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THE COURT PLAY

223

of performances by the Chapel boys in 1565, 1566, and 1580, and by Lord Roche's, or more probably Lord Rich's, men in 1570.^[1]

I have digressed somewhat from the ways of the court. The arrangements for performances were in the hands of the Revels, and are therefore only traceable in detail before 1589, after which year the extant accounts of that office are very summary. As Christmas drew near, symptoms of bustle began to show themselves in the work-rooms. A good deal of time was spent in the discovery and preparation of suitable pieces. It would seem that the available companies were invited to submit the various plays in which they had exercised themselves by public performance, that these were then recited, and a selection made from them to the number which her majesty intended to hear.^[2] Both in 1574-5 and in 1576-7 the accounts record the trying over of plays that were not ultimately given. These 'rehearsals' or 'proofs' took place in the hall or the 'great chamber' of St. John's, or the Master's lodgings, and were of an elaborate character, for it was thought worth while to bring in cumbrous properties

↑ J. D. Walker, Black Books of Lincoln's Inn, i. xxxiii, 344, 348, 352, 362, 374, 418; ii. 55. It was ordered on 2 Feb. 1565 that 'M^r Edwards shall have in reward liij^s, iiij^d for his plee, and his hussher x^s, and x^s more to the children that pleed' (in margin, 'Children of the Quenes Chappell'). The accounts of 1564-5, however, show £1 18s. 2d. for a supper and for staff torches, clubs, and other necessaries for the play, and £1 as reward for the boys; those of 1565-6 £2 to the boys of the Queen's chapel and their master for a play at the Purification; those of 1569-70 £1 'lusoribus' of 'Lord Roche' at the Purification; those of 1579-80 £3 6s. 8d. on 9 Feb. 'to M^r Ferrand [Farrant] one of the Queen's chaplains pro commedia'. On 12 May 1598, a levy was made for the expenses of 'the gentlemen that were actors in the matter of the shew the last Christmas'. No more is known of this show. On the Inns of Court Christmases generally cf. Mediaeval Stage, i. 413.
↑ The Westminster accounts of 1564-5 (Murray, ii. 168) include 'at y^e rehersing before Sir Thomas Benger for pinnes and sugar candee vi^d' and 'the second tyme att the playing of Heautonti. for pinnes halfe a thousand vi^d', but there is nothing to suggest that any play but Miles Gloriosus was given before the Queen. The Revels Accounts (Feuillerat, Eliz. 145, 176, 179, 238, 277, 325, &c.) have (1571-2), 'playes . . . chosen owte of many and ffownde to be the best that then were to be had, the same also being often pervsed, & necessarely corrected & amended (by all thafforesaide officers)'; (1572-3), 'muzitians that plaide at the proof of Duttons play' . . . 'rushes in the hall & in the greate chambere where the workes were doone & the playes rezited'; (1574-5) 'at Wynsor . . . for peruzing and reformyng of Farrantes playe' . . . 'wheare my Lord of Leicesters menne showed theier matter of Panecia' . . . 'where my Lord Clyntons players rehearsed a matter called Pretestus', &c.; (1576-7), 'To Whitehall and back againe to recyte before my Lord Chamberleyn' . . . 'to S^t Johns . . . for the play of Cutwell'; (1579-80) 'Thinges . . . brought into the Masters Lodginge for the rehearsall of sondrie playes to make choise of dyvers of them for her maiestie', &c., &c.

[1] J. D. Walker, Black Books of Lincoln's Inn, i. xxxiii, 344, 348, 352, 362, 374, 418; ii. 55. It was ordered on 2 Feb. 1565 that 'M^r Edwards shall have in reward liij^s, iiij^d for his plee, and his hussher x^s, and x^s more to the children that pleed' (in margin, 'Children of the Quenes Chappell'). The accounts of 1564-5, however, show £1 18s. 2d. for a supper and for staff torches, clubs, and other necessaries for the play, and £1 as reward for the boys; those of 1565-6 £2 to the boys of the Queen's chapel and their master for a play at the Purification; those of 1569-70 £1 'lusoribus' of 'Lord Roche' at the Purification; those of 1579-80 £3 6s. 8d. on 9 Feb. 'to M^r Ferrand [Farrant] one of the Queen's chaplains pro commedia'. On 12 May 1598, a levy was made for the expenses of 'the gentlemen that were actors in the matter of the shew the last Christmas'. No more is known of this show. On the Inns of Court Christmases generally cf. Mediaeval Stage, i. 413.

[2] The Westminster accounts of 1564-5 (Murray, ii. 168) include 'at y^e rehersing before Sir Thomas Benger for pinnes and sugar candee vi^d' and 'the second tyme att the playing of Heautonti. for pinnes halfe a thousand vi^d', but there is nothing to suggest that any play but Miles Gloriosus was given before the Queen. The Revels Accounts (Feuillerat, Eliz. 145, 176, 179, 238, 277, 325, &c.) have (1571-2), 'playes . . . chosen owte of many and ffownde to be the best that then were to be had, the same also being often pervsed, & necessarely corrected & amended (by all thafforesaide officers)'; (1572-3), 'muzitians that plaide at the proof of Duttons play' . . . 'rushes in the hall & in the greate chambere where the workes were doone & the playes rezited'; (1574-5) 'at Wynsor . . . for peruzing and reformyng of Farrantes playe' . . . 'wheare my Lord of Leicesters menne showed theier matter of Panecia' . . . 'where my Lord Clyntons players rehearsed a matter called Pretestus', &c.; (1576-7), 'To Whitehall and back againe to recyte before my Lord Chamberleyn' . . . 'to S^t Johns . . . for the play of Cutwell'; (1579-80) 'Thinges . . . brought into the Masters Lodginge for the rehearsall of sondrie playes to make choise of dyvers of them for her maiestie', &c., &c.

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