benne found to ensewe to this Cittie by the inordynate hauntyinge
of greate multitudes of people, speciallye youthe, to playes,
enterludes, and shewes, namelye occasyon of ffrayes and quarrelles,
eavell practizes of incontinencye in greate Innes, havinge chambers
and secrete places adioyninge to their open stagies and gallyries,
inveglynge and alleurynge of maides, speciallye orphanes and good
Cityzens Children vnder Age, to previe and vnmete Contractes, the
publishinge of vnchaste vncomelye and vnshamefaste speeches and
doynges, withdrawinge of the Queenes Maiesties Subiectes from dyvyne
service on Sonndaies and hollydayes, at which Tymes suche playes
weare Chefelye vsed, vnthriftye waste of the moneye of the poore and
fond persons, sondrye robberies by pyckinge and Cuttinge of purses,
vtteringe of popular busye and sedycious matters, and manie other
Corruptions of youthe and other enormyties, besydes that allso soundrye
slaughters and mayheminges of the Quenes Subiectes have happened by
ruines of Skaffoldes, fframes, and Stagies, and by engynes, weapons,
and powder used in plaies; And whear[as] in tyme of goddes visitacion
by the plaigue suche assemblies of the people in thronge and presse
have benne verye daungerous for spreadinge of Infection, and for the
same and other greate Cawses by the Aucthoritie of the honorable Lordes
maiors of this Cyttie and the aldermen their Brethern, and speciallye
uppon the severe and earneste Admonition of the Lordes of the moste
honorable Councell, with signifyenge of her maiesties expresse pleasure
and commaundemente in that behalfe, suche vse of playes, Interludes,
and shewes hathe benne duringe this tyme of syckenes forbydden and
restrayned; And for that the lorde Maior and his Bretheren the
aldermen, together with the grave and discrete Citizens in the Comen
Councell assemblyd, doo doughte and feare leaste vppon Goddes mercyfull
withdrawinge his hand of syckenes from vs (which god graunte!) the
people, speciallye the meaner and moste vnrewlye sorte, sheould with
sodayne forgettinge of his visytacion, withowte feare of goddes wrathe,
and withowte deowe respecte of this good and politique meanes that he
hathe ordeyned for the preservacion of Commen weales and peoples in
healthe and good order, retourne to the vndewe vse of suche enormyties
to the greate offence of god, the Quenes maiesties commaundementes and
good gouernaunce; Nowe therfore, to the intent that suche perilles
maie be avoyded and the lawefull honest and comelye vse of plaies
pastymes and recreacions in good sorte onelye permitted, And good
provision hadd for the saiftie and well orderynge of the people thear
assemblydd, Be yt enacted by the Aucthoritie of this Comen Councell,
That from henceforthe no playe, Commodye, Tragidye, enterlude, nor
publycke shewe shalbe openlye played or shewed within the liberties of
the Cittie, whearin shalbe vttered anie wourdes, examples, or doynges
of anie vnchastitie, sedicion, nor suche lyke vnfytt and vncomelye
matter, vppon paine of Imprisonment by the space of xiiijten daies
of all persons offendinge in anie suche open playinge or shewinges,
and v li. for euerie suche offence; And that no Inkeper Tavernekeper
nor other person whatsoeuer within the liberties of thys Cittie shall
openlye shewe or playe, nor cawse or suffer to be openlye shewed or
played, within the hous, yarde or anie other place within the Liberties
of this Cyttie anie playe, enterlude, Commodye, Tragidie, matter, or
shewe, which shall not be firste pervsed and Allowed in suche order
and fourme and by suche persons as by the Lorde Maior and Courte
of Aldermen for the tyme beinge shalbe appoynted, nor shall suffer
to be enterlaced, Added, mynglydd, or vttered in anie suche play,
enterlude, Comodye, Tragidie, or shewe anie other matter then suche as
shalbe firste perused and allowed as ys abovesaid; And that no person
shall suffer anie plays, enterludes, Comodyes, Tragidies, or shewes
to be played or shewed in his hous, yarde, or other place wheareof
he then shall have rule or power, but onelye suche persons and in
suche places as apon good and reasonable consideracions shewed shalbe
thearvnto permitted and allowed by the lord maiour and Aldermen for
the tyme beinge; Neither shall take or use anie benifitt or Advauntage
of suche permission or Allowaunces before or vntill suche person be
bound to the Chamberlaine of London for the tyme beinge with suche
suerties and in suche Summe and suche fourme for the keepinge of good
order and avoydinge of the discordes and Inconvenyences abovesaid, as
by the Lorde maior and Courte of Aldermen for the tyme beinge shall
seme convenyent; neither shall vse or execvte aine suche Lycence, or
permission, at or in anie tymes in which the same for anie reasonable
consideración of syckenes or otherwise shalbe by the Lorde Maior and
Aldermen by publique proclamacion or by precept to suche persons
restrayned or Commaunded to staye and cease, nor in anie usuall tyme of
dyvyne service in the sonndaie or hollydaie, nor receyve anie to that
purpose in tyme of service to se the same, apon payne to forfeite for
euerie offence v li.; And be yt enacted that euerie person so to be
lycensed or permitted shall duringe the tyme of suche Contynuaunce of
suche lycens or permission paye or Cawse to be paid to the vse of the
poor in hospitalles of the Cyttie or of the poore of the Cyttie visyted
with sycknes, by the dyscretion of the said lorde maiour and Aldermen,
suche somes and Paymentes and in suche forme as betwen the lord Maior
and Aldermen for the tyme beinge on thonne partie and suche person so
to be lycensed or permitted on th’other partie shalbe Agreed, apon
payne that in waunte of euerie suche paymente, or if suche person shall
not firste be bound with good suerties to the Chamberlayne of London
for the tyme beinge for the trewe payment of suche Sommes to the poore,
That then euerye suche lycence or permission shalbe vtterlye voide and
euerie doinge by force or Cullour of suche lycence or permission shalbe
adiudged an offence against this Acte in suche manner as if no suche
lycence or permission hadd benne hadd, nor made, anie suche lycence
or permission to the Contrarye Notwithstandinge; And be yt lykewise
Enacted that all Sommes and fforfeytures to be incurrydd for anie
offence Against this Acte and all forfeytures of Bondes to be taken by
force meane or occasyon of this Acte shalbe ymployed to the reliefe of
the poore in the hospitalles of this Cittie, or the poore infected or
diseased in this Cittie of London, as the lorde Maior and Courte of
Aldermen for the tyme beinge shall adiudge meete to be distributed; and
that the Chamberlayne of London shall have and recover the same to the
purpozies aforesaid by Bill, plainte, Accion of dett, or ynformacion to
be Comenced and pursewed in his owne name in the Courte of the vtter
Chamber of the Guildhall of London Called the Maioures Courte, in which
svte no Essoine nor Wager of Lawe for the defendaunte shalbe Admittyd
or allowed; Provydid allwaie that this Acte (otherwise then towchinge
the publishinge of vnchaste, sedycious, and vnmete matters:) shall not
extend to anie plaies, Enterludes, Comodies, Tragidies, or shewes to be
played or shewed in the pryvate hous, dwellinge, or lodginge of anie
nobleman, Citizen, or gentleman, which shall or will then have the same
thear so played or shewed in his presence for the festyvitie of anie
marriage, Assemblye of ffrendes, or otherlyke cawse withowte publique
or Commen Collection of money of the Auditorie or behoulders theareof,
reservinge alwaie to the Lorde Maior and Aldermen for the tyme beinge
the Iudgement and construction Accordinge to equitie what shalbe
Counted suche a playenge or shewing in a pryvate place, anie thinge in
this Acte to the Contrarie notwithstanding.
xxxiii.
[1577, April 8. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to Lord
Burghley, printed _M. S. C._ i. 151, from _Lansdowne MS._ 25, f.
38. The Lord Chamberlain was the Earl of Sussex. Nothing more is
known of the nature or issue of Sir Jerome Bowes’s suit. He was
a follower of Leicester in 1571 (Stowe, _Annales_, 669), but was
banished from court for slandering him between the date of this
letter and Aug. 8, 1577 (_S. P. D. Add. Eliz._ xxv. 30). In 1583
he was sent as ambassador to Russia.]
My good L. I am requyred to put you in remembrance, for that Sir
Ierome Boues semes that your L. hath partely forgotten that hit was
her maiesties pleashr, that your L. my Chamberleyn & I shuld conferr
& consider of the sute touching plays to be granted to him & certayn
others, &c., which hir maiesties pleashr I brought to your L. & my
Chamberleyn being together in the preuey Chamber at Hampton court. & I
remember at that time we talking of that we myslyked of the perpetuytie
that they sutors desiered. & this also my L. Chamberleyn him self doth
well remember. Thus much I thought good at his request to remember to
your L. that it ys very trew hir maiestie dyd referr the consyderacion
of the sute to vs & to make report thereof accordingly. So I wyll take
leue & wishe your L. perfect health, this viij of Aprill,
your L. assured frend,
R. Leycester.
xxxiv.
[1577 Aug. 1. Minute of Privy Council, printed (_bis_) from
Register in Dasent, ix. 388; x. 4.]
A letter to the Lord Wentworth, Master of the Rolles, and Mr.
Lieutenant of the Tower signifieng unto them that for thavoiding of
the sicknes likelie to happen through the heate of the weather and
assemblies of the people of London to playes, her Highnes’ plesure is
that as the Lord Mayour hath taken order within the Citee, so they
immediatlie upon the receipt of their Lordships’ letters shall take
order with such as are and do use to play without the Liberties of the
Citee within that countie, as the theater and such like, shall forbeare
any more to play untill Mighelmas be past, at the least, as they will
aunswer to the contrarye.
xxxv.
[1577, Oct. 5. Extract from letter (Oct. 6) of William
Fleetwood, Recorder of London, to Lord Treasurer Burghley,
printed in _M. S. C._ i. 152, from _Lansdowne MS._ 24, f. 196;
also in Wright, ii. 66.]
Yesterday ... I was at London with the Master of the Rolls at my Lord
Maiors at dyner.... At my Lord Maiors there dyned the Master of the
Rolles, Justice Sowthcot, Sir William Damsell, Mr. Levetenant, Sir
Rowland Hayward, Mr. Justice Randoll, Alderman Pulliso and my self. At
after dyner we heard a brabell betwene John Wotton and the Levetenuntes
sonne of the one parte, and certen ffreholders of Shordyche, for a
matter at the Theater. I mistrust that Wotton wilbe found in the fault
although he complayned.
xxxvi.
[1578, Jan. 13. Privy Council Minute, printed in Dasent, x. 144
To the Lord Maiour of London to geve order that one Drousiano
[‘Dronsiano’, Dasent], an Italian, a commediante and his companye, may
playe within the Cittie and the Liberties of the same betwene this and
the firste weeke in Lent.
xxxvii.
[1578, July 18. Extract from letter (July 21) from William
Fleetwood, Recorder of London, to Lord Treasurer Burghley,
printed in _M. S. C._ i. 155, from _Lansdowne MS._ 26, f. 191;
also in Wright, ii. 86.]
Vpon Fridaye laste my Lord of London, my Lord Wentworthe and Mr.
Lievetenunte (but the Master of the Rolles was absent) did assemble
at my Lord Maiours, in assistaunce for good order shewed furthe the
Lords lettres. Sir Thomas Gresham, the Deane of Westminster, Mr.
Iustice Southcote, Sir William Damsell and others were wont to be of
the nomber; but surelie I think they were forgotten at the writinge
of my Lords theire honorable lettres.... I shewed vnto my Lords our
Assistaunts those pointes that your honour in tyme paste gave vs for
good order; plaies, vnlawful games, ffensse skoles, vacaboundes and
suche like to be suppressed, with a vigilant eye to the plage, to the
watches, and to laye often privie searches.
xxxviii.
[1578, Nov. 10. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register
in Dasent, x. 381.]
A letter to Mr. Doctor Fourthe, Robert Lewseye, Edward Bellingham and
Barnarde Randolphe, esquiers, to restraine certen players within the
Bouroghe of Southewarke and other places nere adjoyning within that
part of Surreye, who by means of the alluring of the people to their
plaies [plans, Dasent] doe augement the infection of the Plages in
London, and if they shall not obeye their order to see them severely
punished.
xxxix.
[1578, Dec. 23. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register
in Dasent, x. 435.]
A letter to the Lord Maiour and the Justices of Middlesex and Surrey
requiring them to suffer the exercise of playes within the Cittie
of London and without the Liberties, and to have regarde that suche
orders as are prescribed for the stayeng of thinfection maie be duelie
observed, so as ther growe no hurte unto the sounde in their publicque
assemblies.
xl.
[1578, Dec. 24. Privy Council Minute, printed in Dasent, x. 436.]
A letter to the Lord Maiour, &c, requiring him to suffer the Children
of her Majesties Chappell, the servauntes of the Lord Chamberlaine,
therle of Warwicke, the Erle of Leicester, the Erle of Essex and the
Children of Powles, and no companies els, to exercise playeng within
the Cittie, whome their Lordships have onlie allowed thereunto by
reason that the companies aforenamed are appointed to playe this tyme
of Christmas before her Majestie.
xli.
[1579, March 13. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register
in Dasent, xi. 73.]
To the Lord Maiour of London to take order within the Cittie and in all
other places within his jurisdiccion that there be no plaiers suffered
to plaie during this tyme of Lent, untill it be after the Ester weke;
and also to advertise their Lordships whose plaiers they be, and in
what places they have plaied since the begynnyng of this Lent, and that
this order may be observed hereafter yerelie in the Lent tyme &c.
To the Justices of Peace in Midlesex to forbidd all maner of plaiers
in the Suburbs of London and other places neare adjoyning to the same,
that they do not in any wise exercise the same during this tyme of
Lent, and that this order may be observed hereafter yerelie during the
tyme of Lent, &c.
xlii.
[1580, Feb. 21. Indictment of Middlesex jury, printed by J. C.
Jeaffreson, _Middlesex County Records_, ii. xlvii.]
Midd. ss. Juratores pro domina Regina presentant quod Johannes Braynes
de Shorditche in comitatu Middlesexie yoman et Jacobus Burbage de
eadem yoman xxi^{mo} die Februarii anno regni Elizabethe Dei gracia
Anglie Francie et Hibernie Regine fidei defensoris &c. xxii^{do}
et diuersis aliis diebus et vicibus antea et postea congregauerunt
et manutenuerunt illicitas assemblaciones populi ad audienda et
spectanda quedam colloquia siue interluda vocata playes or interludes
per ipsos Johannem Braynes et Jacobum Burbage et diuersas alias
personas ignotas exercitata et practicata apud quendam locum vocatum
the Theatre in Hallywell in comitatu predicto Racione cuius quidem
illicite assemblacionis populi magne affraie insultus tumultus et quasi
insurrexiones et diuersa alia malefacta et enormia per quamplures
maledispositas personas tunc et ibidem facta et perpetrata fuere in
magnam perturbacionem pacis Domine Regine ac subuersionem bonorum
ordinis et regiminis ac ad periculum vitarum diuersorum bonorum
subditorum dicte Domine Regine ibidem existencium ac contra pacem
ipsius Domine Regine necnon contra formam statuti inde editi et prouisi
&c.
xliii.
[1580, April 12. Sir Nicholas Woodrofe, Lord Mayor, to Sir
Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellor, printed in _M. S. C._ i. 46,
from _Remembrancia_, 9.]
My dutie humblie done to your Lp. Where it happened on Sundaie last
that some great disorder was committed at the Theatre, I sent for the
vnder shireue of Middlesex to vnderstand the cercumstances, to the
intent that by my self or by him I might haue caused such redresse to
be had as in dutie and discretion I might, and therefore did also send
for the plaiers to haue apered afore me, and the rather because those
playes doe make assembles of Cittizens and their familes of whome I
haue charge. But forasmuchas I vnderstand that your Lp with other of
hir Maiesties most honorable Counsell haue entered into examination
of that matter, I haue surceassed to procede further, and do humbly
refer the whole to your wisdomes and graue considerations. Howbeit I
haue further thought it my dutie to informe your Lp, and therewith also
to beseche to haue in your honorable remembrance, that the players
of playes, which are vsed at the Theatre, and other such places, and
tumbleres and such like are a very superfluous sort of men, and of
suche facultie as the lawes haue disalowed, and their exersise of those
playes is a great hinderaunce of the seruice of God, who hath with his
mighty hand so lately admonished vs of oure earnest repentance. It
is also great corruption of youthe with vnchast and wicked matters,
occasion of muche incontinence, practises of many ffrayes, querrells,
and other disorders and inconueniences, bisid that the assemble of
terme and parliament being at hand, against which time the most
honorable Lordes haue given vs earnest charge to haue care to auoide
vncleanenesse and pestering of the Citty, the said playes are matter
of great daunger. Therefore I humble beseche your Lp, for those and
other graue considerations that your Lp can better call to mind, it
will please you that some order be taken by commaundement from your
Lp and the rest of the most honorable Lordes that the said playes and
toumbelers be wholy stayed and forbidden as vngodlye and perilous, as
well at those places nere our liberties as within the iurisdiction of
this Cittie. And so I leaue to troble your Lp. At London this 12 of
Aprill 1580.
Your Lps humble,
N: W: M.
To the right honorable my singuler good Lord the Lord Chaunceller of
England.
xliv.
1580, April-July. Minutes of Privy Council, printed from
Register in Dasent, xi. 445; xii. 37, 112.]
(_a_) [April 13]
Robert Leveson and Larrance Dutton, servantes unto the Erle of Oxford,
were committed to the Mareshalsea for committing of disorders and
frayes appon the gentlemen of the Innes of the Courte.
(_b_) [May 26]
A letter to the Lord Chiefe Justice, Master of the Rolles and Mr.
Justice Southcote, to examine a matter of a certaine fraye betwene the
servauntes of th’erle of Oxforde and the gentlemen of the Innes of the
Courtes.
(_c_) [July 18]
A letter to the Master of the Rooles and the Recorder of London to take
bondes of Thomas Chesson (sometime servant to therle of Oxford) for his
good behavior for one yere next following, and to release him out of
the prison of the Gatehowse.
xlv.
[1580, April 17. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register
in Dasent, xi. 449.]
A letter to the Lord Wentworth and Lord Hunsdon and the rest of the
Justices of Pece in the county of Middlesex that wheras the Queen’s
Majesty had given straight charg unto the Lord Maiour to have a
speciall care to the keping cleene of the City, and to provide and
prevent all soch occasions and causes as might breed or encrease
any infection, forasmuche as the great resorte of people to playes
ys thought to be very dangerous &c, they are required to give order
that all playes may be restrained until Michelmas, and further to
have a good regard to the execution of the Statute against roges and
vagabondes.
xlvi.
[1580, May 13. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register in
Dasent, xii. 15.]
A letter to the Justices of Peace of the countie of Surrey that whereas
their Lordships do understand that notwithstandinge their late order
geven to the Lord Maiour to forbidd all playes within and about the
Cittie untill Michalmas next for avoydynge of infection, nevertheles
certen players do playe sunderie daies every weeke at Newington Buttes
on that parte of Surrey without the jurisdiccion of the said Lord
Maior contrary to their Lordships’ order; their Lordships requier
the Justices not only to enquier who they be that disobey their
comaundement in that behalf, and not only to forbidd them expresly
for playing in any of theis remote places nere unto the Cittie untill
Michaelmas, but to have regard that within the precincte of Surrey none
be permitted to play; if any do to comitt them and to advertise, &c.
xlvii.
[1580, June 17. Sir Nicholas Woodrofe, Lord Mayor, to Lord
Burghley, Lord High Treasurer, printed _M. S. C._ i. 47,
from _Remembrancia_, i. 40–1.]
It may please your good Lp. Byside the continuall charge of my Dutie,
hauing lately receued by your Lp. a speciall and ernest commaundement
from hir Maiestie for the best meanes to be vsed that I can for
preseruing the Citty from infection, I will not faile so to do my
dilligence both for the cleane keping of the streates, for avoiding
of Inmeates, and for keping of good orders as haue ben heretofore
prescribed or that I can any way deuise, as shall ly in my power to
the vttermost that I shalbe able. Howbeit, because perill may and doth
commonlie growe vnto hir Maiesties Cittie and people many wayes by such
meanes as we cannot reforme, I humble besech your Lp. that you wilbe
meane to hir Maiestie and give the ayde of the hye autoritie of your
Lp. and the rest of the most honorable Counsell for redresse of such
thinges as in that behalf we finde dangerous, whereof some thinges haue
doble perill, both naturarly in spreding the infection and otherwise in
drawing Godes wrath and plage vpon vs, as the erecting and frequenting
of howses verie infamous for incontinent rule out of our liberties
and iurisdiction, also the drawing of the people from the seruice of
God and from honest exersises to vnchast plaies. Some vther thinges
do carrie other inconveniences, as the pestering of the Cittie with
mvltitudes of people for whome we shall not be able to make prouision
of vitale, fewell, and other necessaries at any reasonable prises. I
haue therefore sett downe a note which I send to your Lp. hereinclosed
of such matters as I do lack power to redresse, but ame constrayned to
craue such further ayde and assistance, as shalbe by your Lp. thought
meete in those cases. And so I leaue to troble your Lp. At London this
xvijth of Iune 1580.
Your Lps. humble to comaund,
N. W. M.
To the right honorable my singuler good Lord the Lord Tresorer of
England.
The ‘note’ enclosed includes:
‘Item that haunting of playes out of the liberties be restrayned as
well as within the fredome.’
xlviii.
[1581, July 10. The Privy Council to the Lord Mayor and the
Justices of Middlesex and the Liberties, printed _M. S. C._
i. 49, from _Remembrancia_, i. 221. The minute of the
letter is in Dasent, xiii. 128.]
After our right hartie commendacons. Whereas we haue ben credibly
informed that the plage and other contagious diseases are sumwhat
of late increased within the Citie of London and liberties thereto
adioyning: fforasmuch as it is to be feared that the said infections
will spred further, in case any great assemblies of people together,
especially in this somer season, be permitted, as by former experience
it hath appeared, We haue thought good to requier yowe and euery of
yowe vpon the receipte hereof to geue streight order that no playes
or enterludes be suffered to be played within the Citie or liberties
adioyning, but that fourthwith yow charge and comaunde them to forbere
and desist, vntill thende of September or that yowe shall receaue
further order from vs, whereof we pray yowe that there be no fault. And
so bid yow hartely farewell. From Grenewich the xth of Iuly 1581.
Your louing frendes,
Thomas Bromeley Cancellarius
Ambrose Warwicke
Robert Leycester
Henrie Sidney
Thomas Sussex
ffraunces Bedford
ffraunces Knowles
Christopher Hatton.
xlix.
[1581, July 11. City order, printed in Harrison, iv. 320,
without reference, probably from _Repertory_, xx.]
[Sidenote: Stafferton committed to the Compter.]