Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of this performance is known from the separately printed Prologue and Epilogue: A Prologue by Mr Settle to his New Play, called The Emperor of Morocco, with the Life of Gayland. Acted at the Theatre Royal, the 11th of March 1682. The Epilogue, Spoken by Mrs Coysh's Girl, as a Cupid. [Luttrell's date of acquisition, 16 March 1681@2, is on his copies of the Prologue and Epilogue (Huntington); they have also been reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 84-85.

Event Comment: Newdigate newsletters: On Tuesday night late there happened a difference between the Senior and Young men belonging to the King's play house which grew to such a height that they all drew their swords which occasioned the wounding of severall. But in the end the Seniors shut up the dores and sent word to his Matie in regard they were the builders of the house who received answer yesterday that the Law was open. Where upon they are to have a tryall this Weeke before the Lord Chancellor (Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80). See also Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, pp. 268-70

Event Comment: On this date the officers of the Duke's Company and the King's Company entered into agreements to merge the two companies. For details, see Hotson, Commonwealth and Restoration Stage, p. 271; Fitzgerald, A New History, I, 154-58; and Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 296-97. See also Langhans, New Restoration Theatre Accounts, p. 122, for evidence that the union had been effectively made by 13 May 1682. See page 123 for evidence that the company probably acted continuously to 7 August 1682, then closed until early October. But see 10 August 1682

Event Comment: A poem--To the Duke on His Return. Written by Nat. Lee--was separately printed in 1682, and Luttrell's copy (Huntington Library) is dated 29 May 1682. A note on the Folger Shakespeare Library copy states that the lines were spoken at the King's Theatre, but the date on which it was recited is uncertain. The poem has been reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 113-15

Event Comment: The United Company. The players received the customary fee of #20. See A Calendar of the Middle Temple Records, ed. Hopwood, p. 179. Newdigate newsletters, 3 Feb. 1682@3: Yesterday the Governors? of ye Temple Invited the Greate Lds: of [...] together with the Ld. Keeper to dinner where afterwards they were entertayned with variety of songs & a play was Acted before them Called the Chances by the Kings players (Wilson, More Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 59)

Event Comment: The United Company. That the King saw a play on this evening is indicated by the Newdigate newsletters, but the reference to the play is not by title. The play which most closely fits the brief description is The Duke of Guise. Newdigate newsletters, 24 May 1684: [In] the Evening his Matye is Entertained with Mr Dryden s new play the subject of which is the last new Plott (Wilson, More Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 59)

Event Comment: The United Company. This performance is on L. C. list, 5@147, p. 260: The King & Queene & a Box for ye Maydes of honor. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 351. Langhans, New Restoration Theatre Accounts, pp. 127-28, thinks that acting resumed on 27 Sept. 1686 and continued to 25 June 1687, with 30 Performances from 25 June to 12 Oct

Event Comment: In The Theatre of Compliment, 1688, are verses similar to those apparently referring to August 1686: @Here is the Rarity of the whole Fair,@Pimper-la-Pimp, and the Wise Dancing Mare;@Here's valiant St George and the Dragon, a farce;@Here's Vienna Besieged, a most delicate thing;@And here's Punchinello, shown thrice to the King.@ John Verney entertained some of his wife's family who were in town to see Bartholomew Fair. See Memoirs of the Verney Family, ed. Margaret M. Verney (London, 1699), IV, 435

Event Comment: As it was perform'd several times at court, by Persons of Great Quality, before his late Majesty King Charles II. With all the Scenes Which were originally Presented in it when acted at the Theatre, particularly the Fleet of Shipsv and the Hell Scenev, in which the Masquerade was perform'd

Event Comment: Ryder, Diary, pp. 359-60: Went to see the tragedy of Tamerlane which was acted with a new prologue in honour of King William and in memory of what he did for us. The play itself is good....Mills who acted the part of Bajazet did it mighty well and expressed that furiousness and rage and malice and ambition admirably well in his gesture at the end, but, which is his distinguishing character, very well kept up throughout. I observed in the general that the manner of speaking in our theatres in tragedy is not natural. There is something that would be very shocking and disagreeable and very unnatural in real life. Persons would call it theatrical, meaning by that something stiff and affected

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. At 6 p.m. Post Boy, 28 Sept.: We hear that last Week Mr Rich made an Assignment of the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and his Patent granted by King Charles II to Mr Keene and Mr Bullock jun. and that they open on Saturday next, with a celebrated Play of Shakespear's call'd, Cimbiline, which will be entirely new dress'd

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. N.B. The Tickets deliver'd to Subscribers will be taken at this Play, or on Monday Night, which is the last time of Acting till after Southwark Fair. Original Weekly Journal, 30 Aug.: The King hath order'd the Comedians gf the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane to perform at Hampton-Court, during his Majesty's stay there, for which Service they are to be allow'd 100l. extraordinary each Night they Act

Event Comment: Original Weekly Journal, 6 April: We are told that the Italian Singers at our Opera, to the Number of five, of whom two are Eunuchs, have obtain Permission from the King of France...to go over thither in July next, for the Theatre, and a Gratuity of 35,000 Livres

Event Comment: By Their Majesties Command. Benefit Mrs Oldfield. Daily Journal, 7 March: Last Night the King, Queen, Prince of Wales, and the Princesses were all at the Theatre in Drury-Lane....But before the Play began, a Gentlewoman presented a Book, address'd to Princess Amelia, intitled, The Ladies Preservative, in the Three Chief Characteristicks of Beauty; the Hair, Complexion, and Teeth, which was very graciously received. Universal Spectator, 8 March: And supposing the Tickets which came in at the usual Rates, there was about 240 1. in the House. But her Benefit is generally reckoned at 500 1. several Persons of Quality, &c. giving five, ten, and twenty Guineas each. There was the greatest Appearance of Ladies of Quality at her Benefit that ever was known, and the House so excessive full, Stage and all, that the Actors had scarce Room to perform

Event Comment: Benefit Wilcocks, Mines, and Widow Gardiner. Receipts: money #6 6s., tickets #103 11s. Daily Post, 25 May: We hear, that when His Majesty removes to Hampton-Court, the Theatre in that Palace will be open'd, and Plays acted by the King's Company of Comedians

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 22 June: We hear that Subscriptions are actually in great forwardness for having two different Operas next Winter, one at the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, under the Direction of Messrs Handel and Heydegger, and the other to be at one of the Playhouses, under the Management of Directors chosen from among the Subscribers

Event Comment: Benefit Cibber. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Mainpiece: Written by Ben. Johnson. [Tickets at Cibber's House, at Mrs Holt's in Bow Street, cg. The play changed, by request, from The Relapse.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 26 March: Last Week died, in the 88th Year of his Age, Mr Boman, belonging to Drury-Lane Theatre, who had the Honour to perform several times before King Charles II. It is remarkable of him, that he was the oldest Player, the oldest Singer, and the oldest Ringer in England

Event Comment: For the Relief of Mr Chetwood, late Prompter at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, and now a Prisoner in the King's Bench. Receipts: money #219; seals #15 (Account Book); #250 Rylands MS.). [William Shenstone saw Cibber act on 12, 13, or 14 Jan. See Letters of William Shenstone, pp. 14-15.

Event Comment: RRylands: Benefit Fausan. At the Particular desire of several Ladies of Quality. Three rows of the Pit will be rail'd in at the Price of the Boxes. Tickets and places to be had of Mr West at the Green Door in Duke's St, Lincoln's Inn Fields; and at Mr Bradshaws, King's Arms in Russel St., near the theatre. Tickets deliver'd out for As You Like It will be taken this night, the play being oblig'd to be chang'd on Account of the indisposition of Mr Milward. Receipts: #173

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Tickets to be had at Delane's Lodgings, in Queen's Court, King St., Covent Garden; Places to be taken for Boxes of Hobson at the stage door of the theatre

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Tickets at his lodgings in Queen's Court, in King St., Covent Garden; and at the Bedford Coffee House in the Great Piazza. Places for the Boxes to be Taken at the stage door of the theatre

Event Comment: [This Pastoral Serenata first appeared 21 March 1744 at the Crown and Anchor in the Strand, qv. At that time Beard, Savage, Mrs Clive and Miss Edwards sang in it.] By Subscription for three nights will be performed an English Pastoral Serenata, set to Music by Mr DeFesch. Pit and Boxes laid together at 5s. First Gallery 2s. 6d. Upper Gallery 1s. 6d. On the 20th of March and 3rd of April will be performed a New Oratorio call'd Joseph, also set to Music by Mr DeFesch. For the encouragement of such persons as shall please to favour Mr Defesch by subscribing one Guinea, they shall be entitled to six tickets, each of which will admit one into the boxes, or Two into the Gallery. Nobody to be admitted into the boxes without printed tickets, which will be deliver'd at the theatre. Subscriptions to be taken till the 5th of March, at Mr DeFesch's at the sign of the Angel and Trumpet, in St. Martin's Lane, at the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden; and at Mr Page's Stage Door-keeper. To begin at half an hour after six. This day is publish'd Papal Tyranny in the Reign of King John. [No price given, but the 1st edition lists it as 1s. 6d. Watts would have had to sell about two thousand copies to cover his investment in copyright and printing costs.

Event Comment: A Musical Drama, in Two Parts...with Dances and other Decorations Entirely new. Pit and Boxes to be put together, and no Persons to be admitted without Tickets, which will be delivered this Day, at the Opera Office in the Haymarket, at Half a Guinea each. Gallery 5s. By His Majesty's Command, No Persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes. The Gallery to be open'd at Four o'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. A New Opera [composed by Gluck; text by F. Vanneschi]. The Subscribers to the Opera are desired to make the last Payment of their Subscription Money to the Treasurer, at the Opera Office in the Haymarket, where Attendance will be given this and every Day, from Ten till Two, to receive the same, and deliver out the Silver Tickets. [Repeated until 28 Jan.] The new Musical Italian Drama; entitled La Caduta de Giganti, or the Fall of the Giants, writ on Occasion of the expulsion of the Rebels, was perform'd last Night at King's Theatre in the Haymarket. The performance was received and carried on with great Attention, Tranquility, and Applause: and not a little enliven'd by the Presence of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland.--Daily Advertiser, 8 Jan

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Cross, Mrs Bridges, Miss Young. The General Advertiser included the following Puff: Sir, As I am continually searching for latent Curiosities, out of a sincere regard for the Public Satisfaction, I think it my Duty (lest among the Multitude of Diversions now flourishing, some other might engross the attention of the Curious) to inform the world, that the Farce which will be perform'd this Evening at Drury Lane theatre, call'd May Day, or the Merry Milkmaids of Islington, was written by the particular desire of King Charles II who had it first performed at Newmarket; how agreeably that jovial Monarch was entertained, every person, who thinks it worth his while to see it, according to his abilities, will be a competent judge, Yours, &c A. Virtuoso. [Part of the Multitude of Diversions referred to included announcement in the same paper for a Rehearsal of the whole Band of Music at Ruckholt House, the following Monday; a paragraph Puff on the diversions at Sadler's Wells in consequence of the late happy Victory of the Duke of Cumberland over the Rebels, with special notice of a New Interlude of Music call'd Strephon's Return, or the British Hero, perform'd this night with many advantages of Dress and Decoration, and a new Ballet by Matthews; and further notice of the Representation of the Battle near Culloden House which had met with universal applause, and which would continue to be repeated at the New Wells in Goodman's Fields. The Farce at Drury Lane this evening was advertised as not having been played for 20 years. It was taken from Thomas Nabbes' Totenham Court Road, by the Compiler of the Muse of Newmarket, 1680. The MS Occasional Prologue praising Cumberland is in the Larpent Collection.

Event Comment: The Subscribers to the Opera are desired to take notice, that upon Saturday Morning Next, there will be a general Rehearsal of the New Opera call'd Anibale in Capua, upon the stage of the king's Theatre in the Hay Market, agreeable to the printed proposals. The Doors will be open'd at Ten, and the Rehearsal will begin at eleven precisely. No person whatever to be admitted without a subscriber's ticket. Attendance will be given this and every Day 'till the Operas begin, at the Office in the Haymarket, from ten in the Morning, till three in the Afternoon, in order to take in Subscriptions, and deliver out tickets.--General Advertiser