, 1877-03-04
Interesting Gossip About the Dra-
ma in England.
Eow the Civic Authorities Of London
Tried to Suppress the Theatre.
The First Appearance Of an English
Speaking Woman on the Stage.

,,,,,c+ . r;tv thai this earliest patron OF the
Fnp,,sh stare should be the man whom the
stape itself has handed down to the deepest IN
fanny. The quiet reign OF Henry VII gave op-
nortunitv for the development Of the idea, and
companies of players came to lorin part
of many noble households The penu-
rious King himself maintained two COM
nanIes-the "gcntlemen Of tie chapel
and the PLAYERS Of intcrludes-"
When the gallant Young Harry VIII ascended
the throne, men Thought that the peaceful reign
OF Saturn had returned. Amusement and
pleasure became the order OF tf'e day at court
The Kings Cham berlain was officially the direct
or Of the royal amusements, having special
oversight Of the hunting and hawking, the
sports and games, the masques and rcSels. 10
aid him In the last department Of his arduous
duties WAS funcuonary styled Magistcr DO
corum, Reveliorum, ct Masco1un,, yulsariter
nancapatorum Re,4tt4s ct -Masks." This Office
Was one of considerable dignity, the first holder
being Sir Thomas Cawardine, beitcd knight
and gentleman Of the privy chamber. He had
an assistant styled the leoman OF the Nevcls,
who appears to have acted as stagge-manaser o1
the company Of eight players.
In the troublous times which cnsued
THE POOR PLAYERS JARED ROUGHLY.
The civil and ecclesiastical authorities came to
The conclusion that dramatic representations
were 50 conducted as to "tend to sedition and
to the contempt OF sundry good orders and
1aws;" and the Pnvy Council from time to time
prohibited strolling players setting forth plays
and inte1ludes; and toward tho close Oh tue
nominal reign Of the Protestant boy hing Ed,
ward VI. the prohibition was SO far extended
that even the PLAYERS attached to noble house.
holds could not perform without special per
mission Of the Privy Council. When the Cath
o1ic Mary acceded to the Throne, matters be-
came still worse for the players tor all aIanat-
il represen*ations, whether they did or did not
touch upon religious doEmas, were prohltlted
Elizabeth ascended the throne in 155S, and the
drama began to show its head once more. Ihe
1rrcat mobiles again became patrons OF the stage,
ana The popular demand for dramatic etc1tain-
ments became SO great that about 1910 two play
houses were set up in London StrolIng play
ers also perambulatcd the country; but thelr
performances were brought to stop IN lotS by
3 stringent act Of Parliament, in virtue Of
which bear-Tards. 4encers, mlnstrels, and play
ers in intcrludes, male or female, who had not
obtained the sanction OF Baron OF the Realm.
OF *sother honorable person OF higher degree"
were declared to be rogues ana yagabonds. For
r1yinu their vocation the first ot1ense, to be
ttgricyously whipped, and burned through the
gristle of the right ear with hot iron Of tue
compass Of an inch about, manlestIng his or
her roguish kind Of lite" A second otlense
otIense the penalty was death, without the
benefit of clergy or privilege OF sanctuary"
Strangely enough, the direct result OF this
cruel law WIS the -
CREATION OF THE REGULAR BRITISH DRAMA.
All players of any ability sought to escape the
brand OF roguery and yagabondagc by nndlng
place In some company under noble patronage
One such company deserves speca! mention.
Tneir leader. or, As we should say, their mana
@ Protection oi the Ea3> Of Leicester, who IL 1914
procured ior them royal patent by which they
we're designated as the t.Earl OF Leictster's
players.' The patent authorized them, ''dnrlng
the Queens pleasure, to use, exercise. and EN-
comedies, intcrludes and ge-pars, u through
out all England. During the summer season
they performed in the Globe Theatre, on the
siyersidc, which was open to the sky except that
who was something Of a capitalist, built q per
moment theatre in the "Libcrties" OF the
Blackfriars, so-ca1lcd, because it was held
to be without the Jurisdiction, of the
Mayor and Aldermen. of London TIE
against thcatricals- Such entertainments, they
aTe7cd, caused the poor sort to waste their time
and money, corrupted the youth. and with
drew people from public prayer and the worship
Of Godn aud moreoysr the i3t gEeas =. crowds ps;as
about the plague. They petitioncd that the
players should be allowed to perform only in
private houses, at weddings, and like occasions;
OF, II In any case they might be suffered TO per
dcath-l,st OF London should hare been for
twenty days less than fifty week; that they
should not perform on Sundays, and On holi-
Gays not till after evening prayer, and that tie
play should always close in time that II tne euda-
ence might get home before sunset. This petit
ton was eunmarily disposed OF By an order
from the PEivy Council, two days before
Christmas Of 1919, BY which 1T is ordered
that the Players Of the Erie OF LeyccStre oc
not restrained, nor in any wise molcsted in the
exercise Of their qualtye at the Biack1ryars OF
elsewhere throughout the Realue OF England,
so that they be enabled tho better to pcrtorrne
before her Majestic for her solace and recreation
this Itcnmas-"
The civic authorities made several other
ATTEMPTS AGAINsT THE PLAYERs,
notably one in 1859, upon the ground that some
companies had medoled With affairs Of state.
The players presented rcmonstrance TO the
Prlyy Council, DENYING that they had ever s'E1vcn
cause of disnleasure, in that they have brought
into their PLAYS matters Of State and Religion
vnftt to be handled By them. Or to be PRESENT.
Cd before lewde spectators" This remonstrnnce
roore playe1cs. all Of them sharers iu the
blacke FErcrs playc-house.". Among these are
James Burbadge, Richard Burhadge, his SOD,
aud certain William Shakespeare, young man
whohad found 1t e1pedieut to his leave native
Stratford-upon-ATon, had comc up to London,
and joined the company two or three years be-
fore
after The death Of Elizabeth. The magistrates
1vczred thatthe ssp1aiers at the Black F1ycrs
have again not forborue tn bring upon their
,tage one or more OF the worshipfull Aldermen
,f the City Of London, to their great scandal,
prayel the Priyy Council that the PLAYHOUSE
might be removed OF pulled down. The peri
was now imminent, and there WIS need OF strong
taaucnoe in favor Of the players; Two o1 thea