Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: But, Lord! to see how this play of Sir Positive At-all [The Sullen Lovers], in abuse of Sir Robert Howard, do take, all the Duke's and every body's talk being of that, and telling more stories of him, of the like nature, that it is now the town and country talk, and, they say, is most exactly true. The Duke of York himself said that of his playing at trap-ball is true, and told several other stories of him

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This performance is on the L. C. list at Harvard. See William VanLennep, "Plays on the English Stage", p. 13. The edition of 1668 states: As it was Acted (with great Applause) by the Servants of His Royal Highness the Duke of York, at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn Fields

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This play is on the L. C. list at Harvard. See VanLennep, "Plays on the English Stage," p. 13. Pepys, Diary: To the Duke's playhouse, and saw Macbeth. The King and Court there; and we sat just under them and my Lady Castlemayne, and close to the woman that comes into the pit, a kind of a loose gossip, that pretends to be like her, and is so, something...The King and Duke of York minded me, and smiled upon me, at the handsome woman near me: but it vexed me to see Moll Davis, in the box over the King's and my Lady Castlemayne's head, look down upon the King, and he up to her; and so did my Lady Castlemayne once, to see who it was; but when she saw her, she looked like fire; which troubled me

Event Comment: Newsletter, 7 April: Last evening their Majesties were diverted with a comedy acted at St James's by the little young ladies of the Court, who appeared extraordinarily glorious and covered with jewels (HMC, Fleming MSS. 12th Report, VII, 70). This may have been a performance of The Faithful Shepherdess which was entered by Richard Boyle, Earl of Burlington, in his diary, 2 April 1670 [error for 6 April (?)]: I saw Lady Mary, daughter of the Duke of York, and many young ladies act the Faithful Shepherdess very finely (Diary, Volume V, in Chatsworth. I owe this entry to Professor Kathleen Lynch). In Covent Garden Drollery, 1672 (ed. G. Thorn-Drury), p. 68, is an Epilogue spoken by the Lady Mary Mordaunt, before the King and Queen at court, to the Faithful Shepherdess. As Lady Mary was then about twelve, this Epilogue seems to confirm the possibility that the play was The Faithful Shepherdess acted by amateurs

Event Comment: An order of the Lord Chamberlain (5@12, p. 202) dated 1 April 1671, states that the theatres are to be closed because of the death of the Duchess of York on 31 March 1671. See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 322. It is uncertain how long the theatres were closed, but probably the closure extended for six weeks

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. See Duffett's burlesque, above. The Diary of Robert Hooke, 6 Dec. 1673: Saw Empress of Morocco at Duke's Theatre. 1s. 6d. Dutchess of York? there

Event Comment: G. Lady Chaworth to Lord Roos, 7 Sept. 1675: The Dutchesse of York? lykes Bartholomew Faire so well she hath bin att [it] againe incognito on Friday (HMC, 12th Report, Part V, Rutland Papers, II, 27)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is uncertain. The fact that the Epilogue suggests that it followed Settle's The Female Prelate is not a factor in the dating, as the Newdigate newsletters--see Wilson, Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 80--show that Settle's play was first acted on 31 May 1680, whereas Caesar Borgia was entered in the Term Catalogues, November 1679. Although the reference in the Epilogue to burning the Pope's Effigies" has been argued as referring to the Pope-burning procession of 17 Nov. 1679, the references in the Epilogue to Father Lewis, who was tried and convicted at York, 28 March 1679, suggest that it was written before his execution, 27 Aug. 1679. Hence the play may have been acted first some time in the late spring or the summer. A song, Blush not redder than the Morning, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Third Book, 1681

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The date of the first production is not known, but it was probably acted much earlier than November 1682, when it was entered in the Term Catalogues. The fact that the Epilogue refers to the Duke of York's "second Exile into Flanders" points to the possibility that it may have been acted near that time, i.e., between 24 Sept. 1679 and 14 Oct. 1679. It may have been first acted early as March 1679, when the political flights of the Duke of York were also a matter of public concern

Event Comment: Apparently The Man of Mode had an amateur revival in Brussels in the autumn, possibly before the Duke and Duchess of York, when they were away from London. Princess Anne to Frances Apsley, 3 Oct. 1679: The play is practisde to night Miss Watts is to be Lady townly which part I beleeve wont much become her. [See Benjamin Bathurst, Letters of Two Queens (London, 1924), pp. 111-12]

Event Comment: The Duke of York: I have been at a play this day (CSPD, Charles II, 1682, p. 497)

Event Comment: Lord Preston (in Paris) to the Duke of York, 22 Sept. 1683, N.S.: I should not have presumed to give your Highness the trouble of this if something of charity had not induced me to it. I do it at the instance of a poor servant of his Majesty's who some time since was obliged by a misfortune to leave England. It is Mr Grahme [Grabut?], sir, whom perhaps your Highness may remember. Mr Betterton coming hither some weeks since by his Majesty's command, to endeavour to carry over the Opera, and finding that impracticable, did treat with Monsr Grahme to go over with him to endeavour to represent something at least like an Opera in England for his Majesty's diversion. He hath also assured him of a pension from the House, and finds him very willing and ready to go over. He only desireth his Majesty's protection when he is there, and what encouragement his Majesty shall be pleased to give him if he finds that he deserves it (HMC, 7th Report, Part I, p. 290). W. J. Lawrence (Early French Players in England, p. 149) argued that Grahme should be Grabut, who had once been Master of the King's Music (to 1674) and who had settled in Paris. Grabut was certainly back in London in the spring of 1684

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2500, 24-28 Oct. 1699: Whereas the Consort of Musick, lately in Bow-street, being remov'd to York Buildings, intended to have begun this present Munday, but upon an urgent occasion, are forc'd to defer it till the Monday after the King's Birth-day, being the 11th of November, and so continue every Munday for the future. [See also 17 Oct. 1689.

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2504, 7-11 Nov. 1689: The Consorts of Musick that, for some extraordinary occasions have been discontinued, shall be performed in York-buildings upon Thursday next, being the 14th instant, and every Thursday after

Event Comment: According to a notice in the London Gazette, No 2529, 3-6 Feb. 1689@90, there was a concert at York Buildings on Monday 3 Feb. 1689@90

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2533, 17-20 Feb. 1689@90: The Musick-Meeting that was lately held in Villers-street in York-Buildings, is removed to Exeter Change in the Strand; the Entrance is at the West-door of the said Exchange; and will begin at the Hours as formerly, every Monday

Event Comment: London Gazette, No. 2538, 6-10 March 1689@90: The Consort of Musick is again removed into Viller's Street, in York-Buildings, where it will be continued every Monday-night, at the usual Hour

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2542, 20-24 March 1689@90: The Annual Yorkshire Feast will be held the 27th instant at Merchant-Taylor's-Hall in Threadneedle-street; with a very splendid Entertainment of all sorts of Vocal and Instrumental Musick. D'Urfey (Wit and Mirth, I, 114-16): An Ode on the Assembly of the Nobility and Gentry of the City and County of York, at the Anniversary-Feast, March the 27th 1690. Set to Musick by Mr Henry Purcell, One of the finest Compositions he ever made, and cost 100l. the performing

Event Comment: London Gazette, No. 259, 22-25 Sept. 1690: The Consort of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, lately performed in Villers-street in York-Buildings, will begin again in the same place on Monday next, (being Michaelmas-day) at 7 of the Clock; and will be conducted there every Monday night all this ensuing Winter

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2651, 6-9 April 1691: The Consort of Vocal and Instrumental Musick lately held in York-Buildings, will be performed again (at the same place and hours as formerly) on Monday next (being Easter-Monday) by the Command, and for the Entertainment, of her Royal Highness the Princess of Denmark

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2710, 29 Oct.-2 Nov. 1691: The Consort of Musick in York-street, Covent-Garden, will be perform'd on Friday next, being the 6th of November

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2711, 2-5 Nov. 1691: The Consort of Musick in York-Buildings, will be performed on Wednesday next being the 9th instant

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2813, 24-27 Oct. 1692: The Consort of Musick in York-Buildings, will begin on Tuesday the 1st of November, at 8 of the Clock precisely, and so to continue every Tuesday

Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2878, 8-12 June 1693: Next Saturday being the 17th of June will be perform'd in Villers-street in York-Building, for that time only, Mr Franks Consort, which will consist of English Dialogues and Songs (the Words by Mr Motteux) with Instrumental Musick proper to them, beginning exactly at 7 at Night. The Gentleman's Journal, May 1693 (issued in June 1693): We have had lately a Consort of Music, which as it hath pleased the most nice and judicious Lovers of that Art; would doubtless have had your Approbation; I only speak of the Notes which were by Mr Franck; As for the words I [Motteux] made them in haste (p. 148)