Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Opera, where there was a new play (Cutter of Coleman Street), made in the year 1658, with reflections much upon the late times; and it being the first time, the pay was doubled, and so to save money, my wife and I went up into the gallery, and there sat and saw very well; and a very good play it is. It seems of Cowly's making. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 25): This Comedy being Acted so perfectly Well and Exact, it was perform'd a whole Week with a full Audience. John Dennis, Dedication to The Comical Gallant, 1702: The only Play that ever Mr Cowley writ, was barbarously treated the first night, as the late Mr Dryden has more than once informed me, who has told me that he went to see it with the famous Mr Sprat, now Bishop of Rochester, and that after the Play was done, they both made a visit to Mr Cowley. Langbaine (English Dramatick Poets, p. 81): This Play met with some Opposition, at its Representation under this new Name, from some who envyed the Authors unshaken Loyalty to the Prince, and the Royal Cause, in the worst of Times. BM Add. Mss. 34217, fol. 31b, in Hotson (Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 247): @The Cutter of Coleman street had more fame@Before the Author chang'd its name@And shewd himselfe an Englishman right@By mending of things to spoyle them quite@And bee's more to blame because he can tell@(No better) to make new strings soe well.

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley.] Miss Younge had a song [Wake, thou son of dullness] composed by Michael Arne. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]: New Scenes and Dresses. Account-Book, 16 June: Paid Mrs Cowley for suspending the publication of the Belle's Stratagem #100. Public Advertiser, 1 Apr. 1782: In a few Days will be published The Belle's Stratagem. A spurious Copy having been published in Ireland [in 1781] make[s] it necessary to observe that the above is the genuine Comedy, as performed at Covent Garden Theatre. Ibid., 9 Apr. 1782: This Day is published The Belle's Stratagem (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #213 19s. (212.15.6; 1.3.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by John O'Keeffe (O'KeefFe, II, 301); it included a song, music by Carter, When I was a little baby, written by Hannah Cowley]: New Scenes and Dresses. Public Advertiser, 26 Jan. 1784: This Day is published A Bold Stroke for A Husband (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #199 5s. 6d. (194/13/0; 4/12/6)

Event Comment: That Famous Comedy. Written by the Ingenious Mr Cowley

Event Comment: Not Acted these Ten Years. Written by the late Mr Abraham Cowley

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never performed before. New Scenes and Dresses. This Comedy is a first production of Mrs Cowley--It was receiv'd with very great Applause-Indeed the performers play'd very well and deserv'd it--the Prologue was written by the Author of the Play dull and Mr Gar. wrote a most Excellent Epilogue quite Local--which was received with uncommon Applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly. Mainpiece reviewed in the Westminster Magazine for Feb.: "As we have lately been much afflicted with the melancholy fate of theatrical authors, we have a pleasure more than common in the great sucess of this piece."] Receipts: #256 5s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Hannah Cowley. Prologue by the author (Morning Chronicle, 9 Aug.)]: New Scenes painted by Rooker. Public Advertiser, 30 Aug. 1779: This Day is published Albina, Countess Raimond (price not listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Brereton. 2nd piece [1st time; INT I, by Hannah Cowley; not published]. Public Advertiser, 18 Mar.: Tickets to be had of Brereton, No. 11, Tavistock Street, Covent Garden. Receipts: #246 14s. 6d. (90.4.0; 26.0.6; 0.0.0; tickets: 130.10.0) (charge: #69 9s.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley. Larpent MS 548; not published. On 24 Mar. altered by the author as Second Thoughts are Best. Prologue by Richard Josceline Goodenough (Public Advertiser, 8 Mar.). Author of Epilogue unknown]: With New Scenes and Dresses. Receipts: #226 15s. 6d. (224.3.0; 2.12.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley. Not published. An alteration of her The World as it Goes, acted on 24 Feb. Prologue by B. Walwyn (London Chronicle, 28 Mar.)]: With New Scenes and Dresses. Receipts: #170 1s. (168.14.6; 1.6.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown.]. Public Advertiser, 27 May 1784: This Day is published More Ways than One (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #208 15s. (205/14/6; 3/0/6)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Chambers and Mrs Clarke. Mainpiece: Written by Mrs Cowley, and performed at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden with universal Applause. Never Acted there

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley, based on The Lucky Chance, by Aphra Behn. Prologue and Epilogue by James Cobb (see text)]: With Variety of new Scenes, Dresses, &c. Morning Chronicle, 28 Dec. 1786: This Day is published A School for Grey-Beards (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #220 8s. (206.14; 13.4; 0.10)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Hannah Cowley. Prologue and Epilogue by the author (see text)]. @When first thy Tragedy I view'd@Where Sparta mourns her Lot severe;@I caught the Spartan Fortitude@And watch'd her Woes without a Tear.@ (William Parsons [not the actor], in Thraliana, II, 713.) Public Advertiser, 27 Feb. 1788: This Day is published The Fate of Sparta (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #203 15s. 6d. (171.13.0; 30.15.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 5, by Hannah Cowley. Author of Prologue unknown. Epilogue by the author (see text)]: With Songs, Duetts, and Chorusses composed by Mazzinghi. With new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Songs, &c. to be had at the Theatre. [Afterpiece in place of The Padlock, advertised on playbill of 2 Dec.] Morning Herald, 23 Feb. 1792: This day is published A Day in Turkey (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #263 16s. (261.15.6; 2.0.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Hannah Cowley. Prologue by the author (Knapp, p. 134). Author of Epilogue unknown]: With new Dresses, Scenes, &c. Morning Chronicle, 18 Feb. 1795: This Day is published The Town before You (2s.). Genest VII, 205: In this play as printed in 1795 Fawcett's and Munden's names stand to the wrong characters. Receipts: #314 8s. (310.17; 3.11)