The theatre had been originally built in the liberty of the Blackfriars, because it was out of the A. D. jurisdiction of the Lord Mayor; and that this 1619–20. exercise of civic authority was not attended with any effect, is obvious, not merely from the fact that more than ten years afterwards the inhabitants of Blackfriars found it necessary to petition the Bishop of London on the subject, but from the discovery, in the State Paper Office, of a Patent under the Great Seal, dated 27th of March, 1619-20, in which the King licenses his 'well-beloved servants to act, not only at 'the Globe on the Bankside, but at their private 'house situate in the precincts of the Blackfriars.' It would almost seem as if this new patent (a revival of that granted to Fletcher, Shakespeare, and others, on the 19th of May, 1603) had been conceded for the express purpose of deciding the right of the King's players to act at the Blackfriars theatre. It follows very much the terms of the licence of the same kind granted to the Prince's players at the Fortune in 1612-13, omitting, however, the clause reserving the authority of the Master of the Revels, and inserting a precautionary provision against performing when the deaths by the plague exceeded forty in the week. The names of the principal members of the company at this date were these *: *As Joseph Taylor, who was afterwards associated with Hemming, as leader of the King's company, is not mentioned in the instrument, we may infer that, at this date, he continued at the head of the players of Prince Charles, John Hemmings, Nathan [iel] Field, Robert Benfield, Robert Gough, William Ecclestone, Richard Robinson, and John Shancks. The existence of any such patent was unknown to Malone and Chalmers, and it is added in a note*. * 'James R. 'James by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France ' and Ireland, defender of the faith &c. To all Justices, Mayors, Sheriffs, 'Constables, Headborowes, and other our officers and loving subjects 'greeting. Knowe yee that Wee of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, ' and meere motion have lycensed and authorized, and by theis presents 'doe lycence and authorize, theis our welbeloved servants, John Hemings, 'Richard Burbadge, Henry Condall, John Lowen, Nicholas Tooley, 'John Underwood, Nathan Feild, Robert Benfield, Robert Gough, 'William Ecclestone, Richard Robinson and John Shancks, and the ' rest of their Associates, freely to use and exercise the Art and Facultie ' of playing Comedies, Tragedies, Histories, Enterludes, Moralls, Pas'toralls, Stage playes and such other like, as they have already studied, 6 or hereafter shall use or studie, as well for the recreation of our loving 'subjects, as for our solace and pleasure when wee shall think good to 'see them, during our pleasure. And the said Comedies, Tragedies, 'Histories, Enterludes, Moralls, Pastoralls, Stage-plaies and such like, 'to show and exercise publiquely or otherwise to their best comoditie, 'when the infection of the plague shall not weekely exceed the nomber ' of fortie by the certificate of the Lord Mayor of London for the time being, as well within theis two their now usuall Houses called the Globe It is not known who was employed to write the Mask for 1619-20, when Ben Jonson was in Scotland; but, according to an extract from a letter by Drummond of Hawthornden (published by Gifford, Ben Jonson's Works, vii. 352), it did not give satisfaction:-'I have heard from court, that the late Mask was not so approved of by the King, as in former 'times, and that your absence was regretted. Such applause hath true worth, even of those who are ' otherwise not for it.' By a letter from John Chamberlain to Sir Dudley Carlton, it also appears, that 'plays' were acted this year at court, and although no 6 'within our Countie of Surrey and their private House scituate in the " precincts of the Blackfriers within our Citty of London, as also with' in any Towne Halls, or Moute-halls, or other convenient places within 'the liberties and freedom of any other Cittie, Universitie, Towne, or Burrough whatsoever within our said Realmes and Domynions. 'Willing and commaunding you and every of you, and all our loving " subjects, as you tender our pleasure, not only to permit and suffer them ' herein without any your letts, hinderances or molestations during our 'said pleasure, but also to be ayding and assisting to them, if any " wrong be to them offred, and to allow them such former curtesies as 'hath byn given to men of their place and qualitie. And also what 'further favour you shall shew to theis our Servants and the rest of 'their Associates for our sake, we shall take kindly at your hands. 'In witness wherof &c. It is indorsed, By order from the Lord 'Pembroke. 'Chamberlin of yr Maties Houshold, 'Ext Levynus Munck.' Expedit apud Westm' vicessimo septimo die Martij, Anno D. Regis 'Jacobi decimo septimo. VOL. I. 'Per Windebank.' 2 E record of the fact may remain, there is no doubt that the King's servants and perhaps other performers were called upon to lend their aid in varying the royal amusements. Chamberlain says:- The King came ' to town the day before Christmas eve, and there hath ' little passed in court besides plays and revels.' He does not make any particular mention of the Mask, nor of its reception. For the sake of convenience, and of juxta-position, it may be mentioned here, although a little out of its place, that Ben Jonson wrote the Mask for Christmas 1620-21, and called it News from the New World in the Moon. It was, as usual, presented twice, at Twelfth-tide and Shrovetide. On the 8th of January, the King was present at a Mask at Lord Doncaster's*. It is necessary now to revert briefly to the office of the Revels. Sir George Buc became Master of the Revels in 1610; and in 1612, Sir John Astley obtained a grant of the reversion of the office, on the death of Sir George Buc: in September, 1621, Ben Jonson also obtained a grant of the reversion, on the several demises of Sir George Buc and Sir John Astley. The Privy Seal for this purpose, in a very mutilated condition and much injured by damp, is still preserved in the Chapter-house, Westminster, and, *It may be worth notice that, at this date, the wages of Thomas Mell, 'one of the Musicians for the flutes' (who succeeded Peter Edney, who had been a flute-player to Queen Elizabeth) were 441. per annum; with an allowance of 167. 2s. 6d. yearly for 'apparel and liveries.' This fact appears from a Privy Seal dated 4th of April, 1620. unlike most other instruments of the same kind, as if in compliment to the learning of the grantee, it is in Latin*. In the spring of 1622 Sir George Buc appears to have been so ill and infirm as to be unable to discharge the duties of his situation; and on the 2d of May of that year a patent was made out, appointing Sir John Astley Master of the Revels. As this instrument gives more full and circumstantial information regarding the duties and powers of the Master of the Revels, than is to be collected from any other source, it is printed at length below †. * On the 29th of July, 1622, a patent was granted under the Great Seal to William Payneter, Esq., for the reversion of the Mastership of the Revels after the deaths of Sir John Astley and Benjamin Jonson, gent. To this instrument, in the State Paper Office, is appended the opinion of the then Attorney General, Thomas Coventry, that it was 'agreable in substance with the former patents.' The patent is in English. + The original of the following is in the Chapter House, Westminster : 'James by the grace of God, &c. To all and singular Justices, Maiors, 'Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Constables, and all other our officers, ministers, 'true liege men and subjects, and to every of them, greeting. Wee 'lett you witt that wee have authorised, licenced and commaunded, and by these presents do authorise, licence and commaund our welbeloved 'servant St John Ashley, Knight, Master of our Revells, as well to take ' and retaine for us and in our name, at all times from hencefoorth, and in all places within this our realme of England as well within franchises and liberties as without, at competent wages, as well all such ' and as many Painters, Embroderers, Taylors, Cappers, Haberdashers, 'Joyners, Carters, Glasiers, Armorers, Baskett makers, Skinners, 'Sadlers, Waggon-makers, Plasterers, Feather-makers, as all propertie |