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.]
A letter to certaine Justices of the Peace in the county of Middlesex.
Wee do understand that certaine players that use to recyte their playes
at the Curtaine in Moorefeildes do represent upon the stage in their
interludes the persons of some gentlemen of good desert and quallity
that are yet alive under obscure manner, but yet in such sorte as all
the hearers may take notice both of the matter and the persons that
are meant thereby. This beinge a thinge very unfitte, offensive and
contrary to such direccion as have bin heretofore taken that no plaies
should be openly shewed but such as were first perused and allowed and
that might minister no occasion of offence or scandall, wee do hereby
require you that you do forthwith forbidd those players to whomsoever
they appertaine that do play at the Courtaine in Moorefeildes to
represent any such play, and that you will examine them who made that
play and to shew the same unto you, and as you in your discreccions
shall thincke the same unfitte to be publiquely shewed to forbidd them
from henceforth to play the same eyther privately or publiquely, and
yf upon veiwe of the said play you shall finde the subject so odious
and inconvenient as is informed, wee require you to take bond of the
cheifest of them to aunswere their rashe and indiscreete dealing before
us. So, &c.
cxxviii.
[1601, Dec. 31. Minute of letter from Privy Council to Justices
of Middlesex and Surrey, printed by Dasent, xxxii. 466, and
Halliwell-Phillipps, i. 309, from Council Register.]
Two letters of one tenour to the Justices of Middlesex and Surrey.
It is in vaine for us to take knowledg of great abuses and disorders
complayned of and to give order for redresse, if our directions finde
no better execution and observation then it seemeth they do, and wee
must needes impute the fault and blame thereof to you or some of you,
the Justices of the Peace, that are put in trust to see them executed
and perfourmed, whereof wee may give you a plaine instance in the great
abuse contynued or rather encreased in the multitude of plaie howses
and stage plaies in and about the cittie of London.
For whereas about a yeare and a half since (upon knowledge taken of
the great enormities and disorders by the overmuch frequentinge of
plaies) wee did carefullie sett downe and prescribe an order to be
observed concerninge the number of playhowses and the use and exercise
of stage plaies, with lymytacion of tymes and places for the same
(namely that there should be but two howses allowed for that use, one
in Middlesex called the Fortune and the other in Surrey called the
Globe, and the same with observacion of certaine daies and times as in
the said order is particularly expressed), in such sorte as a moderate
practice of them for honest recreation might be contynued, and yet the
inordinate concourse of dissolute and idle people be restrayned, wee do
now understande that our said order hath bin so farr from takinge dew
effect, as in steede of restrainte and redresse of the former disorders
the multitude of play howses is much encreased, and that no daie
passeth over without many stage plaies in one place or other within and
about the cittie publiquelie made.