several of the receipts for payments from the Exchequer, as evidenced by the records in the Chapterhouse, Westminster. One principal source of our knowledge of the progress of theatrical amusements at this period is the Household-books of Henry VII., yet preserved, which extend from the year 1492 to 1509. An account of the disbursements by and for his Queen has also recently been discovered, which throws some additional light upon the subject. Hence we find, that besides the three royal establishments of actors before mentioned, the players of the Duke of Buckingham and of the Earls of Oxford and Northum→ berland performed at court, and received various rewards. It appears, likewise, that companies of players were attached to the following places: London, Coventry, Wycombe, Mile-end *, Wymborn name occurs again among the Gentlemen of the Chapel who played before the King. In 1530, was published a Collection of Songs, with the Score, by Cornyshe and others.- See Ritson's Ancient Songs, i. 73, new edit. * Mile-end Green seems to have been long afterwards a favourite place for theatrical and other exhibitions. In the Three Lordes and Three Ladies of London,' 1590, Policy thus addresses Pomp : 'Lord Pomp, let nothing that's magnificall, " 'And, Pleasure, see that plaies be published, " 'Maie-games & maskes with mirth & minstrelsie; 'Pageants & school-feastes, beares & puppit-plaies: My selfe will muster upon Mile-end-greene, 'As though we saw, & feard not to be seene.' * Minster, and Kingston. The players of Essex were twice paid, and the French players appeared the same number of times before the King: perhaps (as Malone has remarked) the French players were brought into England by Henry VII., who resided abroad from 1471 to 1485. The Minstrels of France' are also mentioned; disguisings,' 'revells,' and plays' in the hall and before the King, are often entered; Walter Alwyn, Peche (who filled the office of court-fool), John Atkinson, Jaques Haute, Wentworth, and Lewis Adam, being successively employed to prepare and superintend the court entertainments. In the seventh and tenth years of Henry VII., a person of the name of Ringley filled the office of Abbot of Misrule: it is afterwards usually designated as the Lordship of Misrule †, and then the duties were discharged by William Wynnesbury. There are evidently some differences in the accounts of the domestic expenses of the King and royal family at this period. The volumes preserved in the This passage is a singular enumeration of the popular out-door amusements of the time. Malone seems to have seen no more of this curious register than is quoted by Dr. Henry in the appendix to Book vi. of his History of Britain: the extracts there given apply only to the ninth and thirteenth years of the reign of Henry VII. He therefore only speaks of the French players,' 'the players of London,' 'the King's players,' and 'the players that begged by the way.' The terms Abbot and Lord of Misrule seem to have been used ndifferently towards the close of the reign of Henry VII.; and at Christmas, 1509, Wynnesbury is again called 'abbot of misrule.' 1502. Chapter-house, Westminster, appear to be fair and official copies of books kept by individuals belonging to separate departments; and the entries in the latter are sometimes more circumstantial than in the former. I have met with a small one, kept A.D. by Robert Fouler, including only one year, viz. from October, 17 Henry VII., to October, 18 Henry VII., which contains the following items: it will be observed presently, that they do not precisely accord with the larger books, where it was meant that the details should be preserved in a regular and permanent shape. 'Oct. 26.—Itm, paid to John Atkynson for the disguysyngs, 531. 3s. 103d. Itm, to Cornysshe for 3 pagents, 201. 'Itm, to John Englishe for his pagent, 61. 13s. 4d. Jany. 1.-Itm, to the Kinges players, over 40s. paid by Thomas Trollop, 20s.' Each pageant was, no doubt, a distinct play, and 61. 13s. 4d. was the sum allowed on the performance of every piece. What office Fouler filled is not stated, but the same players were paid from two different sources, of one of which he had the control, and Thomas Trollop of the other. Another valuable document, of a similar description, is preserved at the Chapter-house, Westminster: it is the book of the expenses of Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII., kept by a person of the name of Richard Decons for one year, beginning the 24th March, 1502*; and it is authenticated by the Queen's signature, of which the following is a fac-simile, upon every page in the earlier part of the time. She seems to have given separate rewards to players when they afforded her unusual satisfaction; and to have paid for the coats of various minstrels and trumpeters at a 'disguising,' whether they were attached to herself, to the King, or to some of the nobility. The details of the information procured from the various sources above enumerated I have thrown into a note; and I apprehend, that it will not be found too long, although it wander a little from the immediate subject of inquiry, to afford a clearer insight into the manners and amusements of the times †. This very curious historical record is about to be published entire, with valuable notes and illustrations, by N. H. Nicholas, Esq. + The following quotations are selected from many more in the Household Book of Henry VII., from the seventh to the twentieth year of his reign, both inclusive, in the Chapter-house, Westminster : 7 Henry VII. Jan. 1. To my Lorde of Oxon pleyers, in £. S. d. Warton has expressed an opinion that plays on general subjects were no uncommon mode of enter 7 Henry VII. Jan. 1. To Newark for making of a song 7. To my Lorde of Northumberlande Pleyers in rewarde 8 Henry VII. Sep. 24. To hym that had his Bull baytid, £. s. d. 1 0 0 100 0 10 0 13 6 8 100 1 0 0 1 0 0 6. To the Frenche Pleyers for a re- .. To the King's Pleyers for a re warde 15. To my Lord of Bedfordes Tumbler Feb. 15. To Walt. Alwyn in full payment for the disguysing made at Xmas. 14 13 4 June 1. To Peche for the disguysing in re 9 Henry VII. Dec. 31. To 3 Pleyers of Wycombe in rew. Jan. 4. To the Frenshe Pleyers in rewarde Feb. 13. To Jaks Haute in full payment of his bill for his disguysings .. 20. To a Walsheman for making of a 10 Henry VII. Nov. 27. To Hampton of Woucestre for mak ing of balades, in rewarde Delivered to Jakes Haute in partye |