Chapter XVIII: Appendix: D (4)

An open warrant for the plaiers, servantes to the Erle of Sussex, authorysinge them to exercyse theire qualitie of playinge comedies and tragedies in any county, cittie, towne or corporacion not being within vij^{en} miles of London, where the infection is not, and in places convenient and tymes fitt.

xcvi.

[1593, May 6. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxiv. 212;
cf. text in Bk. iii.]

Gives authority to Strange’s men, notwithstanding inhibition of plays in London, to perform in towns seven miles from London or court, at their most convenient times and places, except during times of divine prayer.

xcvii.

[1594, Feb. 3. The Privy Council to Sir Cuthbert Buckle, Lord
Mayor, printed _M. S. C._ i. 72, from _Remembrancia_,
ii. 6.]

[Sidenote: For restraint of playes.]

After our very hartie commendations to your L. Whearas certein infourmation is given that very great multitudes of all sorts of people do daylie frequent & resort to common playes lately again set vp in & about London, whearby it is vpon good cause feared that the dangerous infection of the plague, by Gods great mercy and goodnes well slaked, may again very dangerously encrease and break foorth, to the great losse and preiudice of hir Maiesties Subiects in generall & especially to those of that Citie, of whose safetie & well doing hir Highnes hath alwayes had an especiall regard, as by the last years experience by lyke occasions & resort to playes it soddainly encreased from a very little number to that greatnes of mortallitie which ensued. Wee thearfore thought it very expedient to require your L. foorthwith to take strait order that thear bee no more publique playes or enterludes exercised by any Compaine whatsoever within the compas of five miles distance from London, till vpon better lykelyhood and assurance of health farther direction may bee giuen from vs to the contrary. So wee bid your L. very hartily farewell. From the Court at Hampton, the 3. of February. 1593.

Your L. very louing friends,

Io: Cant. Io. Puckering. C. Howard.
Th. Buckhurst. R. Cecyll. I. Fortescue.

To our very good L. mr. Alderman Buckle L. Maior of the Citie of London.

xcviii.

[1594, May 10. Minute of City Court of Aldermen, printed in
Harrison, iv. 323, from _Repertory_, xxiii, f. 220.]

Countess of Warwicks playes.

Item yt is ordred that Mr. Saltonstall, Mr. Soame, Mr. Weoseley, Mr. Barnham, and Mr. Houghton, aldermen, or any others [?] of them, calling unto them Richard Wright, gentleman, shall consider of a cawse recommended to this courte by the right honorable the Countys of Warwicke concerning playes, And to make reporte to this courte of their doings therein. And George Foster to warne them to meet together and to attend on them.

xcix.

[_c._ 1594, July-Oct. Extract from Articles submitted to the
Privy Council against the increase of the plague and for the
relief of poor people, printed _M. S. C._ i. 202, from _Lansd.
MS._ 74, f. 75. The date 1593 is assigned in the _Catalogue of
Lansdowne MSS._, but the document seems to be related to No. c.]

That for avoydinge of great concourse of people, which causeth increase of thinfection, yt were convenient, that all Playes, Bearebaytinges, Cockpittes, common Bowlinge alleyes, and suche like vnnecessarie assemblies should be suppressed duringe the tyme of infection, for that infected people, after theire longe keepinge in, and before they be clered of theire disease and infection, beinge desirous of recreacion, vse to resort to suche assemblies, where throughe heate and thronge, they infecte manie sound personnes.

c.

[_c._ 1594, July-Oct. Extract from Orders, suggested by the
Privy Council, to be set down by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen.
These are undated, but appear to be the ‘breif’ of orders sent
with a letter of the Privy Council, also undated, but addressed
to Sir Richard Martin, who was Lord Mayor from July to Oct.
1594. Both documents are printed in _M. S. C._ i. 206, 211,
from _Lansd. MS._ 74, ff. 69, 71.]

Interludes and plaies.

If the increase of the sicknes be feared, that Interludes and plaies be restreyned within the libertyes of the Cyttye....

... That all maisterlesse men who lyve idelie in the Cyttye without any lawfull calling, frequenting places of common assemblies, as Interludes, gaming howses, cockpittes, bowling allies, and such other places, maie be banished the Cyttye according to the lawes in that case provyded.

ci.

[1594, Oct. 8. Henry Lord Hunsdon, Lord Chamberlain, to Sir
Richard Martin, Lord Mayor, printed _M. S. C._ i. 73, from
_Remembrancia_, ii. 33. The document is misdescribed in the
_Index_ to _Remembrancia_, 353, as referring, not to ‘my nowe
companie’, but to ‘the new company’.]

[Sidenote: For players to bee suffred to play with in London.]

After my hartie comendacions. Where my nowe companie of Players haue byn accustomed for the better exercise of their qualitie, & for the seruice of her Maiestie if need soe requier, to plaie this winter time within the Citye at the Crosse kayes in Gracious street. These are to requier & praye your Lo. (the time beinge such as, thankes be to god, there is nowe no danger of the sicknes) to permitt & suffer them soe to doe; The which I praie you the rather to doe for that they haue vndertaken to me that, where heretofore they began not their Plaies till towardes fower a clock, they will now begin at two, & haue don betwene fower and fiue, and will nott vse anie Drumes or trumpettes att all for the callinge of peopell together, and shalbe contributories to the poore of the parishe where they plaie accordinge to their habilities. And soe not dowting of your willingnes to yeeld herevnto, vppon theise resonable condicions, I comitt yow to the Almightie. Noonesuch this viijth of October 1594.

Your lo. lovinge friend,
H. Hounsdon.

To my honorable good friend Sir Richard Martin knight Lo: mayour of the Citie of London.

cii.

[1594, Nov. 3. The Lord Mayor to Lord Burghley, printed _M.
S. C._ i. 74, from _Remembrancia_, ii. 73. The theatre was
doubtless the Swan.]

[Sidenote: Langley intending to erect a niew stage on the Banckside & against playes.]

My humble duetie remembred to your good L. I vnderstand that one Francis Langley, one of the Alneagers for sealing of cloth, intendeth to erect a niew stage or Theater (as they call it) for thexercising of playes vpon the Banck side. And forasmuch as wee fynd by daily experience the great inconuenience that groweth to this Citie & the government thearof by the sayed playes, I haue embouldened my self to bee an humble suiter to your good L. to bee a means for vs rather to suppresse all such places built for that kynd of exercise, then to erect any more of the same sort. I am not ignorant (my very good L.) what is alleadged by soom for defence of these playes, that the people must haue soom kynd of recreation, & that policie requireth to divert idle heads & other ill disposed from other woorse practize by this kynd of exercize. Whearto may bee answeared (which your good L. for your godly wisedom can far best iudge of) that as honest recreation is a thing very meet for all sorts of men, so no kynd of exercise, beeing of itself corrupt & prophane, can well stand with the good policie of a Christian Common Wealth. And that the sayed playes (as they are handled) ar of that sort, and woork that effect in such as ar present and frequent the same, may soon bee decerned by all that haue any godly vnderstanding & that obserue the fruites & effects of the same, conteining nothing ells but vnchast fables, lascivious divises, shifts of cozenage, & matters of lyke sort, which ar so framed & represented by them, that such as resort to see & hear the same, beeing of the base & refuse sort of people or such yoong gentlemen as haue small regard of credit or conscience, draue the same into example of imitation & not of avoyding the sayed lewd offences. Which may better appear by the qualitie of such as frequent the sayed playes, beeing the ordinary places of meeting for all vagrant persons & maisterles men that hang about the Citie, theeues, horsestealers, whoremoongers, coozeners, conny-catching persones, practizers of treason, & such other lyke, whear they consort and make their matches to the great displeasure of Almightie God & the hurt and annoyance of hir Maiesties people, both in this Citie & other places about, which cannot be clensed of this vngodly sort (which by experience wee fynd to bee the very sinck & contagion not only of this Citie but of this whole Realm), so long as these playes & places of resort ar by authoritie permitted. I omit to trouble your L. with any farther matter how our apprentices and servants ar by this means corrupted & induced hear by to defraud their Maisters, to maintein their vain & prodigall expenses occasioned by such evill and riotous companie, whearinto they fall by these kynd of meetings, to the great hinderance of the trades & traders inhabiting this Citie, and how people of all sorts ar withdrawen thearby from their resort vnto sermons & other Christian exercise, to the great sclaunder of the ghospell & prophanation of the good & godly religion established within this Realm. All which disorders hauing observed & found to bee true, I thought it my duetie, beeing now called to this publique place, to infourm your good L., whome I know to bee a patrone of religion & lover of virtue & an honourable a friend to the State of this Citie, humbly beeseaching you to voutchsafe mee your help for the stay & suppressing, not only of this which is now intended, by directing your lettres to the Iustices of peace of Middlesex & Surrey, but of all other places, if possibly it may bee, whear the sayed playes ar shewed & frequented. And thus crauing pardon for this ouer much length I humbly take my leaue. From London the 3. of November. 1594.

Your L. most humble.

To the right honourable my very good L. the L. high Treasurer of England.

ciii.

[1595, Sept. 13. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen to the Privy
Council, printed _M. S. C._ i. 76, from _Remembrancia_, ii. 103.]

[Sidenote: Toutching the putting doune of the plaies at the Theater & Bankside which is a great cause of disorder in the Citie:]

Our humble duty remembred to your good LL. & the rest. Wee haue been bold heartofore to signify to your HH: the great inconvenyence that groweth to this Cytie by the common exercise of Stage Plaies, whear in wee presumed to be the more often & earnest suters to your HH: for the suppressing of the said Stage Plaies, aswell in respect of the good government of this Cytie, (which wee desire to be such as her Highnes & your HH: might be pleased thearwithall), as for conscience sake being perswaded (vnder correccion of your HH. Iudgment) that neither in policye nor in religion they ar to be permitted in a Christian Common wealthe, specially being of that frame & making as vsually they are, & conteyning nothing but profane fables, Lasciuious matters, cozonning devizes, & other vnseemly & scurrilous behaviours, which ar so sett forthe, as that they move wholy to imitacion & not to the avoyding of those vyces which they represent, which wee verely think to bee the cheef cause, aswell of many other disorders & lewd demeanors which appeer of late in young people of all degrees, as of the late stirr & mutinous attempt of those fiew apprentices and other servantes, who wee doubt not driew their infection from these & like places. Among other inconveniences it is not the least that the refuse sort of evill disposed & vngodly people about this Cytie haue oportunitie hearby to assemble together & to make their matches for all their lewd & vngodly practizes: being also the ordinary places for all maisterles men & vagabond persons that haunt the high waies to meet together & to recreate themselfes. Whearof wee begin to haue experienc again within these fiew daies, since it pleased her highnes to revoke her Comission graunted forthe to the Provost Marshall, for fear of whome they retired themselfes for the time into other partes out of his precinct, but ar now retorned to their old haunt & frequent the Plaies (as their manner is) that ar daily shewed at the Theator & Bankside: Whearof will follow the same inconveniences whearof wee haue had to much experienc heartofore, ffor preventing whearof wee ar humble suters to your good LL: & the rest to direct your lettres to the Iustices of peac of Surrey & Middlesex for the present stay & finall suppressing of the said Plaies, aswell at the Theator & Bankside as in all other places about the Cytie. Whearby wee doubt not but, the oportunytie & very cause of so great disorders being taken away, wee shalbe able to keepe the people of this Cytie in such good order & due obedienc, as that her highnes & your HH: shalbe well pleased & content thearwithall. And so most humbly wee take our Leaue. From London the xiijth of September. 1595.

Your HH: most humble.

To the right honourable the LL: & others of her Maiesties most honourable privy Counsell.

civ.

[1596, July 22. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxvi. 38.]

Letters to the Justices of Middlesex and Surrey to restrayne the players from shewing or using anie plaies or interludes in the places usuall about the citty of London, for that by drawing of muche people together increase of sicknes is feared.

cv.

[1596, _c._ Sept. Extract from letter of T. Nashe to William
Cotton, printed with facsimile by McKerrow, _Nashe_, v. 194,
from _Cotton MS. Julius_, C. iii, f. 280. Internal evidence
bears out the ‘T. Nashe’ subscribed in a nineteenth-century
hand. The original signature has gone, but the top of ‘N’ was
declared to be visible by Collier, who printed the letter in _H.
E. D. P._ (1831), i. 303; it is also in Grosart, _Nashe_, i.
lxi. The date is suggested by an allusion to the return of Essex
from Cadiz on 10 Aug. 1596, and the beginning of term on 9 Oct.
1596. Allusions to Harington’s _Metamorphosis of Ajax_ (S. R. 30
Oct. 1596) might point to a rather later date, but Harington’s
dedication is dated 3 Aug. 1596, and the first issue may not
have been registered.]

Sir this tedious dead vacation is to mee as vnfortunate as a terme at Hertford or St. Albons to poore cuntry clients or Iack Cades rebellion to the lawyers, wherein they hanged vp the L. cheife iustice. In towne I stayd (being earnestly inuited elsewhere) vpon had I wist hopes, & an after harvest I expected by writing for the stage & for the presse, when now the players as if they had writt another Christs tears, ar piteously persecuted by the L. Maior & the aldermen, & howeuer in there old Lords tyme they thought there state setled, it is now so vncertayne they cannot build vpon it.

cvi.

[1596, Nov. Petition by Inhabitants of Blackfriars to Privy
Council, printed by Halliwell-Phillipps, i. 304, from undated
copy assignable by the handwriting to c. 1631 in _S. P. D.
Eliz._ cclx. 116. The date is given by No. cvii; cf. Bk. iv,
s.v. Blackfriars. The document has been suspected as a forgery,
but is probably genuine, although it is odd to find Lord Hunsdon
as a signatory, since one would have supposed that he could
influence James Burbage through his son Richard, who was one of
Hunsdon’s players. Collier, who first produced it, misdated it
1576, and used it to support a theory that the Blackfriars was
built in 1576 (i. 219). Curiously enough, he used it again for
1596 (i. 287), and added to it an alleged counter-petition by
the Chamberlain’s men, now in _S. P. D. Eliz._ cclx. 117, which
is certainly a forgery. Hunsdon was not Chamberlain in Nov.
1596.]

To the right honorable the Lords and others of her Majesties most honorable Privy Councell,--Humbly shewing and beseeching your honors, the inhabitants of the precinct of the Blackfryers, London, that whereas one Burbage hath lately bought certaine roomes in the same precinct neere adjoyning unto the dwelling houses of the right honorable the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord of Hunsdon, which romes the said Burbage is now altering and meaneth very shortly to convert and turne the same into a comon playhouse, which will grow to be a very great annoyance and trouble, not only to all the noblemen and gentlemen thereabout inhabiting but allso a generall inconvenience to all the inhabitants of the same precinct, both by reason of the great resort and gathering togeather of all manner of vagrant and lewde persons that, under cullor of resorting to the playes, will come thither and worke all manner of mischeefe, and allso to the great pestring and filling up of the same precinct, yf it should please God to send any visitation of sicknesse as heretofore hath been, for that the same precinct is allready growne very populous; and besides, that the same playhouse is so neere the Church that the noyse of the drummes and trumpetts will greatly disturbe and hinder both the ministers and parishioners in tyme of devine service and sermons;--In tender consideracion wherof, as allso for that there hath not at any tyme heretofore been used any comon playhouse within the same precinct, but that now all players being banished by the Lord Mayor from playing within the Cittie by reason of the great inconveniences and ill rule that followeth them, they now thincke to plant them selves in liberties;--That therefore it would please your honors to take order that the same roomes may be converted to some other use, and that no playhouse may be used or kept there; and your suppliants as most bounden shall and will dayly pray for your Lordships in all honor and happines long to live. Elizabeth Russell, dowager; G. Hunsdon; Henry Bowes; Thomas Browne; John Crooke; William Meredith; Stephen Egerton; Richard Lee; ... Smith; William Paddy; William de Lavine; Francis Hinson; John Edwards; Andrew Lyons; Thomas Nayle; Owen Lochard; John Robbinson; Thomas Homes; Richard Feild; William Watts; Henry Boice; Edward Ley; John Clarke; William Bispham; Robert Baheire; Ezechiell Major; Harman Buckholt; John Le Mere; John Dollin; Ascanio de Renialmire; John Wharton.

cvii.

[1596, Nov. Extract from Petition of _c._ Jan. 1619 from
Constables and Inhabitants of Blackfriars to Lord Mayor and
Aldermen, printed in _M. S. C._ i. 90, from _Remembrancia_, v.
28; cf. Bk. iv, s.v. Blackfriars.]

Sheweth That whereas in Nouember 1596, diuers both honorable persons and others then inhabitinge the said precinct, made knowne to the Lordes and others of the privie Counsell, what inconveniencies where likelie to fall vpon them, by a common Playhouse which was then preparinge to bee erected there, wherevpon their Honours then forbadd the vse of the said howse, for playes, as by the peticion and indorsemente in aunswere thereof may appeare.

cviii.

[1597, May 6. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxvii. 97.]

A letter to the High Sheriff of Suffolk, William Foorth, John Gurdall and ---- Clopton, esquires. We do understand by your letter of the third of this instant of a purpose in the towne of Hadley to make certaine stage playes at this time of the Whitson holydaies next ensuinge, and thether to draw a concourse of people out of the country thereaboutes, pretending heerein the benefit of the towne, which purpose we do utterly mislike, doubting what inconveniences may follow thereon, especially at this tyme of scarcety, when disordred people of the comon sort wilbe apt to misdemeane themselves. We do therefore require you straightly to prohibite the officers and all others in the towne of Hadley not (_sic_) to goe forward with the sayd playes and to cause the stage prepared for them to be plucked downe, letting them know that they are to obey this our order as they will answere it at their perill. We thanck you for the care you take to keepe the country in good order. And so, &c.

cix.

[1597, July 28. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen to the Privy
Council, printed _M. S. C._ i. 78, from _Remembrancia_, ii. 171.]

[Sidenote: To the Lords against Stage playes.]

Our humble dutyes remembred to your good LL. & the rest. Wee haue signifyed to your HH. many tymes heartofore the great inconvenience which wee fynd to grow by the Common exercise of Stage Playes. Wee presumed to doo, aswell in respect of the dutie wee beare towardes her highnes for the good gouernment of this her Citie, as for conscience sake, beinge perswaded (vnder correction of your HH. iudgment) that neither in politie nor in religion they are to be suffered in a Christian Commonwealth, specially beinge of that frame & matter as vsually they are, conteining nothinge but prophane fables, lascivious matters, cozeninge devises, & scurrilus beehaviours, which are so set forth as that they move wholie to imitation & not to the auoydinge of those faults & vices which they represent. Amonge other inconveniences it is not the least that they give opportunity to the refuze sort of euill disposed & vngodly people, that are within and abowte this Cytie, to assemble themselves & to make their matches for all their lewd & vngodly practices; being as heartofore wee haue fownd by th’examinaton of divers apprentices & other seruantes whoe have confessed vnto vs that the said Staige playes were the very places of theire Randevous appoynted by them to meete with such otheir as wear to ioigne with them in theire designes & mutinus attemptes, beeinge allso the ordinarye places for maisterles men to come together & to recreate themselves. For avoyding wheareof wee are now againe most humble & earnest sutours to your honours to dirrect your lettres aswell to our selves as to the Iustices of peace of Surrey & Midlesex for the present staie & fynall suppressinge of the saide Stage playes, aswell at the Theatre, Curten, and banckside, as in all other places in and abowt the Citie, Wheareby wee doubt not but, th’opportunitie & the very cause of many disorders beinge taken away, wee shalbee more able to keepe the worse sort of such evell & disordered people in better order then heartofore wee haue been. And so most humbly wee take our leaves. From London the xxviijth of Iulie. 1597.

Your HH most humble.

[Sidenote: The inconueniences that grow by Stage playes abowt the Citie of London.]

1. They are a speaciall cause of corrupting their Youth, conteninge nothinge but vnchast matters, lascivious devices, shiftes of Coozenage, & other lewd & vngodly practizes, being so as that they impresse the very qualitie & corruption of manners which they represent, Contrary to the rules & art prescribed for the makinge of Comedies eaven amonge the Heathen, who vsed them seldom & at certen sett tymes, and not all the year longe as our manner is. Whearby such as frequent them, beinge of the base & refuze sort of people or such young gentlemen as haue small regard of credit or conscience, drawe the same into imitacion and not to the avoidinge the like vices which they represent.

2. They are the ordinary places for vagrant persons, Maisterles men, thieves, horse stealers, whoremongers, Coozeners, Conycatchers, contrivers of treason, and other idele and daungerous persons to meet together & to make theire matches to the great displeasure of Almightie God & the hurt & annoyance of her Maiesties people, which cannot be prevented nor discovered by the Gouernours of the Citie for that they are owt of the Citiees iurisdiction.

3. They maintaine idlenes in such persons as haue no vocation & draw apprentices and other seruantes from theire ordinary workes and all sortes of people from the resort vnto sermons and other Christian exercises, to the great hinderance of traides & prophanation of religion established by her highnes within this Realm.

4. In the time of sicknes it is fownd by experience, that many hauing sores and yet not hart sicke take occasion hearby to walk abroad & to recreat themselves by heareinge a play. Whearby others are infected, and them selves also many things miscarry.

cx.

[1597, July 28. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxvii.
313.]

A letter to Robert Wrothe, William Fleetwood, John Barne, Thomas Fowler and Richard Skevington, esquires, and the rest of the Justices of Middlesex nerest to London. Her Majestie being informed that there are verie greate disorders committed in the common playhouses both by lewd matters that are handled on the stages and by resorte and confluence of bad people, hathe given direction that not onlie no plaies shalbe used within London or about the citty or in any publique place during this tyme of sommer, but that also those play houses that are erected and built only for suche purposes shalbe plucked downe, namelie the Curtayne and the Theatre nere to Shorditch or any other within that county. Theis are therfore in her Majesty’s name to chardge and commaund you that you take present order there be no more plaies used in any publique place within three myles of the citty untill Alhalloutide next, and likewyse that you do send for the owners of the Curtayne Theatre or anie other common playhouse and injoyne them by vertue hereof forthwith to plucke downe quite the stages, gallories and roomes that are made for people to stand in, and so to deface the same as they maie not be ymploied agayne to suche use, which yf they shall not speedely perform you shall advertyse us, that order maie be taken to see the same don according to her Majesty’s pleasure and commaundment. And hereof praying you not to faile, we, &c.

The like to Mr. Bowier, William Gardyner and Bartholomew Scott, esquires, and the rest of the Justices of Surrey, requiring them to take the like order for the playhouses in the Banckside, in Southwarke or elswhere in the said county within iij^e miles of London.

cxi.

[1597, Aug. 15. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxvii.
338.]

A letter to Richard Topclyfe, Thomas Fowler and Richard Skevington, esquires, Doctour Fletcher and Mr. Wilbraham. Uppon informacion given us of a lewd plaie that was plaied in one of the plaiehowses on the Bancke Side, contanynge very seditious and sclanderous matter, wee caused some of the players to be apprehended and comytted to pryson, whereof one of them was not only an actor but a maker of parte of the said plaie. For as moche as yt ys thought meete that the rest of the players or actors in that matter shalbe apprehended to receave soche punyshment as theire leude and mutynous behavior doth deserve, these shalbe therefore to require you to examine those of the plaiers that are comytted, whose names are knowne to you, Mr. Topclyfe, what ys become of the rest of theire fellowes that either had theire partes in the devysinge of that sedytious matter or that were actors or plaiers in the same, what copies they have given forth of the said playe and to whome, and soch other pointes as you shall thincke meete to be demaunded of them, wherein you shall require them to deale trulie as they will looke to receave anie favour. Wee praie you also to peruse soch papers as were fownde in Nash his lodgings, which Ferrys, a Messenger of the Chamber, shall delyver unto you, and to certyfie us th’examynacions you take. So, &c.

cxii.

[1597, Oct. 8. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxviii. 33.
A note dates the actual signing of the warrants on Oct. 3.]

A warrant to the Keeper of the Marshalsea to release Gabriell Spencer and Robert Shaa, stage-players, out of prison, who were of lat comitted to his custodie.

The like warrant for the releasing of Benjamin Johnson.

cxiii.

[1598, Feb. 9. Extract from _An Acte for punyshment of Rogues
Vagabondes and Sturdy Beggars_ (_39 Eliz._ c. 4, printed in
_Statutes_, iv. 899). The Act was continued, subject as regards
John Dutton to legal proof of his claim, by _43 Eliz._ c. 9, in
1601 (_St._ iv. 973).]

[§ 1.] From and after the Feaste of Easter next comminge [16 April 1598], all Statutes heretofore made for the punyshment of Rogues Vagabondes or Sturdy Beggers ... shall ... be utterly repealed....

[§ 2.] All Fencers Bearewardes common Players of Enterludes and Minstrelles wandring abroade (other than Players of Enterludes belonging to any Baron of this Realme, or any other honorable Personage of greater Degree, to be auctoryzed to play, under the Hand and Seale of Armes of such Baron or Personage) ... shalbe taken adjudged and deemed Rogues Vagabondes and Sturdy Beggers, and shall susteyne such Payne and Punyshment as by this Acte is in that behalfe appointed.

[§ 3.] Every person which is by this presente Acte declared to be a Rogue Vagabonde or Sturdy Begger, which shalbe ... taken begging vagrant wandering or mysordering themselves in any part of this Realme ..., shall uppon their apprehension by thappoyntment of any Justice of the Peace Constable Hedborough or Tythingman of the same County Hundred Parish or Tything where suche person shalbe taken, the Tythingman or Headborow being assisted therein with thadvise of the Minister and one other of that Parrish, be stripped naked from the middle upwardes and shall be openly whipped untill his or her body be bloudye, and shalbe forthwith sent from Parish to Parish by the Officers of every the same, the nexte streighte way to the Parish where he was borne, if the same may be knowen by the Partyes confession or otherwyse; and yf the same be not knowen, then to the Parish where he or she last dwelte before the same Punyshment by the space of one whole yeare, there to put him or her selfe to labour as a true Subject ought to do; or not being knowen where he or she was borne or last dwelte, then to the Parish through which he or she last passed without Punyshment.

[§ 4.] Yf any of the said Rogues shall appeare to be dangerous to the inferior sorte of People where they shalbe taken, or otherwyse be such as will not be reformed of their rogish kinde of lyfe by the former Provisions of this Acte, ... it shall and may be laufull to the said Justices of the Lymittes where any such Rogue shalbe taken, or any two of them, whereof one to be of the Quorum, to commit that Rogue to the House of Correccion, or otherwyse to the Gaole of that County, there to remaine untill their next Quarter Sessions to be holden in that County, and then such of the same Rogues so committed, as by the Justices of the Peace then and there presente or the most parte of them shalbe thought fitt not to be delivered, shall and may lawfully by the same Justices or the more parte of them be banysshed out of this Realme.... And if any such Rogue so banyshed as aforesaid shall returne agayne into any part of this Realme or Domynion of Wales without lawfull Lycence or Warrant so to do, that in every such case such Offence shalbe Felony, and the Party offending therein suffer Death as in case of Felony.

[§ 10.] Reserves privileges of John Dutton.

cxiv.

[1598, Feb. 19. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxviii.
327.]

A letter to the Master of the Revelles and Justices of Peace of Middlesex and Surrey. Whereas licence hath bin graunted unto two companies of stage players retayned unto us, the Lord Admyral and Lord Chamberlain, to use and practise stage playes, whereby they might be the better enhabled and prepared to shew such plaies before her Majestie as they shalbe required at tymes meete and accustomed, to which ende they have bin cheefelie licensed and tollerated as aforesaid, and whereas there is also a third company who of late (as wee are informed) have by waie of intrusion used likewise to play, having neither prepared any plaie for her Majestie nor are bound to you, the Masters of the Revelles, for perfourming such orders as have bin prescribed and are enjoyned to be observed by the other two companies before mencioned. Wee have therefore thought good to require you uppon receipt heereof to take order that the aforesaid third company may be suppressed and none suffered heereafter to plaie but those two formerlie named belonging to us, the Lord Admyrall and Lord Chamberlaine, unles you shall receave other direccion from us. And so, &c.

cxv.

[1598, May 1. Abstract from Vestry records of St. Saviour’s,
Southwark, by W. Rendle, _Bankside_, vi, in Harrison, ii,
App. i.]

It had been ordered, May 1, 1598, that Mr. Langley’s new buildings shall be viewed--they were near to the Paris Garden playhouse--and that Mr. Henslowe and Jacob Meade shall be moved for money for the poor on account of the playhouses.

cxvi.

[1598, July 19. Extract from Vestry records of St. Saviour’s,
Southwark, printed in _Variorum_, iii. 452, and by W. Rendle,
_Bankside_, v, in Harrison, ii, App. i.]

It is ordered at this vestrye that a petition shal be made to the bodye of the councell concerninge the play houses in this pareshe, wherein the enormeties shal be showed that comes therebye to the pareshe, and that in respect thereof they may be dismissed and put down from playing, and that iiij or ij of the churchwardens, Mr. Howse, Mr. Garlonde, Mr. John Payne, Mr. Humble, or ij of them, and Mr. Russell and Mr. Ironmonger, or one of them, shall prosecute the cause with a collector of the Boroughside and another of the Bankside.

cxvii.

[1600, Jan. 12. Warrant from Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham,
Lord Admiral, printed by W. W. Greg, _Henslowe Papers_,
49, from _Dulwich MS._ i. 27; also by Collier, _Alleyn
Memoirs_, 55.]

Weareas my Servant Edward Allen (in respect of the dangerous decaye of that Howse which he and his Companye haue nowe, on the Banck, and for that the same standeth verie noysome for resorte of people in the wynter tyme) Hath thearfore nowe of late taken a plott of grounde neere Redcrossestreete London (verie fitt and convenient) for the buildinge of a new Howse theare, and hath prouided Tymber and other necessaries for theffectinge theareof, to his greate chardge: Forasmuche as the place standeth verie convenient for the ease of People, and that her Maiestie (in respect of the acceptable Service, which my saide Servant and his Companie haue doen and presented before her Highenes to her greate likeinge and Contentment, aswell this last Christmas as att sondrie other tymes) ys gratiouslie moued towardes them, with a speciall regarde of fauor in their proceedinges: Theis shalbe thearefore to praie and requier youe, and everie of youe, To permitt and suffer my saide Servant to proceede in theffectinge and finishinge of the saide New howse, without anie your lett or molestation, towardes him or any of his woorkmen. And soe not doubtinge of your observacion in this behalf, I bidd youe right hartelie farewell. Att the Courte, at Richmond, the xijth of Januarye, 1599.

Notingham.

To all & euery her maiesties Justices & other Ministers, and Officers, within the Countye of Middlesex, & to euery of them, And to all others whome it shall Concerne:

cxviii.

[1600, March 9. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxx. 146.]

A letter to Sir Drew Drewry, knight, William Waad, esquier, Clerke of the Councell, Thomas Fowler, Edward Vaughan and Nicholas Collyns, esquires, Justices of the Peace in the countie of Middlesex. Wee are given to understand by our very good Lord the Lord Willoughby and other gentlemen and inhabitauntes in the parishe of St. Giles without Creplegate that there is a purpose and intent in some persons to erect a theatre in White Crosstreete, neere unto the Barres in that parte that ys in the countie of Middlesex, wherof ther are to manie allreadie not farr from that place, and as you knowe not longe sithence you receaved spetiall direction to pluck downe those and to see them defaced, therefore yf this newe erection should be suffered yt would not onlie be an offence and scandall to divers, but a thinge that would greatly dysplease her Majestie. These are therefore to will and require you in any case to take order that no soche theatre or plaiehowse be built there, or other howse to serve for soche use, both to avoide the many inconveniences that therby are lyklie to ensue to all the inhabitantes, and the offence that would be to her Majestie, havinge heretofore given sufficient notice unto you of the great myslyke her Highnes hath of those publicke and vayne buildinge[s] for soche occacions that breed increase of base and lewde people and divers other disorders. Therefore wee require you not to faile forthwith to take order that the foresaid intended buildinge maie be staied, and yf any be begone, to see the same quite defaced. So, &c.

cxix.

[1600, March 28. Extract from Vestry records of St. Saviour’s,
Southwark, printed in _Variorum_, iii. 452, and by W. Rendle,
_Bankside_, v, in Harrison, ii, App. i.]

It is ordered that the churchwardens shall talk with the players for tithes for their playhouses within the liberty of the Clinke, and for money for the poore, according to the order taken before my lords of Canterbury and London and the Master of the Revels.

cxx.

[1600, April 1. Abstract of entry in Roll of the General
Sessions of the Peace for Middlesex, printed by J. C.
Jeaffreson, _Middlesex County Records_, i. 260. The
proclamation referred to must, I suppose, be the old one of 1559
(No. x). I do not know of any Star Chamber order about plays,
but it is quite possible that one was made in 1597, and not
recorded in the Council Registers, as the Star Chamber had its
own Clerk, distinct from those of the Privy Council.]

Recognizance ... of John Wolf of Eastsmithfield, co. Midd. Stationer, in the sum of forty pounds; The condition of the recognizance being ‘that, whereas the abovebounden John Wolf hathe begun to erecte and builde a Playhowse in Nightingale Lane near East Smithefeilde aforesaid contrary to Her Majesties proclamacion and orders sett downe in Her Highenes Court of Starrchamber. If therefore the said John Wolf do not proceede anie further in buildinge or erectinge of the same playhowse, unless he shall procure sufficient warrant from the Rt. Honourable the Lords of Her Majesties most honourable Privye Councill for further ... then this recognizaunce to be void or els to remaine in full force.’

cxxi.

[_c._ 1600, April. Certificate of the Inhabitants of Finsbury to
the Privy Council, printed by W. W. Greg, _Henslowe Papers_, 50,
from _Dulwich MS._ i. 28; also by Collier, _Alleyn Memoirs_, 58.]

To the righte honorable the Lordes and others of her
maiesties most honorable privie Councell:

In all humblenes, wee the Inhabitantes of the Lordshipp of Fynisburye, within the parrishe of St. Gyles without Creplegate, London, doe certifie vnto your honnours, That wheare the Servantes of the right honorable Earle of Nottingham haue latelie gone aboute to erect and sett vpp a newe Playehowse within the said Lordshipp, Wee could be contented, that the same might proceede and be Tollerated (Soe it stande with your honnours pleasuers) ffor the reasons and Causes followeinge.

First because the Place appoynted oute for that purpose Standeth very tollerable, neere vnto the ffeildes, and soe farr distant and remote frome any person or Place of accompt, as that none cann be Annoyed thearbie:

Secondlie because the Erectours of the saied howse are contented to give a very liberall porcion of money weekelie, towardes the releef of our Poore, The nomber & necessity whereof is soe greate that the same will redounde to the contynuall comfort of the saied Poore:

Thirdlie and lastlie wee are the rather Contented to accept this meanes of releif of our Poore, because our Parrishe is not able to releeue them, neither hath the Justices of the Sheire taken any order, for any Supplie oute of the Countrye, as is enioyned by the late Acte of Parliamente:

[Twenty-seven signatures follow.]

[Endorsed] The Certificate of the Inhabitantes of the Lordship of Fynisburye of theire Consent to the Tolleracion of the Erection of a newe Plaiehowse theare.

cxxii.

[1600, April 8. Privy Council to the Justices of Middlesex,
printed by W. W. Greg, _Henslowe Papers_, 51, from _Dulwich MS._
i. 29; also by Collier, _Alleyn Memoirs_, 57.]

After our hartie comendacions. Whereas her Maiestie (haveinge been well pleased heeretofere at tymes of recreacion with the services of Edward Allen and his Companie, Servantes to me the Earle of Nottingham, wheareof, of late he hath made discontynuance) hath sondrye tymes signified her pleasuer, that he should revive the same agayne: Forasmuche as he hath bestowed a greate some of money, not onelie for the Title of a plott of grounde, scituat in a verie remote and exempt place neere Goulding lane, theare to erect a newe house, but alsoe is in good forwardnes aboute the frame and woorkmanshipp theareof; the convenience of which place for that purpose ys testified vnto vs vnder the handes of manie of the Inhabitantes of the Libertie of Fynisbury, wheare it is, and recomended by some of the Justices them selves. Wee thearfore havinge informed her Maiestie lykewise of the decaye of the house, wherein this Companye latelie plaied, scituate vppon the Bancke, verie noysome for the resorte of people in the wynter tyme, haue receaued order to requier youe to Tollerate the proceedinge of the saide New howse neere Goulding lane, and doe heerbye requier youe and everie of youe to permitt and suffer the said Edward Allen to proceede in theffectinge and finishinge of the same Newe howse, without anie your lett or interrupcion, towardes him, or anye of his woorkmen, the rather because an other howse is pulled downe, in steade of yt. And soe, not doubtinge of your conformitye heerin, wee comitt youe to God. Frome the Courte at Richmond the viijth of Aprill 1600.

Your lovinge frendes

Notingham
G Hunsdon
Ro: Cecyll

To the Justices of Peace of the Countye of Middlesex especially of St. Gyles without Creplegate, and to all others whome it shall Concerne.

cxxiii.

[1600, May 15. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxx. 327.
Bromvill had performed at court on 12 May (cf. App. A).]

An open letter to the Justices of Peace in the countie of Surrey, and to all others her Majesty’s officers and lovinge subjectes in that county or burrough of Southwark to whome yt shall appertain, &c. Whereas the bearer Peter Bromvill hath bene recommended unto her Majestie from her good brother the French Kinge and hath shewed some feates of great activity before her Highnes, her Majestie ys pleased to afforde him her gratious favor and leave to exercyse and shewe the same in soch publicke place as maie be convenient for soche exercyses and shewes, and because for the present he hath made choice of a place called the Swann, in old Parys Garden, beinge the howse of Francis Langley, these shalbe to let you understand her Majesty’s good pleasure in his behalfe, and to require you not onlie to permytt him there to shewe his feates of activitye at convenient tymes in that place without let or interrupcion, but to assyst him (as there shalbe occacion) that no abuse be offered him.

_Postscript_ of Mr. Secretary’s hand. It ys not meant that he shall exercyse upon any Sabothe day.

cxxiv.

[1600, June 22. Order of the Privy Council, printed _M.S.C._ i.
80, from _Remembrancia_, ii. 188; also by Dasent, xxx. 395, and
Halliwell-Phillipps, i. 307, from minute in Council Register.
The examiner’s note at the end is by one of the Clerks of the
Council. The original draft of the order has been altered in the
Register, and there is a marginal note by Thomas Smith that ‘the
alteracion and interlyning of this order was by reason that the
said order after the same was entred in the Booke came againe in
question and debate, and the said interlyninge and amendementes
were sett downe according to the laste determinacion of their
Lordships’. Evidently the interlineations were important, and
they are therefore marked below with square brackets, although
of course they do not appear as such in the _Remembrancia_ copy,
which agrees substantially with the final draft in the Register.
Dasent found the cancelled passages in the Register illegible.]

[Sidenote: An order sett downe by the lordes and others of hir Maiesties pruiye Councell the 22 of Iune 1600 to restrain the excessiue number of Plaie howses & the imoderate vse of Stage plaies in & about the Cittye.]

Whereas diuers Complaintes haue bin heretofore made vnto the Lordes and others of hir Maiesties privie Counsaile of the manifold abuses and disorders that haue growen and doe Continew by occasion of many howses erected & emploied in and aboute the Cittie of London for common Stage Plaies. And nowe verie latelie, by reason of some Complainte exhibited by sondrie persons against the buildinge of the like house in or nere Goldinge Lane by one Edward Allen, a seruant of the right honorable the Lo: Admirall, the matter, aswell in generalitie touchinge all the said houses for Stage Plaies and the vse of playenge, as in particuler concerninge the said house now in hand to be builte in or neere Goldinge Lane, hath bin brought into question & Consultacion amonge theire LL. Forasmuch as yt is manifestlie knowne and graunted that the multitude of the said houses and the misgouerment of them hath bin made and is dailie occasion of the idle riotous and dissolute livinge of great numbers of people, that leavinge all such honest and painefull Course of life, as they should followe, doe meete and assemble there, and of maine particuler abuses and disorders that doe there vppon ensue. And yet neuerthelesse yt is Considered that the vse and exercise of suche plaies, not beinge euill in yt self, may with a good order and moderacion be suffered in a well gouerned estate, and that, hir Maiestie beinge pleased at some times to take delighte and recreacion in the sight and hearinge of them, some order is fitt to bee taken for the allowance and mainteinance of suche persons, as are thoughte meetest in that kinde to yeald hir Maiestie recreacion and delight, & consequentlie of the howses that must serue for publique playenge to keepe them in exercise. To the end therefore, that bothe the greatest abuses of the plaies and plaienge houses maye be redressed, and the vse and moderacion of them retained, The Lordes and the rest of hir Maiesties privie Councell, withe one and full Consent, haue ordered in manner and forme as followeth.

First, that there shall bee about the Cittie two howses and noe more allowed to serue for the vse of the Common Stage plaies, of the which howses one shalbe in Surrey in that place which is Commonlie called the banckside or there aboutes, and the other in Midlesex. And foras muche as there Lordshippes haue bin enformed by Edmond Tylney Esquire, hir Maiesties seruant and Master of the Reuells, that the howse now in hand to be builte by the said Edward Allen is not intended to encrease the number of the Plaiehowses, but to be in steed of an other, namelie the Curtaine, Which is either to be ruined and plucked downe or to be putt to some other good vse, as also that the scituacion thereof is meete and Conuenient for that purpose. Yt is likewise ordered that the said howse of Allen shall be allowed to be one of the two howses, and namelie for the house to be alowed in Middlesex, [for the Companie of Plaiers belonging to the L: Admirall], soe as the house Called the Curtaine be (as yt is pretended) either ruinated or applied to some other good vse. And for the other allowed to be on Surrey side, whereas [there Lordshipps are pleased to permitt] to the Companie of players that shall plaie there to make there owne Choice which they will haue [of diuers houses that are there], Choosinge one of them and noe more, [And the said Companie of Plaiers, being the Seruantes of the L. Chamberlen, that are to plaie there haue made choise of the house called the Globe, yt is ordered that the said house and none other shall be there allowed]. And especiallie yt is forbidden that anie stage plaies shalbe plaied (as sometimes they haue bin) in any Common Inn for publique assemblie in or neare about the Cittie.

Secondlie, forasmuche as these stage plaies, by the multitude of houses and Companie of players, haue bin too frequent, not seruing for recreacion but inviting and Callinge the people daily from there trad and worke to mispend there time, It is likewise ordered that the two seuerall Companies of Plaiers assigned vnto the two howses allowed maie play each of them in there seuerall howse twice a weeke and noe oftener, and especially that they shall refraine to play on the Sabboth daie, vppon paine of imprisonment and further penaltie, and that they shall forbeare altogether in the time of Lent, and likewise at such time and times as anie extraordinarie sicknes or infeccion of disease shall appeare to be in and about the Cittie.

Thirdlie, because these orders wilbe of litle force and effecte vnlesse they be dulie putt in execucion by those to whome yt appertaineth to see them executed, It is ordered that seuerall Coppies shall be sent to the L. Mayor of London, and to the Iustices of the Peace of the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and that Lettres should be written vnto them from there Lordshipps, straightlye Charginge them to see the execucion of the same, as well by Committinge to prison the owners of Plaiehouses and players as shall disobey & resist these orders, as by anie other good and lawfull meanes that in there discretion they shall finde expedient, And to certifie there Lordshipps from time to time, as they shall se Cause, of there proceedinges therein.

Examinatum per Tho: Smithe.

cxxv.

[1600, June 22. Minute of Privy Council for letters conveying
No. cxxiv, printed by Dasent, xxx. 411, and Halliwell-Phillipps,
i. 308, from Council Register.]

Letter of this tenour to the Lord Maiour of London, the Justices of the Peace of the counties of Midlesex and Surrey. By occasion of some complaintes that of late have bin made unto us of the multitude of houses servinge for common stage-playes in and aboute the citty of London, and of the greate abuses and disorders growen by the overmuch haunte and resorte of many licentious people unto those houses and places, we have entred into consideracion of some fitt course to be taken for redresse of the saide disorders by suppressing dyvers of those houses and by some restrainte of the imoderate use of the plaies. For which cause wee have sett downe certaine orders to be duely henceforth observed and kept, a copy whereof we sende you hereinclosed, and have sent the like to the Lord Maiour of London and to the Justices of the Peace of Middlesex. But as wee have donne our partes in prescribinge the orders, so unlesse you perfourme yours in lookinge to the due execution of them wee shall loose our labour and the wante of redresse must be imputed unto you and others unto whome it apperteyneth, and therefore wee doe hereby authorize and require you to see the said orders to be putt in execucion and to be continued, as you do wish the amendement of the aforesaide abuses and will remove the blame thereof from your selves. And so, &c.

cxxvi.

[1601, March 11. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxxi.
218.]

A letter to the Lord Mayour requiring him not to faile to take order the playes within the cyttie and the liberties, especyally at Powles and in the Blackfriers, may be suppressed during this time of Lent.

cxxvii.

[1601, May 10. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxxi. 346.]