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: Benefit for Shuter. Mainpiece: Not acted in 20 years. Receipts: #171 15s. 6d. plus #112 17s. from tickets (Box 272; Pit 299). Paid Hughes and Batten for 4 1!2 yds muslin for sleeves for women dancers 18s. 9d. (Account Book). [Shuter's Interlude is Larpent MS 188, a verse monologue with songs, giving the geneology of Bucks from Nimrod's heirs-hunters who now seek ladies in Boxes rather than foxes. A patriotic song on successes at Minden, Quebec, Cape Breton, &c. ending]: @We wish as we ought that Great Britain may thrive@That freedom and friendship may faction survive@On sea and on shore, as we have may we shine@And this year sixty-one equal fam'd forty-nine.@ Charges: #63 (Account Book)