haue had. And thus we bidd yowe hartelie farewell from the Courte at Whitehall this xviij^o of Nouember 1581.
Your Louing frendes,
Edward Lincoln
Robert Leycester
Christopher Hatton
Thomas Sussex
H. Hunsdon
Amb: Warwick
James Croft
To our very Louing frendes the Lord Maiour, mr. Sariant Fletewood
Recorder, and the Aldermen of the Cittie of London.
liv.
[1581, Nov. 25. Extract from letter of John Field to the Earl of
Leicester, printed from Cotton MS. Titus, B. vii, f. 22, in Collier, i. 245.]
The more Sathan rageth, the more valianter be you under the
standert of him who will not be foyled. And I humblie beseech your
honor to take heede howe you gyve your hande, either in evill causes,
or in the behalfe of evill men, as of late you did for players to the great
greife of all the godly; but as you have shewed your forwardnes for
the Ministery of the Gospel, so followe that course still. Our Cyttie
hath bene well eased of the pester of those wickednesses, and abuses,
that were wonte to be nourished by those impure interludes and playes
that were in use—surely the schooles of as greate wickednesses as
can be. I truste your honor will herein joyne with them that have
longe, owt of the word, cryed out against them; and I am persuaded
that if your honor knewe what sincks of synne they are, you woulde
never looke once towards them. The lord Jesus blesse you. Nov. 25,
1581.
Your good lordshippes most bounden
Jo Feilde.
lv.
[1581, Dec. 3. Minute of Privy Council, printed from Register in
Dasent, xiii. 269.]
Whereas certayne companyes of players hertofore usinge their
common excersice of playing within and aboute the Cittie of London
have of late in respect of the generail infection within the Cittie ben
restrayned by their Lordships' commaundement from playing, the
said players this daye exhibited a peticion unto their Lordships,
humblie desiring that as well in respecte of their pore estates, having
noe other meanes to sustayne them, their wyves and children but
their exercise of playing, and were only brought up from their youthe
in the practise and profession of musicke and playeng, as for that
the sicknes within the Cittie was well slaked, so as noe danger of
infection could followe by the assemblyes of people at their playes,
yt would please their Lordships therfore to grante them licence to
use their sayd exercise of playeng as heretofore they had don; their
Lordships their upon for the consyderations aforesaid as also for that
they are to present certayne playes before the Quenes Majestie for
her solace in the Christmas tyme nowe following, were contented to
