both houses respectively, as they fhall think fitt: the faid companies to be under the gouernement and authority of them the faid Thomas Killigrew and Sir William Dauenant. And in regard of the extraordinary licentioufnefs that hath been lately ufed in things of this nature, our pleasure is, that there shall be noe more places of reprefentations, nor companies of actors of playes, or operas by recitative, mufick, or reprefentations by danceing and scenes, or any other entertainments on the ftage, in our citties of London and Westminster, or in the liberties of them, then the two to be now erected by vertue of this authority. Nevertheless wee doe hereby by our authority royal ftrictly enjoine the faid Thomas Killegrew and Sir William Dauenant, that they doe not at any time hereafter cause to be acted or reprefented any play, enterlude, or opera, containing any matter of prophanation, fcurrility or obfcenity: And wee doe further hereby authorize and command them the said Thomas Killegrew and Sir William Dauenant to perufe all playes that haue been formerly written, and to expunge all prophaneffe and fcurrility from the fame, before they be reprefented or acted. And this our grante and authority made to the faid Thomas Killegrew and Sir William Dauenant, fhall be effectuall and remaine in full force and vertue, notwithstanding any former order or direction by us given, for the fupprefling of playhouses and playes, or any other entertainments of the ftage. Given, &c. August 21, 1660." VI. The following paper is indorfed by Sir Henry Herbert: "Warrant fent to Rhodes, and brought backe by him the 10 of Octob. 60, with this anfwerThat the Kinge did authorize him." "Whereas by vertue of a grante under the great feale of England, playes, players and playmakers, and the permiffion for erecting of playhouses, have been allowed, ordered and permitted by the Masters of his Maties office of the Revells, my predeceffors fucceffively, time out of minde, whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary, and by mee for almost forty yeares, with exception only to the late times: "Thefe are therefore in his Maties name to require you to attend mee concerning your playhouse called the Cockpitt playhouse in Drury Lane, and to bring with you fuch authority as you have for erecting of the faid houfe into a playhouse, at your perill. Given at his Ma.ties office of the Revells the 8th day of Octob. 1660. HENRY HERBERT." "To Mr. John Rhodes at the Cockpitt playhouse in Drury Lane.' VII. Copy of the Warrant fent to the actors at the Cockpitt in Drury Lane by Tom Browne, the 13 Octob. 60. "Whereas severall complaints have been made against you to the Kings most excellent Majesty by Mr. Killegrew and Sir William D'Avenant, concerning the unufuall and unreasonable rates taken at your playhouse doores, of the respective perfons of quality that defire to refresh or improve themfelves by the fight of your morrall entertainments which were conftituted for profitt and delight. And the faid complaints made ufe of by the faid Mr. Killegrew and Sir William Davenant as part of their fuggeftions for their pretended power, and for your late restrainte. "And whereas complaints have been made thereof formerly to mee, wherewith you were acquainted, as innovations and exactions not allowed by mee; and that the like complaints are now made, that you do practice the faid exactions in takeing of exceffive and unaccustomed rates uppon the restitution of you to your liberty. "These are therefore in his Ma.ties name to require you and every of you to take from the perfons of qualitie and others as daily frequent your play-houfe, fuch usuall and accustomed rates only as were formerly taken at the Blackfryers by the late company of actors there, and noe more nor otherwise, for every new or old play that fhall be allowed you by the Master of the Revells to be acted in the faid playhouse or any other playhouse. And you are hereby further required to bringe or fende to me all fuch old plaies as you doe intend to act at your faid playhoufe, that they may be reformed of prophanes and ribaldry, at your perill. Given at the office of the Revells. HENRY HERBERT." "To Mr. Michael Mohun, and the rest of the actors of the Cockpitt play- The words in Italick characters were added by Sir Henry Herbert's own hand. VIII' "To the Kings moft excellent Majestic. "The humble Petition of Michael Mohun, Robert Shatterel, Charles Hart, Nich. Burt, Wm. Cartwright, Walter Clun, and William Winterfell. "Humbly fheweth, "That your Majeftics humble petitioners, having been fuppreft by a warrant from your Majeftie, Sir Henry Herbert informed us it was Mr. Killegrew had caufed it, and if wee would give him foe much a weeke, he would protect them against Mr. Killegrew and all powers. The complaint against us was, fcandalous plays, raifing the price, and acknowledging noc authority; all which ended in foe much per weeke to him; for which wee had leave to play and promife of his protection: the which your Majefty knows he was not able to performe, fince Mr. Killegrew, having your Majeftics former grante, fuppreft us, untill wee had by covenant obliged ourfelves to act with wOEMEN, a new theatre, and habitts according to our SCEANES. And according to your Majefties approbation, from all the companies we made election of one company; and fo farre Sir Henry Herbert hath bene from protecting us, that he hath been a continual disturbance unto us, who were [united] by your Majefties commande under Mr. Killegrew as Master of your Majefties Comedians; and wee have annext unto our petition the date of the warrant by which wee were fuppreft, and for a protection against that warrant he forced from us foe much a weeke. And if your majeftie be graciously pleased to caft your eye upon the date of the warrant hereto annext, your majeftie fhall find the date to our contract fucceeded; wherein he hath broke the covenants, and not your petitioners, haveing abused your majestie in giveing an ill character of your petitioners, only to force a fum from theire poore endeavours; who never did nor fhall refufe him all the refeits and juft profitts that belong to his place; hee having now obtained leave to arreft us, only to give trouble and vexation to your petitioners, hopeing by that meanes to force a fumme of money illegally from us. "The premises confidered, your petitioners humbly befeech your majestie to be gratiously pleased to fignify your royal pleafure to the Lord Chamberlaine, that your petitioners may not bee molefted in their calling. And your petitioners in duty bound fhall pray, &c. "Nich. Burt. William Wintershall. "Robt. Shatterel."" Mr. Thomas Betterton having been a great admirer of Shakspeare, and having taken the trouble in the beginning of this century, when he was above seventy years of age, of travelling to Stratford-upon-Avon to collect materials for Mr. Rowe's life of our author, is entitled to particular notice from an editor of his works. Very inaccurate accounts of this actor have been given in 2 * Michael Mohun, William Cartwright, and Walter Clun did not fign. |