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: William Blaythwaite to Sir Robert Southwell, 4 Sept. 1679 [describing a visit made on 3 Sept. 1679 by Sir Edward Dering, Mrs Helena Percival, Miss Helena, Miss Betty, and himself]: What we saw was the dancing on the ropes performed first by Jacob Hall and his company, then by a Dutch dancer, who did wonderful feats. From thence we went to the Elephant, who I think was more terrible than pleasant to the young spectators (Morley, Memoirs of Bartholomew Fair, p. 192)

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 Mr Sarjant and Son (book and box-keeper). Tickets deliver'd for the 16th will be taken. Charges #81 15s. 6d. Deficit to Sarjant #57 4s. covered by #167 2s. from tickets (Box 450; Pit 272; Gallery 138) (Account Book). Rec'd the 1!2 value of tickets for 28th inst. from Doe, Reed, Robson, Rose, Pilfold, Roberts, Dixon, and Wooley (Account Book). Receipts: #57 4s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Mrs Sullen-$Mrs Roberts (Cross Diary)

Event Comment: Mrs Hunt Rosetta pretty well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). Afterpiece: By Desire. Paid Half a year's water, to Midsummer last #2 19s. 6d.; Paid Mr Roberts (shoemaker) #5 3s.; Mrs Ross for women's cloaths #12 12s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #195 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Hartle, Francis, Walters, Mas. Blurton, Symonds. Tickets deliver'd for the Inconstant will be taken. Tickets deliver'd by Longley, Mas. Jones, Singleton, Shuter, Norbury, Roberts, Frenzdorf, Miller, Stephenson, Read, Robson, Walker, Clarridge, Perry Sr; and Bassan will be taken. [Hours received half value of tickets plus the ready receipt money.] @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value Half Value@Mrs Hartle 5 31 43 #10 4s. #5 2s.@Francis 2 26 25 #6 18s. #3 9s.@Patterson 5 79 71 #20 4s. #10 2s.@Blurton - 15 28 #5 1s. #2 10s. 6d.@Symonds 19 45 42 #15 14s. #7 17s.@Longley 18 112 53 #26 12s. #13 6s.@Jones - 2 11 #1 8s. 14s.@Singleton - 8 14 #2 12s. #1 6s.@Shuter - 52 8 #8 12s. #5 14s. 6d.@Norbury 9 26 53 #11 9s. #5 14s. 6d.@Roberts 9 125 59 #26 18s. #13 9s.@Frensdorf - 42 31 #9 8s. #4 14s.@Miller 5 62 56 #16 3s. #8 1s. 6d.@Stephenson 16 61 52 #18 7s. #9 3s. 6d.@Read - 15 45 #6 15s. #3 7s. 6d.@Robson 3 101 32 #19 2s. #9 11s.@Walker - 17 68 #9 7s. #4 13s. 6d.@Claridge 5 36 35 #10 3s. #5 1s. 6d.@Perry 3 30 81 #13 7s. #6 13s. 6d.@Bassan 1 12 21 #4 3s. #2 1s. 6d.@Total 100 897 828 #242 7s. #121 3s. 6d.@ Paid Lee for a quantity of velvet #21 (Account Book). Receipts: #12 7s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Last time of company's performing this season. Benefit for Bowers and Widow Veal. Tickets deliver'd by Berrisford, Hodges, and Burroughs will be taken. Thus Ends the Season-63 different plays-36 different Farces-186 Nights in all (Hopkins Diary). Paid Watch, Rector, Cleansing, &c., cg to Lady Day last #5 18s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). After Season Receipts: 11 June: Box Office Keeper's cash #25; Condill's 3rd and last payment for Fruit Office #20. 16 June: Candles, Oyl and Lampmen of Theatrical Fund Night 2nd inst. #3 18s. 6d. 23 June: Mr Johnston for Candle ends sold to sundry #11 7s. 6d.; Ditto for Lace burnt form the Wardrobe #205 8s. 26 June: Harrison's rent 1 yr to Lady Day last #46 but with #12 5s. in taxes deducted amount rec'd #33 15s.; Williams rent ditto (#48 with #8 6s. 8d. taxes deducted) #39 13s. 4d.; From Public Advertiser this season #50; From Daily Gazetteer #50. 3 July: Remainder of Sinking Fund #160 2s. 6d. 6 July. Mr Rowland 1 yrs rent to Lady Day last with #3 8s. in taxes deducted, #139 12s.; Mr Pope 1 yrs rent to ditto with #3 11s. 2d. taxes deducted #26 8s. 10d. 10 July: Benefit deficiencies cleared and Cash taken up by Evans as per acct. #89 7s. (Treasurer's Book). After Season expenditures: 11 June: Hopkins, Prompters Bill #8 15s.; Miss Hopkins 18 Nights full #2 5s. 13 June: 2 days salary list at #72 6s. 5d. per diem #144 12s. 10d.; S. French 6 days #1 10s. 16 June: Davies on note #7 6s.; Printer's 2 bills #11 14s.; Mas. Thomson 3 nights in full 15s.; Mrs Mann on note #2 2s.; Tallow chandler's 9th bill (#30 14s. 4d. with a discount of #26 15s. 6d. on all bills for season) #3 18s. 10d. 19 June: Miss Berkley on note #5 5s. 3 July: J. Stevens 2 weeks as usual #1 16s; Sandys & Co. for Colours #10 4s. Dorman for Coals #20 10s. and for attending practices of dances, as usual #10 10s.; Cole (turner) #14 3s.; Bibb (sword cutler) #3 12s.; Barret (wax chandler) #20 6s. 6d.; Blakes, (hatter), #5 12s.; Lowe and Co (glaziers) #16 6d.; Cropley, (linen draper) #14 7s. 6d.; Chamberlain & Co. (ironmongers), #25; Carter (scowerer) #14 12s.; Jennings (glover and furrier) #18 6d.; Scott (copper laceman), #51 19s.; Carpue, (silk dyer) #9 1s. 6d.; Mrs Chitty (coals) #28; Carver's bill #2 1s.; Chettell (timber) #14 9s.; Cubitt (Tinman) #18 2s. 6d.; Waller (hosier) #24 19s. 6d.; Barrow & Co. (only) #118; Vaughan (haberdasher) #3 6s.; Hatsell (mercer) #28 2s.; Thomson (smith) #10 15s. 6 July: B. Lyon, Wardrobe & Carp Bills #10 10s. 6d.; Stephens (manson) #6 4s.; Pope (peruke maker) #29 6s. and #3 16s. for 38 extra nights dressing &c.; Mrs Slaughter's Bill #9 2s. 6d.; Roberts (shoemaker) #3 12s. 6d.; D. Richards, 30 weeks 5 days extra salary in full for this season #30 16s. 8d.; Hewetson (laceman) #17 6s.; Mr Page in full of #25 this season #1 17s. 6d. 8 July: J. Johnston's Music Bill #37 13s. 6d.; Powney & Co., (stationers) #3 14s.; Landall for Mrs Cape's Funeral per order #4 7s. 6d.; Kirkman, (harpsichord maker) #18 14s.; John French, painter's bill #5 3s. 10 July: Palmer for Spermacetti Candles #255 8s.; Miss Collett's schooling #2 8s. 10d.; Stafford (glassman) #4 19s.; A. Johnston's bill for feathers &c. #15 6s. 6d.; Ditto four Housekeeping Bills #10 1s. 4d.; Chapman (Jubilee horsekeeping) #3 13s. 6d.; Victor 2 weeks salary as usual #5; Victor gratuity as usual #30; Evans 2 weeks salary as usual #3 and #42 in lieu of a Benefit. Books Closed 10 July. Total income #32,538 6s. 1d. Total outgo #26,410 8s. 8d. Profit #6,127 17s. 5d. paid To Managers #5,040 To Clutterbuck #1,087 17s. 5d

Event Comment: By Permission [of the Lord Chamberlain]. Mainpiece [1st time in London; C 5, by Robert Hitchcock, 1st acted at Hull, 14 Nov. 1775]. Afterpiece: Written by George Alexander Stevens. [This was not Charles Macklin's play, The True-Born Irishman, 1st published in Jones' British Theatre, 1795, but Stevens's The French Flogged; or, The British Sailors in America.] Tickets delivered for the 23rd of September and for the Evening will be admitted

Event Comment: Benefit for T. Ansell, Pilford, Marks & Furkins. Tickets delivered by Clarridge, Doe, Wells, Roberts, Walker, Whittington, Abbot, Sarjant, R. Ledger and Seymour will be admitted this Evening. Receipts: #248 9s. 6d. (22.9.0; 1.3.6; tickets: 224.17.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Baddeley. Public Advertiser, 2 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Baddeley, No. 2, Little Russel-street, Covent-garden. [In mainpiece the playbill assigns Ogle to King, but on the Kemble playbill a MS annotation substitutes Barrymore.] 2nd piece [1st time: INT I, probably by Robert Baddeley. MS: Larpent 692; not published]. Receipts: #226 3s. 6d. (105/18/0; 30/11/6; 0/16/0; tickets: 88/18/0) (charge: #111 17s. 7d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Hull. [Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews. Monody by Robert Merry (European Magazine, May 1790, p. 390).] Gazetteer, 11 May: Tickets to be had of Hull, No. 31, Bow-street, Covent-Garden. Receipts: #168 6s. (87.8; 7.9; tickets: 73.9)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Frederick Reynolds, based partly on Monsieur Thomas, by John Fletcher. Prologue by Robert Merry. Epilogue by Miles Peter Andrews (see text)]: With new Scenery, Dresses, &c. Public Advertiser, 24 Apr. 1793: This Day is published Notoriety (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #228 8s. (224.0; 4.8)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered for She Stoops to Conquer will be admitted: Account-Book: Tickets delivered by Brandon, Curteen, Furkins, Anselmo, Robson [door-keeper], Paskin, Gawdry, Sturgeon, Roberts, Linton, Standen, Rye, Doe, Berecloth, Gray, Ledger will be admitted. Receipts: #426 13s. 6d. (59.19.6; 5.2.0; tickets: 361.12.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Gibbs. 3rd piece [1st time; M. ENT 2, by James Roberts]: End of Act I A Grand View of the British Fleet and the French Prizes entering Portsmouth, and an appropriate Procession. The Piece to conclude with a representation of the Town, &c. of Portsmouth, as illuminated on the glorious occasion. With a Transparency of Earl Howe. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The selected Musick by Mornington, Handel, Dr Arne, Boyce, Pleyel, &c. A Naval Overture, and the new Musick, by Dr Arnold. The Scenery by Rooker. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Morning Chronicle, 24 Oct. 1794: This Day is published RULE BRITANNIA! (1s.)

Event Comment: Powell: Jones continuing Ill, Evans play'd Robert [in afterpiece]. G. D'Egville absent from this Evening's Performance, Ill. High Life below Stairs rehearsed at 11; Edwy and Elgiva read at 12. Receipts: #215 2s. (157.3.6; 55.1.0; 2.17.6)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Altered from the Comedy of The Committee; or, The Faithful Irishman [by Sir Robert Howard]. Never acted here

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the particular Desire of several Persons of Distinction

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. Tickets at Mrs Roberts' House in Duke Street, near lif

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. [Tickets at Mrs Roberts' House in Duke Street, near lif]

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Roberts. Tickets had of Mrs Roberts at her house in Duke St., near Lincoln's Inn Fields; and at Bradshaws, &c. Receipts: #130

Event Comment: The Vestal-Virgin; or, The Roman Ladies (by Sir Robert Howard) was probably acted by February 1664@5. It was entered in the Stationers' Register on 7 March 1664@5 and published in 1665 in Four New plays. Downes (Roscius Anglicanus p. 15) lists it by title only. The King's Company

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: By and by with Lord Bruncker by coach to his house, there to hear some Italian musique: and here we met Tom Killigrew, Sir Robert Murray, and the Italian Signor Baptista, who hath composed a play in Italian for the Opera, which T. Killigrew do intend to have up; and here he did sing one one of the acts. He himself is the poet as well as the musician.... This done, T. Killigrew and I to talk: and he tells me how the audience at his house [Bridges St.] is not above half so much as it used to be before the late fire. That Knipp is like to make the best actor that ever come upon the stage, she understanding so well: that they are going to give her #30 a-year more. That the stage is now by his pains a thousand times better and more glorious than ever heretofore. Now, wax candles, and many of them; then, not above 3 l6s. of tallow: now, all things civil, no rudeness anywhere; then, as in a bear-garden: then, two to three fiddlers; now, nine or ten of the best: then, nothing but rushes upon the ground, and every thing else mean; and now, all otherwise: then, the Queen seldom and the King never would come; now, not the King only for state, but all civil people do think they may come as well as any....That he hath gathered our Italians from several Courts in Christendome, to come to make a concert for the King, which he do give #200 a-year a-piece to: but badly paid, and do come in room of keeping four ridiculous gundilows, he having got the King to put them away, and lay out money this way; and indeed I do commend him for it, for I think it is a very noble undertaking. He do intend to have some times of the year these operas to be performed at the two present theatres, since he is defeated in what he intended in Moorefields on purpose for it; and he tells me plainly that the City audience was as good as the Court, but now they are most gone

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: To the King's playhouse, and there saw Philaster; where it is pretty to see how I could remember almost all along, ever since I was a boy, Arethusa, the part which I was to have acted at Sir Robert Cooke's; and it was very pleasant to me, but more to think what a ridiculous thing it would have been for me to have acted a beautiful woman