406 ANNALS OF THE STAGE, FROM THE YEAR 1617 TO THE END OF THE THE fondness of James for theatrical performances can scarcely be evidenced more strongly than by the fact that he was attended, during his journey to the North, by a regular company of players (probably those which were especially called the King's servants *), and that the children of the Chapel, and a number of musicians, also formed part of his retinue t. While he was still in Scotland, a warrant was issued for the * It will be seen hereafter, that his Majesty's comedians' were required to attend Charles I. in his progress in 1636; and, perhaps, the instance before us was then taken as a precedent. Arthur Wilson, in his 'Life and Reign of James I.,' thus speaks of the King's progress to his northern dominions:—' He begins his 'journey with the spring, warming the country as he went with the " glories of the court: taking such recreations by the way as might 'best beguile the days and cut them shorter, but lengthen the nights '(contrary to the seasons), for what with hawking, hunting, and horse'racing, the days ran quickly away; and the nights with feasting, 'masking, and dancing were the more extended. And the King had 'fit instruments for these sports about his person, as Sir George Goring, 'Sir Edward Zouch, Sir John Finnit and others, that could fit and ' obtemperate the King's humour; for he loved such representations ' and disguises in their masqueradoes as were witty and sudden: the 'more ridiculous the more pleasant.' payment of the players, which is thus noticed in the registers of the Privy Council: • 11th July, 1617. 'A warrant to the L. Stanhope, Treasurer of his Majesties Chamber, to cause payment to be made to ' certaine players for three Stage Playes, that were acted before his Majestie in his journey to Scotland, 'such summes of money as is usual in the like kinde.' The fact that James was also accompanied by the children of the Chapel, and singing men,' appears from a satirical and abusive account of Scotland, written by some person who attended the King in his journey, and preserved among the Harleian MSS.* It is there said, that the Scotch had prevailed upon some of the children of the Chapel to eat oat-cakes for the maintenance of their voices,' and that a party of the royal singing men' had arrived by sea. It is asserted of the Scotch generally, in reference to our subject, that they hold their nose if you talk of bearbaiting, and stop their ears if you talk of plays,' and the production ends with these words :-' To conclude, 'I am fully persuaded, that if Christ and his Angels ་ 6 at the last day should come down in their white gar'ments, they (the Scotch) would run away and cry, "The Children of the Chapel are come again to tor'ment us! Let us flee from the abomination of these 'boys, and hide us in the mountains! The Marquis d'Ancre was killed in Paris, in the *MSS. Harl., No. 444. middle of April, 1617, and in June an attempt was made to bring that event upon the stage in London. Of this circumstance the Privy Council, during the absence of the King, obtained information, and the following letter was written by that body to Sir George Buc, Master of the Revels : 6 'June 22nd, 1617. "Wee are informed that there are certeyne Players, 'or Comedians, we know not of what Company, that goe about to play some enterlude concerning the late Marquesse d'Ancre, which for many respects wee thinke not fitt to be suffered. Wee doe therefore require you, upon your perill, to take order that the 'same be not represented or played in any place about this Citty, or elsewhere where you have authoritie. And hereof have you a speciall care.' 6 The King returned to London on the 15th of September, and the brother of Lord Buckingham was married to the daughter of Sir Edward Coke at Hampton Court in presence of the King, with all solemnity, on the 29th of the same month. We hear nothing of any theatrical performances on the occasion, and the deficiency might arise from the want of time to make preparations * From the following passage in Dugdale's Origin. Jurid., p.285, it appears that in the autumn, soon after his return, the King was entertained with Barriers at the expense of the Society of Gray's Inn. In 14 Jac. (17th October), it was ordered that every Reader, an'cient Barrister, and other gentleman that should be in town between that time, and the end of Hilary Term then next following, or who then In a letter from John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carlton, dated January 1st, 1617-18, we read A. D. the following paragraph respecting the enter- 1618. tainments at Court at that season:- 6 The Muscovy 'Ambassadors shall be feasted at Court to-morrow, ' and on Twelfth-night is the Prince's Mask. There 6 was a Mask of nine Ladies in hand at their own cost, whereof the principal was the Lady Hay, as Queen of 'the Amazons, accompanied by her sister, the Lady 'Dorothy, Sir Robert and Sir Henry Rich's ladies, "Mistress Isabella Rich, Mistress West, the Lord de 'la War's daughter, Mistress Barbary Sidney, Sir Humphrey May's lady, and the Lady Cave, daughter ' of Sir Herbert Croftes. They had taken great pains ' in continual practising, and were almost perfect, and all their implements provided; but whatsoever the 'cause was, neither the King nor the Queen did like " or allow of it, and so all is dashed.' Notwithstanding this disappointment, Ben Jonson's Vision of Delight, which Chamberlain calls the Prince's Mask,' was performed on Twelfth-night with great applause, and repeated on Shrove Tuesday, according to Chamberlain, with alterations and additions, but little bettered.' The printed copy (which came from the press in 1640, and not in 1641, as Mr. Gifford states) bears no marks 'had any chamber in the House, either of the House or by lease or ' otherwise, should pay towards the Barriers, intended to be presented 'to his Majesty, after these rates and proportions, viz., every Reader 'or Ancient of the Bench, 40s.; every Ancient under the Bench, 30s. ; 'every Barrester, 20s.; and every other Gentleman, 13s. 4ď? of these alterations and additions: it would not have been easy to 'better' this beautiful production by any changes. The Prince, as we are also told by Chamberlain, was a chief actor in it, and it was his first exercise in that kind.' By the Lansdown MS., before quoted (to which I have mislaid the particular reference), it is seen that 750l. were issued to a person of the name of Leach for preparations for The Vision of Delight. The disturbances at Shrovetide 1616-17 were not forgotten at the return of that season in February, 1617-18; and the Privy Council appears to have been thrown into considerable alarm by information transmitted to it, that the apprentices, and others, were determined to revenge the fate of their last year's companions, who had been punished according to law, and had concerted a plan, by 'casting libels into playhouses,' to collect a body, and to proceed first to the Fortune, then to the Red-Bull, and afterwards to the Cockpit, in order to raze and destroy them. Letters were accordingly written on the 11th of February, 1617-18, to the Magistrates of Middlesex, and to the Lord Mayor, requiring them to be upon their guard, in order to quell any riotous disposition, and to preserve the peace of the metropolis. The communication to the former is subjoined in a note *. * A letter to his Majesty's Lieutenants of the County of Middlesex. 'It is well knowne unto you what disorder and tumult was comitted 'the last Shrove Tuesday, in divers partes about the Cittie, by the 'Apprentices and other leude and ill affected persons, to the great disturb |