Event Comment: An unnamed play was acted, probably at court. See L. C. 5@140, p. 407, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 284

Event Comment: This work, printed in 1674, was performed, probably, at court by a French company. See M. Horn-Monval, French Troupes in England During the Restoration, Theatre Notebook, VII (1953), 82; and Edwin P. Grobe, S. Bre, French Librettist at the Court of Charles II, Theatre Notebook, IX (1954), 20-21

Event Comment: Preparations for the production of a play (Calisto) at court in midwinter had been underway by this time. On this day Margaret Blagge wrote to John Evelyn: the play goes on mightily, which I hoped would never have proceeded farther....Would you believe it, there are some that envy me the honour (as they esteeme it) of acting in this play (The Life of Mrs Godolphin, ed. Samuel Lord Bishop of Oxford [1847], p. 96. See also pp. 93-95.). Several orders for costumes, scenes, and properties dated through the winter offer valuable information concerning details of the preparations. See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 357-58, p. 43n; Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, pp. 178-227

Event Comment: Evelyn, Diary: Saw a Comedie at night, at court, acted by the Ladys onely, viz: The Lady Mary & Ann his R. Highnesses two Daughters, & my deare friend Mrs Blagg, who having the principal part, perform'd it to admiration: They were all covered with Jewels. [It seems likely that Evelyn saw a rehearsal or was in error concerning the date of performance.] Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library): On Twelfe day the principallest abt ye Court divert their Matys with a Play & Opera where in ye Splendor & Grandeur of the English Monarchy will be seen (Wilson, Theatre Notes, p. 79). See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 357-58, for an order of this date, L. C. 5@141, p. 83, concerning habits for the opera

Event Comment: Newdigate newsletters (Folger Shakespeare Library), 23 Feb. 1674@5: Last night ye mask at Court was publiquely acted in ye presence of their Maties, R:11 Hsess & ye whole Court & will be once more acted before his Matie goes to Newmarket (Wilson, Theatre Notes, pp. 79-80). [Wilson points out that this performance is nowhere else mentioned.

Event Comment: Boswell (Restoration Court Stage, p. 286) believes that Calisto may have been acted again at court by this date

Event Comment: The Bulstrode Papers (I, 302): There is arrived Scaramouchy, ye famous Italien comedian with his crew, to act againe, & are to have ye King's Theatre in Whitehall for their use during their stay, and all people are allowed to come there & see them, playing as they doe at other houses, so yt now a Papist may come to Court for halfe a crowne. This is not much lik'd by our other players, for it will half break both our houses. [See also a Treasury warrant for the importing of their belongings, Calendar of Treasury Books, 1672-1675, p. 757, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 121.

Event Comment: The King's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@141, p. 359: Tyranick Loue or ye R Martir. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 346. Boswell (Restoration Court Stage, p. 286) believes that this performance may have been given at court. This play was reprinted in 1677

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of this performance is uncertain. It is one of a series of plays acted at Court, in L. C. 5@145, p. 120. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350. In view of the recent disorders at the Duke's Theatre, it is somewhat surprising to have this series of plays acted at Court at this time, but three of the entries would fall on Sunday if the sequence is assigned to the season of 1680-81; hence, the series has been assigned to 1679-80

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This is another in the series of Court performances in L. C. 5@145, p. 120. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350, and 11 Feb. 1679@80. Mountstevens to Henry Stevens, 20 Feb. 1679@80: Upon Sunday the Court is to be in mourning for the death of the Princess Elizabeth, sister to Prince Rupert. (R. W. Blencowe, Diary of the Time of Charles the Second [London, 1843], I, 283)

Event Comment: Charles II had begun negotiations for bringing Italian players to England again. See the correspondence in HMC, 7th Report, Appendix, pp. 285, 286, 331; and L. C. 5@144, p. 407, in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 61. See also HMC, 7th Report, p. 288 (1 May 168O) and Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 125

Event Comment: In L. C. 5@144, p. 510 (Boswell, Restoration Court Stage), is an order for changes to be made in the Court Theatre "for Mr Abel to represent his Musick." Nothing further is known of an intended concert

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@147, p. 69: ye Moore of Venice at Whitehall. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350. See also an L. C. notice, 5@147, p. 24 (in Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 85) concerning Preparations for plays to be acted at court every week

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of this Performance is stated as 16 Feb. (L. C. records) or 17 Feb. (Peregrine Bertie), but as Lent began on Wednesday 17 Feb., the performance probably occurred on Shrove Tuesday. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@147, P. 125. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350. Peregrine Bertie to the Countess of Rutland, 17 Feb. 1685@6: To night will be the last play at court, they tell mee 'tis the Mocke Astrologer (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Rutland MSS., Part V, p. 105). John Povey to Sir Robert Southwell, 18 Feb. 1685@6: Sir, the enclosed had been sent last post, had it not been detained late by a play at Court which ended our Carnival. The night before the King and Queen were entertained by the Lord President at a ball or masque in Lady Portsmouth's lodgings. The Masquers were twelve couples whose habits were of several nations' and prescribed by a picture sent to each of them from the Queen, and the least habit cost !bove a hundred Pounds, and some above three hundred pounds, besides jewels of which Mrs Fox and some others had above thirty thousand pounds value each (Savile-Finch Correspondence, Add. Mss. 28,569; I owe this quotation to Professor John Harold Wilson)

Event Comment: The warrant for the export of the goods of the French comedians who acted in the late summer is dated this day. See Calendar of Treasury Books, 1685-1689, p. 2082, and Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 128. During October #200 was paid to John deSureis for himself and eleven companions, the French comedians who had been at Windsor (Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 128)

Event Comment: Benefit W. Grove, M.R. by Command of the Honourable Court of Non-Common-Pleas. The Gentlemen of the Society are desir'd to meet at their Court, at Sir John's, at 5 o'Clock exactly, from thence to proceed to the Theatre. 6 p.m. 5s., 4s., 2s

Event Comment: Benefit for ye widow of Capt. James Spencer, an Officer &c., and her small Children (Cross). An Old Officer who had been in His Majesty's Service 46 years, but dying when upon half-pay has left the Widow without pension and with several small children in greatest distress. N.B. Part of the Pit will be rail'd into the boxes and servants will be allowed to keep places on the Stage. Tickets to be had of Mrs Spencer, the uppermost house in Prince's Court, by Storey's Gate; the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; the Tiltyard Coffee House; St James Coffee House; Sweet's Coffee House, Bukingham Court; Bridge Street Coffee House; The Rainbow Coffee House, Ludgate Hill; the Temple Exchange, Fleet St.; the Rainbow, Cornhill; and at the Stage Door of the theatre where places may be taken. Mr Norton Amber, humbly hopes this general acknowledgment of the favour which his friends were pleas'd to confer on him by their generous appearance last Night at Drury Lane, will be accepted, instead of a more particular application, which his constant employment prevents; and begs leave to assure them, that he shall ever retain a most grateful sense of their indulgent assistance. Receipts: #252 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Blakes and Mrs James. Mainpiece: Acted but once these three years. Tickets to be had of Blakes at his House in Duke's Court, near Broad Court, Bow St. Covent Garden; of Mrs James in Little Wild St., Lincoln's Inn Fields; and at stage door. Receipts: #270 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Scrase and Miss Thomas. Tickets of Scrase at Mr Cross's in Crown Court, Russel St., Covent Garden; of Miss Thomas at the Ring and Pearl, Duke's Court, Bow St., and at stage door. No Building on Stage. Receipts: #130 (Cross)