or allowed; Provydid allwaie that this Acte (otherwise then towchinge the publishinge of vnchaste, sedycious, and vnmete matters:) shall not extend to anie plaies, Enterludes, Comodies, Tragidies, or shewes to be played or shewed in the pryvate hous, dwellinge, or lodginge of anie nobleman, Citizen, or gentleman, which shall or will then have the same thear so played or shewed in his presence for the festyvitie of anie marriage, Assemblye of ffrendes, or otherlyke cawse withowte publique or Commen Collection of money of the Auditorie or behoulders theareof, reservinge alwaie to the Lorde Maior and Aldermen for the tyme beinge the Iudgement and construction Accordinge to equitie what shalbe Counted suche a playenge or shewing in a pryvate place, anie thinge in this Acte to the Contrarie notwithstanding.
xxxiii.
[1577, April 8. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to Lord Burghley,
printed M. S. C. i. 151, from Lansdowne MS. 25, f. 38. The Lord Chamberlain
was the Earl of Sussex. Nothing more is known of the nature or issue
of Sir Jerome Bowes's suit. He was a follower of Leicester in 1571 (Stowe,
Annales, 669), but was banished from court for slandering him between
the date of this letter and Aug. 8, 1577 (S. P. D. Add. Eliz. xxv. 30).
In 1583 he was sent as ambassador to Russia.]
My good L. I am requyred to put you in remembrance, for that
Sir Ierome Boues semes that your L. hath partely forgotten that hit
was her maiesties pleashr, that your L. my Chamberleyn & I shuld
conferr & consider of the sute touching plays to be granted to him
& certayn others, &c., which hir maiesties pleashr I brought to your
L. & my Chamberleyn being together in the preuey Chamber at
Hampton court. & I remember at that time we talking of that we
myslyked of the perpetuytie that they sutors desiered. & this also
my L. Chamberleyn him self doth well remember. Thus much
I thought good at his request to remember to your L. that it ys very
trew hir maiestie dyd referr the consyderacion of the sute to vs & to
make report thereof accordingly. So I wyll take leue & wishe your
L. perfect health, this viij of Aprill,
your L. assured frend,
R. Leycester.
xxxiv.
[1577 Aug. 1. Minute of Privy Council, printed (bis) from Register
in Dasent, ix. 388; x. 4.]
A letter to the Lord Wentworth, Master of the Rolles, and Mr. Lieutenant
of the Tower signifieng unto them that for thavoiding of the
sicknes likelie to happen through the heate of the weather and
assemblies of the people of London to playes, her Highnes' plesure
is that as the Lord Mayour hath taken order within the Citee, so
they immediatlie upon the receipt of their Lordships' letters shall
take order with such as are and do use to play without the Liberties
of the Citee within that countie, as the theater and such like, shall
forbeare any more to play untill Mighelmas be past, at the least, as
they will aunswer to the contrarye.
