Event Comment: London Gazette, No 2697, 14-17 Sept. 1691: The Great Room next Bedford-Gate in Charles-street, Covent-Garden being now enlarging to a far greater Dimension for the Convenience of Mr Frank's and Mr King's Musick

Event Comment: A warrant, L. C. 5@150, p. 306, in Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 357, dated this day calls for a payment of L10 to William Mountfort for King Edward the Third, acted on an unspecified date before the Queen

Event Comment: The United Company. Tne date of the first performance is not known, but the Gentleman's Journal, March 1692 (licensed 9 March 1691@2), refers to its having already been produced. See also a letter concerning it dated 19 Jan. 1691@2. Probably the play was given in early February 1692. A song, How long must women wish in vain, the music by Robert King, is in Comes Amoris, The Fourth Book, 1693. Gentleman's Journal, March 1692: We have had lately a new Play, called, The Innocent Impostors. It hath been acted four times. Mr Shadwell Poet-Laureat, usher'd it into the Stage. It is said that the Author of it is not one of the Laity; therefore since he desires not to be known, I shall not presume to let you know his Name, tho the Play being Historical, and altogether of the Tragick kind, and withal treated with all the decency imaginable, can never be inglorious to its ingenious Author

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is stated in Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 435, 28 April 1692: On Monday will be acted a new opera, call the Fairy Queen: exceeds former playes: the clothes, scenes, and musick cost 3000#. [According to Some Select Songs As they are Sung in the Fairy Queen (1692) tne singers were Mrs Ayliff, Mrs Dyer, Freeman, Mrs Butler, and Pate. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XII (1903), ii; E. W. White, Early Performances of Purcell's Operas, Theatre Notebook, XIII (1958-59 ), 45; and R. E. Moore, Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre, Chapter IV.] Downes, Roscius Anglicanus, pp. 42-43: The Fairy Queen, made into an Opera, from a Comedy of Mr Shakespeare s: This in Ornaments was Superior to the other Two [King Arthur and The Prophetess]; especially in Cloaths, for all the Singers and Dancers, Scenes, Machines and Decorations, all most profusely set off; and excellently perform'd, chiedly the Instrumental and Vocal part Compos'd by the said Mr Purcel, and Dances by Mr Priest. The Court and Town were wonderfully satisfy'd with it; but the Expences in setting it out being so great, the Company got very little by it. Gentleman's Journal, May 1692: The Opera of which I have spoke to you in my former hath at last appear'd, and continues to be represented daily: it is call'd, The Fairy Queen. The Drama is originally Shakespears, the Music and Decorations are extraordinary. I have heard the Dances commended, and without doubt the whole is very entertaining. [As the May issue of the Gentleman's Journal was licensed on 14 May, the statement that The Fairy Queen continued to be acted daily may indicate consecutive performances from 2 May to at le ast 14 May 1692.

Event Comment: Gentleman's Journal, November 1693: An Ode upon His Majesty's Birth-day, Set to Musick by Dr Staggins; and Perform'd before Their Majesties, Nov. 4. 1693. The Words by N. Tate, Servant to Their Majesties. [The Ode was published separately as a broadside in 1693. A song, Gallic force, in vain, set by Staggins and sung to the King on his birthday, is in Comes Amoris, The Fifth Book, 1694.

Event Comment: Post Man, 25 Sept. 1697: A Trumpet Song on the King, and a Song made for the Birth day of his Highness the Duke of Gloucester: with two Sonatas by Mr John Shore. And variety of other new Musick...being the last time of performance this Season

Event Comment: In L. C. 5@152, pp. 202, 220--see Boswell, Restoration Court Stage, p. 105--is a reference to a performance given jointly by both companies. As this was the customary date of the celebration of King William's birthday, this musical work was probably given on this day. The BM copy has a MS date of 29 Nov. 1697; and a dialogue from this work was noticed in the Post Boy, 30 Nov.-2 Dec. 1697. The music was composed by John Eccles

Event Comment: Post Man, No 419, 6-8 Jan. 1697@8: In York Buildings, on Monday the 10th of this instant January, at the request of several Persons of Quality, will be a Consort of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, never performed there before; beginning at the usual Hour, for the benefit of Mr King and Mr Banister

Event Comment: Post Man, No 413, 13-15 Jan. 1697@8: The Consort of Musick, which was performed last Monday in York-Buildings, will be performed there again, with an Addition of new Musick on Monday next, being the 17th of this instant January: beginning at the usual hour, for the benefit of Mr King and Mr Banister

Event Comment: On this date the Czar of Muscovy attended an opera, but the title is not given. Lady Newton, Lyme Letter, 1660-1760, p. 209: On Saturday last the Czar of Muscovy, attended by the Marquis of Carmarthen, and some of his Bayers, was at the King's Playhouse in Drury Lane, and saw 3 acts of the Opera. Luttrell, A Brief Relation, IV, 343, 12 Feb. 1697@8: This evening the czar was at the playhouse in Drury Lane to see an opera

Event Comment: Rich's Company. Post Boy, No 494, 2-5 July 1698: This Day is Acted the Tempest, at the Kings Playhouse in Drury-Lane, for the Entertainment of a Foreign Prince, who, we are positively inform'd, is the Prince of Parma in Person

Event Comment: Post Boy, 20-23 Aug. 1698: Jephtha's Rash Vow: Will be play'd again this Bartholomew Fair at Blakes and Penkethman's Booth, over against Hosier Lane. [See also William King, 25 Aug. 1698.

Event Comment: Flying Post, 23-25 Aug. 1698: At Mr Barns's and Mr Appleby's Booth, over against the Cross-Daggers in Smithfield, is to be seen the most famous Rope-Dancers of Europe, who have brought over the Morocco Woman, the two German Maidens, and the Danish Woman and her Company, which out-does all Men and Women that ever danced yet on the Ropes, the German Maiden outdoing all Men and Women, that ever Danc'd before her, both for high leaping and fine Dancing, and whatever has been done by any person on the Ground, as side, upright, cross or back Capers, is performed by her on the Dancing Rope, and rises to that prodigious height, as will startle all that see her. William King, A Journey to London in the Year 1698 (2d edition, corrected, 1699), pp. 27-28: I was at Bartholomew Fair....I went to the Dancing on the Ropes, which was admirable. Coming out I met a man that would have took off my Hat, but I secur'd it, and was going to draw my Sword, Crying out, Begar! Damn'd Rogue! Morblew, &c. when on a sudden I had a hundred People about me, Crying here, Monsieur, see Jephtha's Rash Vow, here, Monsieur, see the Tall Dutch Woman, see the Tyger, says another; see the Horse and no Horse, whose Tayl stands where his Head should do; see the German Artist, Monsieur; see the Siege of Namur, Monsieur: So that betwixt Rudeness and Civility, I was forc'd to get into a Fiacre, and with an air of Hast, and a full Trot, got home to my Lodgings

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. John Dryden to Mrs Steward, 4 March 1698@9: This Day is playd a reviv'd Comedy of Mr Congreve's called the Double Dealer, which was never very takeing; in the play bill was printed, Written by Mr Congreve; with Severall Expressions omitted: What kind of Expressions those were you may easily ghess; if you have seen the Monday's Gazette, wherein is the King s Order, for the reformation of the Stage: but the printing an Authours name, in a Play bill, is a new manner of proceeding, at least in England (Letters of John Dryden, 112-13)

Event Comment: According to the London Post, 24-27 Nov. 1699, William Joye, a strong man showing dexterities of strength, performed before The King at Kensington

Event Comment: Flying Post, 13-15 June 1700: We are credibly informed, That Yesterday a Trial brought on in the Court of Common-Pleas, against one of the players, for Prophanely using the name of God upon the Stage, contrary to an Act of Parliament made in King James the First's time; and that the Verdict was given against the Player; according to the Tenor of the said Act, &c

Event Comment: Post Boy, 22-25 March: There is great Expectation from the Boy that this Day Dances at the King's Play-House, he being reputed to perform equal to Monsieur Ballon

Event Comment: Not acted these 25 years. As it was several times presented at court by persons of Quality, for the Entertainment of his late Majesty King Charles the 2d. The Company will continue Acting three times a week, during the term of Bartholomew Fair. [No further performances at Drury Lane during the summer are known.

Event Comment: At the desire of some Persons of Quality. For the Entertainment of an African Prince lately arrived here, being Nephew to the King of Bauday

Event Comment: Benefit Pinkeman. Common Prices. All Persons that come behind the Scenes are desired to pay their Money to none but Mr Pinkeman. [This benefit had originally been advertised for 24 Oct. but deferred, the offerings for that day being a medley of The Death of King Henry VI, a Tragical Interlude of one Act only; Aesop, "several select Scenes" only; and The School-Boy; or, The Comical Rivals.

Event Comment: For the entertainment of His Excellency Hodgha Bawhoon, Envoy to Her Majesty from the great King of Persia

Event Comment: Benefit Lovelace, King, and White (boxkeepers)

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Campion. For the Entertainment of his Excellency the Envoy Extraordinary from the King of Denmark and several other Foreign Ministers, and Ladies of Quality

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Originally Acted before King James the First with great Applause at the University of Cambridge. [Layfield performs] at the Desire of several Persons of Quality