Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is most uncertain. The play was apparently finished in July 1671-see C. E. Ward, The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1961), p. 83-and the play may have been acted before April 1672. For the possibilities see Macdonald, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 110, and Nicoll, Restoration Drama, pp. 404-5. The Prologue and Epilogue are in Covent Garden Drollery, 1672. The song, Whilst Alexas lay prest, the music by Nicholas Staggins, was printed in Westminster Drollery (entered in the Stationers' Register, 3 June 1672) and in Choice Songs and Ayres, The First Book, 1673. Another song, Why should a foolish Marriage Vow, set by Robert Smith, is also in Choice Songs and Ayres, 1673

Event Comment: The King's Company. The date of the premiere is not certain. This performance is known from an entry in the Newdigate newsletters, which also states that Rollo was to be acted on the following Monday. If this statement is accurate, the performance of The Loyal Brother on 4 Feb. 1681@2 may be the third night rather than the opening performance. Newdigate newsletters, 4 Feb. 1681@2: On Monday morn [the Moorish Ambassador] & ye Comers meet to conclude ye treaty and in ye afternoon goes to see Rollo D. of Normandy at ye Ks playhouse wre ye K was this afternoon to see ye new play calld ye Loyall brothr (Wilson, More Theater Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 59). The Prologue and Epilogue were printed separately and have been reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 70-72. Luttrell acquired his copies (Huntington Library) on 7 Feb. 1681@2. In The Life of John Dryden (Chapel Hill, 1961), Charles E. Ward believes (pp. 166, 355) that The Loyal Brother was first acted in the autumn of 1681; but the entry in the Newdigate newsletters seems to make February 1682 the more probable time

Event Comment: By her Majesty's License and Authority. [dl had come under the management of Aaron Hill, who shared the direction of the house with seven actors.

Event Comment: Receipts: #173 3s. [When the comedians on 6 Nov. received a license to act, Collier became director of the opera, an enterprise which he farmed out to Aaron Hill. See Cibber, Apology, II, 101-6.

Event Comment: Benefit William Mears and Friend Hale. In the Town Hall at St. Margaret's Hill, Southwark. Tickets 1s. 6d. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 18 Nov.: We hear that the Theatre in the Hay-Market, where lately the French Strollers us'd to perform, will be opened in a little time, for the Diversion of the City and Liberty of Westminster. The Actors, as well as the Plays, they say, will be entirely new, and the whole to be under the Management and Direction of that noted Projector, $Aaron Hill, Esq.

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Families. At the Horshoe Tavern in Queen's Street by little Tower Hill. At 6 p.m. Admission 1s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit Old Toby, the Huntsman. At Lee's Booth, on Windmill Hill, in Upper Moorfields. As perform'd with universal Applause through the noted Cities of England

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Hill. Pit and Boxes at 5s. Gallery 3s