Event Comment: On this day arrived in London the news of the death of the King's sister, the Duchess of Orleans, which occured on 20 June 1670. According to The Bulstrode Papers (I, 144), 25 June 1670: The players are silenced dureing this tyme of sadness. [Probably acting ceased for at least six weeks, the customary period for silencing the companies when the Court went into full mourning. Nevertheless, the Duke's Company may have been permitted to act at Oxford. See Sybil Rosenfeld, "Some Notes on the Players in Oxford, 1661-1713," Review of English Studies XIX (1943), 366-67.

Event Comment: An order of the Lord Chamberlain (5@12, p. 202) dated 1 April 1671, states that the theatres are to be closed because of the death of the Duchess of York on 31 March 1671. See Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 322. It is uncertain how long the theatres were closed, but probably the closure extended for six weeks

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)

Event Comment: The Duke's Company. As the play was not printed until 1689, the date of composition is uncertain. In Act I, however, a reference to the death of the Earl of Rochester (26 July 1680) suggests that the play probably followed that even rather closely. On the other hand, the latest likely date for the first production seems set at late 1682 by the fact that Thomas Farmer's music for the play in BM Add. Mss. 19183-19185 is dated December 1682. The play has been placed in September 1680 as the earliest likely date (the presence of an experienced cast makes somewhat unlikely a production in mid-summer 1680). A song, All other blessings are but toys, with music by Thomas Farmer, is in Choice Ayres and Songs, The Fourth Book, 1683. A song, Lovely Selina, innocent and free, with music by John Blow, is in the same collection; and another, Weep all ye nymphs, with music by John Blow, is in The Theater of Music, The First Book, 1685

Event Comment: Domestick Intelligence, 11-14 Sept. 1682: Southwark 12--This day the Scaffold of a Booth fell down, with several Actors, Men and Women on it, and falling upon a Child that stood underneath, crushed it to death

Event Comment: The United Company. As the play was certainly acted on 1 Dec. 1682, it was probably given also on 29 Nov., in spite of the death of Prince Rupert on that day

Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, I, 339: The 27th, the playhouse open'd, being the first day they acted since his late majesties death

Event Comment: On this day the news of the death of the Duchess of Modena was brought to Windsor, and newsletters stated that the Court was to go into mourning the following Sunday. Acting at the theatres may have been curtailed during the late summer

Event Comment: Rich's Company. If the tradition (see 29 April 1700) is correct, this, the day of Dryden's death, was the third performance of this revived play

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry the Sixth , the Murther of young King Eduard the Fifth and his Brother in the Tower, with the Landing of the Earl of Richmond , and the Memorable and Decisive Battle in Bosworth Field

Event Comment: Containing the Distresses and Death of King Henry the Sixth; the Murther of Young King Edward the Fifth, and his Brother, in the Tower; with the Landing of the Earl of Richmond, and the Memorable Battle of Bosworth Fieldv, being the last that was fought between the Houses of York and Lancaster

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. In which is contain'd, The Storming of the City Corioli, the Overthrow of the Volscians, the Triumph of Coriolanus , His Banishment by the Common Wealth, His Return against Rome, and his Death by the Treachery of Tullus Ausidious . With Scenes, Machines, Truimphal Arches, and other Decorations after the Custom of the Romans

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. In which is contain'd, The Storming the City of Corioliv; the Overthrow of the Volsciansv; the Triumph of Coriolanusv; his Banishment by the Commonwealthv; his Return against Romev; and his death by the Treachery of Tullus Ausidiusv. With Scenes, Machines, Triumphal Arches, and other Decorations after the Custom of the Romans

Event Comment: Benefit Bickerstaffe. At the Desire of several Ladies of Quality. N.B. The sudden and unexpected Death of Mrs Bickerstaffe (and his extream Pain, and Lameness with the Gout) has prevented the proper Application to the Quality, and his Friends. Yet (not withstanding) tis hoped, they will, with their usual Goodness, favor him with their Appearance

Event Comment: [By Theophilus Cibber.] Alter'd from Shakespear. Containing the Marriages of King Edward the Fourth , and young Prince Edward , with Lady Gray , and Lady Anne . The Distresses of Queen Margaret . The Deposing King Henry the Sixth . The Battles Fought at St. Albans, Wakefield, Mortimer's-Cross, and Tewkesbury. The Deaths of Lord Clifford of Cumberland , and his Son, the Duke of York , his Steward. And many other True Historical Passages

Event Comment: At the particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Written by Shakespear. Daily Journal, 28 Oct.: The same Night [Thursday 26] a Gentlewoman fancying she saw Smoke issue from under the Stage, as she sat in the Pit, during the Play Time,...and at the same time believing she smelt Fire, declared her Opinion so loud, and by her precipitate Endeavours to get out, gave such an Alarm all over the House, as was attended with the fatal Consequence of one Woman big with Child being press'd to Death, and several others Persons were very much bruised. [See also Daily Post, 27 Oct. A reward of #20 was offered by John Rich for the apprehension of the malicious ill designing Persons" who presumably occasioned the incident.-Daily Journal, 31 Oct.

Event Comment: In a letter to the Daily Post. 4 June, the Patentees of Drury Lane-Mary Wilks, John Ellys, Hester Booth, and John Highmore-stated the cast of the Patentees. The gist of their statement is: (1) They operate under a Patent commencing 1 Sept. 1732 which, by Deaths and Legal Assignments, is the property of the four, with Highmore possessing one half, at an expence of #6,000 and upwards. (2) Several of the Players have threatened to desert the service of the Patentees and have contracted with some of the Trustees (the Sharers) to secure possession of the Theatre. (3) Drury Lane is let upon lease from the Duke of Bedford, granted to Thomas Kynaston and Francis Stanhope, Trustees for the Sharers (commonly called Renters) of Drury Lane at the rent of #50 annually upon a Fine of 1,000 guineas paid for the renewal of the lease. (4) The Players, under the Patentees, have acted at Drury Lane for twenty-one years without any interruption form the Trustees upon the sole contract that the Patentees pay the Trustees #3 12s. each acting night, besides the Liberty of seeing Plays. (5) At the beginning of this Season the manager's office received a letter from a few of the Renters demanding an Advance of Rent. Highmore, being new, was concerned, and asked the managers to take care of the matter; and thereafter the signers (the Patentees) had heard of no further discontent among the Renters. (6) To defend themselves against stories of hardship or complaint by the actors, the Patentees point out that the following weekly salaries had been paid: Colley Cibber #12 12s.; Theophilus Cibber #5; Mills Sr, #1 daily for 200 days certain, and a benefit, clear of all charges; Mills Jr #3; Johnson #5; Miller #5; Harper #4; Griffin #4; Shepard #3; Hallam, for himself and his father, the latter of little or no service, #3; Mrs Heron #5; Mrs Butler #3. For these charges and others, the Patentees stand a daily expence of #49 when the theatre is open. (7) Further, the Patentees paid Cibber Jr his wife's whole salary without her being able to act the greater part of the winter, #9 weekly for the two; Mills Jr, in the same circumstances with his wife, #5 10s. weekly for the two; Miller a salary (amounting to #40) for eight weeks before he acted, and a gratuity of ten guineas; Griffin a present of ten guineas; Harper a present, amount not specified; Mrs Heron an increase form 40s. to #5 weekly, although she refused afterward to play several parts assigned her and acted but seldom

Event Comment: See Daily Advertiser, 23 June, for a poem: On the Death of Barton Booth, Esq.

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: For a puff of The Death of King Charles the First, see Daily Advertiser, 8 Feb

Event Comment: By His Majesty's Command. Mainpiece: Written by Shakespear. [The King, Duke, Princess Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa present.] London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 12 Jan.: Being the first time of his Majesty's being at any Publick Diversion since the Death of the late Queen

Event Comment: Written by Shakespear. Containing the Death of the Duke of Buckingham; the Divorce of Queen Katherine; the Fall of Cardinal Wolsey; the Christening of Queen Elizabeth; with many other Historical passages. [This elaboration occurs on all Subsequent notices this season, but will not be further recorded.] Thomas Griffith died (Burney Actors MS.)