from overcharging. John Shakespeare’s work has never an “abatement”
against it, so he evidently either charged fair prices, or had special
Court favour.
In a tilting account of Lord Compton’s--Exchequer Q.R. 435 (16)--we
find for one quarter in 1622:
To John Shakespeare for 7 Bittes with caste & guilt bosses for
coursers at xx_s._, vii_li._
For 12 Watering Bitts for Coursers at ii_s._ vi_d._, xxx_s._
More to the said John Shakespeare for 8 cavasson irons at v_s._, xl_s._
For esses, chaines, curbes, boults, rivets, rings, and all other
reparacions, iv_li._ xv_s._
To John Shakespeare for 4 bittes with caste & guilt bosses for
coursers at xx_s._ iv_li._
4 Bittes for the bottle horses [_i.e._, botell, pack, or hay horses]
at vi_s._ a piece, xxiv_s._
“The perticulers of the seconde accompte of Spencer, Lord Compton,
Master of the Wardrobe and the Robes to the High & Mighty Prince
Charles, Prince of Wales,” etc.--(Exchequer Q.R. 435 (20), 1622-3):
To John Shakespeare for one bitt playne guilt with caste and guilte
bosses, iii_li._
For 4 Bitts plaine silvered at l_s._ a bitt, x_li._
For 2 Bittes chaste with goulde and silver at iii_li._ a piece, vi_li._
For Silvered Boults, rings, and hooks for curbes and esses, v_li._
For 3 snaffles, hatchte, and gilte at xiii_s._ iiii_d._ a piece, xl_s._
“The Accompt of Lord Compton”--Exchequer 436 (1), 20-21 James I--gives
a long list, among which are the items--
Three bottell byttes without bosses at vi_s._ a piece, xviii_s._
For trymming & moutheing 22 byttes for Coursers at iii_s._, iii_li._
[_sic_].
In 1624 there is a little variety in Lord Compton’s bill--Exchequer
Q.R. 436 (2):
To John Shakespeare for 8 Bittes for the horses of the crimson
carroche [“For the Queen of Bohemia” is the marginal reference] at
xv_s._ a bitte, vi_li._
To John Shakespeare for 6 bittes with chased and gilt bosses at xx_s._
a piece, vi_li._
For a dozen of Snaffles, xx_s._
To John Shakespeare for 2 gilt and silvered bitts for the said sadles,
v_li._
For 2 watering snaffles, iii_s._ iiii_d._
The Earl of Northampton gives his accounts in a great roll, with the
sum total of each bill and the name of the workman, referring to the
special books. In this occur the name of John Shakespeare and the
amount of his bills; but it seems unnecessary to do more than give the
reference--Exchequer Q.R. 436 (3). Collier noted some of the entries.
With all this special work on lines associated with tournaments, it is
evidently _possible_ that John Shakespeare might be the person referred
to in the Belvoir accounts. As there is more than a possibility
that this John is the cousin who disappears from Snitterfield, the
association with Burbage may be naturally explained. I have not made up
my own mind upon the subject, but so many have asked me to put forward
the facts that I thought it wise to do so. If there is nothing more
in them, they at least prove that there was another contemporary and
well-to-do “Mr. Shakespeare” in Court service, engaged in work which
might have suggested employment “about my Lorde’s impreso.”
_“Athenæum,” 16th May 1908._
XXIII
“THE QUEEN’S PLAYERS” IN 1536
Dramatic records of Henry VIII’s reign are very scarce, and therefore
it may be of interest to some students to have the text of a little
Chancery suit to which I was guided through the studies of Mr. J.
S. Young. It is undated by the scribe, but a proximate date may be
reckoned. The appeal was addressed to “Sir Thomas Awdley,” who was
appointed Chancellor in 1533, and he was made Lord Audley of Walden,
29th November 1538. The complaint states that the company were Queen
Jane’s players, “late her servants.” As she was married only in June
1536, and as the cause of the dispute was referred back to “a year and
three quarters past,” and she died in 1537, the complaint must have
been brought just before the Chancellor was ennobled in 1538.
The document does not tell us much. It only gives the names of the
chief members of the company as John Young, John Sly, David Sotherne,
and John Mountfield (names that appear in the Lord Chamberlain’s
books); and shows that they had been travelling professionally in “the
northern parts,” and came to trouble over their packhorse.
The only earlier notice of “the Queen’s company” was in 1532, when
it must have been Queen Katherine’s, whose waning power may have
accounted for the trifling reward at Oxford “given to her players by
the President’s orders,” viz. 12_d._ (E. K. Chambers, ii, 249.)
_Early Chancery Proceedings. Uncalendared_
(Bundle 931, 11, Y., no date given.)
TO SIR THOMAS AWDLEY, LORD CHANCELLOR.
In most humble wise sheweth unto your goode Lordshippe your dayly
orator John Yonge mercer, that whereas he with one John Slye, David
Sotherne, and John Mounffeld, late servants unto the most gracious
Queene Jane, abought a yere and 3 quarters past, to thentent for
the further increase of lyvinge to travail into the north partes in
exercising theire usuall feates of playinge in interludes, he your
said orator, with his other companions aforesaid, hyred a gelding of
oon Randolphe Starkey to beare there playing garments, paying for the
use of the same gelding twenty pence weekley till there comyng home
ageyne, at which time the said Starkey well and truly promysed to
your said orator and other his said companions that the said gelding
should be goode, and able to performe there journey where of trouthe
the same geldinge was defectyve, and skarsly servyed them in there
said journey, by the space of four wekes, by occasion whereof your
said orator, with other his said companyons, susteyned great damadge,
as may evidently appere to all that have experience in such travayles
and affayres. Ageynst whom they can attayne small _redress_ onles they
shuld leve other their more necessary affayers to be undoon, yet
nevertheless the said Starkey, intending to have more for the hyer of
the said geldinge then of equitie is due, And also to charge your said
orator of the hoolle hyer, where of trought he made his bargayne and
receyved ernest for the hyer of the said geldinge, as well of thother
thre aforenamed as of your said orator. He late commenced a playnt of
det uppon the demande of twenty-four shillings only agaynst your said
orator before the Sheriffes of London, who uppon the same caused hym
to be arrested, in which accion he declared upon a graunte of payment
of forty shillings for the said geldinge to be made by yor said
orator sole, whereof he affyrmed hymself to be satisfied of sixteen
shillings, wherewith yor said orator, having no lerned councill,
pleaded that he owed him nothinge, &c.... In which Accyon your said
Orator is nowe lyke to be condempned onles yor goode Lordshippes
lefful favour be to hym shewed in this behalf. In consideracion
whereof it may please the same to graunte a writ of Cerciorari to be
directed unto the Lord Mayor and Sherevez of London commandinge theym
by the same to remove the tenor and cause of youre saide orator’s
arrest before your Lordship in the King’s Highe Courte of the Chancery
at a certaine daye by your gracious Lordship to be lymytted, to
thentent the cyrcumstances thereof maye be by your saide Lordeship
examined and ordered according to equytie and good conscience. And
your said orator shall ever more praye to God for the prosperous
preservation of your goode Lordship in Honor.
ATKYNS (attorney).
Further papers concerning this suit do not seem to have been preserved.
But it gives the earliest picture yet known of “the glorious vagabonds
who erstwhile carried fardels on their backs” under the title of “the
Queen’s players.”
_“Athenæum,” 24th January 1914._
XXIV
MARY’S CHAPEL ROYAL AND HER CORONATION PLAY
No previous sovereign had made on his coronation so sudden and complete
a change in the Chapel Royal of his predecessor as Mary did. The Bishop
of Norwich was the Dean; six priests replaced so many clerks and
gentlemen; little boys to bear censers and crosses were introduced; the
communion table became the altar once more; the English service was
replaced by the Latin; the metrical Psalms were banished, and the old
Psalters and Antiphonals took their place. Doubtless to the gentlemen
of the Chapel who had taken the oath of fealty this latter change was
welcome, from the Psalms sung in unison (for there is no mention of
Crowley’s four parts having been used at Court) to the richer harmonies
and more “curious” music of the old service. But Mary’s changes marked
conservative, not revolutionary, ideas. She never thought her young
brother old enough to understand or to judge for himself in matters
of such great moment, and she wanted to conform to the customs of her
progenitors on their accession in so far as she could.
Therefore, among other things, she ordered a play to be performed at
her Coronation, and the “gentlemen of the Chapel Royal,” as was their
wont, were to perform it.
Meanwhile her poet, whoever he was, must have taken his cue from
a general caution. On 16th August the Privy Council prepared a
“Proclamation for reformation of busy medlers in matters of religion,
and for redresse of Prechers, printers, players.” This was printed[93]
and circulated on 18th August, and treated of “the playing of
Interludes and printing of false fond bookes, ballettes, rhymes, and
other lewde treatises in the English tongue concerning matters now in
Question and controversy.” No one was to play an interlude without the
Queen’s licence in writing. Collier, “History of the Stage,” i, 154,
says that “a play had been ordered on the occasion of her coronation,
which, we may presume, was performed by the gentlemen of the Chapel.”
But he says no more. Stowe does not further allude to it, and the name
of the play is not known. Others state that it was postponed until
Christmas. Therefore it is of some importance that certain definite
facts should be recorded and preserved concerning it. Apparently the
play _was_ performed by the gentlemen of the Chapel, and their dresses,
which had probably been prepared before, were given out to them on 30th
September.
Among the papers subsidiary to the Wardrobe Accounts is a Royal Warrant
(Excheq. Acc., 427, 5 (9)):
TO OUR TRUSTY AND RIGHT WELBELOVED COUNSAILOR SIR
EDWARD WALGRAUE KNIGHT, Mʳ OF OUR GREAT WARDROBE.
Marye the Quene. By the Quene. We will and comande you furthwith upon
the sight hereof, to provide and deliver to the berer hereof, for the
gentlemen of oure Chapell for a play to be playde before us for the
feaste of oure coronacion, as in tymes past hathe ben accustomed to
be don by the gentlemen of the Chapell of oure Progenitors, all suche
nessesary stuff and other thinges as hereafter followithe.
Item, _Genus Humanum_, for a gowne purple breges satten, vii yardes
(purple)
Item, V Virgins’ Cassockes of white breges satten, and vii. yardes for
euery of them, that is to saye xxxv. yardes
Item, Reason, Verytie and Plentie, euery of them vii yardes purple
(breges satten), xxi. yardes (purple)
Self-Love, a Cassocke of rede Satten of Breges, vii yardes
Care a Cassocke of grene Satten of Breges, vii yardes
Skarsitie, a woman’s Cassocke of Russett Satten of Breges, vii yardes
Disceate, a Cassocke of rede breges satten 7 yardes
Sickeness, Febleness, Deformitie, three longe gownes, one of Tawny
Satten, the other of ashe-colored satten, the other blacke satten, for
every of them viii yardes, xxiv yardes
For the Epilogge a Cassocke of blacke Damaske and ix yardes of purple
Damaske for a longe gowne for the same, xvi yardes
Item, a shorte gowne of rede damaske for the Ende, vi yardes
Item, thre shorte gownes of purple breges satten for the Ende, vi
yardes for euery of them, xviii yardes
The bad angell iii. yardes of Kersey, and winges for the good angel
and the bad, three thromde hates and tenn dosson of counters, and
what you shall lake for the furniture hereof to provide and se them
furnished, and theis shalbe yor warrante in this parte. Yeven at oure
Pallace of Westminster the last of Septembre in the firste yere of
oure reign.
Summa: Of Damaske xxi yardes, of breges satten vi score xiii yardes,
of Kersey thre yardes.
Among the old plays which have come down to us, either in print or in
manuscript, I cannot find any which would fit this cast. It could not
have been “The Castle of Perseverance,” as Humanum Genus there enters
as a child, and except the “good and bad angel,” the characters are
all different; nor the other allegory called by Collier “Mankind,”
which gives Mercy, New Guise, and Now-a-days, Mischief, Nought, etc.
Nor could it have been “Respublica,” said to have been made in the
year 1553, 1 Mary, and to have been played before the Queen. The
Prologue is spoken by the author himself in the character of the Poet,
and the other characters are Respublica (England), Authority, Policy,
Oppression, Avarice, Insolence, Adulation, Nemesis, Misericordia,
Justitia, Honesty, Pax, People. Nor could it have been the old play of
Nature and Reason; nor the Interlude of Youth. So it may be reckoned as
an interlude of which neither the name nor the text is as yet known,
but it may some day be discovered through this cast. Of its plot we may
at least guess that it would be in supposed prophetic relation to the
Queen’s reign, and that all the good characters would triumph over the
bad. Of its author no clue has as yet been found.
John Heywood was an interlude writer of the time, formerly a singing
gentleman in the Chapel, and jester to Queen Mary. Udall had written
plays, and various scholars of the universities had tried their
hands. It might have been put together by one of these, or by one of
the gentlemen of the Chapel: Richard Farrant, afterwards Master of
the Children of Windsor, is known to have written interludes, and so
is William Hunnis, author of many pieces in “The Paradise of Dainty
Devises,” and many religious poems in the following reign, when he was
also the Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal, and designer of
the great festivities at Kenilworth, 1575. His friend Thomas Newton
writes of him that in the prime of youth he had written besides “sonets
sweete,” also “interludes and gallant lays,” which have not come down
to us.
If we do not know the author, there is a good deal to learn about the
actors. From the “Order of the Royal Household of Edward IV” we know
their necessary qualifications and duties, not their numbers; for
while there were twenty gentlemen and eight children in Henry VIII’s
time, in Edward’s they were raised to thirty-two gentlemen and twelve
children, a number kept up by Mary. From the royal warrants to the
Keeper of the Great Wardrobe we know that they all had new liveries for
the Coronation. A further warrant for new surplices includes several
other small items for chapel use, and a list of the names of the
gentlemen. As there is no list previous to 1561 printed, except that of
Hawkins and Burney in their “History of Music,” without date, and with
the hazy reference to “A MS. in the British Museum,” which has thus
indefinitely been followed by all musical writers and by Rimbault in
his “Cheque-Book of the Chapel Royal,” it will be as well to print this
duly authenticated list here. One referring to the mourning for Edward
VI appeared in “Archaeologia.” I have found three others at the British
Museum with definite references and one at the Society of Antiquaries,
but none of them agrees exactly with that of Hawkins and Burney, the
original of which has yet to be found.
EXCHEQUER ACCOUNTS, 427. 5, (10) BY THE QUENE.
Marye the Quene. We will and commande you furthwith upon the sight
hereof to delyver, or cause to be delyuerid, unto our servaunte Robert
Bassocke, serieante of our Vestrye, to be by hym employed within our
chappell aboute the seruyce of God, these parcells followynge, that is
to saie for our Subdeane of the said Chappell two surplices of drawne
worke; for 32 gentilmen and yomen, threscore and foure surplices;
for 12 children, foure and twentie surplices; for foure children
for Sensers and tapers, eight Albes for ravyshmente with Amyttes to
them; for three children to carie three crosses in precession, sixe
albes with Amyttes to them; for the High Altar prestes, deacon, and
subdeacon, for foure sewtes, twelve Albes, and for corporas clothes
four elles of fyne clothe; for the two lowe alters foure Albes and
foure elles for corporas cloths. For the high aultar foure aulter
clothes of five Elles apece, for towelles for the said high aulter
foure Ellys, and two Ellys for the Lowe Alters; for sixe Aulter
clothes for the Lowe Aulters eighteen elles. Also two payer of Tynne
Crewettes, one Lether potte for water and one gyspay of lether for
wyne. Also sixe peace of Tape for tucking girdelles. Also twelve dosen
of silke poyntes for Copes. Also one hundreth crochettes, and five
hundreth hookes, for green clothe to folde stuffe upon three veardes.
Also one coffer to trusse in plate. Also two bare hydes to cover the
stuffe in cartes, one hammer and one payre of pynsons. Also one small
fyre shovell to fyll censers, and a grete shovel to carie coles. And
these our lettres shalbe yor suffycient warraunte and dischardge in
that behalf. Yeven under our signet at our mannor of St Jeamys, the
17ᵗʰ day of September in the first yere of our reigne.
To the Officers of oure grete Wardrobe for the tyme being and to any
of them
THE COURT OFFICERS.... THE CHAPPELL ...
Warraunte for the Chapell Lyueryes against the coronacion, f. 23.
The Bushop of Norwiche, Deane of the Chapell.
Emery Tuckfelde, preste.
Nicholas Archebolde, preste.
William Walker, preste.
Roberte Chamberlain, preste.
William Gravesend, preste.
John Angell, preste.
William Hechons.
Thomas Byrde.
Richarde Bowre.
Robert Perye.
William Barbour.
Robert Richmonte.
Thomas Wayte.
Thomas Tallis.
Nicholas Melawe.
Thomas Wright.
John Bendbowe.
Robert Stone.
John Shepherdes.
William Mauperly.
George Edwardes.
Robert Marecocke.
William Hinnes.
Rice Aleworth.
Thomas Palfreman.
Roger Centon.
Lucas Caustell.
Richarde Farrante.
Edwarde Addams.
Mr. John Singer, gospeller preste.
Robert Bassock, Serjeante of the Vestrey.
Thomas Causton.
Richard Luen.
John Denman.
Walter Thirlbye.
Morres Tedder.
Hugh Williams.
xii Children of the Chappell.
It may be noted that there are only thirty-one instead of thirty-two.
It is possible that one has been accidentally omitted, probably John
Lucam, yeoman; or some one may have refused even then to take the oath
of allegiance. Several other names appear in other lists. Every one of
these, in his day, must have been of some note.
The Chapel Royal was the haven of the best musical talent of the day.
Every music lover knows of Shepherd, Tallis, Farrant; and Marbeck’s
service was harmonized by these in conjunction with some of the minor
names above. Thomas Byrde was the father of William Byrde, the pupil
and associate of Tallis. Thomas Palfreyman was a well-known writer on
moral philosophy, as well as a musician.
We have no clue to the names of the twenty-three performers selected
from these, either for their fitness, or as a special mark of honour.
Richard Bowyer was the Master of the Children then, William Hunnis and
Richard Farrant were Masters of the Children afterwards, so these three
would probably have definite histrionic powers. Of their appearance we
know little. We only know of one of them, William Hunnis, that he was a
very handsome young man, as this is stated in the examinations of the
prisoners at the Tower in 1556.
As to the day and hour of the performance, there is no definite
information. John Stow mentions that during her progress from the Tower
to Westminster on Saturday 30th September
At Fanchurch was a costly pageant made by the Genouwayes, at Grace
Church Corner there was another pageant made by the Easterlings. At
the upper end of Grace Street there was another pageant very high,
made by the Florentines.... One other pageant at the little conduit in
Cheape next to Paul’s, made by the Cittie, where the Aldermen stood
... and in Paul’s Churchyard, against the school, one Master Haywood
sate in a pageant under a Vine, and made unto her an oration in Latin
and English.
It may be remembered that it was _after_ she reached Westminster in
the afternoon that she signed the warrant for the dresses. After the
Coronation services in the Abbey on Sunday, which are of course well
known, came the Coronation feast, the details of which are not so well
known, and are worth recording. “She was conveyed in goodly order unto
Westmynster Hall to dinner” (Cotton MS., App. xxviii, 24). In MS. 34,
320, f. 97, Brit. Mus., we find the
_Summa Fercularum_ [or number of the dishes] served on Sonday at
Westminster ye first of October for ye coronacion off Quene Mary 1553.
First bourd. At ye First Bord sat Regina, ye bishoppe, ye Lady
Elizabethe, ye Lady Anne of Cleves, dishes in ye hole 156, with ye
kevers 312.
Dukes, Marques, Erles, and all other Lords spirituall and temporall,
and ye barons of Thexchequer, to sitt at ye middel bourd, on ye ryght
hand off ye hawle, 500 dishes.
Duchesses, Marchionesses, Countesses, and other Ladies of honor at ye
middel bourde, on ye left hand of ye hawle, 500 dishes.
Barons of ye V porttes, &c., at ye side bourd upon ye right hand off
ye Queene, next ye wall, 450 dishes.
Lord Maior of London &c at ye side board in ye hawle on ye left hand
of ye Quene, next the wall 450 dishes.
4900 dishes wast, in all 7112.
The food served at these five boards is most remarkable, and accounts
for a considerable part of the levy of £20,000 which Mary made on the
City of London. To note it all would take too much space, but the
Queen’s dinner is really too interesting to pass. In the same MS. (f.
86) we find:
The Fare at the Royal Table for the Queene, the Bishop, and the Lady
Elizabeth, three messe of like fare.
1st course, A warner of the feast. Brewet blanck, viand Sipers. The
Wyld Bore’s head. Pheasaunt in Stew. Pestles of red deer powdered.
Signets larded with Chawdorne. Capons in hault gr. in brewett.
Carpets of Venison in Egerduc. Pikes gr. in Armor. Langetts larded
and endored. Herush larded. Doreie or. Friands de Shappord. Custard
Royall. Leach solas in Mountaine. Fritters Pomanders. A subtlety made
representing a Queene’s Estate, with this Scripture “Vox populi vox
Dei. Vivat Regine Marye.”
2nd course. Jelly Blancke in Rocks Pott. Rudge Mange Royal in barrye.
Pecock in hackley. Rooe reverste. Bittores larded. Connyes larded.
Coungers gr. in soild. Knotts or good Wytts. Brawne or Carpe gr. on
soppes in sharpe sawce. Phesaunt larded. Peions. Snights. Venison in
paste Royall of fallow and red. Florentyne garnisshed. The Cheste
board garnisshed. The tarte melior. Leach Lemoney. Fritters sharp. A
Subtlety of ----.
3rd course. Jelly Rubie gilt. Caudelet Royalle. Crane larded. Rayles.
Plovers green. Fresh Sturgion. Quailes. Feasaunt in his Royaltye.
Larks. A subtletye made of a Castle garnished with armes of England,
Fraunce, Ireland, and Spaine. Great Burt in Soile furnishes garnished.
Red Deer backt froit. Oranges conserved in paste. Tarte borbonett.
Leach Viand. Fritters Roisset. A subtletye made wherein shalbe
enclosed with four pillers a device representing vii Cardinal Vertues
with their scriptures.
Apparently each of these was reduplicated three times, except the
subtleties; and the three “messes” seem to have been one for the
Queen, one for the Bishop (_i.e._, of Winchester, who had crowned her
that day) and one for the two ladies who sat at her board. That this
distinction was carried out may be inferred from the following note:
_Servers._
The Earl of Sussex for the Queen.
Sir Humphrey Ratcliffe for the Bishop.
Sir Anthony Browne for the Ladies.