(Vol. ii., pp. 184. 459.; Vol. iii., p. 21.; Vol. vii., p. 114.)
Returning to this question, I will communicate a few extracts from the
Gerechtsdagboeken (Minutes of the Council) of the city of Leyden:--
_Sept. 30, 1604._--"Die van de Gerechte opt voorschryven van
Zÿne Ex'e en versouc van Jan Woodtss, Engelsman, hebben
toegelaten ende geconsenteert dat hy geduyrende deze aenstaende
jaermarct met zyn behulp zal mogen speelen zeecker eerlick
camerspel tot vermaeckinge van der gemeente, mits van yder
persoen (comende om te bezien) nyet meer te mogen nemen nochte
genyeten dan twaelf penn., ende vooral betaelen tot een
gootspenning aen handen van Jacob van Noorde; bode metter roede,
vier guld. om ten behouve van de armen verstrect te worden."
_Translation._
The magistrates, on the command of his Excellence, and on the
request of John Woodtss, an Englishman, have permitted and
consented that he, with his company, during the approaching
fair, may play certain decent pieces for the amusement of the
people, provided he take no more than twelve pennings from each
person coming to see, and, above all, pay to Jacob van Noorde
four guilders, to be applied to the use of the poor.
{361} And again:
_Jan. 6, 1605._--"Op't versouck aen die van de Gerechte gedaen
by de Engelsche Comedyanten om te mogen spelen: staet
geappostilleert. Die van de Gerechte deser stadt Leyden gesien
in haer vergaderinge opt Raedthuys der voors. stede, de
_favorable brieven_ van Recommandatie ende testimoniael vanden
_Forst_ van _Brandenburch_ van de X Augustij des
jaers XVI'c vier, mitsgaders t consent by Zyne Ex'ie van
_Nassau_ verleent den xxij Decembris laest verleden, Es
disponerende opt versouc int blanc van dezen, hebben voor zoo
veel in hem is, de Engelsche Commedianten ende musicyns toonders
in dezen, conform haer versouc toegelaten binnen deser stede te
mogen spelen en haer consten doen ouffenen ende vertoonen ter
gewoenlycke plaetse te weten opten groten hoff onder de
bibliotecque, dewelcke hem toonders mits dezen ten eynde
voorseyt, belast wert te werden ingeruymt, Ende dit al voor den
tyt van veertien dagen eerstcomende, en mits, voor den
jegenwoordige _gracieuse toelatinge_, gevende ten behouve van de
gemeene huysarmen dezer stede een somme van twaelf gulden van xl
groot tstuck. Aldus, gedaen opten vi January XVI'c e[=n] vyff.
My jegenwoordich en is get. J. van Hout."
_Translation._
On the request to the magistrates of the English comedians to be
allowed to perform, was decided: The magistrates of this city of
Leyden, having seen in their assembly in the Town-House of the
aforesaid city, the favourable letters of recommendation and
testimonial of the Prince of Brandenberg of the 10th Aug., 1604,
as well as the consent granted by his Excellence of Nassau, the
22nd of Dec. last, have permitted the English comedians and
musicians, according to their request, to perform and exercise
and exhibit their arts in the accustomed place, namely, in the
great court under the library; and this for the space of
fourteen days, provided they, for this _gracious_ permission,
give twelve guilders of forty groats a-piece to the poor of this
city. Done on the 6th Jan., 1605. Me present; and signed "J. van
Hout."