Event Comment: Luttrell, A Brief Relation, IV, 518-79: This day being the anniversary of the kings birth...there was also a fine ball at St. James to conclude the solemnity, where the king was present: their royal highnesses the prince and princesse dined with his majestie at Kensington, who all the while were diverted with a fine consort of musick; and Mr Tate, the poet laureat, presented the king with a curious ode

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: A Comparison Between the Two Stages (1702), commenting upon Betterton's success with I Henry IV (see 9 Jan. 1699@1700) pictures Betterton entering his Closet and praying to Shakespeare for further assistance (p. 25), with the result that "tho' some of those Plays that Batterton Acted were Historical, and consequently highly irregular, yet they never fail'd to please" (p. 26). Sullen adds: Well, this lucky hit of Batterton's put D. Lane in a non-plus! Shakespear's Ghost was rais'd at the New-house, and he seem'd to inhabit it for ever: What's to be done then? Oh, says Rich I'll pray as well as he-What? Shall a Heathen Player have more Religion than a Lawyer? No, it shall never be said--with that Mr R@@ goes up to the Garret (a pair of Stairs higher than his own Apartment) and taking Ben Johnson's Picture with him, he implores. This work implies that Betterton presented Henry VIII in addition to I Henry IV and that Rich revived Volpone, The Alchymist, and The Silent Woman, which had, according to the author of this work, lain unacted for twenty years (p. 26)

Event Comment: Post Boy, 16-19 March 1700: In York Buildings, this present Tuesday, being the 19th of this Instant March, will be perform'd a Consort of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, for the Benefit of Mr Edward Keene, beginning at the usual hour. Prices 2s. 6d. Those Persons that have already any of his Tickets dated the 20th are desired to take Notice that the Performance will be this day, and not as the Tickets are dated

Event Comment: Post Man, 20-23 April 1700: On Saturday last two Gentlemen [according to the Post Boy, 23-25 April 1700, they were Captain Francis and Mr Squibb, of the Exchequer] quarrelled at the Play-house, and one of them was mortally wounded

Event Comment: Rich's Company. This play was apparently never published, and the performance is known only by an advance announcement: Post Boy, 30 May-1 June 1700: The History of Hengist, the Saxon King of Kent, which before was designed to be Acted this day [1 June 1700], for the benefit of Mr Johnson, is therefore deferr'd till Monday. London Post, 7-10 June 1700: This Week the Morocco Ambassador diverted himself thrice at the Play-house

Event Comment: Benefit William Bowen, the famous Comedian...who has for some months discontinued Acting, on account of some Difference between him and the rest of the Sharers in the New Theatre;...it's the Opinion of the best Judges in Town, that no person in either of the Theatres, can come so near the Performance of the famous Original Mr Lacy as he can

Event Comment: The Performance of the Musick Prize, Compos'd by Mr Finger;...beginning at 5 of the Clock, places may be had in both the first and second Galleries; the profit arising from thence being for the Performers

Event Comment: At Mr Barnes and Finly's Booth (known by the name of the Monument Booth) in Brook-Field-Market near Hyde-Park Corner

Event Comment: Benefit Pinkeman. Common Prices. All Persons that come behind the Scenes are desired to pay their Money to none but Mr Pinkeman. [This benefit had originally been advertised for 24 Oct. but deferred, the offerings for that day being a medley of The Death of King Henry VI, a Tragical Interlude of one Act only; Aesop, "several select Scenes" only; and The School-Boy; or, The Comical Rivals.

Event Comment: Tickets are given out...by Mr Pinkeman, who has taken care to provide Places for Persons of Quality at Five Shillings each, and the lower at half a Crown. And a Stage built for the Performers. At 6 p.m

Event Comment: At 7 p.m. Prices 2s. 6d. and 1s. 6d. Tickets are given out at the Place the same day by Mr Pinkeman

Event Comment: Aeneas and Dido compos'd by the late Mr Henry Purcell. At the Desire of several Persons of Quality