Event Comment: See Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 116. This was the King's Company (Killigrew's), now removed from the red bull to Gibbons' Tennis Court in Vere Street. Probably Clun acted Falstaff. (See An Elegy Upon the Most Execrable Murther in A Little Ark, ed. G. Thorn-Drury, pp. 30-31.

Event Comment: See Herbert, Dramatic Records, p. 117. The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the Theatre, and there sat in the pit among the company of fine ladys, &c.; and the house was exceeding full, to see Argalus and Parthenia, the first time that it hath been acted: and indeed it is good, though wronged by my over great expectations, as all things else are

Event Comment: The King's Company. See Herbert (Dramatic Records, p. 117), where are listed The Loyall Subject, Mad Louer, The Wildgoose Chase following this play but preceding April 1661. Pepys, Diary: I went by coach to the play-house at the Theatre, our coach in King Street breaking, and so took another. Here we saw Argalus and Parthenia, which I lately saw, but though pleasant for the dancing and singing, I do not find good for any wit or design therein

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5]: By the celebrated Henry Fielding; and never yet performed or published. With new Scenes, Dresses, &c. [and incidental music by Michael Arne. Prologue by David Garrick. Epilogue by the same (see text)]. Public Advertiser, 12 Dec. 1778: This Day is published The Fathers (1s. 6d.). "This play was written by Mr Henry Fielding, some years before his death. Mr Garrick saw it at that time. Mr Fielding gave the only fair copy he had of it to his friend Sir Charles Williams, of whose judgment he entertained a high opinion. Sir Charles soon after went abroad, and the comedy was mislaid. Mr. Fielding communicated this circumstance to his family on his death-bed; and enquiry was made for it, but without effect. At length Mr Thomas? Johnes, Member for Cardigan, looking over Sir Charles's books, found a comedy in manuscript, which he read, and, approving, had it transcribed and sent to Mr Garrick for his opinion, who, like Archimedes, cried out, 'This is the lost sheep! This is Mr Henry Fielding's play!' Mr Garrick communicating it to Mr Johnes, Mr Johnes immediately sent the original manuscript, which was in Mr Fielding's hand-writing, to the family, with his best wishes for its success, promising to assist it to the utmost of his power" (Gentleman's Magazine, Dec. 1778, p.586). See also, for corroboration of the above and for other details, Wilbur L. Cross, The History of Henry Fielding, 1918, III, 99-104. Receipts: #210 11s. 6d. (186.6.0; 23.19.6; 0.6.0)

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is known by one of the rare playbills extant from this period. It is in HMC, Verney MSS., 7th Report, p. 509, and reproduced opposite page 240 in Lawrence, Elizabethan Playhouse, 2d Series: Never Acted but once. At the Theatre Royal, in Drury-Lane, this present Wensday being the Nineth day of November, will be presented, A New Play called, Henry the Second King of England. No money to be return'd after the curtain is drawn. By their Majesties Servants. Vivant Rex & Regina. Lady Margaret Russell to Katherine Russell, 10 Nov. 1692: You will be surprised that Lady Cavendish has been hindered by a little sore throat from going yesterday to a new play of King Henry and Rosamond, which is much commended (HMC, 12th Report, Appendix, Part V, Rutland MSS., p. 124)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted before. [by Henry Fielding.] Afterpiece: Never perform'd before. By Scriblerus Secundus. [By Henry Fielding.] Afterpiece: Never perform'd before. By Scriblerus Secundus. [By Henry Fielding.] Books of the Tragedy, with Notes by Way of Key, &c. will be sold at the Theatre, as also Books of the Farce

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; c 5, by Hannah Cowley. Prologue by Henry Bate (European Magazine, Mar. 1782, p. 210, which also gives name of speaker)]. 2nd piece [1st time; prel I, by Henry Bate (later Sir Henry Bate Dudley). Epilogue by John O'Keeffe (O'Keeffe, 11, 301)]: With New Dresses, Scenery, &c. Public Advertiser, 19 Feb. 1782: This Day is published The Dramatic Puffers (6d.). Receipts: #222 9s. 6d. (219/4/6; 3/5/0)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: I bought the play of Henry the Fourth, and so went to the new Theatre...and saw it acted; but my expectation being too great, it did not please me, as otherwise I believe it would; and my having a book, I believe did spoil it a little

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary, 24 Dec.: By and by comes in Captain Ferrers to see us, and, among other talke, tells us of the goodness of the new play of Henry VIII, which makes me think it long till my time is out

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: But my wife and I rose from table, pretending business, and went to the Duke's house, the first play I have been at these six months, according to my last vowe, and here saw the so much cried-up play of "Henry the Eighth"; which, though I went with resolution to like it, is so simple a thing made up of a great many patches, that, besides the shows and processions in it, there is nothing in the world good or well done

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: To White Hall, and got my Lord Bellasses to get me into the playhouse; and there, after all staying above an hour for the players, the King and all waiting, which was absurd, saw Henry the Fifth well done by the Duke's people, and in most excellent habits, all new vests, being put on but this night. But I sat so nigh and far off, that I missed most of the words, and sat with a wind coming into my back and neck, which did much trouble me. The play continued till twelve at night. A Prologue for this play is in A Letter from a Gentleman to the Honourable Ed. Howard (London, 1668)

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: My wife and Willett and I to the King's playhouse, and there saw Henry the Fourth; and contrary to expectation, was pleased in nothing more than in Cartwright's speaking of Falstaffe's speech about "What is Honour?" The house full of Parliamentmen, it being holyday with them: and it was observable how a gentleman of good habit, sitting just before us, eating of some fruit in the midst of the play, did drop down as dead, being choked; but with much ado Orange Moll did thrust her finger down his throat, and brought him to life again

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: [After looking in at the Nursery and at lif] and Henry the Fourth at the King's house; but, not finding them, not liking either of the plays, I took my coach again

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's house, and saw a piece of Henry the Fourth; at the end of the play, thinking to have gone abroad with Knepp, but it was too late, and she to get her part against to-morrow, in The Silent Woman

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on the L. C. list, 5@151, p. 369: y- Q: a Box & a Box for ye Maids Honr Henry 2. [See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 352.

Event Comment: The United Company. Constatijn Huygens, 16 Jan. 1692@2 O. S. [translation]: In the afternoon I went with Preswitz to the comedy, by Covent Garden, where there was a play about Henry II, but I could not very well understand the comedians, neither what they said. Mrs Barry played the King's wife and Mrs Bracegirdle his mistress, who let the King be poisoned in her presence. Sayer came and sat with us. The best places were for the English crown (Journaal van Constantijn Huygens, Publication of the Dutch Historical Society, New Series, XXV [Utrecht, 1877], 168)

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, late Jan.: It is surprising that dl goes on acting; one night with another, to be sure, they have not received above 40 pounds; the actors are paid only three nights a week; though they play every night. But the top stroke of all was Macklin's play! It was entirely new-dressed, and no expense saved in the clothes. I shall say nothing of the piece, because you may read it; but be as vain as you will about your playing Bayes, you never made an audience laugh more than Henry VII has done. There for the first time I saw your rival, Mr Goodfellow; I should have said the rival Mr Lacy wants to make you; do not be quite dispirited about it, for Perkin Warbeck is much below anything I ever yet saw. Here I must ask Mr Stevens's pardon, to whom I have done injustice, for I think he may dispute the pass downstairs with Perkin, and as his head seems to be the heaviest of the two, I think he has the best right to it.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 49