but
when principal, deferved 'no great commendations ; that
his mufe was none of the nine, but onely a muns;ril, or
by-blow of Pamaffus, and her beauty rather fophifticatc
than natural ; that he offer'd at learning and philofophy,
but as pullen and Hubble geele offer'd to fly, who after
ihey had fluiter'd up a while, at length came fluttering
down as falf agen ; that he was with his high-founding
words, but like empty hogflieads, the higher they founded,
the emptier flill tiiey v.-ere ; and that, iinally, lie fo per-
plex'd hinifelt and readers with parenthe/is on parenthefis,
as, Julias in a wildcrnef's or labyrinth, allfenfc was loft in them.
6 The building, fccnes. Sec. of that theatre coft 5oool.
according to a flatemeut given in a petition prcfented to
Qjieen Anne about the year 1709. by Charles D'Avenant,
Charles KiUegrew, Chriftoplier Rich, and others.
t A a
354 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Between the year 1671 and 16S2. when the King's
and the Duke of York's fervants united, (about
which time Cliarles Hart, ' the principal fupport of
"■ As for his life and manners, they v/ould not examine
thofe, fince 'twas fuppofed they were licentious enough :
onely he wou'd fay,
" He coas a good companion for
" T'he rich, hul ill one for the poor ;
" On irJiom he look' d Jo, yoiid believe
" He walWd with a face negative :
" JVhilJi he miijl be a lord at leaf,
'■'■For whom lud fmile or break a jeaf.
" And though this, and much more, was exaggerated
againft him by Momus, yet the judges were fo favourable
to him, becaufe he had left the rmifes for Pluto, as they
condemned him onely to live in Pluto's court, to make
him and Proferpina merry with his facetious jeafts and
flories ; witli whom in fhort time he became fo gracious,
by complying with their humours, and now and then dref-
fir^g a difii or two of meat for them,* as they joyn'd him
in pp.tent with I\Iomus, and made him fuperintendent ot
all their fports and recreations : fb as, onely changing place
and perfons, he is now in as good condition as he was
before-, and lives the fame life there, as he did here.
"POSTSCRIPT.
" To the A^iors of the Theatre in Lincclni-Inn-Flelds .
" 1 promifed you a fight of what I had written of Sir
William D'Avenant, and now behold it here : by it you
will perceive how much they abufed you, who told you
it was fuch an abufive thing. If you like it not, take heed
hereafter how you difoblige him, who can not onely write
for you, but againft you too.
" RICH. FLECKNOE."
7 From the preface to Settle's jFa.'a/J.Otr, 16S0. it fliould
feem that he had then retired from tlie Ilage, perhaps in
* This fccms to allude to a faft then well known. D'Avenant
vas probably admitted to the private fuppers of Charles the Second.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 355
the foMTicr company, died,) King Lear, Timon of
the preceding year ; for in tlic prologue to The Amhilious
Sldlfjman, 1679. ^^^ diclc lines, evidently alluding to hira
and Mr. Mohun :
'' The time's neglect and maladies have thrown
*' The two great pillars of our playhoule down."
Charles Hart, who, I believe, was Shakfpeare's great
nephew, is faid to have been Nell Gwin's firll lover, and was
the moft celebrated tragedian of his time.
" What Mr. Hart delivers, (fays Rymer,) every one takes
upon content; their eyes are prepoflcffed and charmed by
his aftion before aught of the. poet's can approach their
ears ; and to the moft wretched of charaders he gives a
luftre and brilliant, which dazzles the fight, that the de-
formities in the poetry cannot be perceived." " Were I
a poet, (fays another contemporary M'riter,) nay a Fletcher,
a Shakfpearc, 1 would quit my own title to immortality, fo
that one a<Slor might never die. This I may modeftly lay
of him, (nor is it my particular opinion, but the fenfe of
all mankind,) that the bcft tragedies on the Engllfli Hage
have received their luftre from Mr. Flart's performance ;
that he has left fuch an impreftion behind him, that no
lefs than the interval of an age can make them appear agala
•with half their majefty from dny fecond hand."
In a pamphlet entitled The Life of the late famous Come-
dian^ J. Hayns, Svo. 1701. a characleriflick trait of Shak-
fpeare's kinfman is prcferved :
" About tills time [iGyS] there happened a fmall pick
between Mr. fiart and Jo, upon tlie account of his late
negociation in France,* and there fpending the company
fo much money to fo little purpofe, or, as 1 may more
properly fay, to no purpofe at all.
••"• There happened to be one night a play acted called
Caliline''s Conjplracy^ wherein there was wanting a great num-
ber of fenators. Now Mr. Hart, being chief of the houfe,
would oblige Jo to drefs for one of thefe fenators, al-
though his falary, being 5os. per week, freed him trom any
fuch obligation.
■^ Soon after tne theatre in Drury Lane was burnt down, Jan.
1671-2. Hayus liad been fcnt to Paris by Mr. Hart and Mr. Kil-
ligrew, to examine the machinery employed in the French Operas.
A a 2
556 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
Athens, Macbeth, and The Ttmpcjt, were the only
plays Shakfpeare author that weic exhibited at the
theatre in Dorfet Gardens; and the three latter
were notreprefentsd in their original (late, but as
altered by D'Avenant* and Shadwcll. Between
" But Mr. Hart, as I faid before, being fole governour
of the play-houfe, and at a fmall variance with Jo, com-
mands It, and the other muft obey.
" Jo, being vexed at the flight Mr. Hait had put upon
lilm, found out this method of being revenged on him.
He gets a Scaramouch drefs, a large full ruff, makes hlm-
felf whiskers from ear to ear, puts on liis head a long
Merry Andrew's cap, a (hort })ipe In liIs mouth, a little
three-legged ftool In his hand; and In this manner follows
Mr. Hart on the ftage, fets himfelf down behind him, and
begins to fmoke his pipe, laugh, and point at lilm. Which
comical figure put all the houfe In an uproar, fome laughing,
fome clapping, and forae hollaing. Now Mr. Hart, as thole
who knew him can aver, was a man of that exaftnefs and
grandeur on the liage, that let what would happen, he'd
never difcompofe himfelf, or mind any thing but what Lc
then reprefenled ; and liad a Icenc fallen behind liira, he
would not at that time look back, to have icen what was
the matter ; which Jo knowing, remained ftill fmoaking :
the audience continued laughing, ?.Ir. Kart afling, and
wondering at this unufual occufion of their mirth; lometlmes
thinking It fome difturbance In- the houfe, again that It
might be fomething amifs In his drcfs : at lail: turning him-
felf toward the fcenes, he dlfcovered Jo In the aforefald
pofture ; whereupon he Immediately goes off t}ie ftage, fwear-
ing he would never fet foot on it again, unlefs Jo was Im-
mediately turned out of doors, which was no fooner fpoke,
but put In prafllce."
8 The tragedy oi Macbelh, altered by Sir William D'Ave-
nant, being drefl In all Its finery, asuewcloaths, new fcenes,
machines, as flyings for the witches, with all the finging
and dancing in It, (the firll compoled by Mr. Lock, the
other by Mr. Channel and Mr. Jofcph Prieft,) it being all
excellently performed, being in the nature of an opera, it
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 35?
1682 and iGg5. when Mr. Congreve, Mr. Better-
ton, Mrs. Barry, and Mrs. Bracegirdle, obtained
a licence to opeli a new theatre in Lincoln's Inn
I'leids, Othello, A Midjummer MighCs Dream, and
The Tiir/mig of the Shrew, arc the only plays of
Shakfpeare which Dovvncs the prompter mentions,
as having been performed by the united companies :
A Midfwiimer Might's Dream was transformed into
an opera, and the The Taming of the Shrew was exhi-
bited as ^tercd by Lacy. Dryden's Troilus and
Crejfida, ho^vever, the two parts oi King Henry IV,
Ttvelfth Alight, Macbeth, King Henry VUL Julius
Ccefar, and Hamlet, were\vithout doubt iometimes
reprefented in the fame period : and Tate and
Durfcy furniflied the fcene with miferable altera^
tions of Coriolanus, King Richard H. King Lear, and
Cymbcline.^ Qtway's Cains Marius^ which was
produccdin 1680. ufurped the place of Shakfpeare's
Romeo and Juliet for near (eventy years, and Lord
Lanfdown's Jew of Venice kept porfeflion of the
flage from the time of its fuR exhibition in 1701.
reconipenced double the expence : it proves fiill a laftlng
play." Rofcius Anglicanus, p. 33. 8vo. 1708.
" In 1673. I'he Tempejl or the Inchanted IJland, made
into ail opera by Mr. Siiadwell, having all new in it, as
{'cenes, machines ; one fcene paintedwith myriads of atrial
fpirlts, and another flying away, with a table turniflied
out with fruits, Aveatmeats, and all forts of viands, juft
when duke Triucuio and his company were going to dinner;
all things were performed in it fo admirably well, thai uot
any fucceeding opera got more money." Ibidem, p. 34.
' King Richard II. and King Lear were produced by Tate
in 1G81. before the union of the two companies ; and
Coriolanus, under the title of The Iiigratilude of a Common
wealth, in 1682. In tiie fame year appeared Durfey's alte-
ration of Cymhdhic, under the tide of Ttie Injured Frincefs^
A a 3
358 HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
to the year 1741. Dryden's All for Love, from
1678 101759. was performed inflcad of Sliakfpeare's
Antony and Cleopatra ; and D'Avenant's alteration
o^ Macbeth in like manner was ]ireFerred to Shak-
fpeare's tragedy, from its firfl exhibition in i663.
for near eighty years.
In the year 1700 Gibber produced his alteration
o^ King Richard III. I do not find that this play,
which was fo popular in Shakfpeare's time, was
performed from the dme of the Reftoration to the
end of the lad century. The play with Cibber's
alterations was once performed at Drury Lane in
1703. and lay dormant from that time to the 28th
of Jan. 1710. when it was revived at the Opera
Houfe in the Haymarket; fince which time it has
been reprefentec],, I beheve, more frequently than
any of Shakfpeare's dram.as, except Hamlet.
bn April 2 3. 1704. The Merry Wives ofWindfor,
by command of the Oueen, was performed at St.
James's, by the aclors of both houfes, and after-
wards pubiickiy reprefented at the theatre in Lin-
coln's Inn Fields, May 18. in the fame year, by
Mr. Betterton's company ; but although the whole
force of his company was exerted in the rcpre-
fentadon, the piece had fo little fuccefs, that it
was not repeated till Nov. 3. 1720. when it was
again revived at the fame theatre, and afterwards
frec[uently performed.
From 1709. when Mr. Rowe publiflied his edi-
tion of Shakfpeare, the exhibition of his plays
became much more frequent than before. Between
that time and 1740. his Hamlet, Julius Cajar,
King Henry VHI. Othello , King Richard HI.
King Lear, and the two parts of King Henry JV>
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 3^9
were very frequently exhibited. Still, however,
fuch was the wretched taflc of the audiences of
thofe days, that in many inftances the contempti-
ble alterations of his pieces were preferred to the
oiiginals. Durfev's Injured Princcjs, which had
not been a6ted from 1697. was again revived at
DruryLane, OftoberS. 1717. and afterwards often
rcprelentcd. Even Ravenfcroft's Titus Andronicus^
in which all the faults of the original are greatly
aggravated, took its turn on the fcene, and after
an intermiffion of fifteen years was revived at Drury
Lane in Auguft 1717. and afterwards frequently
performed both at that theatre and the theatre in
Lincoln's Inn Fields, where it was exhibited for
the firft time, Dec.' 21. 1720. Coriolanus, which
had not been a6led for twenty years, v/as revived,
at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn fields, Dec. i3.
1718. and in Dec. 1719. King Richard II. was
revived at the fame theatre : but probably neither of
thefe plays was then reprefented as originally written
by Shakfpeare.* Meafure for Meajure, which had
not been adled, I imagine, from the time of the
fupprcfTion of the theatres in 1642.' was revived at
the lame theatre, Dec. 8. 1720. for the purpofe of
producing Mr. Quin in the character of the Duke,
which he frequently performed with fuccefs in that
and the following years. Much Ado about Nothings
* In the theatrical advertifement, Feb. 6. 1738. King
Richard II. (whicii was then produced at Covcnt Garden,)
was laid not to have been acted i or forty years.
' On the revival of this play in 1720. it was announced as
not having been a£lcd lor Irvenly years ; but the piece which
Lad been performed in the year 1700. was not Shakfpeare's»
but Gildou's.
A a 4
36o HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
which had not been afted for thirty years, was
revived at Lincohi's Inn Fields, Feb. g. 1721.
but after two repvefentations, on that and the fol-
lowing evening, was laid afide. In Dec. i'] 2'd. King
Hejiry V. was announced for reprefentation, " 011
Shakfpeare's foundation," and performed at Drnry
Lane fix times in that month ; after which we
hear of it no more : and on Feb. 26. lySy. King
John was revived at Covent Garden. Neither
of thefe plavs, I believe, had been exhibited
from the dnie of the dovv^nfali of the ftage. At
the fame theatre Shakfpeare's fecond part of King
Henry IV: vv^hich had for fifty years been driven
from the fcene by the play which Mr. Betterton
fubftituted in its place, refumed its ftation, being
produced at Covent Garden, Feb. 16. lySS. and
on the 23d of the fame month Shakfpeare's K/ng
Hejiry V. was performed there as originally written,
after an interval, if the theatrical advertifement be
correal, of forty years. In the following March
the fame company once exhibited the Firjl Part of
King Henry VI. for the firft time, as they afferted,
for fifty years. ^ As you like it was announced for
reprefentation at Drury Lane, December 20. i74o*
as not havino: been a£led for fortv vears, and re-
prefented twenty-fix times in that feafon. At
Goodman's Fields, Jan. i5. 1741. T'he Winter's
Tale was announced, as not havin;]!; been acled for
one hundred years ; but was not equallv fuccefsfu],
being only performed nine times. At Drury Lane,
' King Henry F/. altered from Sliakfpeare ])y Theophlius
Gibber, was performed by a fummer company at Drury
Lane, July 5. 17 23. l)ut It met with no luccefs, being
pcprefentcd only once.
OF THE ENGLISH STAGE. 36 1
Feb. 14. 1741. The Merchnnt of Venice, which, I
believe, had not been acted For one hundred years,
was once more reftorcdto the fceneby Mr. Mackliri,
Avao pn tliat night firfl reprefented Siiylock ; a
part which for near fifty years he has performed
with unrivalled fuccefs. In the following month
the company at Goodman's Field's endeavoured to
make a Hand againft him by producing AWs well
that ends-well, ^vhich, they alferted, " had not been
aifred fmce Shakfpeare's time." But the great
theatrical event of this year was the appearance of
Mr. Garrick at the theatre in Goodman's Fields,
Ofi:. ig. 1741. vvhofe good tafte led him to fludy
the plavs of Shakfpeare with more affiduity than
any of his predeceflors. Since that time, in con-
fcfuiencc of Mr. Garrick's admirable performance
of many of his principal charafters, the frequent
repreleniation of his plays in nearly their original
(hate, and abo\e all, the- various refearches which
have been made for the purpofe of explaining and
illufirating his works, Shakfpcare's reputation has
been yearly increafmg, and is now fixed upon a
bafis, which neither the lapfe of time nor the
fluctuation of opinion will ever be able to Ihake.
Merc therefore 1 conclude this iraperfe6l account
of the origin and progrefs of the Englifli Stage.
ADDITIONS.
Historical Account of the English Stage.
JUST as this work was iffuing from the prefs,
fome curious Manufcripts relative to the ftage,
were found at Dulwich College, and obligingly
tranfraitted to me from thence. One of thefe is a
large folio volume of accounts kept by Mr. Philip
Heaflovve, who appears to have been proprietor
of the Rose Theatre near the Bai:;!; fide in Southwark.
The celebrated player Edward AUeyn, who has
erroneoufly been fuppofed by Mr. Oldys, the\vriter
of his life in the Biographia Brilcin?iica, to have
had three wives, was married, as appears from
an entry in this book, to Joan Woodward, on
the 2 2d of Oftober, i5g2. at ^vhich time he was
about twenty-hx years old. This lady, who died
in 1623. was the daughter of Agnes, the widow
of Woodward, whom Mr. Philip Henllov/e,
after the death of Woodward, married : fo that
Mr. Henilowe was not, as has been fuppofed,
AUeyn's father-in-law, but only flep-father to
his wife.
This MS. contains a great number of curious
notices reladve to the dramatick poets of the time,
and their produ£lion$, from the year 1697 to i6o3.
during which time Mr. Henilowe kept an exa^l
account of all the money which he difburfed for
ADDITIONS. 563
the various companies of which he had the ma-
nagement, for copies of plays and the apparel
v/hich he bought for their reprefentatlon. I find
here notices of a great number of plays now lofl,
with the authors' names, and feveial entries that
tend to throw a light on various particulars w^hich
huAC been difcufled in the preceding Hijiory of the
Englijh Stai'^c, as well as the F'jjay on the order
oj inne in which SJiakJpeares plays were .wrilicn. A
ilill more curious part of this MS. is a regifter of
all the plays performed by the lervants of Lord
Strange, and the Lord Admiral, and by other
companies, between the igth of February i5gi-2.
and, November 5. 1597. This regifler flrongly
confirms the conjeclures that have been hazarded
reladve to The Firjt Pari oj King Henry VI. and the
play which 1 have fuppofed to have been written
on the fubje6l of Hamlet. In a bundle of loofe
papers has alfo been found an exad Inventory of
the Wardrobe, play-books, properdes, 8cc. be-
longing to the Lord AdmiraFs fervants.
T. hough it is not now in my power to arrange
thefe very curious materials in their proper places,
lam unwilling that the publick fliouid be deprived
of the informadon and entertainment which they
may afford ; and therefore fhall extrad from them
all fuch notices as appear to me worthy of pre-
fervation.
In the regifler of plays the fanie piece is fre-
quently repeated : but of thefe repetitions 1 have
taken no notice, having tranlcribcd only the account
of the firft reprefentadon of each piece, with the
fum which Mr. Henllowe gained by it.*
* It is clear from fubfecjucnt entries mad; by Mr. HenDowc that
364 ADDITIONS.
By tlie fubfequent reprefentations,. fometimes a
larger, and fometimes a lefs, fum, was gained.
The figures within crotchets fhevv how often each
piece was reprefcnted within the time of each
account.
the fums in the margin oppofitc to each play, were not the total
receipts of the houfe, but what he received as a proprietor from
cither half or the whole of the galleries, which appear to have
been appropriated to him to reimburfe him for expences incurred
for dreffes, copies, Stc. for the theatre. The profit derived from
the rooms or boxes, &c. was divided among fuch of the playerj
as poITefled 7?ia;w. In a fubfequent page I hud — " Here I be-
gyniie to rcccve the xvhole gallcreys from this day, beinge 2g of
July, iSgS." At the bottom of the account, which ends 09;. i3.
iSoq. is this note: "Received with the company of my lord of
Kouinghams men, to this place, being the i3 of October iSgg.
and yt doih apeare that I have received of 'the deati which they
owe unto me, iij hundred fifiie and eyght pounds."
Again: "Here I begane to receive the gallereys agayne, which
they received, begynninge at Mihellmas weeke, being the 6 of
Oftobcr, i5gg. as toUoweth."
Again : " My lord of Pembrokes men begannc to playe at the
Role, the 28 of October, 1600. as foUoweth :
" R. at lich unto licki, 11. 6.
" R. at Rdierick v. — ."
Five fliillings could not pofiibly have been the total receipt of
the houfe, and therefore muit have been that which the proprietor
received on his feparate account.
ADDITIONS.
365
o.
o.
s.
xvii.
XXIX.
1.
XVUl.
XV.
d.
iii.
'• J?? the name of God, Amen, ijgi. beginninf^e the 19
of Jebreary my g. lord Strani^es men, as Jollowelh,
1591 :
R. at fryer hacone, ^ tlie 19 of fe-
breary. (faterday) [4J
viidomurco,'^ the -io of febr.
[II] - - - -
Orlando,^ tiic 21 of fcbreary.
oracio (Don Horatio) the 23
of fcbreary. [3]
t Syr John mandcville, the 24 of
febreary. [5]
hnrey of cornwell, (Henry of
Cornwall) the 2 5 of febreary
1591. [3] - - - -
thejewofmalllufc, (Malta) the
26 of febreary I Sgi. [10]
clorys and orgaflo the sS of fe-
breary 1591. [ I ]
poopcjone, the 4ofmarche i5gi.
[i] ------
■ matchavell , the 2 of march e
i5gi. [3J ----- o. xiii.
' he.nery thevi.^ the 3 of marche
iSgi. [i3j _ _ - - iii. vi.
XVI. VI.
XUt. Vl.
VI.
8.
6 Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, by Robert Greene.
7 In a fubfeqiient entry called Mulamulhuo . The play meant-
Was probably The Battle of Alcazar. See the firft fpcech :
" This brave barbarian lord, Muly Molocco" 8cc.
8 Orlando Furiofo, by Robert Greene, printed iu iSgq.
9 In the Dijfertation on the three parts of K. Henry VI. I con-
jectured that tlie piece which we now call The firft part oj King
Henry VI. was, when hrfl peTformcd, called The play oj King
Henry VI. We find here that luch was the I'aft. This play, which
1 am confident was not originally the procliclion of Shakfpeare,
but of anotlicr poet, was exwemely popular, being reprefented ii»
this feafon bctweea March 3 and June 19. [ligzj^no lefs than
366 ADDITIONS.
B.. :n. bendo * and Richardo ^ the 4 of /. s. d.
niarche iSgi. [3] - - - o. xvi. o.
an jilayesin one^^ tbe'6 ofmarche
i5gi. [4] - - _ - _ iii. xi. o.
the looking glnjs. * tlie 8 ofmar-
che 1J91. [4J - - - - o. vii. o.
— . — Jcnohia (Zenobia) the 9 of
marche iSgi. [ij - - - o. xxii. vi.
Jeroninio, ihe 14 ofmarche i5gi.
[14] ______ iii. xi. 0.
confinntinc, the qi of marche
i5gi. [i] - - - - - o. xii. 0.
JeTiifaleni, '' the 22 of marche
LSgi. [2] - - - - o. xviii. o.
brandymcr^ the 6 ofaprill i5gi.
[2] -__--- o. xxii. o.
the comedy ofjeronimo^ the 10 of
A.pril i5gi. [4] - - - o. xxviii. o.
• Titus and Vefpafian , ( Titus
Vefpafian) the 11 of Aprill
i5gi. [7] - - - - - iii' iiii' o.
the Jeconde pie of tamhcrzanne,
(lamberlane) the 28 of april
i5g2. [5] - - - - - iii. iiii. 0.
■ the tanner of Denviarke, the 28 of
maye i5g2. [ij - - - iii. xiii. o.
aknacketo know a knavc^'^ 10 day •
[ofjune] i5g2. [3] - - iii. xii. o.
thirteen times. Hence Naflic in a pamphlet publiflicd in this year,
fpeaks of ten thoufand fpcdators that had fceii it. Sec DiJ'erta-
tion, 8cc. Vol, XV. p. 217.
* Afterwards written Byndo.
3 This could not have been the piece called All's ovr, or four
plays in one, of which .The Torkjltire tragedy made a part, becaufc
the fad on which that piece is founded happened in i6o.i.
* The Looking ginjs for London and England, by Robert Greene
and Thomas Lodge, printed in iSgS.
' Probably The DeJlruBion oj JeruftUm, by Dr. Thomas Legge,
See Wood's Tajl. Oxon. Vol. I. p. i33.
* I'rinted iu i5g4.
ADDITIONS. 067
" In the name of God, Amen, i^gz. beginning the 29 of
Defember.
R. at the gelyons comcdey (Julian of /. s. d.
Brentford) the 5 ofjenewary
1 592. [i] - - - -0. xxxxiiii. o.
the comedy of cojmo, the 12 of
Jenewary 1592. [2] - - o. xxxx. iiii.
the tragcdey of the guyes, ^ 3o of
Jenewary, 8 [i] - - _ iii. iiii, q.
'•'■ In the name of God, Amen, beginning the 27 ojBeJemher
iSgS. the earle of Sujfex his men.
L s. d.
R. at God fpede the plough, [2] - iii. i. o.
hexocn of Burdocks, (Huon of
Bourdcaux) the 28 of Defem-
ber 1593. [3] _ _ _ iii. X. o»
— ' — ^(^orge a-green, ^ the 28 of De-
fember iSgS. [4] _ . _ iii. X. o.
buckingham, the 3o ofDecember
1593. [4] _ - _ - o. li. o.
Richard the Conjejfor, ^ the 3i
of Defember iSgS. [2] - o. xxxviii. o.
william the' konkerer, the 4 of
Jenewary iSgS. [i] - - o. xxii. o.
frier frauds, the 7 ofjenewary
1593. [3] - - - - - iii. i. o.
the piner of wakcfcild, ^ the S of
Jencwary i5g3. [i] - - o. xxiii. o.
7 Probably the Majfacre of Paris, by Clirifloplier Marlowe.
8 In confequencc of the great plague in the year i5g3. all thea-
trical entertainments were forbid.
9 This play is printed.
* This piece fhould feem to have been written by the tinker in
Taming of the Shrew, who talks of Richard Conqueror.
■♦ This play was printed in iSgg.
368 ADDITIONS.
R. at abrnvie 6- lolie^ the gofjenewary /. j. d.
i3p3. [3] - - - - o. lii. o.
the Jay re mayd of y tale (Italy)
the 12 oijeuevvary i5g3. [2] o. ix. 0.
King hide ^ (Lud) the 18 of
Jenewary iSgo. [i] - - o. xxii. 0.
' — '■ — titus and andronicusi ' the 23 ol
Jenewary. [3] - - •• iii. viii. o.
"■ In the name of God^ Amen^ beginning at enjler^ the
queenes men and my lord ol Suilcx together,
Tx. at the Rangers comedy^ 2 of April /. ^ s. d.
iSgS. [i]- - - - - iii' o. o.
kiiige hare ^ ^ the 6 of^ April o. xxxviii. o.
1393. [2] ^^ . . - -
" In the name of God^ Amen, beginninge the 14 of mayr
i5r)4. by my lord admiralls men.
I
Pi. at Cutlacke, the 16 of maye 1594. /. a. d.
[ijS- - - - - -o. xxxxii. o.
? The manager of this theatre, who appears to have been ex-
tremely illilcr.ile, has made the fame millake in the play of tiius
and Vfjpafian. There can be no doubt that this was the original
piece, before Shakfpcare touched it. At the fecond reprcfcniaiion
Mr. Henflowe's fliare was forty fliillings ; at the third, the fame
^um.
t> This old play was entered on the Stationers' books ia the fol-
lowing year, and publifhed in i6o5. but the bookfcUer, that it
might be miflaken for Shakfpeare's, took care not to mention by
whofe fervants it had been performed.
7 Five other old plays were reprefented, whofe titles have been
already given.
8 Two other old plays, whofe litlej have been already given,
on the 14th and i5lh of May.
ADDITIONS.
SSg
'' Iv the nt.7ne of God^ Amen^ beginning at newinf^ton^^
ir.y loi'd admircU men, andmy lord chamberlen men.
as followeth^ i^9i-
R. the 3 of June 1594. at henjler and
cfnexceros^ ' [ 2]
5 of June i5g4. at andronicus^
[,] ....
6 of June 1 5g4. at cutlacke^ L ^ ^ J
^ Scfjune, 3.t bellendon^ [i?] '
9 of June 1594. at hamlct^'^ [ i] o
II of June 1 394. at ^Ac taminge
ofnjJirrwe^'* [1] - - - o.
■ 12 of June 1594. at the Jeiu of
malta^ [18] - - - - iiii.
' 18 of June 1594. at the rangers
comedy^ [10] - - - -o.
19 of June, at the guies^ ^ [ ^^ ] ^'
/.
s.
d.
0.
VIU.
0,
0.
xii.
0,
0.
XI.
0.
0.
XVll.
0.
0.
Vlll.
0.
IX. o.
xxu.
Iiii.
o.
o.
^ Howes in his Continuation of Stowe's Chronicle, i63i, men-
tions among the feventeen theatres which had been built within fixr.y
years, '' ouc in. former time at Ncwinj^ton Butts.'^
» Hejler and Akajuerus.
'■ In the EJfay on the Order of Skakjpeare's Plays, I have fiated my
opinion, that there was a play on the fubjeft of Hainlel, prior to
his ; and here we have a full confirmation of that conjefturc.
It cannot be fuppofed that Shakfpeare's play fhould have
been performed but once in the, lime of this account, and that
^Ir. Henflowe fhould have drawn from fuch a piece but the fiiiu
of eight Qiillings, when his fhare in fcveral other plays came to
three and fomctimes four pounds. It is clear that not one of Shak-
fpeare's plays was played at Newington Buls ; if one had been pcr-
foimed, we fhould certainly have found more. The old Hamlet had
teen on the ftage before iSSg. and to the performance of the ghoit
in this piece in the fummer of i5g4. without doubt it is, that
Dr. Lodge alludes, in his Wits Mijrrie, Sec. 4to. ijgfi. when he
fpeaks of " a foul lubber, who looks as pale as the vizard of the
ghoft, who cried fo miferably at the theatre, Hamlet, revenge."
* The play which preceded Shakfpeare's. It was printed in 1C07.
There is a Ilight variationbelwecn the titles ; Shakfpeare's piece being
called the Taming of the Shre-j).
' the Guife. It is afterwards called the Majfacre, i, c. the
Majfacre cj Paris, by Chriftophcr Marlowe.
+ B b
2>T0 ADDITIONS.
/. s. d.
R. theaGof June 1594. at ^■(7/f'?/>,6 Fgj iii. o. o.
g of July I 594. at phillipo and
herrpoiyto.7 [12J - - - iii. o. o.
«= 19 rf July 1594. at the 2 pte of
Godfrey of Bullen^ [^'] " ^^'^' o. o.
•>— — So ofjuly 1594. at the marchant
of camdexv^^ [i] - - - iii. viii. o.
' 12 of Auguft 1594. at tojfoes
inellencoUy^ 9[i3j - - - iii. 0. o^
— — 1 5 Auguft 1594. at mahomett, *
[8] ------ iii. V. 0.
• 2 5 of Augufti594. ztthevenefyan
(Venetian) comedy^ [^^] " ^' ^' ^'^^
• 28 of Augull 1594. at tamberUn^
[23] - - - - - - iii. xi. Oi
• 17 offeptembefiSg^.at/j^/c-zmon
6- arfett^ ' [4] " " ' - ©• li. o.
■ 24offeptember 1594. RtVeneyfon
lb- the love of and [an] Inglefie
hdy^ [i] - - - - -o. xxxxvii. o.
• 3o of feptember 1594. at doBor
fFoJloJj'e, ■* [24] - - _ iii. xii. o.
• 4 of October 1594. at the love
of a grefyan lady^ [12] - - o. xxvi. o.
6 Q. Julius Cafar.
7 This is probably the play which a knavidi bookfeller above
Cxty years afterwards entered on the Stationers' books as the pro-
dudtion of Philip Maflinger. See p. 250. n. 3.
8 O. — of Candiu.
9 Ta'fo's Melancholy. " I rather fpitcd than pitied him, (fays
old Montagnc,) when I faw him at Ferrara, iu fo piteous a plight,
that he furvived hiiiifelfe, mis-acknowledoing both himfclfe and
his labours, which, unwitting to him and even to his face, have
been publilhcd both uncorrected and maimed." Fiorio's traullation,
i6o3.
» Probably Pecle's play, entitled Mahomet and H'tren, the fair
Gitek. Sec Vol. XIII. p. 'SS. n. 9.
3 Palamon and Arcile. On this old play The two r.ehU Kinjmex
was probably founded.
* Dr. Faujlus, by Chriflopher Marlowe.
ADDITIONS.
371
xxxxm.
0.
xxxviii.
0,
xxviii.
0,
scxxxiiii.
0.
xxxxvi.
0.
iii.
0.
^. the iS of odohcri b^/^. cit the frenJJie I. s. d.
doStor, [iij - - - -o. xxii. o.
• — _ — 22 of odober 1594. at a knacke
to know a nonejte, ^ [19] - o. xxxx. 0.
8 oFnovember, 1394. at cefer
^ i~ pompie, ^ [8] - - - iii. ii, o.
16 of novcmber i5g4. at deocle-
Jyan, [2] - - - - -
3o of november i 594. at warlam
chejlei\ [7 J
2 of defembcr, i5g4. at the xvife
men of rhcjler, [20]
1 3 of defember 1594. at the
rnawe^ ' [4]
— — 19 of defember 1594. at tlie 2 pte
of tamhcrlen^ [I'i-]
26 of defember 1594. at thejege
of london, [12] - - - ;
• II of fcbreary 1594. ztthejrenjhe
coviedey, [6] - - - - o. I, o,
14 of fcbreary i5g4. at long mege
of wejlimjler, [18] - - - iii. ix. 0.
21 of fcbreary 1594. at the
macke^^ [i] - - - - iii. o. o.
5 of marche 1594. at feleo <lr
olempo,'^ [7] - - - - iii. o. o,
7 of maye iSgS. at the Jirjl pte
of Herculoiu^ ^ [loj ' ' "i- ^^ii* o*
23 of maye ibgb. at the 2 p. of
Hercolaus^ [^j " " ' ii^* ^' ^•
' A Knack to know an honejt Man. This play was printed in
iSgG.
* Stephen Goffon mentions a play entitled 2'hc Hijery of Cajar
and Fompey, which was acied before i58o.
? The maw was a game at cards. The play is afterwards called
the Jeut [fiiit] at mawe.
6 This alfo was a game at cards.
7 Selto is afterwards written Selyo-, and the play is ia a fubfcqucnt
entry called Olempo and Hcr.ger.gs,
8 Hercules, written by Martin Slaughter.
Bb 2
Sya ADDITIONS.
R. the 3 ofjune iSgS. at the vii dayes I. s. d,
oftheweeke^ [ig] - - - iii. o. o.
■ 18 ofjune iSgS. at the 2 pte cf
Jrjore, (Catfar) .9 [2] - - 0. iv. o.
> 20 of June iSgS. at antony ir
■vallca^ ^ [3] - - - - o. xx, o.
• '29 of auguft i5g5. at longe-
Jlianrke^ ^ [14] - - - - o. xxxx. o.
■ 5 of feptember iSgS. zt cracke
niee this notte, [16] - - iii. o. o.
■ 17 of feptember i5g3. at the
worldes tragedy^ [11] - - iii- ▼. 0.
■ 2 of o^lober i5g5, at the dcj-
gyfe.^, [^] " " ' " - o. xxxxiii. o.
■ 1 5 cf c6lober i5g5. ^.t the wonder
ofawoman^ \_io^ - - - o. liii. o.
■ 29 of oftober i5g5, at barnardo
<b- jiamata^ [7] -
■ 14 ofnovember i5g5. at a toys.
to pleaje my ladye. ^ [ 7 ]
■ 28 november i5g5. at harry the
7'. ' [ i3 ] - - - - - iii. yi. o.
— 29 of november i5g5. at the
welfiieman^ [i] - - - o. vii. 0.
3 of Jenevvary i5g5. at chinon
of Ingland^ [11] - - - o. 1. o,
i5 of Jenevvary i5g5, at petha-
gerus,^ [10] - - - - o. xviii. o.
9 Probably on the fubjcct of S'n^kfpeare's play.
^ This piece was entered in the Stationers' Looks by Hunaphrcy
Mofely, June 29. 1660. as the producUou of Piiiilp Maffiinger.
3 Probably Peele's play, entitled The Jamous Chronicle oj King
Edward I . firnamed Edward Long-Jhankes, printed in iSg^.
* Afterwards called A Toy to pieaje chajle Ladles.
^ I fuppofe, the play entitled The famous Vid:rles nj K, Henry Y.
containing the honourable Battel of Agincourt, iSgS. in which may
be found the rude outlines of Shakfpcarc's two parts oi K. Henry ik',
and K. Henry V,
* Pythagoras, writleri by Martin Slaughter.
ADDITIONS.
373
R. the 3 of febreary iSgS. at the i /;.
ojForteunalus^ ' [l]
12 of febreary iSgS. at the blind
begcr of Alexandria^ ' [ 1 3 ]
agofapriil iSgG. at Julian the
apojtata^ [3]
19 of maye i5g6. at the tragedie
■offocafe,'^ [7] - - -
22 of June i5q6. at Troye^ [4]
I of July 1596. a.t paradox^ [ij
■j^- — 18 of July i5g6. at the tincker of
totnes, ------
/.
iii.
s.
o.
d.
o.
o. o.
0.
XXXXVll.
0.
0.
xxxxv.
0.
111.
0.
0.
0.
xxxxv.
0.
o.
,'^ In the name of God^ Amen^ beginning one [o7l] Simon
and Jewds day, my lord admeralles men, as fol-
loweth ; iSgG.
[Here twenty plays are fet down as having been ptr-
■formed between Odober 27. and November i5. iSgG.
but their titles have all been already given.]
s.
XXXV.
XXXX.
d.
o.
o.
" In the name of God, Amen, beginninge the 2b of novem-
ber i5g6. asfoUo^eth, the lord adnaerall players :
R. the 4 of def ember i 5qG. at Valtegcr, I.
[12] - o.
iiotdefembcr i5g6. at Stcw-
kley,^ [ii] - - - - o.
• — ■ — 19 of defember i5g6. at nebuca-
donizer, [8] - - - - 0.
3o of defember i5g6. at what
will be f tall be, [12] - - 0.
7 By Thomas Dekkcr. This play is printed.
8 By George Chapman. Printed ia iSgS.
9 PhocaSy by Martin Slaughter.
a This play was printed in black letter in i6o5.
3 The fums received by Mr. Henflowe from this place are ranged
in five columns, in fuch a manuer as to furtiilli no precife iu^
formation.
B b 3
XXX. o.
1. o.
374 ADDITIONS.
R. the 1/^ of Jcnevjzvy ibgj.zt nlcKander I. s. d.
6- lodwicke, [i5J - - - o. Iv. o.
• 27 of jenewary iSgy. at rvoman
hard to pleajc^ [^2] - - 6. 7. 8.
■ 5 of febreary iSgj. ^t Cjnyck^
. [2] - 3. 2. I.
• 19 of marclie 1597. atg'ujrfo, [5]J - - -
■ — - — • 7 of aprill 1597. at v plays in
one, [lo]
' 1 3 of aprill i5q7, 3.t times triumph
and foztus, [i] -__-
" 29 of aprill J.597. at Uter pen-
dragon, [5] --___
= II of may e 1597, at comedy of
tuners, (humours)'* [n] - - - -
' ■26ofmaye i5g7. at harey the
fijte life and death, ^ [6j - -
• 3 of June 1 597. at frederyfke and
bajellers,(' [4] - - - - - - ' -
• 22 of June 1597. at Henges, [i] -
• 3o of June 1397. zt life and death
of Martin Sxuarte, [3]---
• 14 of July 1597. at the wiche
[witch] of Iflyngton, ' [2] - -
*' In the name, of God, Amen, the 11 of oBoher, beganne
my lord- admeralls and my lord ol pembrokes men
to playe at my howfc, 1597 :
Odoberii. a.tJeronymo, _ _ ,
12. at the comedy ofumcrs, - - -
^ Perhaps Eenjonfon's Every Man in his Humour, It will ap-
pear hereafter that he had money dealings with Mr. Heuflowe, the
manager of this theatre, and that he wrote for him. The play
migh: have been afterwards purchafed from this company by the
Lord Chamberlain's Servants, by whom it was afled in iSgS.
S This could not have been the play already mentioned, bccaufc
in that Henry does not die ; nor could it have been Shakfpcare's play.
^ Afterwards written — Bajclia.
' This piece was performed a fccond time on the 28th of July,
vben this account was clofcd.
ADDITIONS. 375
Odlober 16. at docfor fojles^
ig. at kardacnute^
3i. :it frier fpendellon.,
Novembers, at Bourbon^ "
The following curious paper furniflies us with more
accurate knowledge of the properties, ?cc. of a theatre
in Shakfpeare's time, than the refearches of the moft
induflrious antiquary could have attained :
" The hooke of the Inventary of the goods of my Lord
Admerallcs men, takeji the 10 Marche in the yean
1698.
Gone and lofte.
Item^i orenge taney fatten dublet, layd thycke with
ffowld lace.
Item, j blew tafetie fewt.
Item, j payr of carnatyon fatten Venefyons, layd with
gold lace.
Item, j longe-flianckes fewte.
Itein, j Sponnes dublet pyncket.
Item, j Spanerds gyrcken.
Item, Harey the fyftes dublet.
Item, Harcy the fyftes vellet gownc.
Item, j fryers gowne.
Item, j iyttel dublet for boye.
<■' The Enventary of the Clownes Sewtes and Hermcies
Sewtes, with dievers other fewtes, as followeth, i5y8.
the 10 of March.
Item, j fenetores gowne, j hoode, and 5 fenetorcs
capes.
Item,] fcwtte lor Nepton; Fierdrackcs fewtes for
Dobe.
Item, iiij genefareyes gowncs , and iiij torchberers
fewtes.
B b 4
376 ADDITIONS.
Jtem^ iij payer of red ftrafers, [ftroffers] and iij fare*
gowne of buckrome.
Jteni^ iiij Herwodes cottes, and iij fogers cottes, and
j green gown for Maryan.
J^em, vj grene cottes foV Roben Hoode, and iiij
knaves fewtes.
Item^ ij payer of grene hofTe, and Anderfones fewte.
j whitt fhepen clocke.
Item, ij rolFet cottes, and j black frefe cotte, and iij
prefles cottes.
Jtem, ij whitt fbeperdes cottes, and ij Danes fewtes,
andj payer of Danes hoile.
J/^w, The Mores iymes, 8 and Hercolles lymes, and
Will. Sommers fewtte.
Item, ij Orlates fewtes, hates and gorgetts, and vij
anteckes cootcs.
Item, Catliemer fewte , j payer of cloth whitte
ftockens, iiij Turckes hedes.
Item, iiij freyers gownes and iiij boodes to them, and
j fooles coate, cape, and babell, and bran-
howlttes !tbdeys , [bodice] and merlen
[Merlin's] gowne and cape.
Item, ij black faye gownes, and ij cotton gownes,
and j rede faye gowne.
Item,] mawe gowne of calieco for the quene, ^ j
carnowll [cardinal's] hatte.
Item, j red fewt of cloth for pyge, [Pfyche] layed
with whitt lace.
Item, V payer of hoffe for the clowne, and v gerkenes
for them.
Item, iij payer of canvas hofTe for afanc, ij payer of
black flrocers.
8 I fufpeft that thefe were the limbs of Aaron the Moor in Tilus
Androiiicvs, who in the original play \vas probably tortured on the
flagc. This ancient exhibition was fo much approved of by Ra-
venfcroft, that he introduced it in his play. — In The Battle of
Alcazar there is alfo a Moor, wliofe dead body is brought on the
flag«, but not in a diflocated ftate.
^ In the play called Maw.
ADDITIONS. 577
Item, j yelovv leather dublett for a clovvnc, j Whitt-
comes dublett poke.
Item, Eves bodeyes, [bodice] j pedante truffer,
and iij donncs haltes.
Item, ^ payer of yelow cotten fleves, j goftes fewt,
and j goftes bodeyes.
Item, xviij copes and hattes, Verones fonnes hofTe.
Item, iij trumpettes and a drum, and a trebel viall,
abafie viall, a bandore, a fytteren, j an-
ftientc, [ancient] j whitt ualte.
Itmi, J hatte for Robin Hoode, j hobihorfe.
J^tw, V fliertes , and j ferpelowes, [furplice] iiij
ferdiiigalles.
J/fm, vj he^d-tiers, j fane , [fan] iiij rebatos, ij
gyrketrufes.
Itejn, j longe forde.
*' The Enventnry of all the aparell for my 'Lord AdmnaUes
men, tacken the lo of marche i5g8. — Lenft above
in the tier-hoxife in the cheaft.
Item, My hoxd CafFes [Caiphas'] gcrcken, 8c his
hooITe.
Item, ] payer of hofTe for the Dowlfen [Dauphin].
J^£/?j, j murey lether gyrcken , 'k j v;hite lether
gercken.
Item, j black- lether gearken, 8>: Nabcfathe fewte.
Item, j payer of hofTe, 8c a gercken for Valtcger.
Item,'] leatherantcckescottes withbalTes, forFayetoi*
[Phaeton.]
//f?7i, j payer of bodeyes for AUes [Alice] Pearce.
'• The Eventnry tacken of all the properties for my Lord
Admeralles men, the 10 of Marche, iSgS.
Item, j rocke, j cage, j tombe, j Hell mought [Hell
mouth].
Item,'] tome of Guido, j tome of Dido, j bedfteade.
Item, viij lances, j payer of ftayers for Fayeton.
Item^ ij ftepells, 8c j chyme of belles, 8c j beacon,
378 ADDITIONS.
Itern^ j hecfor for the playe of Faeton, the limes dead.
Item^ j globe, 8c j golden fcepter; iij clobes [clubs.]
Item^ ij marchepanes, Ic the fittie of Rome.
Itevi^ j gowlden fiece; ij rackets; j baye tree.
Ji^m, j wooden l)atchett; j lether hatchete.
Item^ j wooden canepie; owld Mahemetes head.
. -Item, j lyone ikin; j beares Ikyne ; 8>: Faetones lyraes,
Sc Faeton charete; 8c Argoffe [Argus's]
headei.
Itfin, Nepun [Neptun's] forcke Sc garland.
Itevi. j crofers ftafe ; Kentes woden leage [leg].
Item, lerolFes [Iris's] head, 8: raynbowe ; j littellalter.
Item, viij viferdes ; Tamberlyne brydell; j wooden
mat 00 k.
Item, Cupedes bowe, &: quiver; the clothe of the
Sone 8c Mone. ^
Item, i boxes heade 8c SerbcrofTe [Cerberus] iij
heades.
Item, j Cadefcus; ij mofe [mofsl banckes, 8c j fnake.
Item, ij fanes of feathers ; Belcndon flable ; j tree
of gowlden apelles; Tanteloufe tre-', jx
eyorn [iron] targates.
Item, j copper targate, 8c xvij foyles.
Jte7n, iiij wooden targates ; j greve armer.
Item, j fyne [fign] for Mother Readcap ; j buckler.
Item, Mercures wings; TafTo picler; j helmet with
a dragon; j flielde, with iij lyones; j elme
bowle.
Item, j chayne of dragons; j gylte fpeare.
Item, ij coffenes ; j bulles head; and j vylter.
Item, iij tymbrells ; j dragon in foftes [Fauftus].
Item, j lyonc; ij lyon heades; j great horfe with his
leages [legs]; j fack-bute.
Item, j whell and- frame in the Sege of London.
Item, j paire of rowghte gloves.
Item, j poopes miter.
7 Here we have the only attempt which this Inventory farniflici
of any thing like fcencry, and it was undoubtedly the ne plus ultra
of thofe days. I'o cthibit a fun or mocn, the art of pcrfpcclivc
was not neccITary.
ADDITIONS.
379
Item^
Itern^
Itein^ j
Itevi^
i) Imperial crownes; j playne crownc.
goftes crown; j crown with a fone.
frame for the heading in Black Jonc.
black clogge.
Item^ j cauderm for the Jewe. ^
■•' The Enventorey c''a!l the. aparell of the Lord Admeralles
men, taken the i3th of Marc he i5g8. as followeih:
Item, j payer of whitte feteii Vcnefons cut with coper
lace.
Item, j afh coUer fatten doublett, lacyd with gold lace.
Ite7n, j pecbe coller fatten doublett.
Item, ) owld whitte fatten doublette.
Item, j bleu tafitie fewtte.
Item, j Mores cotte.
J/^m, Pyges [Pfyches] damalk gowne.
Item, j black fatten cotte.
Item, j harcoller tafitie fewte of pygges.
Item, j white tafitie fewte of pygges. ,
Item, Vartemar fewtte.
Item, j great pechcoUer dublet, with fylver lacc.
Item, ] white fatten dublet pynckte.
Item, j owld white fatten dublet pynckte.
Item, j payer of fatten Venefyan fatten ymbradered.
Item, j payer of French hoffe, cloth of gowld.
Item, j payer of cloth of gowld hoffe with fylver
paines.
Item, j payer of cloth of fylver hofi'e with fatten and
fylver panes.
Item, Tamberlynes cotte, with coper lace.
Iteju, j read clock with white coper lace.
Item, j read clockc with read coper lacc.
Item, j fliorte clocke of taney fatten with fleves.
Item, j (liorte clocke of black fatten with fleves.
Jte?n, Labefyas clocke, with gowld buttenes.
Item, j peyer of read cloth hoffe of Venefyans, with
fylver lace of coper.
Item, Valteger robe of rich tafitie.
8 The Jew cj Malta.
38o ADDITIONS.
J/(?m, Junoes cotte.
Item, j hode for the wech [witch].
liem, j read ftamel clocke with whitte coper lace.
Iteju, j read ftamel clocke with read coper lace.
Item, j cloth clocke oi" ruffete with coper lace, called
Guydoes clocke.
Item, j fhort clocke of black velvet, with fleves faced
with fhagg.
Item, j fhort clocke of black vellet, faced with white
for [fur].
Item, j manes gown, faced with whitte fore.
Item, Dobes cotte of cloth of fylver.
jT/fW, j payer of pechecoler Venefyones uncut, with
read coper lace.
Item,] read fcarllet clocke with fylver buttones.
Item, j longe black velvet clock, layd with brod lace '
black.
Item, j black fatten fewtte.
Item, j blacke velvet clocke, layed v/ith twyft lace
blacke.
Item, Perowes fewt, v/liich W'^. Sley were.
Item, j payer of pechcoler hoffe with fylver corlled
. panes.
Item, j payer of black cloth of fylver holTe, drawne
owt with tufed tafittie.
Item, Tamberlanes breches, of crymfon vellvet.
Item, j payer of fylk howfe ^vith panes of fylver
corlled lace.
Item, '] Faeytonc fewte.
Item, Roben Hoodes fewtte
Item, j payer of cloth of gDwldhofe with gowldcorlle,
panes.
Jtejn, j payer of rowne hoffe buffe with gowld lace.
Item, j pRjev of mows [moufe] coller Venefyans
with R. brode gowld lace.
Item, j flame collerde dublet pynked.
Item, j blacke fatten dublet, layd thyck with blacke
and gowld lace.
Item, j carnacyon dublcd cutt, layd with gowld lace.
ADDITIONS.
38i
Jtem^ j white fatten dublet, faced with read tafetic.
licin^ j
I tern ^ j
liem, j
Item,
grene gyrcken with fylver lace,
black gyrcken with fylver lace,
read gyrctcen v/ith fylver lace. -
read Spanes [Spanifh] dublett ftyched.
peche coller fatten caile.
Item, Tafoes robe.
Item, j murey robe with fleves.
Item-, j blevve robe witii fleves.
iLcm, j oren tancy [ orange tawny] robe with fleves.
Item, j pech coilerd hallf robe.
Item, j lane [long] robe with fpangells.
Item, j white 8; orenge taney fcarf, fpangled.
Item, Dides [Dido's] robe.
Item, iij payer of bailes.
Item, j white tafitie flierte with gowlcl frengc.
Itevi, the fryers truffe in Roben Hoode.
Item,] littell gacket for Pygge [Pfyche].
Item, j womanes gov.n of cloth of gowld.
Item, j orenge taney vellet gowe [gown] with fylver
lace, for women.
Item, j black velvet gowne ymbradcred with gowld
lace.
Item, j yelowe fatten gowne ymbradered with fylk
8c gowld lace, for wornen.
Item, j greve armer.
Item, Haryc the v. velvet gown^.
Item, j payer of crymfon fatten Venyiiones, layd with
gowld lace.
Item, j blew tafitie fewte, layd with fylver lace.
Item, j Longefhankes feute.
licm, j orange coller fatten doublett , layd v;ith
gowld lace.
Itcvi, Harye the v. fatten dublet, layd with gowld lace.
Item,'] Spanes cafTe dublet of crymfon pyncked.
Item, j Spanes gearcken layd with fylver lace.
Item,] watlftiode [watchet] tafitie dublet for aboye.
4 tern, ij payer of bafTes, j whitte, j blewe, offafnctt.
tern, j frcyers gowne of graye.
38a ADDITIONS.
A Xote of all fuche boockes as belong to the Stocke, and
fuch as I have bought Jmcc the 3d of March ^ iSgS.
Black Jonnc. Weman will have her will.
The Umers. Welchmans price.
Hardicanewtes. King Arthur, life and death.
Borbonne. i p*^ of Hercules.
Sturgflaterey. 2 p*^^ of Hercoles.
Brunhowlle. Pethagores.
Cobler quen hive. FocafTe.
Frier Pendelton. Elexfander and Lodvvicke.
Alls Perce. Elacke Battraan.
Read Cappe. 2 p. black Battman.
Roben Hode, i. 2 p*^ of Goodwine.
Roben Hode, 2. Mad mans morris.
Phaeyton. Perce of Winchefter.
Treangell cockowlls. Vayvode.
Goodwine.
A Note of allfuche goodes as I have bought for the Com-
pany of my Lord Admiralls inen, fence the 3 of Aprell^
i5g8. as follow eth: L. s. d.
Bowght a damalke cafock garded with? ^ jg ^
vel'vett - - - -'
Bowght a payer of pancd rownd holTe oiA
cloth whipcd with fylk, drawne out/
with taftie - - - - \ o 8 o
Bowght j payer of long black wollcnS
Bowght j black fatten dublett - -^
Bowght j payer of rownd howfTe paned>4 i5 o
of vcllevet - - - -;
Bowght a robe for to goo invifibell -') ^ ^^ ^
Bowght a gown for Nembia - -)
Bowghta dublett of whitt fatten laydthickc'^
with gowld lace, and a payer of rowne \ _ ^ ^
pandes hoffe of cloth of fylver, the/'
panes layd with gowld lace - -)
Bowght of my fonne v fewtes - - 20 o'' o
Bowght of my fonne iiij fewtes - - 17 " "
ADDITIONS. 383
In the folio manufcript already mentioned I have
found notices of the following plays, and their feveral
authors :
Oa. 1597. The Coblcr.
Dec. i5g7. Mother Redcap ^ by Anthony Munday, '
Jan. and Michael Drayton.
i5g7-8. Dido and j£neaf.
Phaeton^ by Thomas Dekker. *
The World runs upon Wheels , by G.
Chapman.
Feb. The jirjt part of Robin Hood^ by Anthony
1 57 7-8. Mundy. ^
The fecond part of the doxvnfall of earl
Huntington , firnamed Robinhood^ by
Anthony Munday, and Henry Chettle.
A woman will have her will,* by William
Haughton. *
♦ " The bcft for comedy amongft us bee, Edward Earle of Ox-
forde, Dofior Gager of Oxforde, Maifler Rowleyc, once a rare
fchoUer of learned Pembroke Hall ' in Cambridge, Maifler Ed-
wardes, one of her Ma;efties chappell, eloquent and witty John
Lilly, Lodge, Gafcoync, Greene, Shakfpeare, Thomas Nafhe,
Anihony Nlundye our beft plotter, Chapman, Porter, Wilfon,
Hathway, and Henry Cliettle." Wits Treafury, being the Second
Part of Wits Common Wealthy by Francis Mercs, iSgS. p. 283.
The latter writer, Henry Chettle, is the perfon whofc teftimony
with refpcft to our poet's merit as an ador has been already pro-
duced. Chettle, it appears, wrote fingly, or in conjundion with,
others, not Icfs than thirty plays, of which one only {Hoffman's
Tragedy] is now extant.
* In tlie following month I find this entry:
<■' Lent unto the company, the 4 of Febreary i.TgS. to difcharge
Mr. Dicker owt of the cownter in the powltrev, the fomc of fortic
fliillinges, I fay dd [delivered] to Thomas Downton, xxxxs."
J In a fubfequent page is the following entry : " Lent unto
Robarte Shawc, the 18 of Novemb. iSgS. to lend unto Mr.
Cheatilc, upon the mending of the frf. part of Robart Hoode, the
fum of xs."
And afterwards — " For mending oi Robin Hood for the corte,"
This piece and its fecond part have hitherto, on the authority of
Kirkman, been falfely afcribed to Thomas Hcywood.
•♦ Printed in iGi5. under the title of EngliJImtn Jot my Money,
«T 4 Woman will have her lYill,
384 ADDITIONS.
"The Miller^ by Robert Lee.
*' A booke wherein is a part of a Wflchman.,''''
by Michael Drayton and Henry
Chettle. ^
Mar. iSgS. The Tripliciiy oj Cuckolds^ by Thomas
Dekker.
Ihe Famous luars of Henry the Firjt and the
Prince of Wales^ by Michael Drayton
and Thomas Dekker. "^
Earl Goodwin and his three fons , s by
Michael Drayton, Flenry Chettle,
Thomas Dekker, and Robert Wilfon.
Ihe fecond Fart of Goodwin^ 8cc. by
Michael Drayton.
Fierce ofExfon^ ' by the fame four authors.
April The Life of Arthur king of England^ by
iSgS. Richard Hathwaye.
The frjl part of Black Batman of the Norths
by Henry Chettle.
Thefecondpart of Black Batman^ by Henry
Chattle, and Robert Wilfon.
May The firft part of Herfu/M, x
1598. The fecond part of Hercu/^j, I bv Martin
^J'"'.'"'-' i Slaughter.
Fythagoras, ' °
Alexander and Lodowick^ ' /.
'» The only notice of this poet that I have met with, except what
is contained in ihefe {licets,-is the following : " Lent unto Robert
Shawe, the 10 of Marchc, iSgg. [1600J to lend Mr. Haughton
out of iht cljnke, the fome of xs."
6 Perhaps the Valiant Welchman, printed in.i6i.5.
7 There was a play on this fubjed written by R. Davenport, and
aSed by the king's company in 1624. as appears by Sir Henry
Herbert's Manufcript, Perhaps it was only the old play new-
raodelled. It was afterwards (16G0) entered on the Stationers'
books by a knavifh bookfcller, and afcribcd to Shakfpcare.
Subjoined to the account of this play is the following article :
"• Lent at that time unto the company, for to fpend at the reading
of that boockc at the fonne [Sun] in new li(h Street, vs."
8 " ^cnt unto Thomas Dowton the 11 of Aprill iSgS, to bye
tafitie to mackc a rocher for the biflioppe in carle Goodwine, xxiiij s."
9 1 fuppofe a play on the fubjeft of King Richard 11.
= " Lent unto the company, the iCi of Maye, ligS. to buye y
ADDITIONS. 385
Love Preveiiled^ by Henry Porter.
The fainrral of Richard Cordelion^ by Robert
Wiifon , Henry Chattle , Anthony
Munciay , and Michael Drayton.
June The Will of a ]Voma7i^ by George Chap--
i5g8. man.
The Mad Ma7i's Morris^ by Robert Wiifon,
Michael Drayton and Thomas Dekker.
Hannibal and Hermes^ by Robert Wiifon,
M i cha'j 1 D ray ton, and Thomas Dekker.
July Valentine and Orjon^ by Richard Hathwaye,
1 598. and Anthony Mundy.
Tierce of Winchefler ^ by Thos. Dekker,
Robert Wiifon, and Michael Drayton.
The Play of a ^¥oman^ by Henry Che I tie.
The Conquefl of Brute^ with the frfi finding
of the Bath, by John Daye, Henry,;
Chettle, and John Singer.
Aug. Hot anger foon cold, by Henry Porter,,
iSgS. Henry Chettle, and Benjamin jonfon.
Willidni Longfword, by Michael Drayton.
Chance Medly, by Robert Wiifon, Anthony
Mundy, Michael Drayton, andThomas
Dekker.
Catiluies Corf !)ir a cy, by Rohert^^iUon. and
Henry Chettle.
Vayvoode, by Thomas Downton.
Woife af eared than hurt , by Michael
Drayton and Thomas Dekker.
boockes of Mania Slather, called 2 ptes of Hercolus, S: focas, S:
pcthagores, and alyxandcr and lodiect, which laft boockc he hatU
not yet dclyvcred, the feme of vii li." He afterward received 80s.
more en delivering the play laft named. — He was a player, and one
of the Lord Admiral's Servants.
Thefe plays, we liave already feen, had been aficd fomc years
before. It appears from various entries in this book, that the price
of an old play, when transferred from one theatre to another, was
two pounds.
3 I find in a fubfequent page, " Lent unto Sam. Rowley, the
12 of Dcfember, i5g8. to bye divers thingcs for to macke cotte*
for gyants in Brute, the fomeofxxs."
t C c,
386 A D D 1 T 1 O N S.
Sept. T'hi Tirji Civil W(irs in France, by the fame
iSgS. authors.
Tke Second Fart of the Civil Wi-ns in France,
bv the fame.
The Third Pxrt of the Civil M'^iri in France.
by the fame.
The Fountain oj new Fajliions. by George
.Chapman.
Mulmutius F) onw allow .hyY'^J'iW'izxn Rankins.
Connan ^ Prince vf Cornwall., by Michael
Drayton, and Thomas Dekker.
Nov.. ^Tis no deceit to deceive the deceiver. > by
i5g8. Henry Chettie.
Dec. Viar without blows and Love without Juit^
i5g8. by Thomas Heywood. Inafubfequent
entry '•' Love \vithout7??7/^. "
The Second Fart of the Two Aiigry Women
of Ahington., by Henry Porter.
Feb. iSgS-g. "^oan as good as my lady, by Thos. Hey-
v.- cod. ■*
* Thomas Hcywoocl had wiittcn for the Aage in i^gS. for in
another page I find — '« Odob. 14. iJgG. Lent unto theia [die
Lord Adaiiral's Servants] for Hawodes boo]:e, xxxs." From
another entry in ibe fame page it appears that I'Utcher wrote for
the flage fo early as in the year iJgb. " Uctob. 14. iSyS. Lent
unto Mariyne, [Martin Slaughter] to fetch i/^a/c/kr, vis." Again,
ibidem : '■• Gave the company to give l icatckcr, and the have pro-
mifed me payment, — xxs." — Heywood was iu the ) ear i')gS an
hirelings by which name all the playcrs-who were not /ha'rers, were
denominated. They received a certain fiim by the week. In Mr.
Hcnflowe's book the following article occurs :
" Memorandum, that this 2 5 of Maichc, i''jS. Thomrs Ha-
■woode came and hiercd him fealfe with me as a covenanted fervantc
fori] ycarcs, by the recevcing of ij lyngell pence, according to the
flatute of Winchefter, and to beginne at the daye abo\e written,'
and not to playe any wher publicke abowt lundou, notwhillc ihefc
ij ycares be expired, but iu my howfc. Yf he do, ilitn he doth
torfctt unto nae by the rcceving of the ild. fovtle powndes. And
■wiincfs to this, Anthony Monday, 'Willjaro Borne, Gabriel Spencer,
Thomas Dowton, Robert Shawe, Richard Jones, Richard Alleyn."
William Borue, alias Bird, a dramalick poet, whofe name fre-
quently occurs in this manufcript, was likcwifc 071 hireling, as is
ADDITIONS. 38;
Friar Fox and Gil/inn of Brentford, by Thos.
Downlon, and Samuel iicdly.
/Eneas' Revenge, with the trigedy of Poly-
phemus, by Henry Chettlc.
The ttvo Merry Women of Ahington, ^ by
Henry Porler.
The Four Kings.
March ' The Spencers, by Henry Porter.
iSgS-g. Orefles' furies^ by Thomas Dekker.
June Agamemnon, byHcnry ChettleandThomas
1 599. Dekker.
afcertalncd by a mcmoiandura, worth tranfcribing on another
account :
" MemorancUmi, tint the 10 of axigufl, ligy. Wm, Borne came
and ofevcd him fcalfe to come and ))lay with my lord admirallcs
men at my houfe called by the name of the Rofc, fetewaie one [on]
the banck, after this order foliowingc. He hath received of mc
ijd. upon and [an] alTumfctt to forfeit unto ine a hundreth marckes,
of lafull money of Ingland, yf he do not performc thes thingea
foliowirig ; that is, prcfcntlcy after libertie beinge granted for
playinge, to come &: to playe with my lorde admirallcs men at my
howffe aforefayd, S: not in any other howlTe publick abowt london,
-fpr the ipacc of iij yeares, being imcdiatly after -this reflraynt is
recciled by the lordes counfell, which rcftraynt is by the mencs
of playinge the Jtyle of D cages [Ifle of Dogs]. Yf he do not,
then he fovfetls this alTumpfet afore, or ells not. Witnefs to lliis.
E. Alleyn 8c Robfone."
- This flipend of an hireling is afcertaincd by the following
memorandum :
" Memorandum, tliat the 27 of Jewlcy iSgy. I heayred Thomas
Hearne with ij pence for to ferve me ij ycares in the qualetie of
playenge, iox Jive Jhillin (res a wceck for one yeare, and vis. viii d.
for the other yere, which he bath covenanted liime fealfe to ferve
me, 'k not to depart from my company till thes ij yeaies is ended.
Witnefs to this, jolm Synger, James Donfton, Thomas Townc.
5 The note relative to this play is worth prefcrving. " Lent
unto Harey Porter, at the rcqueft of the company, in earncft of
his booke called ij merey wcmen of abington, the forae of forty
fhellcngs, and for the refayte of that money he fiave me his fayih-
fuU proraifc that I fhold have alle liis bookes wliich he wriue ether
him fclfc or with any other, which fome was dd. [delivered] the
28ih of febreary, iSgS." — The fpelling of the word — Tfceipthert
fhews how words of that kind were pronouaced in Shakfpcaie's aj;e.
C C 2
SS8 ADDITION H.
Aug.
I'he Gentle Craft, bvThom-as Dekkcr.
Bear a hram,, ty Thomas Dekker.
TheFoorvian' sFaradiJc^hyW^ ii\.l\2M^j)i\.on.
The S tt'pviother' sTragedy ^hy Heniy Chettle .
The lamentable tragedy of Peg of Plymouth,
by Win. Bird, Thos. Downton, and
Wm., |ubey.
Nov. The Tragedy of John Con of Colvnfton^ by
1599. Wm. Haughton and John Dey.
The fecond part of Heury Richmond, by
Kobert Wilfon. ^
The tragedy of Thomas Merry ^ by William.
Haughton; and John Dav.
Dec. Patient GriJ/ell^ by Thomas Dekkcr, Henry
iSgg. Chettie, and William Haughton.
'Ihe Arcadian Virgin, by Henry Chcttlc,
and William Haughton.
Jan. Owen ludor\ by Michael Drayton, Richard
iSgg-iGoc. Hathv.aye, Anthony Muuday, and Rt.
Wilfon. •
The Italian Tragedy, by John Day.
Juguriha, by William Boyle.
Iruth' s Supplication to Candlelight, byTho.
Dekker.
The Spanijh Morris, by Thomas Dekker,
^Vm. Haughton, and John Day.
Damon and Pythias, by Henry Chettie.
March. The Seven V/ife Majltrs, by Henry Chettie,
1 599-1600. Thomas Dekker, William Haughton,
and John Day.
April P err ex and Porn x,'^ by Wm. Haughton.
1600. The EngliJIi Pugiiives, by the lame.
6 For this piece the poet leccived eight pounds. 1 he common,
price was fix. pounds.
7 Here and above, (fee Damon and Fjthiai] we have additioual
initances of old plays being re-wiiuea. There was a diainacick
piece by Lord Buckhurll and Thomas Norton, with the title of
Ferrex and Porrex, printed in iSyo. Damon and Fythias, by
Richard Edward, was printed iu iSSa.
ADDITIONS. 3Sg
The golden Af< and Cupid and Fvfchc^ by
Thomas Decker, John Daye , and
Henry Chettldk
The V/ooing of Death, by Henry Chctilc.
Alice Pierce.
Strange news cut of Polnnd, by William
Haughton, and h Pett.
The Blind Be.ggnr of Bethncll Green , by
Henry Chcttlo, and John Day. »
June The fair Conjiance of Rome, by Anthony
i6oo. Alunday, Jlichard Hat.hv.-.iye, Michael
Drayton, and Thomas Dekker.
The fecund part of the fair Confiance cfRotne^
by the fame.
December Robinhood's Pennorths, bvV/m.'TIaughton.
1600. Hannibal and Scipio, by Richard Hathwaye,
and William Rankins.
Feb. Scogan and Skclton, by the fiime.
i 600-1. The Second Part of Thomas Strowde.^ "■ by
William Haughton, and John Day. '*
March The conqucfl of Spain by John of Gaunt, by
Richard Hath way e, Ha'.vkins, John
Day, and Wm. HausTlUou.
All is not gold that 'glijlcrs , by Samuel
Rowley, and Henry Chettle.
April The Conqueji of the Wejl-Indies, by Wen t-
liioi. v/orth Smith, William Haughton, and
John Day,
Scbafiian king of Portugal , by Henry
Chettle, and Thomas Dekker.
The Six Yeomen of the Wcfl, by William
Haughton,. and John Day.
The Third Part of Thomas Strorodc, by Wm-
Haughton, and John Day.
8 Tlvis play appears to have been {oract\mcf,cMcdT/!cmasSlrou>de,
and fometimes The Blind Btggar 0/ Beihnal Giecn. Sec the lillc-
pagc of that play.
9 " PaLd ualo John" Dave, at the apoyntmcnt of tlic company,
the 2 of maye iGoi. after the playing oi the 2 ptc of Sirowdc,
the fomc of x s."
G c 3
390
ADDITIONS.
Xhe honourable life of the humorous earl of
Glojler^ 'with his conquejt of Portugal, by
A.iith(^ny Wadefon.
Ang. 12. Cardinal Wolf cy,^ by Henry Chettle.
1601. The proud woman of Antwerp, by William
Haughton, and John Day.
TheSecondPart of Thomas Dough, byjohu
Day, and AVilliam Haughton.
ScpP. 1601. The Orphan s Tragedy, by Henry Chettle.
Nov. 12. TheRifingofCardinalWolfey,'^ by Ant'- ony
1601. Munday, Michael Drayton, Henry
Chettle, and Wentworth Smith.
The Six Clothiers of the Weft, by Richard
Ilathwaye, Wentworth Smith, and
Wm. Haughton.
The Second Part of the Six Clothiers, by the
fame.
Nov. Too good to be true, by Henry Chettle,
1601. Rich. .Hathwaye , and Wentworth
Smith.
Judas, by William Haughton, Samuel
Jan. Rowley,"* and William Borne.
1601-2. The Spanijli Fig.
* " Layd out at the apoyntment of my fone and the company,
unto harcy chettle, for the akeiynge of the bookc of carnowUc
Wolifcy, the 28 of June, iGoi. the fonie of xxs." I fufpeS,
this play was not v/riitcn originally by Chetile.
' So called in one place ; in anoliier The flrjt Part of Cardinal
Wolfey. It was not produced till feme months after the play written
or altered by Cheltcl. Thirty-eight pounds were expended in the
drefics, S:c. for Chettel's play; ofwliich'fum tueniy-five {hillings
wer<^ paid " for velvet and niackynge of the doders growne." The
two parts of Cardinal Wcljcy were performed by the earl of
Worcefter's fcrvants.
1 his author was likewife a player, and in the fame fituallon
■wiih Heywood, as appears from the following entry :
" Memorandum, that the 16 ofnovcmbcr, ijjS. I hired Charles
MalTcv and Samuel Rowlev, for a year and as muclie as to frafiide,
[Shrovetide] besicnvnge at the day above written, after the ilaiutc
of Wiuchefter, with ij (ingell pence; and forther they have cove-
nanted wiili me to playe in my howfle and in no other howlTc
(dcwringe the time) publiek but ia mine ; yf they do withowt my
ADDITIONS. 391
Apr. 160S. Malcolm King of Scots, by Chnrlcs MafTy.
May Love parts fricndj/ihip, by Henry Chettle,
i6o2. and Wentworth Smith.
The Second Part oj Cardinal Wolfey ' by
Henry Chettle.
The Brifiol Tragedy, by Day. *
Tobyas, by Henry Chettle.
Jefjtha, by Henry Chettle.
Two Hnrpieu by Dekkcr, Drayton, Mid-
dle ton, Webiter, and Mundy.
July A Danijh Tragedy, by Henry Chettle.
*i6o*. The Widow^s Charm, ' by Anthony Mundy.
A Medicine for a Curjl Wife, byT.Dekker.
Sanipfon, by Samuel Rowley, and Edw.
Jubye.
Sept. V/illiam Cartiorighi. by William Haugbton.
1602. Felnielanco, by PIcnry Chettle, and
Robinfon.
"JoJJiua, by Samuel Rowley.
Oft. 1602. Randall carl of Chejler, by T. Middleton.'
Nov. As merry as may be, [afted at court] by
1602. J. Daye, Wentworth Smith, and R,
Hath wave.
Albeke Guiles, by Thomas Heywood, and
Wentworth Smith.
Marjltal Ofrick, by Thomas Heywood, and
Wentworth Smith.
7'he Three Brothers, a tragedy, by Went-
worth Smith.
Lady Jane, by Henry Chettle, Thomas
confcnt to forfut unto rac xr.xxlb. a pecc. Witnefs Thomas Dowton,
Robert Sliawc, Edw. Jubcy."
S " Lent unto Thomas Downton, the 18th of may, [1602] to
bye maflcynge antycke lewts for the 2 parte of Carnowllc Wolllcy,
the forae of iij lb. v s." — "27 of may, to bye \Vm. Somcrs cottc,
and other lliinges, lhc_ fome of iij lb."
^ Probably The Fair Maid of Diijlol, printed in i6o5.
7 Pcrliaps tlie play afterwards called I'he I'uTilttn Widow.
3 Probably bit play called Tki Mayor cj (hteenborougli.
C c 4
392 ADDITIONS.
Dekker, Thomas Heywood, Went-
worth Smith, and John Webfter.
The Second part of Lady Jane by Tliomas
Heywood, John Webfter, Henry
Chettle, and Thomas Dekker.
Chrijlmas comes but once a year, by T.
Dekker.
The Overthrow of Rebels.
Ihe Black Dog of Xcrognte, by Richard
Hathwaye , ]ohn Day , Wcntworth
Smith, and another poet.
The fee on d part of the fame^ by the fame.
The Blind eats many a fty. by T. Heywood.
The Fortunate General^ a French hiflory,
by Wentworih Smith. John Day, and
Richard Hathwaye.
Dec. The Set at Tennis, by Anthony Mundy.
1602. The London Florentine, by Thomas Hey-
wood, and Henry Chettle.
The fecond part of the London Florentine,
by Thomas Heywood , and Henry
Chettle.
The Tragedy of Hoffman,'' byHenryChettlc.
Singer's Voluntary, by John Singer.
The four fons of Amon, by Robert Shawc.
Feb. A Woma7i kill d with kindnefs , by T.
i6o2-3. Heywood.
March TheBoafl of Billinsgaie, by John Day, and
l6o2-3. Richard Hathwaye.
The Siege of Dunkerk, by Charles MalTy.
The patient man and honcfl whore , by
Thomas Dekker, and Thomas Mid-
dleton.
The Italian Tragedy, by Wcntworth Smith,
and John Day.
Fontius Pilate.
Jane Shore, by Henry Chettle, andjohn
Day.
Baxter s Tragedy.
9 This play was printed in i63i.
ADDITIONS. 5g^>
The following notices, Avhicli I have referved for
this place, relate more immediately to Shakfpeare.
I have mentioned in a former page, that 1 had not
the fmalleft doubt that the name oi' Shaklpcare,
which is printed at length in the title-pages of
Sir John Gldcajlk, 1600. and The London Prodignll^
1605. was affixed to thofe pieces by a knavifli
bookfeller without any foundation; and am now
furniilied with indubitable evidence on this fubjccl;
for under the year i5g9 the following entry occurs
in Mr. Ilenflowe's folio Manufcript :
" The i6th of OiSober, 99. Received by mc
Thomas Downton of Philip Henflowe, to })ay Mr.
Monday, Mr. Drayton, Mr. Wilfon, and Hath-
way, for The firjl part of the Lyfe of Sir Jhori Quid-
caJl'J.l, and in earnefl of the Second Pte, for the
uie of the company, ten pound, 1 fay received 1 o lb.
" Received [Nov. 1699] ^^ ^^^'- Hinchclo for
Mr. Munday and the relle of the poets, at the
piayinge of Sir John Oldcafiell, the Iirfl.e tyme,
xs. as a gifte."
" Received [U^c. iSgg] of Mr. Henflowe, for
the ufe of the company, to pay Mr. Drayton for
the fecond parte o^SirJhon Ouldcafell, foure pound,
I fay received per me Thomas Downton, iiij li." *
We have here an indifputable proof of a fa£l
which has been doubted, and can now pronounce
with certainty that Shakfpeare was entirely carelcfs
about literary fame, and could patiently endure to
2 That this fecond part of Sir John Oldcaflie was peiformccl on
the ftage, as well as the former, is afcertained by the following
entry :
" Pd. [delivered] unto tiie littcl taylor, at the apoyntmcnt of
Robert Shawe, the 12 of marche, i5gg. [1600J to mackc thingcs
for the 2 pie of owldcajldl, fomc of xxx S."
394 ADDITIONS.
be made anfwerable for compofidons which were
not his own, without ufinrr anv means to undeceive
the publick.
The booki'cller for whom the firft part of Sh'
John Oldcajtle \\'d.s printed, " as it hath bene lately
- acled by the Right Honourable the earl of Noting-
hara Lord High Admiral! of England his feivants,"
was Thovias Pavier, ^vho however had the modefty
to put only the initial letters of his chrilllan and
furname { T. P. ) in the fpurious titlepage which
he prefixed to it. In i6u2. he entered the old
copy of Titus Andro7iiciis on the Stationers' books,
with an intention (no doubt) to affix the name
of Shakfpeare to it, finding that this poet had made
fome additions to that piece.
To this perfon we are likevvife indebted for the
miPiake which has fo long prevziiled,^ relative to
the two old plays entitled The Firjl Pari cj the
Contention between the two famous houjes of York and
Lancafler, and The true tragedie of Richard Duke of
Yorke, which were Tprmted anonymoujly in 1600. as
a^led bv the earl of Pembroke's Servants, and have
erroneo-ufly been afcribed to Shakfpeare, in confe-
quence ofPavier's reprinting them in the year 1619.
and then for the firft time fraudulently affixing
his name to them. To thofe plays , n as to
Oldcajlle, he put only the initial letters of his
chriflian and furname. For him likevvife The Tork-
Jliire yTragedy was printed in the year 160S. and
Shakfpeare's name affixed to it.
The Life and Death of Lord Cromwell, publifiied
in 1602. and afcribed to W. S. and The Puritan
3 See the Blfferlaiion en (he Three Ftrls of King Htnry VI. in
Vol. XV.
ADDITIONS. 395
Widoxo, wliicli \\as publiflied in 1607. with the
fame initial letters, were probably written by
Weniworth Smith, a dramatick writer wliofe name
has io often occurred in the preceding pages, with
perhaps the aid of Anthony Mundy, or fome other
of the fame fraternity. Lncrine, which was printed
in i5g5. as newly Jet fort ii, overjeen, and corrected
by W. S, was probably rcvifed by the lame perlon.
]t is extremely probable from ilic regiller of
dramatick pieces in a former page, that Cardinal
\VolJfy\\2L(X been exliibited on the flage before Shak-
fpeare produced him in K. Henry VIII. To the
lift of plays written by him upon fubjefts which
had already been brought upon the Icene, ■* muft
alfo be added Troilua and Crejfida, as appears from
the following entries :
" Aprel 7. 1599. Lentiinto Thomas Downton
to lende unto Mr. Deckers, ^ harey cheattel, in
earncft of ther boocke called Troyeles 6* Crtajfe-^
doye, the fome of iii lb."
" Lent unto harey cheattel, &: Mr. Dickers, in
pte of payment of their booke called Troyelles (ir
Crejjcda, the 16 of Aprell, i^gg. xxs."
1 fulpe<fl the authors changed the name of this
piece before it was produced, for in a iubicquent
jiage are the following entries :
" Lent unto Mr. Deckers and Mr. Chettel the
26 of maye, i5gg. in earneft of a booke called
Troylles and Crejeda, the funi of xx s." In this
entry aline is drawn through the words T'/o^/Zr?
and ' Crcjeda, and ''the iragcdie oj Agamonnon'''
written over them.
" Lent unto Robait Shawc, the 3o of mavc i^gg.
4 See Vol. XV. p. 246.
3g6 ADDITIONS.
in fulle payment of the boockc called the tragedie of
Agamemnoii, the him of iii ii. vs. — to Mr. Deckers,
and harey Chcttcll."
'' Paid unto the MaQer of the Rcvells man for
lycentynp; of a boocke called //;c Tragidie of Aga^
mannon the 3 of June, i^gg. vii s."
We have feen in the lilt of plays pc: formed in
1593-4. by the fervants of the earl of Suffex, the
old play of Titus Androjiicus, in which on its revival
by the king's fervants, Shakfpeare was induced,
for the advantage of his own theatre, to make
fome alterations, and to add a few lines. The
old play of A'. Henry VI. \vhich was played with
fuch fuccefs in i5gi. he without doubt touched
in the fame manner, in confeqiience ot Avhich it
appeared in his works under the title of The Firjl
Part of King Henry VI. How common this prac-
tice was, is proved bv the following entries made
by Mr. Hen Howe :
" Lent unto the corapanye, the 17 of Auguft,
I-602. to pay unto Thomas Deckers, for new
adycions to Owldcaflell, the fome of xxxxs."
" Lent unto John Thane, the 7 of fepteraber,
1G02. to geve unto Thomas Deckers for his adi-
cions in Owldcaflell, the fome of xs."
" Lent unto Samuel Rovv^ley, the i4of defember,
1600. to geve unto Thomas Deckers, for his.
paynes in Fayeton, [ Phaeton ] fome of x s. For
the corte."
•' Lent unto Samuel Rowley, the 22 of defember,
1601. to geve unto Thomas Decker for alluring
of Pay ton [Phaeton] for the corte, xxxs."
" P'' unto Thomas Deckers, at the apoyntment
of the company, the iGofjaneuary 1601. towards
the altering oi Tajfo, the fome ofxxs."'
ADDITIONS. 397
" Lent unto my foiine E. Alleyn, the 7 of
november, 1602. 10 geve unto Thomas Deckers
for 7nenJi/igofl\\t play of Tajfo, the fomeof xxxxs."
" Lent unto Mr. Bircle, the 4 of defember, 1602.
to pave unto Thomas Deckers, in pt ol payment
for 'Tajfo, the fum of xxs."
Theie two old \)\:iy ts oi Phaeton and Tajfo's Me-
lancholy, we have icth in a former page, had been
exhibited fome years before.
" Lent unto the company, the 22 of november,
1602. to paye unto William Birde, and Samuel
Rowley, for ther adycions in Dolhr Fojlcs, the
fome of iiiilb."
" P^. unto Thomas Hevvode, the 20 of feptem-
ber, [1002] for ihe new adycions oi Culling Dick,
the fome of xxs."
The following curious notices occur, relative to
Shakfpeare's old antagoiiift, Ben Jonfon ; the laft
tvv-o of which furnifli a proof of what I have juft
obferved with refped to Tilus Andronictts, and the
Lirll Part of King Henry VI. ; and the laft article
afccrtains that he had the audacity to write a play,
after Shakfpeare, on the fubje6i:ofX. Richard III.
" Lent unto Bengemenjohnfon, player, the 22
of July, 1697. in rcdy money, the fome of fo\ver
poundes, to be payd yt again whenfoever either I
or my fonne [Edw. Alleyn] ffiall demand vt. I
faye iiij lb.
" Witnefs E. Alleyn, Sc John Synger."
" Lent unto Bengemcn Johnfonc% the 3 of de-
fember, 1597. upon a booke which he was to writtC
for us before cryfmas next after the date hereof,
which he lliowed the plotte unto the company : I
faye, lent in redy mony unto liime the fome
of xxs."
/ '
398 ADDITIONS.
" Lent Bcno;emyn Johnfon, the 5 of Jcnewary,
i5g7. [1597-8] in redy mony, the fome of vs."
" Lent unto the company, the iSofaguft, 1598.
to bye a boocke called Hoatt angtr jont cowld, of
Mr. Porter, Mr. Cheatteil, k Bengemen Johnron,
in full payment, the fome of vilb."
" Lent unto Robarc wShawe, k Jewbey, the 2 3
of Octob. i5g8. to lend unto Mr. Chapman, one
[on] his playboocke, k ij aiStes of a tragedie of
Beni^cmens plott, the fum of iijib."
" Lent unio Wra. Borne, alias ^'wdit, the 10 of
aguft, i^gg. to lend unto Bengemen Johnfon and
Thomas Dekker, in earnell of ther booke which
they are writing, called Paggc of Plim,^ the forae
of xxxxs."
" Lent unto Thomas Downton, the S of fep-
tember, iSgy. to lend unto Thomas Deckers, Ben-
gemen Johnfon, Heary Ciieattell, and other jcn-
tellmen, in earned of a playe called Kohart ihe
fecond kinge of Scottcs tragedie, the fome of xxxx s."
" Lent unto Wm. Borne, the 23 of feptember,
l5g9. to lend unto Bengemen Johnfone, in earned
of a boocke called the Jcottes tragedie, the fome.
of XX S-."
'• Lent unto Mr. Aileyn, the 26 of feptember,
1601. to lend unto Bengemen Johnfon, upon his
writing of his adycians \r\ Jeronymo/^ xxxxs."
^ Thefe three words arc fo blotted, that they can only be gueffed
at. I find in the next page — " Lent unto Mr. Btrde, Thomas
Downton, and William Jube, the 2 oif Sepicnibcr, ijgg. to payc
in full payment for a boocke called the lamentable tragedie of
Fagge of Plymouth, t!ie fome of vi lb."; wl.icb Iliould feem to be
the fame play; but fix pounds was the full price of a play, and the
authors arc diflcrent. — Bird, Dowuioa , and Jubey , were all
adors.
6 I'kt Sjittni/Ii Trugedy , written by Thomas Kyd , is meant.
ADDITIONS. 399
•* Lent unto Bengeiny Johnfonc, at the apoynt-
ment of E. Alleyn, and Wm. Birde, the 22 of
June, 1602. ill earneO. of a boocke called Richard
Crook-back, and for new adycions for Jeronymo, the
fome of xlb."
I infert the following letter, ^vhich has been
lately found at Dulvvich College, as a literary curio-
fity. It fiievvs how very highly Alleyn the player
was eflimated. What the wager alluded to was, it
is now impolhble to afcertain. It probably was,
that* Alleyn would eoual his predecelfors Knell
and Bently, in fome part which they had performed,
and in ^vhich his contemporary^ George Peel, had
likewife been admired.
" Your anfwer the other night To well pleafed
the gentlemen, as I was fatished therewith, though
to the hazarde of tlie wager: and yet my meaning
was not to prejudice Peek's credit, neither wolde
it, though it pleafed you fo to excufe it. But
beinge now growen farther in cpjellion, the partie
afFccled to Bendy fcornynge to win the wager by
your deniall, hath now given you liberde to make
choyce of any one play that either Bently or Knell
plaide ; and lead this advantage agree not with
your mind, he is contented both the plaie ^nd the
tyme flial be referred to the gentlemen here pre-
fent. I fee not how you canne any waie hurt your
which was frequently called Jeronymo, though the former part of
this play expiefslv bore that name. See the title-page to. the edition
of The Spa7ii/}i Tragedy in 16 lo. where thefe new additions arc
panicularly mentioned. Jonfon himfclf alludes to them in his
Lyntiiia's Revels, 1602 : " Another fwears dowrt all that are about
him, that tlic old Hieronymo, as it was at fir Jl acted, was the only
bed and judicioufly penned play in Europe." — Mr. Hawkins, when
lie rcpublifhed this piece in 177 3. printed moft of Jonfon's addi-
tions to it, at the bottom of the page, as " foiltedin by the players."
400 ADDITIONS.
credit by tliis a6lion : for if you excell tliem, you
will then be famous; if equall ihem, you win both
the wager and credit ; if fhort of them, we mufl
and vviil fuie, Ned Allen still.
" Your friend to his power,
" W. P.
«i Deny zncc. not, fucet Ned; the wager's downe,
a And twice as muclie commaiinde of me or mynej
it And If you vvynne, I fwear the half is thine,
(( And for an overplus an Englifli crowne :
ii Appoint the tyme, and ftini it as you pleas^
a Your labour's gaiiie, and that will prove it cnfc."
The two following letters, which were found
among Mr. Henflowe's papers, aicertain the low
flate of the dramatick poets in his time. From
the former of them it fliould feem, that in a few
years after the acceffion of James the Firil, the
price of a play had confiderably rilen. Neither
of them are dated, but 1 imagine they were Avritten
fome time between the years 1612 and i6i5.
Mr. Henllowe died about the 8th of January,
i6i5-i6.
♦' Mr. Hinchlow,
*' 1 have ever fuice I faw you kept my bed, being
fo lame that I cannot fland. I pray, Sir, goe for-
ward With that reafonabie bargayn i'ov The Bellman.
We will have hut twelve pounds, and the overplus of
the Jccond day ; whereof I have had ten fliiilings,
and defire but twenty fliillings more, till you have
three flieets of my papers. Good Sir, confider how
for your fake I have put rayfeif out of the affured
>vay to get money,, and from twenty pounds a play
am come to twelve. Thearfor in my extremity for-
fake me uot, as you fliall ever comand me. My
ADDITIONS. 401
■^vife can acquaint you howinfinit great ray occafion
is. and this ihall be (ufficient for the receipt, till I
come to fet rny hand to the bboke.
" Yours at comand,
, " ROBERT DABORNE."
. At the bottom of this letter Mr. Hcnllowc has
written the following memorandum :
" Lent Mr. Daborneupon this note, the 28 of
auguft, in earncil of a play called The Bellman of
London, xxs."
" To our moftl'ovin'g friend,
Mr. Philip Hinchlow,
Efquire, Thefe.
" Mr. Hinchlow,
** You underftand our unfortunate extreraitie,
and I doe not thincke you fo void of chriflianitie
but that you would throw fo much money into the
Thames as wee requeft now of you, rather then
endanger fo many innocent Hues. You know there
is x^ more at lea'ft to be receaved of you for the
play. We defire you to lend us v^ of that; which
Ihall be allowed to you ; without which we cannot
be bayled, nor I play any more till this be difpatch'd.
It will lofe you xx^ ere the end of the next weeke,
befides the hinderance of the next new play. Pray,
Sir, ccnfider our cafes with humanity, and now
give us raufe to acknowledge you our true freind
in time of neede. Wee have entreated Mr. Davifon
to deliver this note, as well to witneffe your love
as our promifes, and alwayes acknowledgment to
be ever
" Your mofl thanckfull and loving friends,
" NAT. FIELD."
t Dd
402 ADDITIONS.
" The money ftiail be [abated out of the money
remavns for tlie play of Mr. Fletclier and ours.
•' ROB. DABORNE."
" I have ever found you a true loving friend to
mee, and in foe fmali a faite, it beeinge honed, I
hope you will not faiie us.
•' PHILIP MASSINGER."
Indorjed :
" Received by mec Robert Davifon of Mr. Hlnch-
low, for the ule of Mr. Daboerne, Mr. Feeld, Mr.
Meffenger, the fum of vl.
- ROBERT DAVISON."
The diracnfions and plan of the Globe Playhoufe,
as well as the time when it was built, are afcer-
tained by tlie following paper. I had conjectured
that it was not built before i5g6. and we have
liere a confirmadon of that conjedlure.
" This Indenture made th? eighte day of
Januarye, iSgg. and in the two and fortyth yeare
of the reigne of our fovereignc ladle Elizabeth, by
the grace of God Queene of England, Fraunce and
Ireland, defender of the faith, Sec. Between Phillip
Henllowe and Edward Allen of the pariflie of St.
Saviours in Southwark, in the countic of Surry,
centleraan, on thone parte, and Peter Streete, citi-
zen and carpenter of London, on thother parte,
Witneffeth ; that whereas the faid Phillip Henllowe
and Edward Allen the day of the date hereof have
bargained, compounded, and agreed with the faid
Peter Streete for the eredinge, buildinge, and fet-
ting up of a new Hooife and Stage for a piay-howfe.
ADDITIONS. . 40S
an and uppon u certeinc plott or peecc of grouncic
appoynted cute for thntpurpofe, fcituate and bcinge
near' Goldinge lane in the parifh of Saint Criles
•without Cripplep,nte of London; to be by him
the faid Peter Stioete or fnmc other fufficlent work-
men of his providhig and appoyntment, and att
his propper codes and chardges, (for the confide-
ration hereafter in ihefe prefents expreffed) made,
builded, and fett upp, in manner and form follow-
ing : that is to faie, the frame of the faide hovvfe
to be fett fquarc, and to conteine fowerfcore foote
of lawful ailize everye waie fquare, without, and
fiftie five foote of like affize fquare, everve waie
within, with a good, fuer, and ftronge foundacion
of pylcs, brick, lyrne, and fand, both withoute
and within, to be wrought one foote of aiiize at
the leifte above the ground ; and the faide frame
to conteine three (lories in heigth, the firfb or lower
llorie to conteine twelve foote of lawful affize in
heigthth, the fccond florie eleaven foote of lawful
affize in heigth, and the third or upper ftorie to
conteine nine fpote of lawful affize in height. All
which (lories (hall conteine twelve foote and a half
of lawful affize in breadth throughoute, beiides a
juttey forwards in eyther of the faide two upper
flories of tene ynches of lawful affize ; with fo wcr
convenient divifions for gcntlemens roomes, ' and
other fufficient and convenient divifions for twoo"
pennie roomes ; ' with neceiTarie feates to be placed
and fett as well in tliofe roomes as throughoute all
the reft of the galleries of the faid howfe ; and
with fuche like (leares, conveyances, and divifion*
7 What we now call the Betes,
s Perhaps the rooms over the boxes j what we now cAl BaUtniu,
Dd ;?
404 ADDITIONS.
■without and within, as are made and contryved iii
and to the late-ere6led piay-howfe on the Bancke
in the laid parifli of Saint Saviours, called the
Globe; with a ftadge and tyreinge-hovvle, to be
made, ere£led and fett upp within the (aide frame ;
with a fliadowe or cover over the faide ftadge ;
which ftadge ftiall be placed and fett, as alfoe the
ftearcafes of the faid frame, in fuch forte as is pre-
figured in a plott thereof drawen ; and which
ftadge ftiall conteine in length fortie and three foote
of lawfull afiize, and in breadth to exteiide to the
middle of the yarde ' of the faid liowfe : the fame
ftadge to be paleci in belowe with goode ftronge and
fufficyentne^v okenboardes, and likewife the lower
ftorie of the faid frame withinfied, and the fame
lower ftorie to be alfoe laide over and fenced with
ftronge yron pyles : And the faidc ftadge to be in
all other propordons contryved and laftiioned like
unto the ftadge of the faide Playhoufe called the
Globe ; with convenientwindowes and lights glazed
to the faide tireynge-howfe. And the faide frame,
ftadge, and ftearcafes, to be covered \vith tyle, and
to have a fufficient gutter of leade, to carrie and
convey the water from the coveringc of the faid
ftadge, to fall backwards. And alfoe all the faidc
frame and the ftearcafes thereof to be fufficyendy
enclofedwithoutwith lathe, lyme, andhairc. And
the gentlemens roomes and two-pennie roomcs to
be feeled with lathe, lyme, and haire ; and all the
flowers of the laide galleries, ftories, and ftadge to
be boarded with good and fuflicient newe deale
boardes of the whole thicknes, wheare neede ihali
be. And the faide howfe, and other thinges be-
9 The open area ia the centre.
ADDITIONS. 4o5
fore mentioned to be made and docn, to be in all
other contrivitions, conveyances, fafliions, tlnnge
and thinges, effefted, fmiflied and docn, according
to the manner and falhion of the faidc howfc called
THE Globe; faveinge only that all the princypall
and maine poftes of the faide frame, and ftadge
forward, fliall be fquare and wrought palafter-wiic,
with carved proportions called Satiers, to be placed
and fctt on the topp of every of the fame pollcs :
and faveing alfoe that the faide Peter Streete fliall
not be charged with anie manner of paynteinge in
or aboute the faide frame, howfe, or fladge, or
anie parte thereof, nor rendering the walles within,
nor feelinge anie more or other roomes then the
gendemens roomes, twoo-pennie roomes, and
fladge, before mentioned. No we thereuppon the
faide Peter Streete doth covenante, promife, and
graunte for himfelf, his executors, and adminiftra-
tors, to and with the faid Phillip Henflowe, and
Edward Allen, and either of them, and thexecutors,
and adminiftrators ofthem, by thefe prefents, in
manner and forme foUowcinge, that is to fay; That
he the faide Peter Streete, his executors, or affigns,
fliall and will at his or their owne propper codes
and chardges, well, workman-like, and fubllantially
make, ereZl, fett upp, and fuUie finniflie in and by
all thinges accordingc to, the true meaninge of theis
prefents, with good flronge and fubftancyall new
tymber and other neceffarie fluff, all the faid frame
and other works whatfoever in and uppon the laide
plott or parcell of grounde, ( beinge not by anie
authoritie reflrayned, and having ingres, egres,
and regres to doe the fame,) before the five and
twentyth daye of Julie, next comcing after the dace
D d 3
4o5 ADDITIONS.
hereof. And lliall alloe att his or tlicir like coftcs *
and chardges provide and find all manner of work-
inen, tymber, joyCts, rafters, boordr,, dorcs, bolts,
hinges, brick, t>le, lathe, lyme, haire, fandc, nailcs,
lead, iron, glafs workinanfhipp and other thingcs
■vvbatfoever \vhii;h fhail, be needful, convenyent and
necefTavie for the faide bamc and works and everic
paite thereof: and fhall aifoe make all the (aide
frame in every poynte for Icantlings lardger and
bigger in alfize then the fcantlings of the timber
of the faide ne\ve-ere£led howfe called The Globe.
And alfoe that he the faide Peter Streete ffjall
furth with, as well by him felfe as by fuche other
and foe manie workmen as fiiail be' convenient
and neceffarie, enter into anduppontbc faide build-
in ges and vvorkes, and ftiall in reafonable manner
precede therein withoute anie willful detraftion,
ur.till the fame fiiall be fully eiTcded and finiffied.
In consideration of al! ^vhich buildings and of
aii fluff and workmanfliipp thereto belonginge,
the laid Philip HenHowe, and Edward Allen, and
either of them, for thenafelves, theire and either
of theire executors and adminiflrators doejoyntlic
and Icverallie covenante and graunt to and with
the faide Peier Streete, his executors and admini-
flrators, by theis prefents, that the faid Phillipp
J-lenflowc, and Edward Allen, or one of them, or
the executors, adminiflrators, or affigns ol them or
one of them, fhall and will well and trulie paie or
caufe to be paide unto the faide Peter Streete, his
executors or afiignes, att the place aforefaid ap-
poynted for the ercclinge of the faid frame, the
fullfomeof FOWER HUNDRED AND FORTIE POUNDES,
of lawfull money of Englande, in manner and forme
ADDITIONS. 407
folio vvlngc ; that is to faic, at fuche tyme and Avhen
as the tyraber woork of the faidc frame fliall be
layfcd and fett iipp by the (aide Peter Streete, his
executors or airignes, or witliin feaven daies then next
foliovvinge, twooe hundred and twentie poundes;
and att fuche time and when as the faid frame-
work fliall be fuUie eflcfted -and finiflied as is
aforefaid, or within feaven daies then next foliovv-
inge, thothcr twooe hundred and twentie poundes,
witlioute fraude or coven. Provided alhvaies, and
it is agreed betwene the faid parties, that what-
fcever fomc or fomes of money the faid Phillip
Henilowe, or EdNvard Allen, or either of them,
or the executors or afligns of them or either of them,
fliall lend or deliver unto the faide Peter Streete,
his executors or ailignes, or any other by his ap-
poyntment or confent, for or concerninge the taide
woork or anie parte thereof, or any fluff thereto
beloiiginge, before the raileing and fetting npp of
the faide frame, fliall be reputed, accepted, taken
and accoumpted in parte of the firfl payment afore-
faid of the faid fome of fower hundred and fortie
poundes : and all fuch fome and fomes of money
as they or anie of them fhall as aforefaid lend or
deliver betwene the razeing of the faid frame] and
finifliing thereof, and of all the reft of the faid
works, fliall be reputed, accepted, taken and ac-
coumpted in parte of the laPte payment aforefaid of
the fame fome of fower hundred andfortie poundes ;
anie thinge above faid to the contrary notwith-
flandinge. In witnefs whereof the parties above'
faid to theis prcfent indentures interchangeably have
fett their handes and fcales. Yeoven the dale and
yeare firil above-written."
D d 4
4o8
ADDITIONS.
AS the following article in Mr. Malone's Supple-
merit, &;c. i78o. is omitted in his present Hijlori en I
Account of the Ehglijli Stage, it is here reprinted. —
1 he delcription ol a moft lingular fpecies of drarna-
tick entertainment, cannot well be confidered as an
unnatural atijund to the preceding valuable inafs of
theatrical information. Steevens.
" A tranfcript of a very curious paper now in
mv poffeflTion, entitled, The Platl of tJie. Secound
Parte of the Seven Dcadlie Sinns, lerves in foine
meafure tj marbthe various degrees of confequence
of feveral of thtfe four ancient] performers.
The piece entitled The S>ven Dfadly Sins, in two
parts, (of one of which the annexed paper contains
the outlines.) was written by Taileton the come-
dian. ■ From the manner in which it is mentioned
' See Four Lelters and certain Sonnets, [ by Gabriel Harvey]
1592. p. 29.
"• doubtlefs it v/ill prove fome dainfy devife , queintly
contrived by ^vay of humble (upplicaiion to ihc liigli and miglitie
Prince of darkuefle; not duiilicai!) botched up, hut ri^eht formally
conveyed, according 10 the flile and tenour of Tarleton's prejident,
his famous play of the Seaven Deadly Sinves ; which moft dealy
[ f . deadly 1 but lively playe I might have feen in London, and was
vetie gently invited thereunto at Oxford by Tarleton himfelfe ;
of whom I meriily demaunding, which of the ftaven was his own
deadl.c fiiine , he bluntly anfwered , after this manner; By G —
the finne of other gentlemen, lechery." Tarleton's Repentance and
hii Farewell to his trendcs in his Sicknefs , a little before his death,"
■was entered on the Stationers' books in Odober, tSSg. fo that the
plav of The Seven Deadly Sins muft have been produced in or before
that year.
The Seven Deadly Sins liad been very early perfonificd, and in-
troduced by Dunbar, a Scoitifh writer, (who llourKhed aliout 1470)
in a poem entitled The Daunce. In this piece tlicy arc dcftribed
as prefentiug a mafk or mummery, with tlic nev;eft gambols juft
imported from France. In an anonymous poem called 1 he Ka-
lender of Shepherds, printed by Wytikyn dc Worde, 1497. are alfo
dcfcribcd the Seven Vijions , or the punilhmcnts in hell of The
To face p. 40S.
ppofe Kim to have rcprefcnteri, wa?,'
fable, but twelve years old, wlien he
his mother. In the prefent exliibliion
not think, it tieceflary to follow the
; focxaclly. Ifltys was reprefentcd by
IS probably thought fufficicnt. Accord-
hakl'peare's acquaintance with the ftage
after he was married, perhaps about
pofing thathe continued in the theatre
in obfcurity, in iSSy. (being then
. old) hemight with fufficientpropriety
he charailer of Itys, with whofe fup-
irobable, few of tlie audience were
ed. Shakfpeare, being once in poffef-
light have continued to aft if, to the
above plal is fuppofcd to have been
.ONE.
•
Tjje Pl.itt ■' or
THE Seven
THE S
Deal
□
EcousD Parte of
LIE SiNNS.
A ..». btioi! pl.n on ih. n.ft tor Hcory
,r Six.. H.i.. i..nr<pc. Tolm.htLl.ul.i.r...
P«m.,n., R. Co«l<y ]o Dokt, & . VVird...
:. PoUant. .0 .litm Pride, Gluttony, Wralh and
loth and Lttlicry. Tlie three pot baek .lie fourc
1 lid5.,.f[,eA,,|
L"icr NitJiior with otber Cipwinei R. Pall. J.
ArbxI.isMt. Pope.tol.imWllIl'oolet J.riiikc.io
Mm Rodnpeic Ned. to hct Sardaospiiluii like a
uomji. Willi AfpaiiaRodopePtimptia Will. Foole.
lo (l.cn _ATb»an, & 3 mtir.tlon* Mr. Pope J.
Henry aw.ling Eo.et . Keeper J, Sniel...
o him . Ser.Juu. T. Bel.. To him L.dca.e, Se
.e keeper Eitj.. then enter aeaiue. Then
nvy paffeth over the Aag. Lidgate fpeikci.
Enter Sirdaiiapa, with the La<licj. lo llirm X
Melfenget Tbo. Goodtle. to liLui Will Foole
A Senlii. Dumb Show,
urbadg Mr. Brian Th. Coodale. The Qj.ecne ivill,
.""er.W.SIy.Harry.J.Il.il,;. i:i„, R.p,ll,„i!
Enter Arba£)at purfuinc SaidanapJut , and
Ihc Ladie< Hy. After enter S.rds. with u miny
jewel, robe. »d e«ld a. be ean ewy.
1 „a,u„. 1
T'hc'"f'«'5o'.'°o'„a.V!
in irir.mpli. Mr. Pope R. Pa. Kilt.J. Boll. R. Cow.
J. Sine.
H^nr)- fptikes and Lidpiie. Lcclitiy patTetb
folditri' OD. .v.y. H.try. Kii,. R. Co^l.yjohn
Enitr Tcreui Philomela Julio. R. buib^ilge
collori & rolditri.W.Sly. R. P»lliu..Jobn Siacler.
Enter Progne Itii .md Lrrd*.' S»undtr. Will, J.
Duke. W. Sly. H^.ry.
^ilii«P"S^
E..terPbiiomelca.dTercu.. toihemjnlio.
Enter Prosne Panihea hi. 3..d I,.ird«, Sandei-
AlaruniiwiihcxeuTliori. AfleiLidgatefpeakES.
rerciii with Lords K. r.Nibidgi. J. Duk, K.
following ihem. Lutiui ge Dam-fu» Mr. Cry T.
1 A.i.„nblnow. I.i.„-.te f^ -ko. 1
^ Enter P_ros..._w,,<.ihc l...i,f,l.r.^,o l,.t.i"e...
S autne. S h" DamaC'to Mm'tud u>!*^'"'
wiih Itii bed iu a difh. Mermr) tomei and all
vanifl,. to him 3 Lord*. Th. Good..le. Hirty. W.
Sly.
W. Sly. To them U.c Queenlard "Lidie.' Nicb!
Sa'Jrider. and Lordi R. Cowley Mr. Brian. Ti-
Henrv rpe«k> to biih Lienteiiant F.irUv.unt
andWmUr.. K. Cowfry > D.ike J. Holhml. Job.
Henry ind Lidgu fpcsk;. Slolh t-alTetl, over.
Eai.t,.
Enier Ciijldui Pbrontliu. Afp»iij Potnpd.i
Bodope. R. Cowly. Th. Goodilc. R. Go. Ned.
/• 1 N I S.
pI'^K;."" Wk"."^}. H'.ibnd.'^''" "'' ^"^'' ^'
^E.eraCaptaine«itbArpatia.d.beUdie,.
i
• The word Pha kern, to have been ofed here in the Itv.
Jenfeofp/ar/i™, See S.r Jain OU..^;,, 1600 : „;„',
" Each feverally rubferibed to the fame!""''' °" ' Ju ,'
Iti.niUur.dattbe theatre., in thefame fen(e. M»io»r. myil
a htft inttoduAiota to the
ADDITIONS. 409
by Gabriel Harvey, his contemporary, it appears
to have been a new and unexampled fpecies of
dramatick exhibition. He exprefsly calls it a play.
1 think it probable, that it was firft. produced loon
afteraviolentattack had been made againR the fiage.
Several inve£livcs againfl plays were publifhedin the
latter part of the reign of Queen lilizabeth. Itfeems
to have been the purpole of the author of this exhi-
bition, to concenter in one performance the prin-
cipal lubjeds of the lerious drama, and to exhibit
at one view thofe ules to which it might be applied
with advantage. That thefe Stven Deadly Sins, as
they arc here called, \vere efleemcd the principal
l'ubjt6ls of tragedy, may appear from the follow-
ing verfes of Hey wood, who, in his Aj^ology for
Actors, introduces Melpomene thus fpcaking :
(( Have 1 not wliipt Vice with a fcoiirge of fleele,
(; Unmnikt ftcrnc Murilier, flianiM lafcivious Liiji,
(I Pluckt off the vifur from crimme trcafon's face,
u Anil made the funne point at their u^ly finnes?
(( Hath not this powerful hand tamM Hery Rage,
it Kill'd poyfonous Envy with her own keenc darts,
n. Choak'd up the coveloni mouth with moulten gold,
(( BurB the vaft wombe of eating Gluttony,
u And drown'd the drunkard's gall in juice of grapes?
a I Lave fliew'd Pride his picHinrc on a ftage,-
(( Layde ope the ugly fliapes his Ik cl-glaife hid,
t( And made him paffe thence meekely — .
As a very full and fat"sfa£lory account of the
exhibition defcribed in this ancient fragment, by
Mr Steevens, will be found in the following pages,
it is unncceffary to add any thing upon the fubjed.
• — What dramas were reprefented in ihtjirjl part
Seven Deadly Sins. Sec "Warlon's Hijory of Engljjh Foctry, Vol. .H.
p. 137. 272. Malonk.
410 ADDITIONS.
of tlie Stvcn Deadly Sins, wo. can now only con-
je£lure, as probably the Plol of that piece is long
fmce defiroyed. The ill confcquences of Piage, I
fuppofe, were inculcated by the exhibition ot
Alexander, and the death of Clilus, on which fubje6l,
it appears there was an ancient play.^ Some fcenes
in the drama oi M^ydas * were probably introduced
to exhibit the odioufnefs and folly of Avarice,
LelTons againft Pride and. ambition were perhaps
furnifhed, either by the play of J^^iiius and Semi-
ramis,'^ or by a piece formed on the ftory of
Phaeton:^ And Glutlony, we may fuppofe, was
rendered odious in the perfon of Heliogahalus.
Malone.
3 " If we prcfent a foreign hlflory, the fubjecl is fo intended,
that in the lives of Romans, Grecians, or others, the vcrtues of
our countrymen are extolled, or their vices reproved. — • We prcfent
Alexander killing his friend in his rage, to reprove laPineJi; Mydas
choked with gold, to tax cfveioti/nrfs ; Nero againft tyranny; Sar~
danapalus ■ againft hixury ; Ninus againft ambition." — Heywood'i
Apology for A&ors, 1610. Malone.
+ See the foregoing note. Malone.
J The Tragedy of Ninus end Scmiramis , the firji Monarchs ej the
World, was entered on the Stationers' books, May 10. iSgS. Sec
alfo note 3. Malone.
6 There appears to have been an antient play on this fuhjea:.
»' An ihoa proud ? Omt fcene prefents thee with the fall of FhaC'
ion; NarclfTus pining in the love of his flaadow ; ambitious Hamati
now calling himfelf a god, and by and by ihruft lieadlong among
the devils." Pride and ambition feem to have beeu ufed m fyno-
nymous terms. Apology for Aciors. Malonk,
ADDITION S. 4»i
I met with this fmgular curiofity in .the library
of Dulwich College, where it had remained un-
noticed from the time of AUcyn who founded that
lociety, and was himfelf the chief or only proprietor
of the Fortune playhoufe.
The Piatt (for'fo it is called) is fairly written
out on pafteboard in a large hand, and undoubtedly
contained dire^lions appointed to be fluck up near
the prompter's ftation. It has an oblong hole in its
centre, fufficient to admit a wooden peg; and has
been converted into a cover for an anonymous m?-
nufcriptplay entided The Tell-tale. From this covei^
I made the preceding tranfcript; and the bell con-
jefturesl am able to form about its fuppofed purpofe
and opeiadon, are as follows.
It is certainly (according to its title) the ground-
work of a modey exhibidon, in which the hcinouf-
iiefs of the feven deadly fins « was exemplified by
aid of fcencs and circumflances adapted from dif-
ferent dramas, and connedled by chorufes or occa-
fional fpeakcrs. As the firft part of this extraordi-
nary entertainment is wanting, 1 cannot promile
myfelf the mofl complete fuccefs in rny attempts
to explain the nature of it.
The period is not exactly fixed at which morali-
ties gave way to the introduction of regular tragedies
7 On the outfidc of the cover is wilttea, " The Book ani
Piatt, " kc. Steevens.
^ Our ancient audiences were no ftiangers to the cflabliflied
catalogue of mortal oUenccs. Claudio, iu Ueajure for Meafare,
declares lo Ifabella that of the. dradly Jevcn his fin was the Uaji.
Spenfer, in his taery Queen, canto IV. has pcrfonif.cd them all;
and the jefuits, in the time of Shakfpcare, pretended to caft them
out in the Hiape of thofc animals that moll refcmblcd them. Sec
King Lear, Vol. XX. p. 432. n. 6. S.T^evkns.
412 ADDITIONS.
and comedies. Perhaps indeed this change was
not efTefted on a fudden, but the audiences were
to be gradually weaned from theiraccuflomed modes
of amufement. The necefiity of half indulging
and half repreffing a grofs and vicious tafle, might
have given rife to fuch pieces of dramatick patch-
work as this. Even the mofl rigid puritans might
have been content to behold exhibitions in which
Paean hiftories were rendered fubfervienttoChriflian
purpofes. The dulnefs of the intervening homilift
would have half abfolved the deadly fin of the poet.
A fainted audience would have been tempted to
think the reprefcntation of Othello laudable, pro-
vided the piece were at once heightened and mora-
lized' by chorufes fpoken in the characters of Ireton
and Cromwell. — Let it be remembered, however,
that to perform feveral fliort and diftinil plays in
the courfe of the fame evening, \vas apra6lice con-
tinued much below the imagined date of this thea-
trical dire6lory. Shakfpeare's Torkjliire Tragedy was
one out of four pieces afted together ; and Beau-
mont and Fletcher's works fupply a further proof
of the exiftence of the fame cuftom.
This '• Piatt oi the Jecond part of the feven deadly
fuis" feems to be formed out of three plays only,
viz. Lord Buckhurft's Gorboduc, and two others
9 noralhri ] In Randolph's Mufe's Looiing-GUft, where
two Puriians arc made fpcdators of a play, a player, to reconcile
llictn in feme degree to a theatre, promifcs to moralize the plot:
and one of them anlwers,
" ' — that moralizing
" 1 do approve : it may be for inflructlon."
Again Mrs. Flowerdew , one of tlie charafters , fays, " Pray,
Sir, continue the moraliziiig." The old regiltcrs of the Stationers
afford numerous iuftances of this cudom, which was encouraged by
the cncreafe of puiitanifm. Steevens.
ADDITIONS. 4i5
witli which we are utterly unacquainted, Sarda^
napahis and Tereus.'^ It is eafy to conceive how
the different fins might be expofed in the condufl:
of the leveral lieroes of tliefe pieces. Thus, Porrex
throughcnvy deftroys his brother; — Sardanapalus
was a martyr to his Jloih :
(( Et vencrc, 8c cziiis, 8c pliima Sardanapall."
juv. Sat. x:
Tertus gratified his Uckery by committing a rape
on his wife's lifter. I mention thefe three only,
becaufe it is apparent that the danger of the four
preceding vices had been iliuflrated in the former
part of the fame entertainment. " Thefe ihree put
back the other Jour,'"'' as already done with, at the
opening of the prefcnt exhibition. Likewise E?2vy
croffes the flage before the drama of Gorboduc, and
Sloth and Lechery appear before thofe of Sarda^
napalus and Tereus.^ — It is probable alfo that thefe
different perfonages might be meant to appear as
in a vifion to King Henry VI. while he flept; and
that as often as he awaked, he introduced fome
particular comment on each preceding occurrence.
* tereus. ] Some tragedy on this fubjc^ mofl probably had
cxiflcd in the time of Shakfpeare, who feldom alludes to fables
with which his audience were not as well acquainted as himfclf.
In Cymleline lie obfervcs that Imogen had been reading the talc
of Tereus, where ritilomel kc. An allufion to the fame flory
occurs again in Titus Andronicus. A Latin tragedy cjititled Progna
was adcd as Oxford when Queen Elizabeth was there in i566.
See Wood's Hijt. Ant. Un. Oxon. Lib. I. p. 287. col. 2.
Heywood , in his Apology Jor A&ers , 1610. has the following
paffage , from which we may fuppofc that fome tragedy written
on the ilory of Sardanapalus was once in poflefTion of the flage.
" Art thou inclined 10 lult? Behold the fall of the Tarquins in
The Rape of Lucrece; the guerdon of luxury in the death of Sardu-
Tuipaluss" kc. Sce'alfo note 3. p. 416. STEtV£-NS.
414 ADDITIONS.
His piety would well enough entitle him to fuch an
office. In this tafK he was occafionaily feconded
by Lidgate, the monk of Bury, whole age, learning,
and experience, might be iappofed to give equal
weight to his admonitions. 1 he latter certainly,
at his final exit , made a formal addrefs to the
fpe6lators.
As I have obferved that only particular fcenes
from thefe dramas appear to have been employed,
fo probably even thelc were altered as well as cur*
tailed. We look in vain for the names o^ Lucius
and Damafus in the lift of perfons prefixed to the
tragedy of Gorhoduc. Thefe new characters might
have been added, to throw the materials that com-
pofed the lall a£l into narrative, and thereby ftiorten
the reprefentation : or perhaps all w^s tragick pan-
tomime, or dumb fhow,' except the alternate mono-
logues of Henry and Lidgate ; for from the Troie
Boke of the latter I learn that the reciters of drama-
tick pieces were once diftinCl from the a61ing per-
formers or gcfticulators. But at what period this
practice (which was perhaps the parent of all the
pageantry and durabfnows in theatrical pieces during
the reign of Eli'zabeth,) was begun or difcontinued.
1 believe ( like many cuftoms of greater importance,)
is not to be determined.
4c In the theatre there was a fmale aulter
(c Amyddcs fette that was halfe circuler,
u Which into eafte of cuflome was direftc,
a Upon the whiche a pulpet was erede,
3 I am led to this fvippofition by obferving that Lord Buckhurft's
Sorbodiic could by no means furnilh fuch dialogue as many of
thefe fituations would require; nor does ihe fucceflioa of fcenes,
euuracrated above, by auy means correfpoud wiih that of the fame
trajeciy. SrsjiVJE^is,
ADDITIONS. 4i5
ii And therein flodc an anncknt poetc
u For to rehcrre by rethorikcs fwetc
4; The noble dedcs that were hyRoryall
(( Of kyngcs and pvynces for meinoryall,
(( And ot theft- olde worthy cmpcrours
(( The c;reat cmpryie eke of conquerours,
u And how they gat ia Martes hye honour
(( The hiv/rer gvene for fync of their hibour,
(( The palme of knlghthod difervd by old date,
(( Or Parchas made them palTen into fate.
^i And after that with cherc and face pale,
(I With {lyle enclyned gan to tourne his tale,_
u And for to fynge after all their laofe,
u Full mortaliy the flroke of Attropofe,
(( And tell alfo for all their worthy head
u The fodeyne breaking of their lives thredc,
«( How piteouily they made their mortall ende
(( Thrugh falfe fortune that al the world will {heude,
n And how the fyne of all their worthynefTe
ti Ended in forowe and in high triftefi'c.
(.i By compaffynge of fraud or falfe treafon,
u By fodaine murder or vengeance of poyfon,
44 Or confpyryng of fretyng falfe envye
(4 How unwarily that they dydden dye,
t4 And how their renownc and their mighty fame
44 Was of hatred fodeynly made lame,
44 And how their honour downward gan decline,
44 And the mifchiefe of their unhappy fyne,
44 And how fortune was to them unfwete,
44 All this was told and red by the poete.
«4 And whyle that he in the pulpit ji ode
(4 Wilh deadly face all devoyde of blode^
(4 Synging his ditfees with mufes all to rentj
a Amyd the theatre Jhrowded in a tent,
14 There came out men gafifull in their cherts.)
\i. Diifygnred their faces with viferes,
44 Playing by fygnes in the peoples fyght
44 Thai the poete fonge hath on heyght,
(4 So thru there -was no manner difcordauncc
f4 Ativene his dittes and their countenance ;
n For lyks as he ahfte dyd expre[fc *
i( Wordts of joy e or cf heavinejfc.
4i6 ADDITIONS.
i( Meaning and there benelh of them playing
ti From poynt to poynt was ahoay anjiuering ;
(I Now trijle^ now glad, now hevy, and now light,
(( And face ychaungid with a Jodeyne Jyghl
(( So criflely they coulde them Iranifygure^
(I CovJoiViing them unto the chanle plure,
ii .Now tojynge and Jodaynely to wepe,
(( So well they could tkeir objervaunces hepe.
a And this was done," 8cc. Troie Bake, B. IT, c. xli.
I think Gravina has foraewhere alluded to the
fame contrivance in the rude exhibitions of very
early dramatick pieces.
It may be obferved, that though Lidgate afTures
US both tragedies and comedies \yere thus repre-
fented in the city of Troy, yet Guido of Colonna
(a civilian and poet of Meffina in Sicily,) \v'hom he
has fometimes very clofely followed, makes men-
tion of no fuch exhibitions. The cullom hov. ever
might have been prevalent here, and it is probable
that Lidgate, like Shakfpeare, made no Icruple of
attributing to a foreign country the peculiarities of
his own.
To conclude, the myfterious fragment of ancient
ftage direftions, which gave rile to the prefent
remarks, muft have been defigned for the ufe of
thofe who were familiarly acquainted with each
other, as fometimes, inflead of the lurname of a
performer, we only meet with Ked or A'lch.* Let
^ From this paper wc may infer, with fome degree of certainty,
that the following characters were reprefcuied by the following
aftors :
King Henry VI.
C E. of Warwick, - - Geo. Br\an.=-
\ Lieutenant, - - - Rich. Cowley. =■=
♦ The names marked with an afteiisk occur on the lift of original
rerformcrs in tjie pUys of StaUpeaic. Siitvi.Ni.
ADDITIONS. 417
c add, that on the wliole ihis paper deicribes a
fpecics of dramaiick entertainment of which no
memorial is preferved in any annals of the Englifli
ftap-e. Steevens.
m
To the preceding extract are now annexed three
other " Plotts" of three of our old unpubliflied
C rurfuivant, - - - Jolin Duke, t
I Waidcr, - - - R. Pallant.
Gorbcduc.
f Gorboduc, . - - R. Buibage.-
Porifex, - - - - W. Sly.*
J pcrrex, - - - -* Hairy (i. e. Conclell)."'-
\ Lucais, - - - - G. Bryan.
j Damafus, - - - T. Goodale.
\^ Videua, ( the (2'ieen,) - Saimder (i. e. i/a-ani^^r Cooke ).^
"Ttrnis.
/ Tcveus, - - - R. Buibagc.
I Philomela, - - - R. Pallant.
I Pamhea, - - - T. Belt.
"*\ hys, - - . - Will.
I Julio, - - - - J. Sincler. i'
1^ Prognc, _ _ - Saunder.
Sardanaj/alus.
f Sardannpalus, - - Aug. Phillips. '■'
I ArbacliiS, . - - Tho. rope.'-
I Nicanor, - - - R, Pallant.
I GiraLlus, - - - R. Cowley.
/ Phioiiefius, - - - T. Goodale^
j Will. Fool, - - - J- Duke. '
I Alpatia, - - - R. Gough."-
I Poriipeia, - - - Ned (perhaps Edw-ird Alleyn^'.
V Rodope, _ „ - Mich. (iNichohis Tooley).'''=
Steevens,
+ This perfortnei, and Kit. i. e. Chriftopher Eeeilon, who appears
in this exiiihition as an attendant Lord, belonged to the lame
comii.uiv us Burliage, Cond;e)l, 8cc. See B. Jonlon's jEw^rjii Man in /lis
Humour. Mauone.
+ riiis name will ferve to confirm Mr. Tyrxvhitt's fiippofition in ft
note to The Taming of a Shrew, Vol. JX. p. 2x6. n, 3. Stexvens.
t Ec
4iS ADDITIONS.
draiTiatick pieces/ See No. I. II. and III. The
originals are in ray poffeflTion.
There is reafon to fuppoie that thefe curiofities
once belonged to the coliefiion of Alleyn, the
founder of Dulwich College; nor am 1 left with-
out expeflation that at fome future period- 1 may
derive more .important intelligence from the dif-
perfed remains of that theatrical repofitory.
The Dtad Maris Fortune and Taniar Cam, will
not, I believe, be found in any catalogues of dra-
matick performances. At leaft they are not enu-
merated among fuch as have fallen within Mr. Reed's
obfervatlon, or my ov^n.
That the play o^ Frederick and Bafilea was a£led,
by the Lord Admiral's Company, lour times in the
year 1^97 . may be afcertaincd from Mr. Malone's
Additions, p. 374.
In thefe three "Plotts" the names of fcveral
ancient players, " unrcgiQer'd in vulgar fame,"
arepieferved But to luckier and more indullrious
antiouaries of the fcene 1 mud relign the talk of
colieftiiig anecdotes of their lives : fo that *' Pigg,
Lcdbeter, White and Black Dick and Sam, Jack
Gregory, Lii.de Will Barne, and the red -faced
^ The lofs of a number of fuch early plays is perliap? to be
lamen.cd only as far a.J ihev vvouUl have fervcl lo throw light on
the comick dialogue of Shakfpeare, which, (aslfufpeft,) is in fome
places darkened by our want of acquaintance with ridiculous fcenes
at which his alluhons, during his own lime, might liave been both
obvioufly and fuccelsfully pointed: for as Dr. Johnfon , in his
comprchenfivc preface, has obferved, '■ Whatever advantages Sh.ik-
fpnare might once derive fiom pcrfoual allufions, local culloms, or
temporary opinions, have for nianv years been loft; and every to-
pick of uieriiment, or motive of forrow , which the modes of
artiticial life uiTorded him, now only obfture the fcenes which thpy
once illumiuaied." Steevens.
ADDITIONS. 419
fellow," Sec. appear at prefent with lefs celebrity
than their brethren who figured in the plays of
Shakf[)eare.
Notwith (landing the reader mud obferve that the
drift of the foregoing dramatick pieces canijot be
collc6led from the mere outlines before us, he may
be ready enough to charge them with abfurdity.
juftice therefore requires me to add, that even the
fcenes of our author would have worn as unpro-
mifmg an afpeil, had their Ikeletons only been
difcovered.
For feveral reafons I fufpecl that thefe " Plotts"
had belonged to three diltinft theatres, in which at
different periods Alleyn might have held fliares.
-—The names of the performers in each company
materially difagree ; ^' the "Plotts" themfeives are
6 No. I. Thi dead Man's Fortune.
I. Burbagc. 2. Darlowe, S.RobertLcc. 4.B.Sani. 5. Tyrc-
uian.
Not one of the foregoing names occurs in the two following
dramas.
No. II. Tamar. Cam.
I. Allen.-- 2. Dick Juble. =^ 3. Mr. Towne. =•'= 4. Mr. Sam.*
5. Mr. Charles. =■■ 6. W. Cartwright 7. Mr. Denyghicn. S. Tho.
Marlveck. 9. W. Part 10, Tho. Parfoiis. 11. George. 12. H.
JelFs. i3. A.Jeffs. 14. Mr. Burne. i5. Mr. Singer.^ 16. Jack
Jones. 17. Jack Gregory. 18. Mr. Dcnyghten's little Boy. 19. Ge-
diou. 20. Gibbs. 21. Little Will. 22. Tho. Rowley. 23. Rcfter.
24. Old Browne, 25. Ned Browne. 2G.Jcamcs. 27. Gil's Boy,
28. Will. Barae. 29. The red-faced fellow.
+ S'.ii^er.'] Perhaps he was author of a dramatick entertainment
entitled .Singer's Voluntary. See p. 3gS.
Other liieiiioranda of feveral of thefe aflors , will he found in
jireccding pages, amoaif Mr. Malone's notes to his Additions.
Steevens,
E e 2
420 ADDITION S.
written out in very different hands; and (though
the remark may leem inconfiderablc) their aper-
tures are adapted to pegs of very different diraen-
fions. See the fecond paragraph in p. 411.
Steevens.
Ne. III. Frederick and Bajilea.
T.Richard Allen. =•■ 2. Dick Jubic* 3. Mr. Townc."'- 4. Mr.
Sam.* 5. Mr. Charles.- 6. Dick. 7. Black Dick. 8 Mr. Dunftan.
9. GrirTcn. 10. Tho. Hunt. ii. Will. 12. Mr. Martyn. i3. Ed.
Ductoii. 14 Ledbetcr. i5. Pigg- 16 E. Button's Boy.
The plays No. H. and III. have no performers in common, ex-
cept fuch as are diflinguiflied by afterifks. Steevens.
FINIS.
To face p. 4S0.
Mufiqiie,
•^"flonage, as habited
to
the
''lolls this appears,
— — ^loft ancient: and
! meant the cele-
l have a^led In the
excellence, or he
perform fo trivial
Entthe MS. however,
tyris not always esfy
to ( was defigned to
wicl
plaj
Ent
mac
The flotte or the deade mans fortune.
p:
Euict ilic prolouse.
tr-e^-""-'"'-
..„.„„,„.„.„„„,..>.„„..
Emcr pan.cloun Sc pttcoddc.
.,„..K„.,. ,„,,;,„ „:..,„„.
Enitr afpidi and validorc difcoifd like lofc with
atrndiiite.! Darlowc: Itc; bfammt: lo
*
-i:';;-r,:r: ■•"•■"" ^""
'"''"'■
K.,.cr Vrganda AlcIoneStaiira Eo.er Ljimci
Emer kJt.gf I'-sereoo iU!;«ryin_[<;fcplion
&'i.'%V„Vand\Mht>\m«dfrYuydtp...e.
(laiytJ iud ilk>a(ic.
EfchiiK.andcuurlbf IJtIl vcilc/'
Enter p..udo..Q and l.is mill lo ibcm liis uif.
K>.hiD«, iMdlngt ihcr Uide. hand In hand.
Emci ■ftr^honn allpriui akyine & flaiyri
Enter .he paa.cloui. k pcftodc.
Enicr Vilydore S: afpida euuyng^ of
validorc psffcili etc ilic flji;! dU^uifdc
ihcm lilt maide widi pcfeoddi apparcll.
t..,ir .fpIJa .0 htr roft.
n.ii.t ii,. r.»..i<,»„ & „„ci,i, d„
F 1 .V ; s.
lay-k) Ij.tAfs In plytoiin.
• „„,„„;„..] I |,.„„„ „,;,,, „„,
tximplc of llio apptjr.l(ice ol PinttUw, a» i fnc
clMraflcr, On our llage. SruvtNS.
dir.Oion „„„oi U\ lo nmiid .l.cc.Jnota ctl.h
,»IUg. in /I. ,.« «1, \, ,
— — ll.c I(,in and (lippet'd fnnd/ccn.
aicd
jiylcr .0 ilicm ilic i.ydJi.
Enter T.rrpl.on Alte.rlus »t ftv««ll dor..
dir.,.ifd wi.h n...tc .0 .hem .he J,jkr.
F.nifr ptmcloun Et pcTcadr = cnwr arpida
Ptrhap- Sliiklpiarc allOltes 10 lllia pcifonagr, aiJia
1 h ;.■,,, /,t,.l 01 ll.c Ihree ffcn, ,1,1. app
a cl,jrailrr ajil,,, ,.{ a MclTcgtr. Ai ihe MS. Jlo«
lias tarcljj any »ops for onr guides, ii \t noi alivays
to difcovcT [lie precife attaagemcDi u wai defign
i'l
1
F-nici Tcfiphon sUgtiiHs wlili ■ticnd.in.ct Dar. &
tytr T., in & oiherj .o .h<m Btiflb^e +f a mtfrciigec
to 1I1C111 I^uplirodore — RobatI Ice Sc b. dmiae.
with 4 luokiiigc RlafTt accompjncd wiili filitci
^Uiiigf OK .hfr Infiruments.
L'la,;.""' •'^- •" '■'"■ '""^'"
No. II.
,VInd
loriie.
To follow No. it
a Trompu
To him <)
Ur. Tou^t'°' This is evidently the
Exeunt, l^r the fignification of the
To them
3. Steevens.
Colmo<;r"this name, appears alfo In
Mr. Sam r/. Part II. See Vol. XIV.
id.
rum a
of.
id.
nd.
entry of this Chorus, tiie
Enter Coj fubfcquently, erafed, a
Tho: Ml
McffingeL
oth"^Kck Jones to them.
Taraour
Otanes
George i~'
with the
Steevens.
To theln We may fuppofe this to
To them lingi a"'^ ^^^^ ^'^ chrillian
Exeunt, fu to the prompter, whofe
le prefent, the foregoing.
EVENS.
Enter Ca^ the MS. but no other
Parfons:, Steevens.
-1 — ,- — .
The plott of The First parte of
Tamar Cam.
Enter Chorus Dick Jubic
Sound
no.io,.
Sanod.
So...d.
Souud.
Sound.
Dnima
Sound.
Enitt Mango Cham, 3 noblcmcu : Mr.
Ucnvglen > w. Can. I Be Tlio. Marbtck
& (3) W. P-irr. attendanu: Parfont 5; George ;
h!i.».: Mr. Ali.n & Mr. Burnt, rxi. '
MaugoSt noble.: m.ntl ibc lell £>!■ Timor
Sc Oianc) maner Colmogra L\'n,
T:';i'.motVnV.tpr°„ed?.'"'"""
EnlcrTarmia & guzTde: Tbom. Mirbcct,
Parlons: W. Parr & George: To htr ilit
Enlcr .be Perlian Shaugh , Ar.axe, : Tr.b.Iu. ;
Mt. Towiie, Mr. Ch.rlei «= Dirtjubie
k„,.,CI:o.u.,.,t
W. Cart: & W. Parr; To ihtm Tarmia
the nurf* Tho. Parfoni ivitb ehlldren. Tho. Marbeek :
& George: To them Oi.ne. le Palmidat
&S. fpi.rit..: Kennl. mane. Tamor St
-■ ► «... rpirri.i,. Toth.tn
1 her, Tamor Cam'.
' 1 .'rrrP.^rl^jn.': To Ibett.
Enter Tamor Cam: Otanej : ^arfoui :
Tho: Ma.bett: & W. Cart: E.eun..
!< W, Parr : IU„ Colmogra To tb.m
Colmogra S: .Mango : guaril George : parfons.
. Enter Cboru.meUJ„W,E<it.
En.er Oloru,.
^rS^^^IXr^iliSrSliSJ^UeeK,
Kl;;:r;l;:;/'S-,'^;;:e:E«i, ■
S,,irri„,: To bim Tamor Cm : E«ii Tamor.
ToblmSpirrl„..g.l„e: Exeunt.
c;::;j"'iiij:z%iu:i'J::.
1 ... .. W.Car.w.ight:
Enter Colmogra: StSnoblemcn: W.Catt:
Tho : Marbe;k & W. Parr. To tbem Mango.
Enter Ot.inct: To him Spirritta : Afcalon.
To bini Uiaphincs: Exeunt.
Eotei Colmogra: To him 3 noblej
Totbrm Tao.orCam: Otants: & guard:
Enter A..,.«, & A,..bllu. . Mr.
.."j.'u'.'Mi.Jnbi'e.""'
Enter T..mo, Cam: Oiaoei: attendant.:
W. Ca,t : W. Parr: !e Tho. Marbeek ; Patfon.
k Geoipe; To them a Trumpet. Dick
]„bie: Exeunt.
ro,„CUr,„:exi,.
pledge lor Tamor'; VV.Ci"t: tm'thePerb'anTI,o'\l„b.:l.
r 1 .V ; s.
Eut.,a,on,.,.,„Ta.,.rCa„:0,..e.:
Exe'nL' ,■ l.l.kj.bi,.
To'fb.m': ,[.!'""
' AJpnUt'^] 1. e; Afliueco. This i: eviden.lj the
i ! ' . r r ■.: -f-i :, name, appearaalfoln
Enter Colmogra : Se 3 noble,: W. Cart,
Tho : M.rbeek S: VV. Parr : To them a
other Melioger:' Di,k'l',ble. To them
TamourCam: King of Perha : Tarmia hit rlaughter
Otanet: noblrmeni Mr.Cl,,,!,.: DickJubierOuara
George ,5: P,„r„„,. F .,.,„,. e^ J,,|„
Toth'.mV, 'i !' '. '"""" ";•"■; _j""'"'"'^-
Exeunt, m.tr, . i,,„, ; .,,,
i; , , ..■, nftl.i* Chorum, lilt
Enier Otjne. S: P»lincda : Jwk Joa" (c ilitm. 1
«fpi.r;..: Exeunt. [
nd funmme were alike unknown to tlic prompter, whofe
ffite It will to draw up boih tbeprcfent, llic (oregoiug.
Enter C.plaine S: gnarde. George i; '
II W. P«rr it litre ctafcd in ilie MS. but no otber
erfoTi Trt down lo lili room. StUVENS.
No. I
To follow No. 11.
B AS ILEA.
t Sec 1 Mr. Allen appears, Jn this Inftancc,
tained his confeqnence as a manager, taking
e and Epilogue to his own fliare.
names of the adors, in this and the forego-
ire not always fo arranged as to correfpond
■adtrs reprcfented. SteevenS.
The plott of ffredekick and Basilea.
kkftigc: Mt. Jubic R. AlUi
[G»u«rnorAl]iJiiar>a Moore: Mr. Duuftinn. CrifTci
ito.TothtmHciacIIiitSeiuinlt.Tho.HuDibhckDid
tI.to..oti.S<:bjni»n,Theodore,Pedto.PliilippoAndi
Mt. Allen, Will. Mr.Marlyti. Ed. Duttoo, kdbtlct, Pigi
icn kinn Fitderitk B.fika Giurde. Mr. Juby. R. All
ToebtraUongra, Win.
EiiUtKlngThcodoTcfTredeiick. Mr.J'ibie. Mr
K.Ailc>»..ri<i!LcmPLilipo,Uafilca.E.Du((aubiil
lil!i'Ab!.'k.^ro'l"=mScbilli3nW>-roo.hamct
ko.ioci PcJroe Andrco. Mr. Allen : Tlio. To
Will : Uidbeuf Pigg gu«di Bitbeitri.
Eoitr Ifrederlck BaGIci To (bcm P<dro, coufcd
lio. Ba&ki, Icdb 1
Enier ffrcderiLk BafilM. ffrycr, I
• P.>?.] Tbenmeoflb;. ./>orm3vpofr,blyovmum
M. M.loac's cc.jcflu,,. ,!, ,, ;.. ..... ^-^ ?-o ,nd3S..
byPj.^es-r. waiin»nl^/V .■. >' ,.,.-.r. -f.. early.
Rownc." -^ a limollcr i.l
ftwtr," '■Jllllell^jckci,'
were evidently dcfigned for
P'iS) ^ppe«ed Id « ya.ieiy of cbj^Qei
!a«pli'c.ire.''''sT'i'vrNT'"""''''~*'''^""' "' ^ "'''P''
Enicf Leonora Myioii-haract SebafliiO gotioH.
Will: Ht.Towrte, Mr. Alleo. Tlio.Hsnl, hUt
To ibc queenc Thcod.
I ThimarSam Cliir
rynn. To
Uffengn
SNckDic
h.meiTf
bo. Towne GbMle.. Ibo:
Scbillun Ltonoi.1 Myron-hamei Th»row goliorj
t Epilogs, ticf Mr. Allen;
I've noiouined bit eonrequ.
i Prologue and £piloguc to
■B. Tl.enaaici of rlie aflor
ippearj, in tbif rnflanee,
y.'!v"\r.t""""''f'"
University of Caiifornia
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