6 During the absence of the King, the Queen was entertained at Greenwich, on the 4th of May, by a mask called Cupid's Banishment, written by a person of the name of Robert White, and presented to the 'Queen by the young gentlewomen of the Ladies Hall, ' in Deptford.' It was probably a performance by a girls' school, and the piece (from a MS. in the possession of Mr. Upcott) is printed by Mr. Nichols in the Progresses of James I. 'the example of so foul and insolent a disorder may prove of danger'ous consequence, if this should escape without sharp punishment of 'the principal offenders, we do therefore, in his Majesty's name, ex'pressly require your Lordship, and the rest of the Commissioners of 'Oyer and Terminer for the City of London and County of Middlesex, 'to take it presently into your care to have a strict enquiry made for 'such as were of the company, as well apprentices or others, and for 'which to hold a special Sessions of Oyer and Terminer for that pur" pose, and there with severity to proceed against such as shall be ' found offenders, as to law and justice appertaineth.' The letter then proceeds to direct the City authorities to take measures for the removal and punishment of the great multitude of vagrant rogues' who had assisted in this riot. The date of it is March 5th, 1616-17. 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 +. 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 horseracing, 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:- 6 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, 6 I am fully persuaded, that if Christ and his Angels ' 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 : '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.' 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: The Muscovy Ambassadors shall be feasted at Court to-morrow, ́ and on Twelfth-night is the Prince's Mask. There 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 6 '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. 4d.' |