permitted the said players to vse their playeng vntill we shold se cause to the contrary, and foreseing that the same might be done without impeachment of the seruice of God whereof we haue a speciall care, we restrained them from playeng on the sabothe daye: and forasmucheas we suppose that their honest exercise of recreation in playeng, to be vsed on the ordinarie S. Hollydaies after euening prayer, as long as the season of the yere may permitt and may be without daunger of the infection, will not be offensiue, so that if care be had that their comodies and enterludes be looked into, and that those which do containe mater that may bread corruption of maners and conuersacion among the people (which we desire in any case to haue auoided) be forbidden, whereunto we wishe yow did appointe some fitt persones whoe maie consider and allowe of suche playes onely as be fitt to yeld honest recreacion and no example of euell: We haue therefore thought good to pray your Lp. to reuoke your late inhibition against their playeng on the said hollydaies after euening prayer, onely forbearing the Sabothe daie whollie according to our former order. And when yow shall finde that the continuance of the same their excercise by the increase of the sicknes and infection shalbe dangerous, we praye your Lp. therin to geue vs knowlege & thereupon we will presentely take order for their restrainte accordinglie: Soe fare yowe hartelie well from the Court at Grenewich the xjth of Aprill 1582.
Your louing frendes,
E: Lyncoln: T: Sussex: A: Warwyk: R: Leycester.
H: Hunsdon. I: Crofte.
To our very Louing frende the Lord maior of the Citie of London.
lix.
[1582, April 13. The Lord Mayor to the Privy Council, printed M. S. C.
i. 54, from Remembrancia, i. 319.]
My dutie humblie done to your LLps. I haue receaued significacon
of your LLps. pleasure by your letters for enlarging the restrainte of
players on holydaies in the afternone, being not the sabbat daye, so
as the same may be done after seruice and without disturbance of
comon prayer and seruice of God, which as the experience is among
vs peraduenture not made knowen to your LLps. can very hardly
be done. For thoughe they beginne not their playes till after euening
prayer, yet all the time of the afternone before they take in hearers
and fill the place with such as be therby absent from seruing God
at Chirch, and attending to serue Gods enemie in an Inne; If for
remedie hereof I shold also restraine the letting in of the people till
after seruice in the chirche, it wold driue the action of their plaies
into very inconuenient time of night, specially for seruantes and
children to be absent from their parentes and masters attendance
and presence: Howbet the case is of more inconuenience (as I take
it) for that the plag increaseth, and the season extraordinarilie whote
and perelous for this time of yere, and in the opinion of me and my
