Event Comment: FFlying Post, 1 March: On Thursday Night last, the Village Opera was play'd the Fifth Time, but met with a most unaccountable Reception; however, tis presumed not from any Pique against the Author, but the Resentment of the town upon some later Proceedings. No sooner did poor Colin appear upon the Stage, but his Arrival was usher'd in with a Serenade of Cat Calls, Penny-Trumpets, Clubs, Canes, Hoarse Voices, whistling in Keys, Hells, Fists; and Vollies of whole Oranges; however, the Players went on with uncommon intrepidity, and like the truly great Men, seem'd greater by opposition. The Audience call'd out for any other Play, Farce or Entertainment, but the Peasants seem'd too intent upon what they were about, to give Ear to them. This so exasperated the Spectators, that they mustered up all the Artillery they could possibly lay hold and made such an Uproar, during the whole intended Entertainment, that it was scarce possible to hear a word the Actors said. As every Player came upon the Stage, they call'd upon him by his real, not fictitious Name, and Swore not a Man of them would come to his Benefit. When Mrs T@@@ appeared, they call'd out for a Quartern of Gin, to chear up her Spirits. The Word Constable being first mentioned in the Gallery, it ran round the House like Wild-fire; and immediately the general Cry was, No Constable, no Constable. At the Conclusion of the Play, a Fellow came upon the Stage, to put out the Lights with his long Pole, but a Gentleman broke it in two, and another taking a Candle from one of the Sockets of the Sconces, his Example was immediately followed by several others, who soon clear'd them of their Lights; when a new kind of Shower compos'd of Candles fell think as Hail on the Stage

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman, Pack, and Spiller. At Penkethman's Booth near St. George's Church, in Southwark. The Boxes and Pit are laid together, and the Booth will be pull'd down on Thursday. At 6 p.m. Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 5 Oct.: Wednesday at the Quarter-Sessions for the Borough of Southwark, Mr Penkethman, Mr Leigh, and other Persons taken out their Booths by the Informing Constables during the Time of the Fair, appear'd upon their Recognizances, and were immediately Discharg'd, there being no Prosecution, upon which Occasion the Recorder severely reprimanded the Constables for presuming to molest such as Acted upon a Lawful Patent, whilst they let others pass undisturb'd, who were really under the Censure of the Act against Strolling, or Vagrant Players

Event Comment: Benefit Ray, Gray [Constable] and Dunbar [Boxkeeper. See note 29 April.] I hope my diligence as a Constable, in preserving Ladies from the Insults of the Pickpockets... may entitle me to some small Indulgence at my Benefit. James Gray.--Daily Advertiser

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: After it [Wit in a Constable] was done, my wife and I went to the puppet play in Covent Garden, which I saw the other day, and indeed it is very pleasant

Event Comment: London Post, 13-16 Dec.: There being a French Scaramouch Dance betwixt the second and third Acts, a certain Person went in a Frolick, Incognito, up into the upper Gallery, and so pelted the Dancers with Oranges, that they were forced to quit the Stage, and the Play-house was all in an Uproar; but some of the Auditory perceiving who threw them, cryed out, fling him down into the Pit, which so startled him, that he was forced to make the best of his way down Stairs; however, a Constable having been sent for in the mean time, he was secured. Preface to Ximena (1719): The Fop's Fortune lagg'd on the Fourth Day and only held up its Head by the Heels of the French Tumblers

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 21 Sept.: We hear Mr Penkethman will bring his Action against the informing Constables, for breaking open his Booth last Friday was 7-Night, and taking him off the Stage, contrary to the King's Patent, under the Umbrage of which he acts, being sworn Servant to His Majesty; especially against such of them as were out of theirLiberty, when they executed that Office. The Fair will continue Monday and Tuesday Night

Event Comment: DDaily Post, 8 Feb.: Yesterday...some Persons in the gallery were so clamorous that the Play could not go on, but a Constable, assisted by a Serjeant and the Guards, prevail'd on them to walk out. gne of them was carried before a Justice of the Peace, and confess'd what he had done. It is to be observ'd that this Person had the Scornful Lady lately acted for his Benefit, in Consideration of his withdrawing a Play which was offer'd by him to be acted there, which Play we hear is since carried to the other House

Event Comment: DDaily Journal, 3 Nov.: On Saturday last The Recruiting Officer was acted a second Time,...and notwithstanding it had not (thro' Mistake) been advertised in the Papers, yet there was a good House....There are Constables attending Nightly, at the Master's Expence, to prevent Disorders

Event Comment: DDaily Courant, 25 Aug.: On Friday Night last the Constables of Middlesex and Westminster went to [hay] in order to apprehend the Actors and Players there, upon a Warrant signed by several of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, against them as Rogues and Vagabonds, but they all made their Escapes

Event Comment: Benefit Dukes. 5s., 3s., 2s. At the General Session...for Courts of Middlesex...on Thursday the 10th Day of May, 17 George II....This Court being informed, that several common Players of Interludes have for several Years used and accusdomed to assemble and meet together at or near a certain place called Tattenhoe, alias Tattenhall, alias Tottenham Court, in the Parish of St.@Pancras in this County, and to erect Booths, and act or exhibit Drolls and other Shews...whereby great Numbers of His Majesty's Subjects have been encouraged to assemble and to commit Riots and other Misdemeanors, in breach of His Majesty's Peace, and to the disturbance of the Neighborhood, of that Place; and that some of the said Players of Interludes, and other evil disposed Persons, are now seeking out and contracting for ground in or near the Place aforesaid, to build Booths for showing and acting said Plays and Drolls...and whereas all such Players of Interludes are deemed and declared Rogues and Vagabonds, and the Acting of such Plays, Drolls and Shews, are contrary to the Inns and Statues of the Realm...require the High Constable to apprehend all and every Players of Interludes, Plays, and Drolls.--Daily Advertiser, 17 May

Event Comment: Benefit for Hobson. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door of the Theatre. Presentment of the Grand Juryv for the County of Middlesex: We the Grand Jury sworn to enquire for our Sovereign Lord The King, and the body of this county, have observed from most of the presentments delivered to us by the Constables of this County, that they have been, as we apprehend and fear, very remiss in their duty, by returning their several districts to be quiet and in good order. Whereas the contrary does most manifestly appear, in many instances as well from the accounts or advertisements we read in the daily Papers, printed and dispersed within the County (inviting and seducing, not only the inhabitants, but also all other persons, to several places kept apart for the encouragement of Luxury, Extravagance, and Idleness, and we fear other wicked, illegal purposes, which by such means go on with impunity, to the destruction of many families) as otherwise to the great Dishonour of the Kingdom...especially at a time when we are engaged in expensive Wars, and so much overburdened with Taxes of all sorts, both Parliamentary and Parochial, that it is much as a prudent man can do, without a taste to extravagant and illegal pleasure to support himself and family according to his degree and station in life under the most regular economy. [If unchecked this bad example will lead to National destruction]. We do accordingly hereby present as places riotous, of great extravagance, luxury, idleness, and ill fame, the several house &c following: [lists two gambling houses, then the Proprietors of the avenues leading to the several playhouses for not preventing wicked loose and disorderly persons from loitering at the front of their several houses on nights of the play to the prejudice of playgoers.] 4. Saddlers Wells, near Islington; 5. New Wells, Goodman's Fields; 6. New Wells, Clerkenwell; 7. The Proprietors of a Place call'd Hallam's New Theatre at Mayfair. Prays that the court will close all listed. N.B. Many people believed that after this presentment, the places mentioned would be shut up or reformed, but they advertise and continue the same diversions as before.-Gentlemen's Magazine (May, 1744), pp. 278-79

Event Comment: Altered from Dryden by Colley Cibber....a Man who was in the Upper Gallery...threw an apple from thence, with an intent, as is suppos'd to hit some person who was looking through the Curtain, but struck a Lady of Quality in the face, who sat in the stage box; upon which the manager order'd the Constable attending the House to make inquiry after the person who did it, and he was immediately apprehended, on the information of several people who sat near him, and was, by the Lady's desire carried before a Justice, who would have committed him for the assault; but on his begging Pardon, and promising never to offend in the like manner, she was pleas'd to forgive him, and he was discharg'd.--As it was a Publick Affront some Gentlemen would have had him brought on the stage to make a Public acknowledgment of his folly;--and tis hop'd that will be the punishment hereafter, for those who offend in the like manner.--General Advertiser, 3 Nov

Event Comment: At the Old Theatre. Advertisement for the Publick Good: Whereas a pack of Strolling Players, who by the Laws now in force are liable to be punished by His Majesty's Justices/of/the/Peace as vagrants and vagabonds, lately infested the villages of Clapham, Stackwell and Borough of Southwark and other places in the County of Surrey and have made several riots and have contracted several debts with His Majesty's liege subjects and have given out printed handbills and Tickets for several of their benefits, particularly that the play called the Recruiting Officer and the Entertainment called Flora, or Hob in the Well would be performed on Monday Night Last at Yeates Old Theatre in the Bowling Green in Southwark and Several Gentlemen and Ladies were prevailed on and paid for majy tickets and went in coaches expecting to see and hear the proposed entertainments but the said strollers neither performed nor returned the money advanced for such tickets though demanded, this Advertisement is therefore hembly recommended to the serious consideration of the justices of the peace for the said county of Surrey and also to give a friendly caution to unwary people not to be imposed upon by such persons in the future.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Nov. [See 27 Nov. at hay] On Tuesday last the Court Leets for the Town and Borough of Southwark...Likewise directed the Constables to use their utmost Endeavours toward suppressing the Acting of Plays...and avoiding all unlawful Games and Plays....By the Statue, no Plays to be acted but in Westminster, or Place of his Majesty's Residence, on forfeit of #50.--London Courant, 6 Nov

Event Comment: Benefit Simpson, Gray (Constable), Plummer (Box Keeper) (General Advertiser). Gray begs the Favour of those Gentlemen and Ladies that intend to honou him with their Company, to be at the Theatre by Four o'clock, that he may be able to accommodate them with good Places. [Theatrical Clippings, Folger Library.

Event Comment: At Cushing's Booth, facing the King's Head, Smithfield. The tragedy contains the barbarous contrivances of King John against his nephew Prince Arthur; his method of persuading Hubert to undertake the cruel murder of that youth; the sufferings of Arthur in his confinement, where Hubert attempts to put out eyes with a red-hot iron, til moved to compassion by the tender entreating of the young prince, he quits his horrid purpose. The manner of Arthur's leaping from the battlements of the tower where he was imprisoned, when by attempting to escape his severe treatment he loses his life. The terrors that attended the villainous Uncle King John, and at length his dreadful death, who is poisoned in the midst of all his glory, and in terrible anguish and distraction, pays his nephew's blood with the price of his own. The comic contains the exquisite drolleries of Sir Lubberly and his man, their whimsical journey from Cumberland, and no less whimsical exploits in London; the odd reception they met with from their three faithful friends, Tom Rash the Porter, Jeffrey Holdfast the Constable, and Moll Tatter the Beggar Woman, the one getting a wife, the other a bastard

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs James and Miss Minors. No building on stage. Tickets of Mrs James at her lodgings at Mr Saunder's Carpenter, in Little Wild St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; Miss Minors' at Mr Nicholl, a Baker in Catherine St., and at stage door. An Information was given to Henry Fielding, Esq; that a Set of Barber's apprentices, journeymen staymakers, maid-servants, &c. had taken a large Room at the Black Horse in the Strand, to act the tragedy of The Orphan; the Price of Admittance One Shilling. About eight o'clock the said Justice issued his warrant, directed to Mr Welch, High Constable, who apprehended the said actors, and brought them before the said Justice, who, out of compassion to their youth, only bound them over to their good behavior. They were all conducted through the streets in their Tragedy Dresses, to the no small Diversion of the Populace. (General Advertiser). Receipts: #138 (Cross)

Event Comment: This night the Riot was very Great, the Gentlemen came with Sticks, & tho' the play went on quiet 'till the last Act, we had there a great Stop, notwithstanding we ended it, & then the rout went on, ye Boxes drove many out of the Pit, & broken heads were plenty on both Sides; the dance began,--was Stop'd--& so again & again--while this was doing numbers were assembl'd in the Passages of the pit, broke down & were getting into the Cellar, but were repuls'd by our Scene men &c.--heavy blows on both sides--Justice Fielding--& Welch came with Constables & a Guard; but without effect, tho' the Justices stood upon ye Stage--I thought ye proclamation must have been read--after ye battle in the Passages numbers went & broke Garrick's Windows in Southhampton Street, --part of ye Guard went to protect it-Garrick was oblig'd to give up the Dancers-& ye Audience disperc'd (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. The Country Coquet; or, Miss in her Breeches, a Ballad Opera, as it may be acted at Drury Lane. @Men, some to business, some to pleasure take@But every woman is at heart a Rake.@ Pope By a Young Lady. Printed for and sold for J. Major, in Three-Tun Court, leading from the Ship in Ivy Lane into Newgate Market. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Receipts: #113 6s. 6d. Paid Barry his one third of surplus above the #80 House Charges: #11 2s. 2d. Paid Wm. Churchman a bill being expences with Mr Fielding, Constables, &c. at the Blakney's Head, #7 3s. (Account Book)