Priory to Ralph Freeman on 9 May 1607.[1] Presumably the premises which had been assigned to the Revels were not covered by this sale, for of these the King made a gift in the same year to his cousin Esmé Stuart, eighth Lord Aubigny.[2] The Revels therefore had to be dispossessed. But the Office had to be housed somewhere; and the officers were all entitled to official residences under the terms of their patents. It was doubtless in connexion with this transaction that the following memorandum, which is preserved amongst Sir Julius Caesar's papers and endorsed 'Mr. Tilney's writinge touching his Office', was drawn up.[3]
The Office of the Revells Is noted to be one of the Kinges Maiestes
standinge Offices, as are the Jewellhowsse, the wardropp, the Ordinance,
the Armorye, and the Tentes with the like Allowances everie wayes
that any of them haue.
Which Office of the Revells Consistethe of a wardropp and other severall Roomes for Artifficers to worke in (viz. Taylors, Imbrotherers, Properti makers, Paynters, wyerdrawers and Carpenters), togeather with a Convenient place for the Rehearshalls and settinge forthe of Playes and other Shewes for those Services.
In which Office the Master of the Office hath ever hadd a dwellinge Howsse for him self and his Famelie, and the other Officers ar to haue eyther dwellinge Howsses Assigned unto them by the Master (for so goeth the wordes of ther Pattentes) or else a Rente for the same as thei had before they Came unto St. Johnes.
For by ther Pattents, which be all eyther new graunted or Confirmed by the Kinges Maiestie, They ar Allowed as the Master Is to haue eache of them a dwellinge Howsse with garden and Stable for Terme of ther lyues, as ther Predicessors hadd (viz. within St. Johnes), which Cannot well be taken from vs without good Consideration for the same: or the lyke Allowance for Howssroome.
Elye Howsse Is possessed agayne by the Byshopp as I doe heare.
But Sir Thomas Knevitt hath vnder neathe his keepershipp of Whitehaull, dyvers howsses, as Hawnces and Baptistas with ij or iij howsses more Appertayninge ther vnto, near vnto the olde Pallas In westminster which I doe doubte be all rented out by him for Terme of his lyeffe.
The difficulty was met by a plan which had served before
in the history of the Revels. The officers were allowed to
provide their own lodgings, and to charge £15 each for the purpose
in the Office account. A similar allowance (£20) was made
