were made for their entertainment, and a Privy Seal was issued, dated the 18th June, 1572*, for the payment of 300l. to John Fortescue, Esq., Master of the Great Wardrobe, and of 2001. to Lewes Stocket, Surveyor of the Works, for the revels and triumphs on this occasion. In the British Museum, is an account dated 12th July, 1572, in the French language, of all the cloth of gold, silks, velvets, &c., furnished by John Fortescue, Esq. to Sir Thomas Benger, Maitre de les Maskes, Revelles et Triumphes, the value of which was no less than 37571. 8s. † By a statement in the Office of Auditors of the Imprest it appears, that a temporary banqueting-house was erected at Whitehall, for the reception of the Duke and his train, which cost 224l. 6s. 10d.; but it is impossible to separate from the general account of the Revels all the items which relate to the ceremonies at this date. The total amount there stated, is 14277. 12s. 6d. ; but it includes certain preparations for plays at Christmas and Shrovetide, performed by a company of boys under Richard Mulcaster, then Master of Merchant Tailors' School; by the children of Windsor; by Dutton's company, by Lord Leicester's men, and by Elderton's players. One of the pieces acted was upon the story of Theagines and Chariclea, and another was called the play of Fortune.' The Mask of Janus is mentioned, and in another Apollo and the

*In the Chapter-house, Westminster; among the Privy Seals of the reign of Elizabeth.

Nine Muses sat upon an artificial mount drawn in ä chariot fourteen feet long, and eight feet wide. Discord, in a collar and shackles, seems to have been prominent in that part of the entertainments which was intended to be complimentary to the French Ambassadors.

It is a fact, not noticed by Malone nor Chalmers, that the preceding was the last occasion on which Sir Thomas Benger acted as Master of the Revels. At his death, in March, 1577, he was greatly in debt, and possibly his embarrassments might interfere with the discharge of his official duties *. His secession is established by several documents. He received from the Master of the Great Wardrobe the cloth of gold, silks, velvets, &c., spoken of in the preceding paragraph, in his capacity of Master of the Revels; but when the account was sent in to the Lord Treasurer (among whose papers it is preserved †) it was indorsed in the following manner: Touching Sir Thom. 'Benger, K. late Mr. of the Masks, Revells, & Tryumphs, of certen stuffe receaved owte of the < greate Wardrobe.' In the booke of all the charges growen within thoffice of her Majesties Revells from

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*Mr. Chalmers found his will proved in the Prerogative Office on the 27th March, 1577, by Thomas Fugal, his Chaplain and Executor. The testator states, that he left many debts with very few goods

Sir T. Benger had also a grant

to pay them.' (Apology, p. 482.) of fines on alienations, but he complained that it did not add much either to his consequence or his wealth.

+ Lansdown MS. No. 9.

the last of October, 1573, until the 1st March, * 1573 [4],' it is stated, that during that period A. D. of four months Thomas Blagrave, Esquier, 1573. servid therein as Master, according to her Majestys 'pleasure to him signifyed by the Right honourable 'Lord Chamberlaine' the Earl of Sussex. He had no regular appointment as Master of the Revels until after the death of Sir Thomas Benger, and we may therefore conclude, that although Sir Thomas Benger ceased to act, he retained his situation, Blagrave, by the Queen's order, discharging the duties as deputy. The cost of the Revels at Christmas, New-yeartide, Twelfth-tide and Shrovetide, all falling within the four months from the end of October, 1573, to the beginning of March, 1573-4, was 6721. 14s. A. D. 2d.: it included the expenses of preparations, 1573-4. &c., for plays and masks (each mask having its torchbearers), a list of which, as performed at Christmas, New-year-tide and Twelfth-tide, is given as follows, in the account in the Office of the Auditors of the Imprest *.

'Pedor & Lucia, played by therle of Leicesters Servaunts upon St. Steevens daye at nighte at • Whitehall.

Alkmeon, played by the Children of Powles on St. Johns daye at nighte there.

Mamillia, playde by therle of Leicesters Servaunts ' on Innocents daye at nighte there.

* Malone's Shakespeare by Boswell, iii. 375.

Truth, Faythfulnesse & Mercye, playde by the 'Children of Westminster for Elderton, upon New' yeares daye at night there.

Herpetulus, the blew Knighte, and Perobia, playde by my lord Klintons servants the 3d of January, beinge the Sundaye after New-yeares daye there. "Quintus Fabius, playde by the Children of Wyndsor for Mr. Farrant on Twelfe daye at nighte, like'wise at Whitehall,'

The three Masks at Whitehall were the following:

Lance Knights vi, in blew sattyn gaskon cotes ' and sloppes.-Torche bearers vi, in black and yelo 'taffata, &c. Showen on St Johns daye at nighte.

Forresters, or Hunters vi, in green sattyn gaskon 'cotes and sloppes.-Torche bearers attyred in mosse & ivye &c. Shewen on New-yeares daye at nighte. Sages vi, in long gownes of counterfet cloth of 'golde, &c. Torche bearers in long gownes of red ' damask. Showen on Twelfe daye at nighte.'

Among the properties, &c. for these several performances, were 'canvass to paynte for howses for the players,' monsters, great hollow trees; bays for the Prologgs;'a jebbett to hang up Diligence;' counterfeit fishes for the play of Pedor; a dragon's head; a truncheon for the Dictator; deal boards for the Senate-house; and 'pynnes styf & greate for paynted clothes.'

On Candlemas night, it appears, by the same authority, only one play was performed by Mulcaster's children at Hampton Court: it was called Timoclia at

the siege of Thebes; and in consequence of the tediousness of the play,' a mask of ladies representing the six Virtues could not be performed. Among the charges, is 7s. 10d. to the scrivener for writing in fayre text the 8 speeches dd (delivered) to her 'Majestie.'

Two plays and two masks were represented at Shrovetide: the plays were,

'Philimon and Philecia,' playde by the Erle of Leicesters men on Shrovemundaye at nighte.

'Perseus and Anthomeris*,' playde by Munkester's [Mulcaster's] children on Shrovetewsdaye at nighte.

The maskes were Warriors VII with one shipp'master that uttered speeche,' and 'Ladyes vir with ' one that uttered a speeche,' each having their torchbearers as usual.

The charges on this occasion, among other articles, were for 'fethers for the new maskers;' 'carriage of 'frames and painted clothes for the players how ses;' 'diets for children while learning their parts and

gestures,' and for an Italian woman and her daughter who lent and dressed the hairs of the children.

It has been seen that the Earl of Leicester's players are frequently mentioned in the accounts of the Office of the Revels, and that they performed before the Queen

* Malone conjectured that this was an ignorant blunder of the person making out the accounts for Andromeda, and no doubt he was right. In the Book of Charges of the preceding year, the following item is contained, John Arnolde, Yeoman of the office, for mony by him payd to Arnolde the paynter, for the picture of Andromeda.'

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