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: Taken from Plautus and Moliere by the late Mr Dryden. Daily Advertiser, 12 Dec: We hear the Company ... are now rehearsing the three celebrated Plays of Ben Johnson, viz. the Fox, the Alchymist, and the Silent Woman

Event Comment: [Prince of Wales and Princess Amelia present.] Lord Hervey to Henry Fox, 2 Nov.: No place is full but the Opera; and Farinelli is so universally liked, that the crowds there are immense. By way of public spectacles this winter, there are no less than two Italian Operas, one French play house, and three English ones. Heidegger has computed the expense of these shows, and proves in black & white that the undertakers must receive seventy-six thousand odd hundred pounds to bear their charges, before they begin to become gainers. Ilchester, Lord Hervey and his Friends, p. 211

Event Comment: [The Queen, Duke, and princesses present.] Lord Hervey to Henry Fox, 13 Nov.: I am just returned with the Queen from a long dull Opera, and a cold, empty House.--Ilchester, Lord Hervey and his Friends, p. 255

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 17 March: This is to inform the Publick, that the new Tragi-Comedy, intitled The Free-Thinker; or, The Fox uncas'd, which was last Summer rehearsed and was to have been play'd at [lif], but by Mr Rich's letting that House to Mr Giffard, for that Season, was prevented, will be acted on the 14th of April next [at yb], by Mr Hallam's Company of Comedians. The Play is writ much in the same Stile and Manner of George Barnwell....The Author hopes that the Generous and Judicious will encourage the Performance, tho' the Company of Players are not dropt down from the Clouds, nor does the Play libel the Government. [No further announcement of the performance has been noted before 28 April.

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 28 April: This is to inform the Publick, That the new Tragi-Comedy, entitled, The Free Thinker, or the Fox Uncased, which was to have been play'd on this Day, is oblig'd to be again deferr'd till Friday Se'nnight, being the 6th of May, when it will certainly be play'd [in yb], Pen. Aubin. [See also 14 April.

Event Comment: Benefit for Simpson, Raftor, Usher. Tickets and places of Hobson at the stage door. Receipts: #180 (Cross); charges, #63 (Powel). [This month, the Gentleman's Magazine Register of Books listed as published Remarks on Three Plays of B. Johnson, viz: The Fox, Silent Woman, and Alchymist, by James Upton.] This week will be published The Hen Peck'd Captain,...as it was intended to be acted...on Saturday last. Taken from The Campaigners; or, the pleasant Adventures at Brussels with a Preface by R. Cross, prompter (General Advertiser)

Event Comment: Benefit for Wilkinson. At the Request of several Persons of Quality. Tickets delivered by Fox, Royall, and for The Distress'd Mother will be taken