and disorderlie exercise of a number of players & playeng houses
erected within this Citie, the youth thearof is greatly corrupted &
their manners infected with many euill & vngodly qualities, by reason
of the wanton & prophane divises represented on the stages by the
sayed players, the prentizes & seruants withdrawen from their woorks,
& all sorts in generall from the daylie resort vnto sermons & other
Christian exercises, to the great hinderance of the trades & traders
of this Citie & prophanation of the good & godly religion established
amongst vs. To which places allso doe vsually resort great numbers
of light & lewd disposed persons, as harlotts, cutpurses, cuseners,
pilferers, & such lyke, & thear, vnder the collour of resort to those
places to hear the playes, divise divers evill & vngodly matches,
confederacies, & conspiracies, which by means of the opportunitie of
the place cannot bee prevented nor discovered, as otherwise they might
bee. In consideration whearof, wee most humbly beeseach your Grace for
your godly care for the refourming of so great abuses tending to the
offence of almightie god, the prophanation & sclaunder of his true
religion, & the corrupting of our youth, which are the seed of the
Church of god & the common wealth among vs, to voutchsafe vs your good
favour & help for the refourming & banishing of so great evill out of
this Citie, which our selves of loong time though to small pourpose
have so earnestly desired and endeavoured by all means that possibly
wee could. And bycause wee vnderstand that the Q. Maiestie is & must
bee served at certen times by this sort of people, for which pourpose
shee hath graunted hir lettres Patents to Mr. Tilney Master of hir
Revells, by virtue whearof hee beeing authorized to refourm exercise or
suppresse all manner of players, playes, & playeng houses whatsoeuer,
did first licence the sayed playeng houses within this Citie for hir
Maiesties sayed service, which beefore that time lay open to all the
statutes for the punishing of these & such lyke disorders. Wee ar most
humbly & earnestly to beeseach your Grace to call vnto you the sayed
Master of hir Maiesties Revells, with whome allso wee have conferred of
late to that pourpose, and to treat with him, if by any means it may
bee devised that hir Maiestie may bee served with these recreations as
hath ben accoustomed (which in our opinions may easily bee don by the
privat exercise of hir Maiesties own players in convenient place) & the
Citie freed from these continuall disorders, which thearby do growe,
& increase dayly among vs. Whearby your Grace shall not only benefit
& bynd vnto you the politique state & government of this Citie, which
by no one thing is so greatly annoyed & disquieted as by players &
playes, & the disorders which follow thearvpon, but allso take away a
great offence from the Church of god & hinderance to his ghospell, to
the great contentment of all good Christians, specially the preachers,
& ministers of the word of god about this Citie, who have long time &
yet do make their earnest continuall complaint vnto vs for the redresse
hearof. And thus recommending our most humble dueties and service to
your Grace wee commit the same to the grace of the Almightie. From
London the 25th of February, 1591.
Your Graces most humble.
To the right reuerend Father in God my L. the Archbisshop of Canturbury
his Grace.
lxxxvi.
[1592, March 6. The Lord Mayor to Archbishop Whitgift, printed
_M. S. C._ i. 70, from _Remembrancia_, i. 646. Whitgift’s
letter, here referred to, does not appear to be in the
_Remembrancia_.]
My humble duety to your Grace remembred. I received your graces letter,
whearin I vnderstood the contents of the same, & imparted the same
presently to my Brethren the Aldermen in our common Assembly, who
togither with my self yeld vnto your Grace our most humble thancks for
your good favour & godly care over vs, in vouchsafing vs your healp for
the removing of this great inconvenience which groweth to this Citie
by playes & players. As toutching the consideracion to bee made to Mr.
Tilney, and other capitulations that ar to passe beetwixt vs, for the
better effecting & continuance of this restraint of the sayed playes
in & about this Citie, wee have appointed certein of our Brethren the
Aldermen to conferre with him forthwith, pourposing to acquaint your
Grace with our agreement & whole proceeding hearin as occasion shall
requier. And thus recommending my humble duety and seruice to your
Grace I commit the same to the grace of the Almightie. From London the
6. of March, 1591.
Your Graces most humble.
To the right reverend Father in God the L. Archbishop of Canterbury his
Grace.
lxxxvii.
[1592, March 18. Minute of City Court of Aldermen, printed in
Harrison, iv. 322, from _Repertory_, xx, f. 345.]
[Sidenote: Mr. Tilney to be treated for restraynte of plays.]
Item yt is ordered that Sir Richard Martyn Knighte and William Horne
grocer, shall treate with Tilney Esquire Maister of the Revells for
some good order to be taken for the restrayning of the playes and
enterludes within this citie.
lxxxviii.
[1592, March 22. Extracts from records of the Court of the Guild
of Merchant Taylors of London, printed in C. M. Clode, _Early
History of the Guild of Merchant Taylors_ (1888), i. 236.]
‘A precepte directed frome the Lord Mayor to this Companie shewinge
to the Companie the great enormytie that this Citie susteyneth by the
practice and prophane exercise of players and playinge howses in this
Citie, and the corrupcion of youth that groweth thereupon, invitinge
the Companie by the consideration of this myscheyfe to yeilde to the
paymente of one Anuytie to one Mr. Tylney, mayster of the Revelles of
the Queene’s house, in whose hands the redresse of this inconveniency
doeth rest, and that those playes might be abandoned out of this citie.’
‘An Assemblye hereon the xxijth of March (1591), beinge our Master’s
view daye after they came downe frome dynner out of the Gallarie,’ took
the precept into consideration and determined, ‘albeit the Companie
think yt a very good service to be performed yet wayinge the damage of
the president and enovacion of raysinge of Anuyties upon the Companies
of London what further occasions yt may be drawne unto, together
with their great chardge otherwyse which this troublesome tyme hath
brought, and is likely to bringe, they thinke this no fitt course to
remedie this myscheife, but wish some other waye were taken in hand to
expell out of our Citye so generall a contagion of manners and other
inconveniency, wherein if any endevour or travile of this Companie
might further the matter they would be readye to use their service
therein. And this to be certified as the Companies answere if yt shall
apeare by conference with other Companies that the precepte requireth
necessarilie a returne of the Companies certificate, and answere in
this behalf.’
lxxxix.
[1592, June 12. Extract from a letter of Sir William Webbe, Lord
Mayor, to Lord Burghley, printed _M. S. C._ i. 187, from _Lansd.
MS._ 71, f. 28, and _M. S. C._ i. 70, from a letter-book copy
misdated ‘May 30’ in _Remembrancia_, i. 662.]
My humble duety remembred to your good L. Beeing informed of a great
disorder & tumult lyke to grow yesternight abowt viij of the clock
within the Borough of Southwark, I went thither with all speed I could,
taking with mee on of the Sherifes, whear I found great multitudes of
people assembled togither, & the principall actours to bee certain
servants of the ffeltmakers gathered togither out of Barnsey street &
the Black fryers, with a great number of lose & maisterles men apt for
such pourposes. Whearupon having made proclamation, & dismissed the
multitude, I apprehended the chief doers and authors of the disorder,
& have committed them to prison to bee farther punished, as they shall
bee found to deserve. And having this morning sent for the Deputie &
Constable of the Borough with Divers other of best credit, who wear
thear present, to examine the cause & manner of the disorder, I found
that it began vpon the serving of a warrant from my L. Chamberlain by
on of the Knight Mareschalls men vpon a feltmakers servant, who was
committed to the Mareschallsea with certein others, that were accused
to his L. by the sayed Knight Mareschalls men without cause of offence,
as them selves doe affirm. For rescuing of whome the sayed companies
assembled themselves by occasion & pretence of their meeting at a play,
which bysides the breach of the Sabboth day giveth opportunitie of
committing these & such lyke disorders. The principall doers in this
rude tumult I mean to punish to the example of others. Whearin also
it may please your L. to give mee your direction, if you shall advise
vpon anything meet to bee doon for the farther punishment of the sayed
offenders.
xc.
[1592, June 23. Extract from Privy Council Minute, printed by
Dasent, xxii. 549. The main purpose of the letter is to require
a ‘watch’ at midsummer, as certain apprentices were expected to
renew the recent disorder in Southwark (cf. No. lxxxix). The
Lord Mayor had already been charged, and letters also went to
the Justices of Surrey for the precincts of Newington, Kentish
Street, Bermondsey Street, the Clink, Paris Garden, and the
Bankside, and to those of other places near the City, including
Lord Cobham for the Blackfriars.]
A letter to the Master of the Rolles, Sir Owen Hopton, knight, John
Barnes and Richard Yonge, esquiours....
Moreover for avoidinge of theis unlawfull assemblies in those quarters,
yt is thoughte meete you shall take order that there be noe playes used
in anye place neere thereaboutes, as the Theator, Curtayne, or other
usuall places where the same are comonly used, nor no other sorte of
unlawfull or forbidden pastymes that drawe together the baser sorte of
people, from hence forth untill the feast of St. Michaell.
xci.
[1592, June 23. Privy Council Minute, printed by Dasent, xxii.
549.]
A letter to the Earle of Darbye. Whereas wee are informed that there
are certaine May gaimes, morryce daunces, plaies, bearebaytinges, ales
and other like pastimes used ordinarilye in those counties under your
Lordship’s Lieutenancye on the Sondaies and Hollydaies at the tyme
of Divine service and other Godlie exercyses, to the disturbance of
the service, and bad example that those kinde of pastimes should be
used in such sorte and at suche tyme when men do assemble togeather
for the hearinge of God’s worde and to joyne in Common praiers, which
sportes are moste ordinarilye used at those undue seasons by such as
are evill affected in religion, purposlie by those meanes to drawe the
people from the service of God, and to disturbe the same. Theis shalbe
therefore to praie your Lordship by vertue hereof to give knowledge
not onlie to the Byshop of that Dioces of this common and unsufferable
disorder, but to give speciall direction to all the Justices in theire
severall divisions by all meanes to forbid and not to suffer theis or
the like pastimes to be in anye place whatsoever on the Sondaie or
Holydaie at the tyme of Divine service. And yf notwithstandinge this
straite prohibicion and speciall order taken, any shall presume to
use the saide sportes or pastimes in the tyme [of] services, sermons
or other Godlye exercyses, you shall cause the favorers, mayntainers
or cheife offenders to be sent up hether to answere this theire
contentions and lewde behaviour before us.
xcii.
[_c._ 1592, _c._ July. Undated documents, printed by Greg,
_Henslowe Papers_, 42, from _Dulwich MS._ i. 16–18; also
in Collier, _Alleyn Memoirs_, 33–6. I agree with Greg (cf.
Henslowe, ii. 52) that 1592 is a more likely date than 1593,
during the whole of the long vacation of which plague ruled.
We have not the terms of the Surrey inhibition of 23 June 1592
(cf. No. xc), but it may have made an exception for Newington
Butts. If so, the documents can hardly be later than July, as
the plague was increasing by 13 Aug. (Dasent, xxiii. 118). But
Greg tacitly assumes that no earlier year than 1592 can be in
question, and as against this, cf. vol. i, p. 359. I think that
1591 is a conceivable alternative, as Strange’s (q.v.) were
probably at the Rose by the spring of that year. There is no
corroborative evidence, indeed, of any inhibition in 1591. But
do the documents point to a general inhibition? The inference
from (b) is that houses other than the Rose were open.]
(_a_)
[Petition from Strange’s men to the Privy Council.]
To the right honorable our verie good Lordes, the Lordes of her
maiesties moste honorable privie Councell.
Our dueties in all humblenes remembred to your honours. Forasmuche
(righte honorable) oure Companie is greate, and thearbie our chardge
intollerable, in travellinge the Countrie, and the Contynuaunce thereof
wilbe a meane to bringe vs to division and seperacion, whearebie wee
shall not onelie be vndone, but alsoe vnreadie to serve her maiestie,
when it shall please her highenes to commaund vs, And for that the
vse of our plaiehowse on the Banckside, by reason of the passage to
and frome the same by water, is a greate releif to the poore watermen
theare, And our dismission thence, nowe in this longe vacation, is to
those poore men a greate hindraunce, and in manner an vndoeinge, as
they generallie complaine, Both our and theire humble peticion and
suite thearefore to your good honnours is, That youe wilbe pleased of
your speciall favour to recall this our restrainte, and permitt vs the
vse of the said Plaiehowse againe. And not onelie our selues But alsoe
a greate nomber of poore men shalbe especiallie bounden to praie for
yor Honours.
Your honours humble suppliantes,
The righte honorable the Lord Straunge
his servantes and Plaiers.
(_b_)
[Petition from the Watermen of the Bankside to Lord Admiral
Howard.]
To the right honnorable my Lorde Haywarde Lorde highe
Admirall of Englande and one of her maiesties moste
honnorable previe Counsayle.
In most hvmble manner Complayneth and sheweth vnto your good
Lordeshipp, your poore suppliantes and dayly Oratours Phillipp Henslo,
and others the poore watermen on the bancke side. Whereas your good
L. hathe derected your warrant vnto hir maiesties Justices, for the
restraynte of a playe howse belonginge vnto the saide Phillipp Henslo
one of the groomes of her maiesties Chamber, So it is, if it please
your good Lordshipp, that wee your saide poore watermen have had muche
helpe and reliefe for vs oure poore wives and Children by meanes of
the resorte of suche people as come vnto the said playe howse, It
maye therefore please your good L. for godes sake and in the waye of
Charetie to respecte vs your poore water men, and to give leave vnto
the said Phillipp Henslo to have playinge in his saide howse duringe
suche tyme as others have, according as it hathe byne accustomed.
And in your honnors so doinge youe shall not onely doe a good and a
Charitable dede, but also bynde vs all according to oure dewties, with
oure poore wives and Children dayly to praye for your honnor in muche
happynes longe to lyve.
Isack Towelle. William Dorret, master of her maiestes barge.
[Fifteen signatures or marks of royal watermen and others follow.]
(_c_)
[Warrant from the Privy Council for the reopening of the Rose.]
Wheareas not longe since vpon some Consideracions we did restraine
the Lorde Straunge his servauntes from playinge at the Rose on the
banckside, and enioyned them to plaie three daies at Newington Butts,
Now forasmuch as wee are satisfied that by reason of the tediousnes
of the waie and that of longe tyme plaies haue not there bene vsed
on working daies, And for that a nomber of poore watermen are therby
releeved, Youe shall permitt and suffer them or any other there to
exercise them selues in suche sorte as they haue don heretofore, And
that the Rose maie be at libertie without any restrainte, solonge as
yt shalbe free from infection of sicknes, Any Comaundement from vs
heretofore to the Contrye notwithstandinge: ffrom.
To the Justices Bayliffes Constables and others to whome yt shall
Apperteyne.
xciii.
[1593, Jan. 28. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register
in Dasent, xxiv. 31.]
A letter to the Lord Maiour and Aldermen of the cittie of London.
Forasmuch as by the certificate of the last weeke yt appeareth the
infection doth increase, which by the favour of God and with your
diligent observance of her Majesty’s comandementes and the meanes and
orders prescribed to be put in execution within the cittie of London
maie speedelie cease. Yeat for the better furderance therof we thinke
yt fytt that all manner of concourse and publique meetinges of the
people at playes, beare-baitinges, bowlinges and other like assemblyes
for sportes be forbidden, and therefore doe hereby requier you and
in her Majesty’s name straightlie charge and commande you forthwith
to inhibite within your jurisdiction all plaies, baiting of beares,
bulls, bowling and any other like occasions to assemble any nombers of
people together (preacheing and Devyne service at churches excepted),
wherby no occasions be offred to increase the infection within the
cittie, which you shall doe both by proclamacion to be published to
that ende and by spetiall watche and observacion to be had at the
places where the plaies, beare-baitinges, bowlinges and like pastimes
are usually frequented. And if you shall upon the publicacion finde
any so undutifull and disobedient as they will notwithstanding this
prohibition offer to plaie, beate beares or bulles, bowle, &c., you
shall presentelie cause them to be apprehended and comitted to prison,
there to remaine untill by their order they shalbe dismissed. And
to the end the like assemblies within the out liberties adjoyning
to the cittie [may be prohibited], we have given direction to the
Justices of the Peace and other publique officers of the counties of
Middelsex and Surrey to hold the like course, not onlie within the
said liberties but also within the distance of seven myles about the
cittie, which we doubte not they will carefullie see to be executed, as
you for your partes within the cittie will doe the like, in reguarde
of her Majestie’s comandement, the benefitt of the cittie and for the
respectes alreadie signified unto you.
Two other letters of the like tenour written to the Justices of the
Peace within the counties of Surrey and Middelsex for the prohibition
of like assemblies in the out liberties and within seven miles of the
cittie of either countie.
xciv.
[1593, April 12. Minute of City Court of Aldermen, printed in
Harrison, iv. 322, from _Repertory_, xxiii, f. 50^v.]
[Sidenote: Elders of the Councell. Bearebaitinge and plaies.]
Item, yt is ordered that Sir Richarde Martyn, Knighte, and Master
Saltonstall, aldermen, shall repayre to the righte honourable the
Lordes and others of her Maiesties most honorable Pryuey Counsell,
towching the presente suppressinge of bearebaitinge, bowling alleyes,
and such like prophane exercises within this Cytie, and the libertyes
thereof, and other places neare adioyninge. And Christofer Stubbes to
warne them, etc.
xcv.
[1593, April 29. Privy Council Minute, printed Dasent, xxiv.
209.]
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.