Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known. The Dedication is dated 20 April 1699, and the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 25-27 April 1699; hence, it is likely that the play was first given between mid-February and mid-March, certainly before Easter, which fell on 9 April 1699

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: London Post, 24-27 Nov. 1699: [William Joy] being oblig'd to leave Town in order to pursue some other Method, can shew but twice, which will be God-willing on Wednesday and Friday next at the Theatre in Dorset Garden, beginning Precisely at 11 a Clock, being resolved to shew no more before he leaves the Town

Event Comment: London Post, No. 30, 1-3 Jan. 1700: This day at the Theatre-Royal in Dorset-garden, the Famous Kentish-man Mr Joy, designs to show the same Tryals of Strength, he had the honour of showing before his Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, and several Persons of Quality, viz. The lifting a weight of 2240 l. Holding an extraordinary large Cart-Horse; and afterwards breaking a Rope that will bear 3500 weight. There will likewise be shewn the Sister, carrying 5 Bushels of Wheat, or any other grain; She being but 15 Years of Age. They will also show on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, beginning at 3 of the Clock, and ending at 4 in the Afternoon. Boxes 3s. Pit 2s. 1st Gallery 1s. Upper gallery 6d

Event Comment: Alice Hatton, writing on (possibly) 20 Jan. 1699@1700: I was last night (with Lady Longuevil and Lady Arundel) at ye Princess's, and Lady Long: was so kind to offer to carry me to ye Oppera to day with her and Lady Portland; but I was so unfortunate as to be engaged to go to Lady Denbighs to see ye famous Mrs Binges dance, or else I should have bin glad to have waited on Lady Long: tho I had seen it before and think it very silly. Mr Abel is to have a fine musicke meeting to morrow, and ye tickets are guineas a piece, wch is a little to much for me to throw away; so I shall not be there, and I find so many yt can afford it better of my mind, yt I fancy, if he had lower rates, he would have got more (Hatton Correspondence, Camden Society, XXIII [1878], 245). It is difficult to assign a proper date to this letter. It is unlikely that it was written on Saturday 20 Jan., as Abell was not likely to offer a concert on Sunday at which admission would be charged. It is possible that the opera referred to is The Grove, which is known to have been performed on 19 Feb. 1700, but the fact that this opera was unsuccessful makes it unlikely that it had its premiere in mid-January and was played again in mid-February. Perhaps the letter should be dated mid-February

Event Comment: Villiers Bathurst to Arthur Charlett, 28 Jan. 1699@1700: The Wits of all qualities have lately entertained themselves with a reviv 6: went to ye play. I staid there a quarter of an hour (Huntington MS St 26). The Wits of all qualities have lately entertained themselves with a revived humour of Sir John Falstaff in Henry the Fourth, which has drawn all the town, more than any new play that has bin produced of late; which shews that Shakespeare's wit will always last: and the criticks allow that Mr Betterton has hitt the humour of Falstaff better than any that have aimed at it before (G. Thorn-Drury, More Seventeenth Century Allusions to Shakespeare, [London, 1924], p. 48)

Event Comment: Betterton's Company. The date of the premiere is not known, but the fact that the play was advertised in the Post Boy, 16-18 April 1700, suggests that the first production came before Easter, March 31. A song, Delia tired Strephon with her flame, with music by John Eccles and sung by Bowman, is in Wit and Mirth, 1706

Event Comment: [By William Walker. Not advertised in Daily Courant, but this date accepted as premiere by Nicoll, p. 363 and Genest, II, 303.] Preface: It was so hem'd in between the Benefits that it seem'd meerly Confin'd to the Limits of a Single Night before hand

Event Comment: At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Before the opera: some select Scenes taken out of a Comedy

Event Comment: Sir John Perceval to Elizabeth Stockwell, 20 Sept.: We should have languished for want of diversion but for Othello, which drew all the stragglers in town together, and our number was greater than I imagined....Meanwhile I declare that they who cannot be moved at Othello's story so artfully worked up by Shakespeare, and justly played by Betterton, are capable of marrying again before their husbands are cold, of trampling on a lover when dying at their feet, and are fit converse with tigers only (Egmont MS, II, 240)

Event Comment: Benefit Penkethman, Note, The Subscribers are desir'd not to bring their Tickets this Day, his Friends having promis'd to make this a Jubilee Day to him, and fill the House at the full Price, Mr Penkethman being at a greater Charge than ordinary. For the Entertainment of Madam la Signiora Fount, Signiora, Espagnola, Native d'Barcellone di cale Quallificatta, who will, in a particular Manner, hounour Mr Penkethman...by appearing in her own Country Habit. The Boxes opened to the Pit at 2s. 6d. At five o'clock, by reason of thelength of the Entertainments, and that the Gentry may return to London before 'tis Dark

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or British Gazetteer, 14 Sept.: On Thursday...Mr Bullock and Mr Leigh were taken out of their Booth in Southwark, as we hear, upon an Information against them; but being carried before the Lord Mayor, they were releas'd upon Bail

Event Comment: Weekly Journal or Saturday's Post, 11 Oct.: Last Friday Night...three Gentlemen demanded to go behind the Scenes; but there being an Order of the House made to the contrary, they were denied Admittance; upon which they went into the Pit, and with Apples, &c. pelted the Players in a shameful Manner, after which they got upon the Stage and drew their Swords and broke down the Scenery, Lamps, &c. which put the House in an Uproar, and 'twas an Hour before the Gentlemen could be brought to a civil Behaviour

Event Comment: By Command. The Concert will be perform'd in a Magnificent Triumphant Scenev, exceeding 30 Foot in Length any Scene ever seen before. Painted by Sig Roberto Clerici. The Pit and Boxes at half a guinea. Gallery 2s. 6d

Event Comment: At Mr Penkethman's Theatre, before their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Afterpiece: With several new Scenes of Action, and comical Incidents neverperformed before

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: UUniversal Mercury, February 1726: Elisa...an Opera of a foreign Growth, and of which they promis'd us Wonders before it was brought over. But when it arriv'd, we soon found to our Cost, that its being far fetch'd and dear bought was the only thing that could recommend it: But even that would not do long, and Audiences grew so thin, that the Royal Academy, for fear of making another Call, was oblig'd to drop it

Event Comment: TThe King, Prince and Princess of Wales present. Universal Mercury, February 1726: Mr Handel had the Satisfaction of seeing an old Opera of his not only fill the House, which had not been done for a considerable time before, but People crowding so fast to it, that above 300 were turn'd away for want of room