Event Comment: Tickets deliver'd out for the 2nd of January will be taken. [Full value from these tickets amounted to #33 7s. (Box 74; Pit 99). House receiv'd half value paid 14 Jan. by Mrs Young "for the benefit of a Gentleman under Misfortune." Sg Maranesi and his wife (as a team) receiv'd a pay increase of 6s. 8d. per day from 29 Dec. 1760, and Mrs Burden received an advance in her salary of 1s. 8d. per day from the same date (Account Book).] Receipts: #114 1s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Weller, Murden, Lewes. Afterpiece for 52nd and last time this season. Tickets deliver'd for Friday the 15th will taken. Tickets sold at the Door will not be admitted. Charges #65 10s. [Deficit to each beneficiary #1 14s. 4d., covered by income from tickets. Weller #41 14s. (Box 7; Pit 145; Gallery 182); Murden #41 12s. (Box 31; Pit 111; Gallery 172); Lewes #61 10s. (Box 45; Pit 239; Gallery 144).] Paid the Duke of Bedford half year's ground rent due Lady Day last for the theatre #41 13s. 4d. (#50 minus half year's Land Tax #8 6s. 8d.). Paid Duke of Bedford half year's ground rent for the New Building adjoining the theatre #12 10s. (#15 minus half year's Land Tax #2 10s.). (Account Book). Receipts: #60 1s. (Account Book). At 5 went to Covent Garden to see Conscious Lovers &c....Got a bad place hn the First Gallery...Lewis did Harlequin, but not so well as Woodward; and Miss D. Twist did ye Miller's Bride, Miss Wilford's Character. Mrs Mahon does the jealous fellow's wife (Neville MS Diary)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. Paid salary list #623 6s. 6d.; Mrs Cooper #1. (Treasurer's Book). [Mrs Cooper received this payment weekly hereafter in the same account with Heath and his wife. Her total #20. No further itemization will be made of the ammount.] Receipts: #124 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: The King's Company, presumably. For a version of this play, see R. G. Howarth, "A Manuscript of James Shirley's Court Secret," Review of English Studies, VII (1931), 302-13. The manuscript is in the Worcester College Library (Plays 9. 21). Pepys, Diary: My wife going to-day to dine with Mrs Pierce, and thence with her and Mrs Clerke to see a new play, The Court Secret. [The play had not been acted before the Restoration.

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: With Sir Philip Carteret to the King's playhouse, there to see Love's Cruelty, an old play, but which I have not seen before and in the first act Orange Moll come to me, with one of the porters by my house, to tell me that Mrs Pierce and Knepp did dine at my house to-day, and that I was desired to come home. So I went out presently, and by coach home, and they were just gone away; so, after a very little stay with my wife, I took coach again, and to the King's playhouse again, and come in the fourth act; and it proves to me a very silly play, and to everybody else, as far as I could judge. But the jest is, that here telling Moll how I had lost my journey, she told me that Mrs Knepp was in the house, and so shews me to her, and I went to her, and sat out the play.... I could not but observe that Sir Philip Carteret would fain have given me my going into a play; but yet, when he come to the door, he had no money to pay for himself, I having refused to accept of it for myself, but was fain; and I perceive he is known there, and do run upon the score for plays, which is a shame.... In the pit I met with Sir Ch. North

Event Comment: Benefit A. Hallam and Ridout. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Tickets for Mithridates taken at this Play. Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir John Vanbrugh

Event Comment: Man and Wife oblig'd to be deferr'd on account of Indisposition of Mrs Green. Paid Simpson for supper for the orchestra #8 1s.; Paid Mr Vincent for Music for the Orchestra #1 8s. 4d. (Account Book). Receipts: #161 12s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Bensley. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 26 May 1770.] Last time of performing till the Holidays. Charges #67 17s. 6d. Profit to Bensley #82 7s., plus #62 13s. from tickets (Box 244; Pit 11). Paid Palmer (wax chandler) #105 18s.; Whitefield for Cloaths made #57 10s.; Pattinson (tallow chandler) #32 10s. (Account Book). Receipts: #150 4s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: The Bills were posted for the School for Wives but Mr King sent word about Eleven o'clock that he was so ill he could not play & fresh bills were put up for Zara. Mrs Barry being out of Town Miss Younge play'd Zara & was very well receiv'd (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Paid Chorus 2 nights (this incl.) #4 1s. Receipts: #195 10s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Stede and T. Ansell. Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. Tickets deliver'd by Pilfold, Sherratt, Wilkinson, Mrs Hitchcock, Widow Emery, Widow Trott, Claridge and Doe will be taken as well as those delivered for Rule a Wife. Receipts: #39 15s. 6d. (Account Book). [No charges. House received the ready money receipts plus half-value of the tickets delivered]: @Tickets Box Pit Gallery Value Half Value@Miss Stede 21 41 53 #16 14s. #8 7s.@Ansell 10 61 47 #16 7s. #8 3s. 6d.@Pilfold 43 284 74 #60 15s. #30 7s. 6d.@Sharratt .. 14 10 #3 2s. #1 11s.@Wilkinson 34 55 12 #17 19s. #8 19s. 6d.@Mrs Hitchcock 24 50 23 #14 6s. #7 3s.@Mrs Emery 15 84 100 #26 7s. #13 3s. 6d.@Mrs Trott 18 4 5 #5 12s. #2 16s.@Claridge 12 66 52 #18 2s. #9 1s.@Doe .. 36 54 #10 16s. #5 8s.@Total 177 685 430 #190 #95@

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 10 years [acted 18 Feb. 1789]. With new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. Musick by late Mr Linley. The Scenery of First Part by Greenwood and his assistants, of Second Part by Marinari and his assistants. The Machinery and Decorations by Cabanel, Johnston, Jacobs. The Dresses by Johnston, Gay, Miss Rein. [Synopsis of plot (T. Becket, 1797).] Account-Book, 24 Dec.: Parrot bought and Cage for Robinson Crusoe #3 5s. 6d.; Paid Hunt, fireworker #2 3s. Receipts: #326 9s. (257.1; 62.13; 6.15)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: My wife and I by coach to the Opera, and there saw the 2nd part of The Siege of Rhodes, but it is not so well done as when Roxalana [Mrs Davenport] was there, who, it is said, is now owned by my Lord of Oxford

Event Comment: Pepys, Diary: And took my wife out immediately to the King's Theatre, it being a new month, and once a month I may go, and there saw The Indian Queen acted; which indeed is a most pleasant show, and beyond my expectation; the play good, but spoiled with the ryme, which breaks the sense. But above my expectation most, the eldest Marshall did do her part most excellently well as I ever heard woman in my life; but her voice not so sweet so Ianthe's [Mrs Betterton's]; but, however, we came home mightily contented

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: Away to my wife at the Duke of York's house, in the pit, and so left her; and to Mrs Pierce, and took her and her cozen Corbet, Knepp and little James, and brought them to the Duke's house; and, the house being full, was forced to carry them to a box, which did cost me 20s., besides oranges, which troubled me, though their company did please me. Thence, after the play, stayed till Harris was undressed, there being acted The Tempest, and so he withall, all by coach, home

Event Comment: The King's Company. Pepys, Diary: And wife and Deb. to the King's house, there to see The Wild-goose Chase, which I never saw, but have long longed to see it, being a famous play, but as it was yesterday I do find that where I expect most I find least satisfaction, for in this play I met with nothing extraordinary at all, but very dull inventions and designs. Knepp come and sat by us, and her talk pleased me a little, she telling me how Mis Davis is for certain going away from the Duke's house, the King being in love with her; and a house is taken for her, and furnishing; and she hath a ring given her already worth #600: that the King did send several times for Nelly, and she was with him, but what he did she knows not; this was a good while ago, and she says that the King first spoiled Mrs Weaver, which is very mean, methinks, in a prince, and I am sorry for it, and can hope for no good to the State from having a Prince so devoted to his pleasure. She told me also of a play shortly coming upon the stage, of Sir Charles Sidly's, which, she thinks, will be called The Wandering Ladys, a comedy that, she thinks, will be more pleasant; and also another play, called The Duke of Lerma; besides Catelin, which she thinks, for want of the clothes which the King promised them, will not be acted for a good while

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. Pepys, Diary: My wife and I to the Duke of York's playhouse; and there saw, the first time acted, The Queene of Arragon, an old Blackfriars' play, but an admirable one, so good that I am astonished at it, and wonder where it hath lain asleep all this while, that I have never heard of it before. Here met W. Batelier and Mrs Hunt, Deb's aunt; and saw her home--a very witty woman, and one that knows this play, and understands a play mighty well

Event Comment: Lady Wentworth, writing on 10 Dec., said: Yesterday I had lyke to have been ketched in a trap, your Brother Wentworth had almost parswaded me to have gon last night to hear the fyne muisick, the famous Etallion sing att the rehersall of the Operer, which he assured me it was soe dark none could see me. Indeed musick was the greatist temtation I could have, but I was afraid he deceaved me, soe Betty only went with his wife and him; and I rejoysed I did not, for thear was a vast deal of company and good light--but the Dutchis of Molbery had got the Etallian to sing and he sent an excuse, but the Dutchis of Shrosberry made him com, brought him in her coach but Mrs Taufs huft and would not sing because he had first put it ofe; though she was thear yet she would not, but went away. I wish the house would al joyne to humble her and not receav her again. This man out dus Sefashoe, they say that has hard both (Wentworth, p. 66)

Event Comment: The Fifty-Sixth Night. Tickets for A Bold Stroke for a Wife taken. Receipts: #87 8s. Probable attendance: boxes, 120 Paid and 11 orders; stage, 7 paid; pit, 211 paid and 15 orders; slips, 17 paid and 1 order; first gallery, 163 paid and 25 orders; second gallery, 9 paid and 2 orders. [Rich's Register also lists #10 18s. in tickets for Mrs Chianova.

Event Comment: On 21 March died of a Consumption, at Somerset House, Mrs George Garrick, wife of Mr George Garrick, a Lady in whom was united every amiable quality (Public Advertiser, 22 March.)

Event Comment: London Gazette, No. 844, 18-22 Dec. 1673: There will be no publick Musick at the Musick School in White-Fryers, till St Stevens day; and then every day for the future; beginning and ending as usual

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. This is another in the series of Court performances in L. C. 5@145, p. 120. See also Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350, and 11 Feb. 1679@80. Mountstevens to Henry Stevens, 20 Feb. 1679@80: Upon Sunday the Court is to be in mourning for the death of the Princess Elizabeth, sister to Prince Rupert. (R. W. Blencowe, Diary of the Time of Charles the Second [London, 1843], I, 283)