Event Comment: Edition of 1662: Being a True Relation of the Honourable the City of Londons Entertaining Their Sacred Majesties Upon the River of Thames, and Welcoming them from Hampton-Court to White-Hall. Expressed and set forth in several Shews and Pageants, the 23 day of August 1662. According to the printed version, the management of the pageant was under the care of Peter Mills, Surveyor; Malin, Water Bayliff; Thomas Whiting, Joyner; Richard Cleere, Carver. The songs were set by John Gamble, one of His Majesty's Servants. Evelyn, Diary: I this day was spectator of the most magnificent Triumph that certainly ever floted on the thames, considering the innumerable number of boates & Vessels, dressed and adorned with all imaginable Pomp: but above all, the Thrones, Arches, Pageants, & other representations, stately barges of the Lord Major, & Companies, with various Inventions, musique, & Peales of Ordnance both from the vessels & shore, going to meete & Conduct the new Queene from Hampton Court to White-hall, at the first time of her Coming to Towne.... his Majestie & the Queene, came in an antique-shaped open Vessell, convered with a State or Canopy of Cloth of Gold, made in forme of a Cupola, supported with high Corinthian Pillars, wreathd with flowers, festoones & Gyrlands: Pepys, Diary: We got into White Hall garden, and so to the Bowling-green, and up to the top of the new Banqueting House there, over the thames, which was a most pleasant place as any I could have got; and all the show consisted chiefly in the number of boats and barges; and two pageants, one of a King, and another of a Queen, with her Maydes of Honour sitting at her feet very prettily; and they tell me the Queen is Sir Richard Ford's daughter. Anon come the King and Queen in a barge under a canopy with 10,000 barges and boats, I think, for we could see no water for them, nor discern the King nor Queen. And so they landed at White Hall Bridge, and the great guns on the other side went off

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. The Loyal Protestant, No. 166, 10 June 1682: London June 9. His Excellency the Bantam Embassador...went yesterday...to see the Green-Goose-Fair, and...was desired to go tomorrow to see a Play acted at the Duke's Theatre, called Circe; which he accordingly intends to do

Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 12-16 Dec. 1695, suggests that it was probably first acted not later than November 1695. The edition of 1696 mentions two songs and their performers: A lass there lives upon the green, the words by an unknown hand, set by Courteville, and sung by the Boy to Miss Cross; and Bright Cynthia's pow'r divinely great, words by Mr Cheek, set by Courtevill, sung by Leveridge. These two songs are also in Deliciae Musicae, The Fourth Book, 1696, as is a third, Celemene, pray tell me, set by Henry Purcell and sung by the Boy and Girl. The words were written by D'Urfey; and the Boy presumably was Bowen, and the Girl, Miss Cross. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), v-vi. A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), p. 19: Sullen: Oronooko. Ramble: Oh! the Favourite of the Ladies. Sullen: It had indeed uncommon Success, and the Quality of both Sexes were very kind to the Play, and to the Poet: No doubt it has Merit, particularly the last Scene; but 'tis as certain, that the Comick Part is below that Author's usual Genius. Ramble: I have a particular regard for Mr Southern's Stile and agreeable Manner; there's a Spirit of Conversation in every thing he writes. Sullen: I think very few exceed him in the Dialogue; his Gallantry is natural, and after the real manner of the Town; his acquaintance with the best Company entered him into the secrets of their Intrigues, and no Man knew better the Way and Disposition of Mankind. But yet I must say, his Diction is commonly the best part of him, especially in Comedy; but in Tragedy he has once in this, and in one other, Drawn the Passions very well

Event Comment: Benefit of a Gentleman who has been reduced by the Fall of Stocks [apparently the actor who plays Castalio]. At the Great Green Gates in Cross-street, Hatton-Garden. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: At Marriott's Great Room on the Green

Event Comment: Mrs Lee, daughter of Mrs Minns, at the Great Booth on Bowling Green. With all the Scenes and Machines, with Additions. Mrs Lee had spared no Cost, but used her utmost Care, and most elaborate Industry in this Droll, to surpass even her Mother, the Booth coming as near the Perfection of the Theatre as possible, being adorned by the most ingenious Workmen: Her Head Characters are all Dress'd in real Gold and Silver, beyond what was ever worn at the Fair before, but by her own People

Event Comment: At Lee's and Harper's Great Theatrical Booth, on the Bowling Green, the Lower End of Blue Maid Alley

Event Comment: At about 11 a Clock at Mrs Lee's@great@Booth on the Green in Southwark, happen'd a very sad Accident: The Gallery over the Stage not being thoroughly secured, gave way, when between Twenty and Thirty People fell with it....It is high Time for Authority to interpose, to suppress those Nurseries of Lewdness, if so little Care is taken that those who resort to their Entertainments, must be in Jeopardy.--Parker's Penny Post, 13 Sept

Event Comment: At Lee and Harper's Great Booth, on the Bowling Green, the lower end of Blue Maid Alley

Event Comment: Benefit Ray. At the Desire of several Gentlemen and Ladies. At Reynold's Booth in the Half-Moon-Inn, near the Bowling Green. At 7 P.M. Boxes 2s. 6d. Pit 1s. 6d. Gallery 1s