Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Lucyle Hook, James Brydges Drops in at the Theatre, Huntington Library Bulletin, VIII (1945), 309, speculates that James Brydges' attendance at lif this day may have been prompted by his seeing this new play, as he stayed longer than he often did at a theatrical performance. The comedy was certainly acted before 12 March 1699@1700. James Brydges, Diary: I went to ye play in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Sr G. Coply, who set me down after it was ended (Huntington MS St 26). Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, p. 45: The Way of the World, a Comdey wrote by Mr Congreve, twas curiously Acted; Madam Bracegirdle performance her Part so exactly and just, gain'd the Applause of Court and City; but being too Keen a Satyr, had not the Success the Company Expected

Event Comment: From 16 Jan. 1696@7 to 18 May 1702 James Brydges, afterwards first Duke of Chandos, kept a diary in which he recorded, among other events, his attendance at the theatre. Unfortunately, his first entry dealing with the playhouses, like many other similar entries, does not name the play he saw; on 22 Jan. 1696@7 he wrote: my Uncle Warwick Lake? carried me to ye Playhouse. [For an account of his theatrical entries, see Lucyle Hook, James Brydges Drops in at the Theatre, Huntington Library Bulletin, VIII (1945), 306-11.

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to him [Brydges' father] setting my Uncle Lake down at ye playhouse (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: About 6: he [Brydges' brother Henry] set me down at y- Playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Me Coke, Mr Hammond, & Sir Godfrey Coply: about 8: I came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to ye playhouse in Covent Garden, & after that to ye playhouse in Lincolns inn fields (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to ye Playhouse in Covent Garden where I met Mr Knight, after wch I went to yr other playhouse, & there saw Sr Charles Barinton, & Mr Mildmay; before ye play was done, I came hence home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: To ye Grecian Coffee house, where meeting Mr Pits, were went together to ye playhouse in Lincoln Inn Fields (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: About 2. I came home to dinner, where I found Lady Hussy, & Cozzen Betty, & Mrs Howard, about 5. After dinner I went to Lord Pembroke's who being abroad, I went to Lord Arundell of Treryce, who not being at home, I went to Ld. Allinton's, but he not being within, I went to Mr Pitts, who being abroad, I went to ye Dean of Peterborough's but he being at church I went to ye playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Dr Davenant & Ld. Rumny (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: To ye playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, where I met Lds Henry Cavendish, Grey of Ruthia, & Abergavenny (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. James Brydges, Diary: About 4: we went to ye playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, and meeting Sr John Cope here, after having Put ye Ladies in box kept for them, I went with him to Hyde Park, & from thence came again to ye play (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to Tom's Coffee house, where I met Mr Marshall, he told me of Capt. Hill being kill'd by Ld Mohun, from hence I went to Wills, where I met Dr Davenant, I staid here almost half an hour, & coming home by ye way stopt & just lookt in at ye Playhouse being about seven a clock (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: Rich's Company. James Brydges, Diary: I went & lookt in at ye Playhouse [dl?], Greenwich park being acted. I staid not an act, but went hence to Tom's Coffeehouse (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: About seven I went to ye playhouse in Covent Garden;...from thence I went to ye Playhouse in Lincolns inn fields, but meeting at ye door Mr Pelham, & he telling me the play was done, I came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: About 6: I went to ye Playhouse, and let my Lady Lucy Bright & my Wife out & came with them home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to Mr Roberts's, who had a consort of musick, Mr Frank Roberts Mr Banister, la Riche Mr Shore, &c. I staid here till towards eleven, & then home with Lady Lucy Bright & my Wife (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went to ye Playhouse, where I met my Brother Frank, Sr. Richard Sanford, & Ld Huntinton, I staid about an act (Huntington Library MS St 26)

Event Comment: According to the Flying Post, 18-20 Oct. 1698: On Tuesday October 18, 1698, the Penny Lottery began at the Theatre Royal in Dorset Garden with the first draw. [On 28 Sept. 1698 James Brydges, Diary reported that he had gone into dg to see the "engine" for the lottery.] The Post Boy, 18-20 Oct. 1698: There is now Acting at the Theatre Royal in Dorset Garden a Tragy-Comedy called The Wheel of Fortune, or The Fools Expectation. And 'tis thought the Author will have a good Sixth Day. According to the Post Boy, 20-22 Oct. 1698: On Monday next will be publish'd, a Comical and Satirical Prologue and Epilogue, intended to be spoken at the Acting of the new Invented Farce, call'd, the Wheel of Fortune, or the Fools Expectation. [The Prologue and Epilogue are reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 305-10.] It seems probable that the lottery was dignified, for satiric purposes, by being given the title of a play, with a satirical Prologue and Epilogue. Post Man, 20-22 Oct. 1698: The Entertainment performed at the Theatre Royal in Dorset Garden, at drawing the Lottery, called the Wheel of Fortune; being the Speeches addrest to the Spectators, as Prologues and Epilogues. During a Symphony of Musick the Curtain rises slowly, and discovers two wheels upon the Stage; then two Figures, representing Fortunev and Astraea the Goddess of Justicev, descend over each Wheel, in two rich Chariots gilt with Gold

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: About 5 my Coz: Roberts & I went to ye Playhouse in Covent Garden, but not liking ye play, wee went to that in Lincolns inn fields, & staid till 'twas done. I saw Ld Normanby, Ld Willouby, Sir Rich. Samford &c. here (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I set Mr Bullock down at ye Playhouse, & came home (Huntington MS St 26). John Dryden wrote to Mrs Steward on 23 Feb. [1699@1700, but possibly 1698@99, as the letter concerns theatrical affairs of the autumn and winter of 1698-99]: The Poem of The Confederates [see The Island Princess, November 1698] some think to be Mr Walsh: the copies are both lik'd. And there are really two factions of ladyes, for the two play-houses. If you do not understand the names of some persons mention'd I can help you to the knowledge of them. You know, Sir Tho. Skipwith is master of the play-house in Drury-Lane; and my Lord Scarsdale is the patron of Betterton's house, being in love with somebody there [presumably Anne Bracegirdle] (The Letters of John Dryden, p. 133)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: Toward seven...to ye Playhouse in Lincolns Inn fields; here I saw Mr Freeman, Mr Worsely, Sr Edwd Ernly &c.: from hence I went to ye Playhouse in Covent Garden, thinking to have met my Brother Frank, Sister Jacob &c.: there, but did not. I sat with Mr Cook of Darby, & spoke with Mr Winninton &c. (Huntington MS ST 26)

Event Comment: On this day James Brydges attended an unnamed play at this theatre (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: About 6: went to ye play. I staid there a quarter of an hour (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I din'd at Mr Gervase Pierrepoint's, with Mr Moor, Dr Davenant, Mr Scobell, & Mr Harcourt; about 8: I set ye 2 first down at ye playhouse, & came home (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: I went & din'd at ye fountain, after wch I went to ye Playhouse in Lincolns Inn fields, & saw my Cozen Hussys & Coz. Roberts there. I staid an act (Huntington MS St 26)

Event Comment: James Brydges, Diary: at ye Musick Meeting (Huntington MS St 26)