Where they require that only her maiesties servants be permitted to play:
It is lesse eiuell than to grannt moe. But herin if your Lp. will so allow them, it may please you to know that the last yere when such toleration was of the Quenes players only, all the places of playeing were filled with men calling themselues the Quenes players. Your Ls. may do well in your lettres or warrants for their toleration to expresse the number of the Quenes players and particularly all their names.
The remedies.
That they hold them content with playeing in priuate houses at weddings etc. without publike assemblies.
If more be thought good to be tolerated: that then they be restrained to the orders in the act of common Counsell tempore Hawes.
That they play not openly till the whole death in London haue ben by xx daies under 50 a weke, nor longer than it shal so continue.
That no playes be on the sabbat.
That no playeing be on holydaies but after euening prayer: nor any receiued into the auditorie till after euening prayer.
That no playeing be in the dark, nor continue any such time but as any of the auditorie may returne to their dwellings in London before sonne set, or at least before it be dark.
That the Quenes players only be tolerated, and of them their number and certaine names to be notified in your Lps. lettres to the L. Maior and to the Iustices of Middlesex and Surrey. And those her players not to diuide themselues into seueral companies.
That for breaking any of the orders, their toleration cesse.
lxxvi.
[1586, May 11. Minutes of Privy Council, printed from Register in
Dasent, xiv. 99, 102.]
A letter to the Justices of Surrey that according to suche direction
as hath ben geven by their Lordships to the Lord Maior to restraine
and inhibite the use of plaies and interludes in publique places in
and about the Cittie of London, in respect of the heat of the yeere
now drawing on, for th'avoyding of the infection like to grow and
increase by th'ordinarie assemblies of the people to those places, they
ar also required in like sorte to take order that the playes and
assemblies of the people at the theater or anie other places about
Newington be forthwith restrained and forborne as aforesaid, &c.
A letter to the Lord Maiour; his Lordship is desired, according to his request made to their Lordships by his letters of the vijth of this present, to geve order for the restrayning of playes and interludes within and about the Cittie of London, for th'avoyding of infection feared to grow and increase this time of sommer by the comon assemblies of people at those places, and that their Lordships have taken the like order for the prohibiting of the use of playes at the theater and th'other places about Newington out of his charge.
