1570 and 1590; some of which are still extant, though by far the greater part is lost. This, Í apprehend, was the great era of those bloody and bombastick pieces, which afforded subsequent writers perpetual topicks of ridicule: and during the same period were exhibited many Histories, or historical dramas, formed on our English Chro nicles, and representing a series of events simply in the order of time in which they happened. Some have supposed that Shakspeare was the first dramatick poet that introduced this species of drama; but this is an undoubted error. I have elsewhere observed that every one of the subjects on which he constructed his historical plays, appears to have been dramatized, and brought upon the scene, before his time." The historical drama is by an elegant modern writer supposed to have See Vol. XIV. P. 260. Gosson, in his Plays confuted in five Actions, printed about the year 1580, says, "In playes either those things are fained that never were, as Cupid and Psyche, plaied at Paules; [he means, in Paul's school,]—or if a true historie be taken in hand, it is made like our shavelings, longest at the rising and falling of the sunne." From the same writer we learn, that many preceding dramatick poets had travelled over the ground in which the subjects of several of Shakspeare's other plays may be found. "I may boldly say it, (says Gosson,) because I have seene it, that The Palace of Pleasure, The Golden Asse, The Ethiopian Historie, Amadis of Fraunce, The Round Table, bawdie comedies in Latin, French, Italian, and Spanish, have beene thoroughly ransackt to furnish the playe-houses in London." Signat. D 5. b. Lodge, his antagonist in this controversy, in his Play of Plays and Pastimes, a work which I have never seen, urges us, as Prynne informs us, in defence of plays, that "they dilucidate and well explain many darke obscure histories, imprinting them in men's minds in such indelible characters that they can hardly be obliterated." Histriomastix, p. 940. See also Heywood's Apology for Actors, 1612: "Plays have made the ignorant owed its rise to the publication of The Mirrour for Magistrates, in which many of the most distinguished characters in English history are introduced, giving a poetical narrative of their own misfortunes. Of this book three editions, with various alterations and improvements, were printed between 1563 and 1587. At length (about the year 1591) the great luminary of the dramatick world blazed out, and our poet produced those plays which have now for two hundred years been the boast and admiration of his countrymen. : Our earliest dramas, as we have seen, were represented in churches or near them by ecclesiasticks but at a very early period, I believe, we had regular and established players, who obtained a livelihood by their art. So early as in the year 1378, as has been already noticed, the singing-boys of St. Paul's represented to the King, that they had been at a considerable expence in preparing a stage representation at Christmas. These, however, cannot properly be called comedians, nor am I able to more apprehensive, taught the unlearned the knowledge of many famous histories; instructed such as cannot reade, in the discovery of our English Chronicles: and what man have you now of that weake capacity that cannot discourse of any notable thing recorded, even from William the Conqueror, nay, from the landing of Brute, untill this day, being possest of their true use?"-In Florio's dialogues in Italian and English, printed in 1591, we have the following dialogue : "G. After dinner we will go see a play. "H. The plaies that they play in England are not right comedies. "T. Yet they do nothing else but plaie every daye. "H. Yea, but they are neither right comedies, nor right tragedies. "G. How would you name them then? "H. Representations of histories, without any decorum." ! Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors, Vol. I. p. 166. point out the time when the profession of a player became common and established. It has been supposed that the licence granted by Queen Elizabeth to James Burbage and others, in 1574, was the first regular license ever granted to comedians in England; but this is a mistake, for Heywood informs us that similar licenses had been granted by her father King Henry the Eighth, King Edward the Sixth, and Queen Mary. Stowe records, that "when King Edward the Fourth would shew himself in state to the view of the people, he repaired to his palace at St. John's, where he was accustomed to see the City Actors." In two books in the Remembrancer's-office in the Exchequer, containing an account of the daily expences of King Henry the Seventh, are the following articles; from which it appears, that at that time players, both French and English, made a part of the appendages of the court, and were supported by regal establishment. "Item, to Hampton of Worcester for making of balades, 20s. Item, to my ladie the kings moders poete, 66s. 8d. Item, to a Welsh Rymer, in reward, 13s. 4d. Item, to my Lord Privie-Seals fole, in rew. 10s. Item, to Pachye the fole, for a rew. 6s. 8d. Item, to the foolish duke of Lancaster, 3s. Item, to Dix the foles master, for a months wages, 10s. Item, to the King of Frances fole, in rew. 41. Item, to the Frenshe players, in rew. 20s. Item, to the tumbler upon the ropes, 20s. Apology for Actors, 4to. 1612, Signat. E 1. b." Since then," adds Heywood, "that the house by the princes free gift hath belonged to the office of the Revels, where our court playes have been in late dayes yearely rehearsed, perfected, and corrected, before they come to the publike view of the prince and the nobility." This house must have been chosen on account of its neighbourhood to Whitehall, where the royal theatre then was. The regular office of the Revels at that time was on St. Peter's Hill, near the Black-friars' playhouse. Item, for heling of a seke maid, 6s 8d. [Probably the piece of gold given by the King in touching for the evil.] Item, to my lord princes organ-player, for a quarters wages at Michell. 10s. Item, to the players of London, in reward, 10s. Item, to Master Barnard, the blind poete, 100s. Item, to a man and woman for strawberries, 8s. 4d. Item, to a woman for a red rose, 2s." The foregoing extracts are from a book, of which almost every page is signed by the King's own hand, in the 13th year of his reign. The following are taken from a book which contains an account of expences in the 9th year of his reign: "Item, to Cart for writing of a boke, 68. 8d. Item, payd for two playes in the hall, 26s. 8d. Item, to the kings players for a reward, 100s. Item, to the king to play at cardes, 100s. Item, lost to my lord Morging at buttes, 6s. 8d. Item, to Harry Pyning, the king's godson, in reward, 20s. Item, to the players that begged by the way, 6s. 8d."3 Some of these articles I have preserved as cu rious, though they do not relate to the subject q immediately before us. This account ascertains, that there was then not only a regular troop of players in London, but also a royal company. The intimate knowledge of the French language and manners which Henry must have acquired during his long sojourn in foreign courts, (from 1471 to 1485,) accounts for the article relative to the company of French players. In a manuscript in the Cottonian Library in the Museum, a narrative is given of the shews and For these extracts I am indebted to Francis Grose, Esq. to whom every admirer of the venerable remains of English antiquity has the highest obligations. ceremonies exhibited at Christmas in the fifth year of this king's reign, 1490: This Cristmass I saw no disgysyngs, and but right few playes; but ther was an abbot of mis-rule, that made muche sport, and did right well his office.-On Candell Mass day, the king, the qwen, my ladye the king's moder, with the substance of al the lordes temporell present at the parlement, &c. wenten a procession from the chapell into the hall, and soo into Westmynster Hall:-The kynge was that daye in a riche gowne of purple, pirled withe gold, furred wythe sabuls. At nyght the king, the qwene, and my ladye the kyngs moder, came into the Whit hall, and ther had a pley."-" On New-yeeres day, at nyght, (says the same writer, speaking of the year 1488,) ther was a goodly disgysyng, and also this Cristmass ther wer many and dyvers playes." 994 A proclamation which was issued out in the year 1547 by King Edward the Sixth, to prohibit for about two months the exhibition of "any kind of interlude, play, dialogue, or other matter set forth in the form of a play, in the English tongue," describes plays as a familiar entertainment, both in London and in the country, and the profession of Leland. Collect. Vol. IV. Append. pp. 235, 256, edit. 1774. Itinerant companies of actors are probably coeval with the first rise of the English stage. King Henry the Seventh's bounty to some strolling players has been mentioned in the preceding page. In 1556, the fourth year of Queen Mary, a remonstrance was issued from the Privy Council to the Lord President of the North, stating, "that certain lewd [wicked or dissolute] persons, naming themselves to be the servants of Sir Francis Lake, and wearing his livery or badge on their sleeves, have wandered about these north parts, and representing certain plays and interludes, reflecting on the queen and her consort, and the formalities |