Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, my eyes being so bad since last night's straining of them, that I am hardly able to see, besides the pain which I have in them. The play was a new play; and infinitely full: the King and all the Court almost there. It is The Storme, a play of Fletcher's; which is but so-so, methinks; only there is a most admirable dance at the end, of the ladies, in a military manner, which indeed did please me mightily....And there comes my wife home from the Duke of York's playhouse. Two songs, printed somewhat later in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673, may have been prepared for this revival: Hark the storm grows, set by Robert Smith; and Cheer up my mates, set by Pelham Humphrey

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: I to White Hall; and there got into the theater-room, and there heard both the vocall and instrumentall musick, where the little fellow [Pelham Humphrey] stood keeping time; but for my part, I see no great matter, but quite the contrary in both sorts of musique. The composition I believe is very good, but no more of delightfulness to the eare or understanding but what is very ordinary. Here was the King and Queen, and some of the ladies; among whom none more jolly than my Lady Buckingham, her Lord being once more a great man

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not known. Although the play was not entered in the Stationers' Register until 6 Oct. 1671, a reference in the Dedication to a Lenten performance suggests that it appeared about this time. A song, A wife I do hate, with music by Pelham Humphrey, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fifth Book, 1685

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is not known, but Downes (Roscius Anglicanus, p. 32) states: The first new Play Acted there, was King Charles the VIII. of France; it was all new Cloath'd, yet lasted but 6 Days together, but 'twas Acted now and then afterwards. Two songs for this play, Too justly alas, set by James Hart, and O love if e'er thou'lt ease a heart, set by Pelham Humphrey, are in Choice Songs and Ayres, First Book, 1673

Event Comment: For an essay on Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, see Pasquin, 6 March

Event Comment: Revised, with many Additions, by the Author and newly done into English by Mr Humphreys. [King, Queen, Prince, and three eldest Princesses present.

Event Comment: A New Opera. [Text by Pietro Metastasio. Done into English by Humphreys. Music presumably by Leonardo Leo.] Pit and Boxes at half a guinea. [Their Majesties, Prince, and three eldest Princesses present.] See also Lord Hervey and his Friends, pp. 145-46. Daily Advertiser, 6 Nov.: There were present a very numerous Audience; and Signora Celeste Gismondi, who lately arriv'd here, perform'd a principal Part in it with universal Applause. We hear that this Opera was not compos'd by Mr Handell, but by some very eminent Master in Italy

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. A New Oratorio in English. Composed by Mr Handel. And to be perform'd by a great Number of the best Voices and Instruments. The House to be fitted up and illuminated in a new and particular manner. Tickets One Guinea. Gallery Half a Guinea. [Text by Samuel Humphreys. Their Majesties, Prince, and three eldest Princesses present.] Daily Advertiser, 20 March: An Entertainment, perhaps, the most magnificent that has ever been exhibited on an English Theatre....The Composition of the Musick is by no means inferior to the most finish'd of that Gentleman's Works; but the Disposition of the Performers was in a Taste beyond what has been attempted. There was a very great Number of Instruments by the best Hands, and such as would properly accompany three Organs. The Pit and Orchestre were cover'd as at an Assembly, and the whole House Illuminated in a new and most beautiful manner. [See also Lady A. Irwin to Lord Carlisle, in Deutsch, Handel, pp. 309-10.

Event Comment: Edition of 1733: The Musick formerly composed by Mr Handel, and now Revis'd by him with several Additions. The Additional Words by Mr Humphreys

Event Comment: Benefit Christopher Smith Jr (the composer). The Habits and the Scenes proper to the Subject. Words by Mr Humphrey. Pit and Boxes 4s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Gave Prince of Wales' Chairmen by Humphrey #1 1s.; to Princess of Wales Chairmen by Cotten #1 1s. (Account Book). Receipts: #122 7s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Palmer (Pit-door-keeper). Tickets deliver'd by Denny, Humphrey, Page, Spilsbury, and Roberts will be taken. Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Berrisford and Cridland, Watson, Smith &c. Tickets deliver'd by Berrisford and Humphreys will be taken

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. [Genest, V, 120, suggests The Old Maid as afterpiece with Clerimont-Cautherley; Capt. Cape-$Baddeley; Mrs Harlow-$Miss Pope; Miss Harlow-$Mrs Bennet; but Treasurer's Book Specifies Queen Mab.] Paid $French on acct. #50; Shepherd for cotton #2 18s. 4d.; Mrs Hilman for cloaths #4 14s. 6d.; Mrs Humphreys for a suit of cloaths #9 9s.; Miss Allen for cleaning stockings #1 6s. 6d.; Licensing the Earl of Warwick and Cymon #4 4s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #181 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Watson, Roberts, Kaygill and Palmer (pit doorkeeper). Tickets deliver'd by Humphreys, Denny, Claggit, and for the 22nd Inst. will be taken