brought a dysordered companye of gentlemen of the Innes of Courte &
others, to assalte Arthur Kynge, Thomas Goodale, and others, servauntes
to the Lord Barkley, & players of Enterludes within the Cyttye, was
by this Courte committed to the Compter in Wood streete, and the
said players lykewyse. And aswell the sayd players as the sayd Parre
Stafferton, weare by this Courte commanded to set downe in wrytinge the
maner how the same quarell began.
l.
[1581, July. Henry Lord Berkeley to the Lord Mayor, printed
_M. S. C._ i. 51, from _Remembrancia_, i. 224; but it appears
from No. xlix that the date is rather earlier than was there
suggested.]
My very good Lord, ther is lately fallen owt some broile betwixt
certaine of my men and some of the Innes of the Courte, sought onely
by them. The matter, as I ame aduertised, is better knowen to your Lp.
then to my self. Whereupon ther is some of my men comitted to warde.
If by their misdemeanour they shold deserue imprisonment, I ame most
willing they shold abide it: Otherwise behauing them selues honestly
in euery respecte, as I cannot learne the contrary, sauing that they
played on the sabothe daie contrary to your order & comaundment
vnknowen to them, in respecte of that I yelde them faultie and they
them selues craue pardon. So ame I now to desier your Lp. to sett them
at libertie, whoe are vpon going into the Countrie to auoide querrell
or other inconuenience that mought followe. And thereupon I geue my
word that at any time hereafter, if further question shall arise
hereby, they shalbe fourthcoming to answere it, and so I leaue your
good Lp. to the Almightie. From my lodgeing at Strand this presente
Tuesdaie. 1581.
Your Lps assured
Henrie Berkeley.
To the right honorable the Lord Maiour of the Citie of London.
li.
[1581, July 13. Minute of City Court of Aldermen, printed in
Harrison, iv. 320, from _Repertory_, xx. f. 192.]
[Sidenote: Preceptes for playes & enterludes.]
Item, yt ys orderyd that preceptes shalbe forthwith made and dyrected
vnto euery Alderman of thys Cyttye, that from henceforthe durynge the
pleasure of thys Courte, they suffer no playes, enterludes, tumblynges,
pryces, or other suche publyque shewes, to be had or made within theyr
sayde wardes, by any parson or parsons whatsoever, vntil further order
shalbe taken by this Courte.
lii.
[1581, Nov. 14. Precept of Lord Mayor, printed in Harrison, iv.
320, from London _Journal_, xxi, f. 151^v.]
By the Mayor.
[Sidenote: A preceptt agaynste foote-ball playe and stage playes.]
Theis shalbe streightlye to charge and commaunde you, that ye
take present order.... And also that ye gyve streighte charge &
commaundement to all thinhabitauntes within the same warde, that
they doe not at anye tyme hereafter, suffer anye person or persons
whatsoeuer, to sett vpp or fixe anye papers or breifes vppon anye
postes, houses, or other places within your warde, for the shewe or
settynge out of anye playes, enterludes, or pryzes, within this Cyttye,
or the lybertyes and suburbes of the same, or to be played or shewed in
anye other place or places within two myles of this Cyttie, and that
if anye suche shalbe sett vp, the same presentlye to be pulled downe &
defaced. Fayle you not hereof, as you will, etc. Dated the xiiijth of
November, 1581.
Sebryght [Town Clerk].
liii.
1581, Nov. 18. The Privy Council to the Lord Mayor, the
Recorder, and the Court of Aldermen, printed _M. S. C._ i.
50, from _Remembrancia_, i. 295. The Acts of the Council
show no meeting on 18 Nov. 1581; cf. No. lv.]
After our hartie commendations. Whereas for auoyding the increase of
infection within your citie this last somer yow receaued order from vs
for the restrainte of plaies vntill Mighelmas last. For that (thankes
be to god) the sicknesse is very well seised and not likely in this
time of the yeare to increase; Tendering the releife of theis poore
men the players and their redinesse with conuenient matters for her
highnes solace this next Christmas, which cannot be without their
vsuall exercise therein; We haue therefore thought good to requier yowe
forethwith to suffer them to vse such plaies in such sort and vsuall
places as hath ben heretofore accustomed, hauing carefull regard for
continuance of such quiet orders in the playeng places as tofore yowe
haue had. And thus we bidd yowe hartelie farewell from the Courte at
Whitehall this xviij^o of Nouember 1581.
Your Louing frendes,
Edward Lincoln
Robert Leycester
Christopher Hatton
Thomas Sussex
H. Hunsdon
Amb: Warwick
James Croft
To our very Louing frendes the Lord Maiour, mr. Sariant Fletewood
Recorder, and the Aldermen of the Cittie of London.
liv.
[1581, Nov. 25. Extract from letter of John Field to the Earl of
Leicester, printed from _Cotton MS. Titus_, B. vii, f. 22,
in Collier, i. 245.]
The more Sathan rageth, the more valianter be you under the standert
of him who will not be foyled. And I humblie beseech your honor to
take heede howe you gyve your hande, either in evill causes, or in the
behalfe of evill men, _as of late you did for players to the great
greife of all the godly_; but as you have shewed your forwardnes
for the Ministery of the Gospel, so followe that course still. Our
Cyttie hath bene well eased of the pester of those wickednesses, and
abuses, that were wonte to be nourished by those impure _interludes
and playes_ that were in use--surely the schooles of as greate
wickednesses as can be. I truste your honor will herein joyne with them
that have longe, owt of the word, cryed out against them; and I am
persuaded that if your honor knewe what sincks of synne they are, you
woulde never looke once towards them. The lord Jesus blesse you. Nov.
25, 1581.
Your good lordshippes most bounden
Jo Feilde.
lv.
[1581, Dec. 3. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register in
Dasent, xiii. 269.]
Whereas certayne companyes of players hertofore usinge their common
excersice of playing within and aboute the Cittie of London have
of late in respect of the generail infection within the Cittie ben
restrayned by their Lordships’ commaundement from playing, the said
players this daye exhibited a peticion unto their Lordships, humblie
desiring that as well in respecte of their pore estates, having noe
other meanes to sustayne them, their wyves and children but their
exercise of playing, and were only brought up from their youthe in the
practise and profession of musicke and playeng, as for that the sicknes
within the Cittie was well slaked, so as noe danger of infection could
followe by the assemblyes of people at their playes, yt would please
their Lordships therfore to grante them licence to use their sayd
exercise of playeng as heretofore they had don; their Lordships their
upon for the consyderations aforesaid as also for that they are to
present certayne playes before the Quenes Majestie for her solace in
the Christmas tyme nowe following, were contented to yeld unto their
said humble peticion, and ordered that the Lord Mayor of the Cittie of
London should suffer and permitt them to use and exercise their trade
of playing in and about the Cittie as they have hertofore accustomed
upon the weeke dayes only, being holy dayes or other dayes, so as
they doe forbeare wholye to playe on the Sabothe Daye, either in the
forenone or afternone, which to doe they are by this their Lordships’
order expressely denyed and forbidden.
lvi.
[1581, Dec. 24. Patent of Commission for Edmund Tilney as Master
of the Revels, printed by Feuillerat, _Eliz._ 51, from _Patent
Rolls_, 1606 (_Watson’s Rolls_), m. 34, No. 46; also by T. E.
Tomlins in _Sh. Soc. Papers_, iii (1847), 1; Collier, i. 247,
who supposed the document to refer to the formation of the
Queen’s men in 1583; and Halliwell-Phillipps, _Illustrations_,
114; cf. ch. iii and _Tudor Revels_, 62, 72.]
[Sidenote: De Commissione speciali pro Edmundo Tylney Armigero Magistro
Revellorum.]
Elizabeth by the grace of God &c. To all manner our Iustices, Maiors,
Sheriffes, Bayliffes, Constables, and all other our officers,
ministers, true liege men, and subiectes, and to euery of them
greetinge. We lett you witt that we haue aucthorised licensed and
commaunded and by these presentes do aucthorise licence and commaunde
our welbeloved Edmunde Tylney Esquire Maister of our Revells, aswell
to take and retaine for vs and in our name at all tymes from hensforth
and in all places within this our Realme of England, aswell within
ffrancheses and liberties as without, at competent wages aswell
all suche and as many painters, imbroderers, taylors, cappers,
haberdashers, joyners, carders, glasiers, armorers, basketmakers,
skinners, sadlers, waggen makers, plaisterers, fethermakers, as all
other propertie makers and conninge artificers and laborers whatsoever
as our said Servant or his assigne bearers hereof shall thinke
necessarie and requisite for the speedie workinge and fynisheinge of
any exploite workmanshippe or peece of seruice that shall at any tyme
hereafter belong to our saide office of the Revells, As also to take
at price reasonable in all places within our said Realme of England
aswell within ffrancheses and liberties as without any kinde or kindes
of stuffe, ware or marchandise, woode or coale or other fewell, tymber,
wainscott, boarde, lathe, nailes, brick, tile, leade, iron, wier, and
all other necessaries for our said workes of the said office of our
Revells as he the said Edmunde or his assigne shall thinke behoofefull
and expedient from tyme to tyme for our said seruice in the said
office of the Revells together with all carriages for the same both
by land and by water as the case shall require. And furthermore we
haue by these presentes aucthorised and commaunded the said Edmunde
Tylney that in case any person or persons, whatsoever they be, will
obstinatelie disobey and refuse from hensforth to accomplishe and
obey our commaundement and pleasure in that behalfe, or withdrawe
themselues from any of our said workes vpon warninge to them or any of
them given by the saide Edmunde Tylney, or by his sufficient deputie
in that behalfe to be named, appointed for their diligent attendance
and workmanship vpon the said workes or devises as to their naturall
dutie and alleigeance apperteineth, that then it shalbe lawfull vnto
the same Edmund Tilney or his deputie for the tyme beinge to attache
the partie or parties so offendinge and him or them to commytt to
warde, there to remaine without baile or mainprise vntill suche tyme
as the saide Edmunde or his deputie shall thinke the tyme of his or
their imprisonment to be punnishment sufficient for his or their saide
offences in that behalfe, and that done to enlarge him or them so
beinge imprisoned at their full libertie without any losse, penaltie,
forfaiture or other damage in that behalfe to be susteined or borne by
the said Edmunde Tilney or his saide deputie. And also if any person
or persons beinge taken into our said workes of the said office of
our Revells beinge arrested comminge or goinge to or from our saide
workes of our said office of our Revells at the sute of any person or
persons, then the said Edmunde Tilney by vertue and aucthoritie hereof
to enlarge him or them as by our speciall proteccion during the tyme of
our said workes. And also if any person or persons beinge reteyned in
our said workes of our said office of Revells haue taken any manner of
taske worke, beinge bound to finishe the same by a certen day, shall
not runne into any manner of forfeiture or penaltie for breakinge of
his day, so that he or they ymediatly after the fynishinge of our said
workes indevor him or themselues to fynishe the saide taske worke. And
furthermore also we haue and doe by these presentes aucthorise and
commaunde our said Servant Edmunde Tilney Maister of our said Revells
by himselfe or his sufficient deputie or deputies to warne commaunde
and appointe in all places within this our Realme of England, aswell
within francheses and liberties as without, all and euery plaier or
plaiers with their playmakers, either belonginge to any noble man
or otherwise, bearinge the name or names of vsinge the facultie of
playmakers or plaiers of Comedies, Tragedies, Enterludes or what other
showes soever, from tyme to tyme and at all tymes to appeare before
him with all suche plaies, Tragedies, Comedies or showes as they shall
haue in readines or meane to sett forth, and them to presente and
recite before our said Servant or his sufficient deputie, whom wee
ordeyne appointe and aucthorise by these presentes of all suche showes,
plaies, plaiers and playmakers, together with their playing places, to
order and reforme, auctorise and put downe, as shalbe thought meete or
vnmeete vnto himselfe or his said deputie in that behalfe. And also
likewise we haue by these presentes aucthorised and commaunded the said
Edmunde Tylney that in case if any of them, whatsoever they bee, will
obstinatelie refuse, vpon warninge vnto them given by the said Edmunde
or his sufficient deputie, to accomplishe and obey our commaundement
in this behalfe, then it shalbe lawful to the said Edmunde or his
sufficient deputie to attache the partie or parties so offendinge, and
him or them to commytt to warde, to remaine without bayle or mayneprise
vntill suche tyme as the same Edmunde Tylney or his sufficient deputie
shall thinke the tyme of his or theire ymprisonment to be punishement
sufficient for his or their said offences in that behalfe, and that
done to inlarge him or them so beinge imprisoned at their plaine
libertie, without any losse, penaltie, forfeiture or other daunger in
this behalfe to be susteyned or borne by the said Edmunde Tylney or his
deputie, Any Acte Statute Ordynance or prouision heretofore had or made
to the contrarie hereof in any wise notwithstandinge. Wherefore we will
and commaunde you and euery of you that vnto the said Edmunde Tylney or
his sufficient deputie bearer hereof in the due execution of this our
aucthoritie and commaundement ye be aydinge, supportinge and assistinge
from tyme to tyme as the case shall require, as you and euery of you
tender our pleasure and will answer to the contrarie at your vttermost
perills. In witnesse whereof &c, witnes our selfe at Westminster the
xxiiijth day of December in the xxiiijth yere of our raigne.
per breve de priuato sigillo.
lvii.
[1582, April 3. Precept by Lord Mayor, printed in Nicholl,
_Ironmongers_, 128.]
By the Maior.
These shalbe straightlie to charge and command you, that forthwithe
uppon the receit hereof you call before you all the freemen of your
said companie, and give to everie one of them straightlie charge and
commandement that they or anie of them do at annye time hereafter
suffer any of ther sarvants, apprentices, journemen, or children, to
repare or goe to annye playes, peices, or enterludes, either within
the cittie or suburbs thereof, or to annye place witheout the same,
uppon payne of everie servant so offendinge, or master so sufferinge,
to be punyshed at the dyscretion of me and my brethren. Fayle you not
hereof, as you will answer the contrarie at your perill. Geven at the
Guildhall, the iij daie of April, 1582.
Sebright [Town Clerk].
lviii.
[1582, April 11. The Privy Council to the Lord Mayor, printed
_M. S. C._ i. 52, from _Remembrancia_, i. 317. The minute of the
letter, undated and bound up before a minute of April 13 as f.
691 of the manuscript Register among minutes of May 1582, is in
Dasent, xiii, 404.]
After our hartie comendacons. Whereas heretofore for sundry good
causes and consideracons, as yow know, we haue oftentimes geuen order
for the restraint of plaies, in and about the Citie of London: and
neuerthelesse of late for honest recreation sake, in respecte that her
maiestie sometimes taketh delight in those pastimes, we thought it not
vnfitt, hauing regard vnto the season of the yere and the Clerenes of
the Citie from infection, to allowe of certaine companies of plaiers to
exercise their playeng in London, partly to the ende they might thereby
attaine to the more dexteritie and perfection in that profession,
the better to content her maiestie, whereupon we permitted the said
players to vse their playeng vntill we shold se cause to the contrary,
and foreseing that the same might be done without impeachment of the
seruice of God whereof we haue a speciall care, we restrained them from
playeng on the sabothe daye: and forasmucheas we suppose that their
honest exercise of recreation in playeng, to be vsed on the ordinarie
S. Hollydaies after euening prayer, as long as the season of the yere
may permitt and may be without daunger of the infection, will not be
offensiue, so that if care be had that their comodies and enterludes
be looked into, and that those which do containe mater that may bread
corruption of maners and conuersacion among the people (which we
desire in any case to haue auoided) be forbidden, whereunto we wishe
yow did appointe some fitt persones whoe maie consider and allowe of
suche playes onely as be fitt to yeld honest recreacion and no example
of euell: We haue therefore thought good to pray your Lp. to reuoke
your late inhibition against their playeng on the said hollydaies
after euening prayer, onely forbearing the Sabothe daie whollie
according to our former order. And when yow shall finde that the
continuance of the same their excercise by the increase of the sicknes
and infection shalbe dangerous, we praye your Lp. therin to geue vs
knowlege & thereupon we will presentely take order for their restrainte
accordinglie: Soe fare yowe hartelie well from the Court at Grenewich
the xjth of Aprill 1582.
Your louing frendes,
E: Lyncoln: T: Sussex: A: Warwyk: R: Leycester.
H: Hunsdon. I: Crofte.
To our very Louing frende the Lord maior of the Citie of London.
lix.
[1582, April 13. The Lord Mayor to the Privy Council, printed
_M. S. C._ i. 54, from _Remembrancia_, i. 319.]
My dutie humblie done to your LLps. I haue receaued significacon of
your LLps. pleasure by your letters for enlarging the restrainte of
players on holydaies in the afternone, being not the sabbat daye,
so as the same may be done after seruice and without disturbance of
comon prayer and seruice of God, which as the experience is among vs
peraduenture not made knowen to your LLps. can very hardly be done.
For thoughe they beginne not their playes till after euening prayer,
yet all the time of the afternone before they take in hearers and fill
the place with such as be therby absent from seruing God at Chirch,
and attending to serue Gods enemie in an Inne; If for remedie hereof I
shold also restraine the letting in of the people till after seruice
in the chirche, it wold driue the action of their plaies into very
inconuenient time of night, specially for seruantes and children to
be absent from their parentes and masters attendance and presence:
Howbet the case is of more inconuenience (as I take it) for that the
plag increaseth, and the season extraordinarilie whote and perelous
for this time of yere, and in the opinion of me and my bretheren,
both more mete for the safetie of the Quenes subiectes, and more easy
to be stayed by good and lawfull policie in the beginning then when
it is growen to further spreding of infection, byside that the tearme
being at hand, and the parlament by prorogacon not long after, I haue
thought it dutie to obey your LLps. comaundement in signifieng that
euen now the renewing and continuance of their exersise by the increase
of siknes and infection is daungerous, prayeng your LLps. to take order
for continuing the restrainte accordinglie. As touching the orders
prescribed in your LLps. lettres for the maters and maner of their
playes at such time as yow may hereafter enlarge them, I will according
to your said direction take furder order at all times to restraine
them, till their maters be perused by graue and discrete persones such
as I shall require to take that peine, and till they well asure me to
obey the cautions appointed in your said letters. And so I leaue to
troble your LLps. At London this xiijth of Aprill 1582.
Your LLps. humble.
To the right honorable the Lords and other of the Quenes Maiesties most
honorable Counsell.
lx.
[1582, July 1. Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, to the Lord Mayor and
Aldermen, printed _M. S. C._ i. 55, from _Remembrancia_, i. 359.]
My Lord maiour, I ame to request yow and the rest whome it doth
apperteine that they wold geue licence to my seruant John Dauid this
bearer to playe his prouest prices in his science and profession of
defence at the Bull in Bishopsgatestrete or some other conuenient place
to be assigned within the liberties of London, and I will hartely
thanke your Lp. and the rest for the fauor yow shal shew him in this
behalf: So with my very hartie commendacions I wish yowe all well to
fare. From the Court this first of Iuly 1582.
Your Lps. very louing frend,
Amb: Warwik.
To my verie honorable good frend the L. Maiour and the rest of the
aldermen or shirefes.
lxi.
[1582, July 23. Ambrose, Earl of Warwick, to the Lord Mayor,
printed _M. S. C_. i. 56, from _Remembrancia_, i. 383.]
My Lord Maiour, I cannot thinke my self frendely delt with to haue my
seruante put to such publike disgrace: Yf yow had not first allowed
bothe others and him to take a like course of playeng prises, I had
not moued your Lp. by my former lettres nor my man shold not haue
requested extraordinary fauour aboue otheres, but to repulse him and to
forbid the place appointed, after allowance & publicacon of his Bills
(wherein my name was also vsed) and my seruante hereby greatly charged,
wanteth some part of that good and frendely consideracion, which in
curtesie and common humanitie I might looke for. The Circumstances and
manner of dealing geueth me cause to iudge my self hardly befrended
and regarded, that a light suggestion of a Companie of lewde verlettes
could so sodainely and easely carry yow awaye from a good frende to
my mans great losse and discredit, and in some sort to myne owne
impeachement. Yf yow be resolued that it standeth most behouefull for
the good gouerment of the Citie to haue those exercises vtterly put
downe and none allowed hereafter to deale in these kinde of prises, my
man shall rest him self without further sute, (albeit the first and
last to whome disgrace hath ben offered in this sorte:) But if others
be suffered to proceade as heretofore, and they not restrained, aswell
as my man, I must nedes iuge it no frendely nor indifferent maner of
dealing. I pray therefore, vnlesse there be cause to the contrary and
greater mater of exception, than lewde suggestions of badd persones;
(because my man refused to yealde to their disorder, and abvse of
exaction) giue my man such ordinarie and indifferent fauor, that he may
forthwith haue his daie and place as others of his profession. Or ells
I shall haue more iust cause of vnkindnesse offered me. From the Court
this xxiijth of Iuly 1582.
Your Lps. very louing frende,
Ambrose: Warwike.
To my very louing frende the Lord Maiour of London: ffrom the Courte.
lxii.
[1582, July 24. The Lord Mayor to Ambrose, Earl of Warwick,
printed _M. S. C._ i. 57, from _Remembrancia_, i. 384.]