(Vol. ii., pp. 184. 459.; Vol. iii., p. 21.)
From the following extract from the _Thes. Rek._ (Treasury Accounts) of
Utrecht, it appears that English actors performed there:
"Schenkelwyn, 31 July, 1597. Sekere Engelsche Comedianten, voor hore
speelen op ten Stadhuyse, 8 q. Fransche wyns."--(To certain English
Comedians, for their playing at the town-hall, eight quarts of French
wine.)
In the _Gerechtsdagboecken_ (Minutes of the Council) of Leyden appear
several requests of English comedians to perform there in 1614; these I
hope soon to have in hand. I can now give the decision of the Council on
the request of the Englishman W. Pedel:
"Op te Requeste daerby den voorn. Willem Pedel, versochte aen die van
de Gerechte der stadt Leyden omme te mogen speelen verscheyde fraeye
ende eerlicke spelen mettet lichaem, sonder eenige woorden te
gebruycken, stont geappostileert: Die van de Gerechte deser stadt
Leyden hebben voor zoe veel in hem es, den thoonder toegelaten ende
geconsenteert, laten toe ende consenteren mits desen binnen dezer stede
inde Kercke vant Bagynhoff te mogen spelen voor de gemeente ende syne
speelen verthoonen, mits dat hy hem daervan zalt onthouden geduyrende
tdoen van de predicatien van Gods woorts, en dat de arme Weesen alhier
zullen genieten de gerechte helfte van de incomende proffyten, en dat
zulex int geheel zullen werden ontfangen en gecollecteert by een
persoon daertoe bij M^{ren} van de Arme Weesen te stellen ende
committeeren.
"Aldus gedaen op ten xviij Nov. 1608."
(_Translation._)
On the request by which the aforesaid W. Pedel petitioned the
authorities of the city of Leyden to allow him to exhibit various
beautiful and chaste performances with his body, without using any
words, was determined: The authorities of this city of Leyden have
consented and allowed the exhibitor to perform in the church of the
Bagynhoff within this city, provided he cease during the preaching of
God's word, and that the poor orphans here have half the profits, and
that they be received and collected by a person appointed by the
masters of the poor orphans.
Done on the 18th November, 1608.
In 1656 English comedians came to Dordrecht, but were soon obliged to
withdraw. About 1600 some appeared in Germany, who considerably diminished
the taste for biblical and moral pieces. See Dr. Schotel, _Blik in de
Gesch. v.h. tooneel._; Gervinus, _Neuere Geschichte der poetischen
Nationalliteratur der Deutschen_, vol. iii. pp. 96-100.--_From the
Navorscher._