Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first performance is uncertain, but the fact that Luttrell dated his separately printed copies of the Prologue and Epilogue 5 April 1682 (Huntington Library) sets a probability that the play first appeared within a week to ten days preceding that date. The Prologue and Epilogue, separately printed, have been reprinted in Wiley, Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 89-91. A Prologue Intended for Vertue Bertray'd, by Thomas Shadwell, is reprinted in Welbeck Niscellany 3, A Collection of Poems by Several Hands, ed. Francis Needham, 1934. Some details in it suggest the "Dead Time" preceding Easter, when the Court was gone, the Russian ambassador departed, the Moroccan Ambassador shortly to go. The Russian ambassador left on 15 Feb. 1681@2 OS (see Evelyn, Diary), and the Prologue refers to the execution of Colonel Vratz and his accomplices on 10 March 1681@2 (Evelyn, Diary)

Event Comment: Tickets for Mrs Noakes and Sandham taken this day

Event Comment: By a Company of Comedians from the Hay-Market. At the Great Theatrical Tyl'd Booth, during the four Days of Black-heath Fair. From 1 P.M. to 10 P.M

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Giffard. At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: A new Entertainment in Grotesque and Scotch Characters. With new Scenes, Machines, Flyings, and Sinkings, and other Decorations. Tickets for King Lear taken this Day

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 22 Jan.: Mr Giffard...gave a handsome Entertainment and a Concert of Musick to the Company of Comedians [at gf] on occasion of his Royal Highness's Birth-Day; also a Bonfire, and a large Quantity of Liquor to the Populace

Event Comment: Benefit Haughton. Tickets at Haughton's, at the Wheatsheaf in Little Russel Street, cg. Daily Advertiser, 24 March: An Order having been sent to Mr Giffard, forbidding all Performances on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent, Mr Haughton was oblig'd to defer his Benefit to this Day