the Clown, with the words Tu Quoque, from the play of that name, is coming from behind an arras traversecurtain at the back of the stage. Above this traverse is another striped curtain which covers the balcony. On either side of this striped curtain are three boxes with spectators in them. Besides the foot-lights the stage is illuminated by two chandeliers, which hang from the ceiling on each side of it. I apprehend that the drawing for this plate was made on the temporary re-opening of the Red Bull, after the Restoration. p. 335. 'Private Theatres were of smaller dimensions than public theatres.] The two principal public theatres, in the reign of James I. and Charles I., were the Fortune and Red Bull. I have heard (says Gayton in his notes on 'Don Quixote, 1654) that the Poets of the Fortune and 'Red Bull had always a mouth-measure for their actors '(who were terrible tear-throats), and made their lines proportionable to their compasses, which were sesquipedales -a foot and a half.' p. 398. Line 18, for not at all without, read not all without. p. 400. ' And so is now our witty Wilson.'] It may admit of doubt, whether the Wilson here mentioned, and who was connected with Henslowe's company, was not the son and successor of the Robert Wilson who was one of Lord Leicester's servants in 1574. Supposing, however, that he was twenty years old in 1574, he would only be fortyfour when F. Meres wrote in 1598. In a letter signed Tho. Bayly, dated 25th April, 1581, and published in Mr. Hunter's Hallamshire, fol. 1819, p. 59, I find a mention of Wilson as quidam Leycestrii comitis servus. The letter relates to theatrical entertainments before the Earl of Shrewsbury at Sheffield Castle. I have elsewhere mentioned Henslowe's entry regarding the play of Catiline's Conspiracy by Wilson and others, and I will here quote the whole of what Lodge says, in his Defence of Plays, regarding the production by Wilson upon the same subject prior to 1579, anterior to which year Stephen Gosson (whom Lodge is answering) had also written a play named Catiline's Conspiracies. Part of it I have before cited, but I accidentally omitted what relates to Wilson Tell me, Gosson, (says Lodge,) was all your own you ' wrote there? [i.e., in his Catiline's Conspiracies.] Did you 'borrow nothing of your neighbours? Out of what booke 'patched you out Cicero's oration? Whence fet you Catalin's invective? Thys is one thing-alienam olet lucerna non tuam, ⚫ so that your helper may wisely reply upon you with Virgil— "Hos ego versiculos feci, tulit alter honores." "I made these verses-other bear the name." 'Believe me, I should preferr Wilson's shorte and sweete, if I were a judge-a peece surely worthy prayse, the practise of a ' good scholler: would the wiser would overlooke that, they may perhaps cull some wisedome out of a player's toye. Well, as it is wisedome to commend where the cause requireth, so it is a poynt of folly to praise without desert.' CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. ANNALS OF THE STAGE From the earliest time to Henry VIII...........p. 1. Miracle-play of St. Katherine, 1119. Feast of Corpus Christi, 1264. Minstrels, and their rewards, 1333. Miracle-plays in London, 1378. Miracle-plays of St. George in 1416. Minstrels of Henry VI. in 1445. Players of interludes in 3 and 4 Edw. IV. Players, &c. of Richard III., and of the Children of the chapel, 1467 and 1482. Players of interludes, &c. of Henry VII. Players of the Prince and the Queen. The King's and Queen's Minstrels, 1494. Disguisings and revels temp. Hen. VII. Polidore Virgil regarding plays. Sir Henry Guildford, temporary Master R. Gibson, J. English, H. Medwall, and The King's old and new players. The King's books of payments to 1521. The King's minstrels, and their wages. William Peeres interlude-maker to the Comedy of Plautus before Henry VIII. Revels before Princess Mary, 1522. William Crane, Master of the Chapel. The Duke of Richmond's rewards, 152 Revels under Sir Henry Guildford an Play at Gray's Inn before Wolsey, 152 Luther brought upon the stage. Robert of Cicily played at Chester, 15 John Heywood's Interludes, 1530, Proclamation against Interludes, 1533. Sir David Lindsay's Three Estaitis, 1539 Players committed to the Counter, 1543. Stat. 34 & 35 Henry VIII., c. i. Thomas Wylley's letter to Cromwell. The King's musicians and players, 1547. Will Somers, jester to Henry VIII. and Proclamation against plays, &c., 1549. ters, 1552. The play of Æsop's Crow, by G. Ferrers. William Baldwin and his play, 1553. Proclamation by Queen Mary against interludes, 1553. Plays suppressed for two years. A Sack full of News. Plays and players in London, 1557. Mask and feats of activity, before the Miracle-plays in London, in 1557. From the year 1575 to the year 1585....p. 213. Lord Mayor and Corporation of London opposed to theatrical performances. Petition of the Queen's players. Remedies for the evil of plays, 1576. Players expelled from the City. Building of Blackfriars play-house by James Burbadge and others, 1576. The Theatre and Curtain in Moorfields. ham. Sir Jerome Bowes and his theatrical Shews, &c. at Kenilworth Castle. William Hunnis's interludes. Edmund Tylney, Master of the Revels, John Lyly's petition for the office. John Smith, an interlude player, 1581. Renewed hostility of the City to plays. Observation of the Sabbath, 1582. Accident at Paris Garden, 1583. John Field's letter to Lord Leicester. Recorder Fleetwood's reports to Lord From the year 1585 to the year 1599 Sir Francis Walsingham's Intelligencer's Letter, 1586. Warrant to Thomas Gyles, master of the children of Paul's. Plays by the gentlemen of Gray's Inn. Mask given by Elizabeth to James VI. George Peele's verses to the Queen at Theatrical performances near Cam- bridge and in the University, 1593. ard Burbage, and others to the Debts of the Queen's office of the revels. From the year 1599 to the death of Elizabeth.....p. 311. Building of the Fortune theatre, 1599. allowed, 1600. Personalities in Plays at the Curtain,1601. broke's, Lord Derby's, and Lord Song in a mask before Elizabeth, 1602. The Queen entertained at Sir R. Cecill's Anecdote of Shakespeare and Richard Anecdotes of Ben Jonson, John Mars- Death of Queen Elizabeth, 1603. From the accession of James I. to the year 1617....p. 344. English players at Edinburgh, 1599. License of 1603 to L. Fletcher, W. Queen's and Prince's servants. The King's musicians and players. players of the nobility. Ben Jonson's MS. masks, 1605 and 1606. |