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

Event Comment: Henry II oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Clarke's Illness. [Bensley took his part in Alexander the Great.