Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 437: This being the queen s birth day, a new ode was sung before her upon the occasion: the nobility and gentry, with the lord mayor and aldermen of this citty, attended to compliment thereon. Gentleman's Journal, May 1692: The 30th of April, being Her Majesties Birth-day, was observ'd with all the usual Solemnity. I design'd to have sent you an Attempt of mine in Verse, on that noble Subject: But having happily obtain'd a Copy of those writ by Sir Charles Sidley, it would have been an unpardonable Crime, to have joyn'd my weak Essay to a Piece by so great a Master. [The Ode, Love's Goddess Sure, the music by Henry Purcell, is in Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXIV (1926), i.

Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, II, 565, 15 Sept. 1692: Last Tuesday the lord mayor sent his officersito cry downe the faire, the actors of the drolls having presumed to act the earthquake in Jamaica with scenes, and to make a droll of it. Evelyn, Diary, 15 Sept. 1692: This, of Jamaica, being prophanely & Ludicrously represented in a peppet play or some such lewd pass-time in the Faire at Southwarke, caused the Queene to put-downe & abolish that idle & vicious mock-shew

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first production is not known, but the Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March) makes clear that it followed Congreve's play: We have had since a Comedy, call'd, The Wary Widow, or Sir Noisy Parrot, by Henry Higden Esq; I send by here the Prologue to it by Sir Charles Sedley, and you are too great an Admirer of Shakespeare, not to assent to the Praises given to the Fruits of his rare Genius (p. 61). The play was announced in the London Gazette, No. 2875, 29 May-June 1693. The music for one song, All hands up aloft, was by Berenclow, and the song appears in D'Urfey, Wit and Mirth, 1699. Dedication, edition of 1693: But now it is forced to beg for your Protection from the malice and severe usage it received from some of my Ill natured Friends, who with a Justice peculiar to themselves, passed sentence upon it unseen or heard and at the representation made it their business to persecute it with a barbarous variety of Noise and Tumult. Gildon, The Life of Mr Thomas Betterton (p. 20): The actors were completely drunk before the end of the third act, and being therefore unable to proceed with this "Pleasant Comedy," they very properly dismissed the audience

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of the first performance is not known. The January issue of the Gentleman's Journal, wnich did not appear until some time in February, stated: Mr Congreve...hath written a Comedy, which will be acted in a little time, and is to be call'd, The Old Batchelor (p. 28). The Gentleman's Journal, February 1692@3 (issued in March 1693): The success of Mr Congreve's Old Batchelor has been so extraordinary, that I can tell you nothing new of that Comedy; you have doubtless read it before this, since it has been already printed thrice. And indeed the Wit which is diffus'd through it, makes it lose but few of those Charms in the Perusal, which yield such pleasure in the Representation. Mr Congreve will in some time give us another play; you may judge by this how acceptable it will be (p. 61). In addition, a reference in the Epilogue indicates that it was produced during Lent, ano since the third edition was advertized in the London Gazette, No. 2856, 23-27 March 1693, early March seems the most likely date for the premiere. According to The Female Wits (ca. 1696), The Old Batchelor was acted fourteen days successively. John Barnard of Yale University states that Narcissus Luttrell's copy of The Old Batchelor in the Newberry Library bears the notation: "10d Mar. 16 1692@3." BM Add. Mss. 4221 (341) Memoirs Relating to Mr Congreve Written by Mr Thomas Southern (in Macdonald, Bibliography of Dryden, p. 54n): When he began his Play the Old Batchelor haveing little Acquaintance with the traders in that way, his Cozens recommended him to a friend of theirs, who was very usefull to him in the whole course of his play, he engag'd Mr Dryden in its favour, who upon reading it sayd he never saw such a first play in his life, but the Author not being acquainted with the stage or the town, it woud be pity to have it miscarry for want of a little Assistance: the stuff was rich indeed, it wanted only the fashionable cutt of the town. To help that Mr Dryden, Mr Arthur Manwayring, and Mr Southern red it with great care, and Mr Dryden putt it in the order it was playd, Mr Southerne obtained of Mr Thos. Davenant who then governd the Playhouse, that Mr Congreve should have the privilege of the Playhouse half a year before his play was playd, wh. I never knew allowd any one before. The music for the play was composed by Henry Purcell. See Purcell's Works, Purcell Society, XXI (1917), iii-v

Event Comment: Post Boy, 14-17 May 1698: On Friday night last there was fine Dancing at Kensington, where his Majesty was present, as also His Excellency the French Ambassador: The Frenchman [l'Abbe], who is lately come over and Dances now at the Play-house, was sent for to dance there, and performed his part very dexterously

Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, IV, 502-3: Monsieur Ballon, the famous French dancing master, (whose father teaches the dauphins 3 sons,) having leave to come hither for 5 weeks, is allowed by the playhouse 400 guineas for that time, besides which the lord Cholmley has sent him a present of 100 more. [Betterton's Company.

Event Comment: London Post, 13-16 Dec.: There being a French Scaramouch Dance betwixt the second and third Acts, a certain Person went in a Frolick, Incognito, up into the upper Gallery, and so pelted the Dancers with Oranges, that they were forced to quit the Stage, and the Play-house was all in an Uproar; but some of the Auditory perceiving who threw them, cryed out, fling him down into the Pit, which so startled him, that he was forced to make the best of his way down Stairs; however, a Constable having been sent for in the mean time, he was secured. Preface to Ximena (1719): The Fop's Fortune lagg'd on the Fourth Day and only held up its Head by the Heels of the French Tumblers

Event Comment: Afterpiece [by Richard Estcourt]: Mr Bayes's Practice of an Interlude, call'd, Prunella, done from the Italian. Benefit Estcourt. And at the Request of many of the Nobility (who have taken Tickets) 2 Benches of the Pit will be Rail'd in, for more Conveniency. And to prevent any Disappointment, by coming late, 'tis desire'd that their Servants may be sent by 2 a Clock with the Tickets to keep Places

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: Admission as 10 March. N.B. The Noble and Honorable Subscribers to the French Comedians, are humbly intreated to pardon the Omission of sending them Tickets on Thursday last, it having proceeded merely from a Mistake, which shall be prevented for the future, and each one shall have a perpetual Ticket sent to him on Tuesday next

Event Comment: For the Entertainment of El Hadgee Moham'd Assayd, sent to His Majesty from the Dey and Divan of Algiers, and his Friend El Hadgee Ali

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Addison. Note, Mr Giffard thinks it proper to inform the Gentleman who sent to him to have the Spanish Fryar play'd for next Monday, that he had not recollected a Pre-engagement of that Day to several Persons of Quality, but if the Gentleman will be pleas'd to let Mr Giffard know where he may wait on him, he wou'd be very much oblig'd to him to fix any other Day he thinks fit

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Distinction. N.B. Mr Giffard hopes the Gentleman who bespoke the Spanish Fryar, for Tomorrow, will not take it ill, that Hamlet is to be perform'd; because the Ladies, whom he mention'd, have since sent to him for that Play-but he shall be very glad to oblige him any other day

Event Comment: Benefit John Dennis. Daily Advertiser, 19 Dec: There was an exceeding crowded Audience of Persons of Distinction ... at Mr Dennis's Benefit, and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was pleased to send twenty Guineas as a present to that Gentleman

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 Dec: Whereas, on Saturday last, the Audience . . . was greatly incens'd at their Disappointment in Mr Poitier and Madem Roland's not Dancing, as their Names were in the Bills for the Day; and Mr Quin, seeing no way to appease the Resentment then shewn, but by relating the real Messages sent from the Theatre, to know the Reasons why they did not come to perform, and the Answers return'd: And whereas there were two Advertisements in the Daily Post of Tuesday last, insinuating that Mr Quin had with Malice falsely accus'd the said Mr Poitier and Madem Roland, I therefore think it (in Justice to Mr Quin) incumbent on me to assure the Publick, that Mr Quin has conducted himself in this Point towards the Abovemention'd with the strictest regard to Truth and Justice; and as Mr Quin has acted in this Affair in my Behalf, I think myself oblig'd to return him Thanks for so doing. Charles Fletewood

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Never Acted before. An Historical Play. [Apparently not published. Possibly by Mrs Haywood.] Afterpiece: A Ballad Farce of one Act. [Author unknown. Apparently not published.] With New Habits and all proper Decorations. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 21 Jan.: We hear there had like to have been a Disturbance at the Rehearsal of. . . The Contract. . . . Some Persons suppos'd to be sent by the Governor of a certain Baronet, endeavour'd first to intimidate the Actors from the Representation of it; and finding that ineffectual, have since attempted to spirit-away some of the principal Performers

Event Comment: As 23 Nov. [Upon hearing of the death of the child of the Princess of Orange, the Queen sent word that she could not attend this performance.

Event Comment: Benefit Denoyer. By Command of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber, Esq; Poet-Laureat. Tickets at Denoyer's House in St. James's-Street, over-against Park-Place. Daily Advertiser, 7 March: On Saturday Night the Mob attempted to force into Drury-Lane Playhouse, and were so insolent, that Justice Deveil was oblig'd to go out and read the Proclamation concerning Rioters; the Guard was order'd to his Assistance, and some of the Offenders were apprehended and sent to Newgate. [For Occasional Prompter XXIV (on the alteration of Much Ado About Nothing), see Daily Journal, 5 March.