Egerton MS 2623

A COLLECTION of papers chiefly relating to the English drama, temp. Hen. VII.-1778; formed by John Payne Collier, who has inserted a brief description of each article:-

1. Note of a payment to Alexander Mason, "Marescallo minstrallorum Regis, et aliis minstrallis Regis" of £26 13s. 4d. for their half-yearly fee; temp. Hen. VII. [ante 1495]. See J. P. Collier, Hist. of Engl Dramatic -Poetry, etc., ed. 1879, vol. i. p. 45. f. 1.

2. Bill for "xviii. pillers" and "iiii. knoppes to set vpon iiii. postes" delivered to "Mr. [Richard] Gybson, sergeaunt at armes, to the kinges vse"; temp. Hen. VII. f. 2.

3. Note of payment to John English, Edward Maye, Richard Gibson, and John Hamond, "lusoribus Regis, alias in lingua Anglicana lez pleyers of the kinges enterludes," of 10 marks for their half-yearly fee; Mich. term, 9 [Hen. VII. 14,93]. On the reverse of the slip (which has evidently been cut from the book of Exchequer payments quoted by Collier, op. cit., vol. i. p. 43) is a payment to John Gryce, King's apothecary, of 20 sh.; 4 Dec. [1493]. This article and some of the following are mentioned and quoted by Collier, An Old Man's Diary, pt. i. 1871, p. 4. f. 3.

4. A list of "garmentes for players"; "a° vii. Hen. VIII." [ 1515-16]. Printed, Collier, Hist. Dram. Poetry, vol. i. p. 82. Apparently cut from a volume. f. 4.

5. "Interrogatories (?) to be demaunded of the Duke of Norffolk, whether the clergy shall attend vpon the quenes grace [Anne Boleyn] coming into London," etc., including "Item to desier that the citie may haue the kynges mynstrells for the furnyssheyng of pagents and barges"; [May, 1533]. See Collier, op. cit., vol. i., p. 83, note 2. f. 5.

6. "The namz of suche personz as be assigned to haue lodeging within the kinges house, when they repayre to the same," beginning with "the Lorde Cardynall" and ending, on "the kinges syde," with "the zong mynstrels "; circ. 1529. See Collier, op. cit., vol. i. p. 89. f. 7.

7. "Certain enormytes in the commyn welth to be reformed in October 1550 "; among them being "The players playe abrode in everye place euerye lewde sediciousc fellowse deuise to the daungier of the kynge and his counsaylle." f. 9.

8. Letters patentof Qu. Elizabeth appointing [Ralph Bowes], Esq., chief Master of "our game pastymes and sportes, that is to saie of all and euery our Beares Bulles and Mastiff Dogges," in "as large and ample manner and forme as Cuthbert Vaughan or Sir Richard Longe, knt., deceased"; 2 June, a° 15 [1573]. The name of Ralph Bowes has been erased and that of "Jhon Dorinton" [Dorrington] inserted. An exemplification of the patent as granted to Bowes is at Dulwich College (Warner, Cat. of MSS. and Muniments, p. 231); and Dorrington succeeded Bowes, his patent being dated 11 Aug. 1598 (ibid., p. 65, note 6). f. 11.

9. Assignment by Joan Payne, of Freemantle, in Kingsclere, co. Southt., widow of William Payne, late of Southwark, yeoman, to John White, of Southwark, yeoman, and John Malthous, of Freemantle, yeoman, of a lease, dat. 6 Mar. 1540, from Stephen [Gardiner], Bp. of Winchester, to the said Will. Payne for 99 years, of messuages, etc., called "the Barge, the Bell and the Cocke" upon the "Banke called the Stewes," in Southwark, abutting on the east "against a tenement called the Rose"; 1 Aug. 24 Eliz. [1582]. Contemp. Copy. See Collier, op. cit., vol. iii. p. 126, note 2; and Warner, op. cit., p. 126. f. 13.

10. Speech in blank verse addressed to Queen Elizabeth by a "Hermit," apparently at an entertainment at Theobalds in 1591 (Nichols, Progresses, 1823, vol. iii. p. 74). First printed by Collier, op. cit., ed. 183 1, vol. i. p. 285; and afterwards by Dyce, Works of G. Peele, vol. iii., 1839, p. 161. Collier states that the whole piece is in the handwriting of George Peele, "and his initials, G. P., are subscribed at the end." The first statement is clearly incorrect; and the initials have now been torn away, probably because they were a modern forgery not able to bear examination. f. 15.

11. "A speeche made before the Queene at Tybolles," by "the gardner" and "the moecatcher"; [1591 ?]. Printed by Dyce, op. cit. vol. iii. p. 165. f. 17.

12. Memorandum by E[dward] Alleyne, the actor, of the engagement by Philip Himshlow [Henslowe], his wife's stepfather, of William Kendall as "a covenauant servant......"to play in the howse of the sayd Philyp and in no other" for two years, at l0s. a week in London and 5s. in the country; 8 Dec. 1597. Holograph. Printed by Malone, Inquiry, etc., 1796, p. 245, as contained in Henslowe's MS. Diary (at Dulwich College), from which it has since been cut out. Also printed, with a facsimile, by Collier, op. cit., ed. 1831, vol. iii. p. 89, ed. 1879, vol. ii. p. 471. f. 19.

13. Poetical addresses by "Genius," "Orpheus," and "Winter," delivered at an entertainment "at Chirke Castle [the seat of Sir Thomas Middleton], 1634." The endorsement, giving the place and date, has been carefully erased, but may still be read. The accompanying description by Mr. Collier is "Court Entertainment, temp. James I.," etc. f. 20.

14. Letter from Robert Daborne, the dramatist, to [Philip Henslowe], saying that he has "bin befor the Doctor and acknowledged the deed," and praying him to send the 20s.; [1613]. Hol. Signed also by Thomas Foster. The letter evidently belongs to the series at Dulwich College, (Warner, Catalogue, pp. 37-49). f. 24.

15. Agreement by William Rowley, Joseph Taylor, Robert Pallant, [and others], with [Edward Alleyn ?] to take certain theatrical "clothes" for 551.; [Mar. 1616 ?]. Signed by the actors abovenamed, other names having been torn away. The document probably relates to the same transactions as Dulwich MS. I., art. 107, (Catalogue, p. 50). f. 25.

16. Surveyor's report of "the roomes, etc., in the White Fryars house," made to the Bishop of -; 18 Mar. 1616[7]. The report has nothing to do with the White Friars Theatre. f. 26.

17. Letter from [William Herbert], Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain, to Viscount Mandeville, President of the Council, relative to the suspension of the King's Company for playing "the game of chess"; Court at Woodstock, 27 Aug. 1624. Signed. Printed, Collier, op. cit., ed. 1879, vol. i. p. 431. The letter is undoubtedly genuine (cf Ingleby, Shakespere Controversy, 1861, p. 314). f. 28.

18. Letter from the Lord Mayor and aldermen of London to the Privy Council, representing the danger of the increase of the plague from the "greate concourse of people, and that of the meaner and lewder sorte," to "comon stage plaies aboute the citty out of our iurisdiccions"; 21 Dec. 1625. Signed by Allin Cotton, Mayor, and nine others. See Collier, op. cit., 1879, vol. i. p. 438. f. 30.

19. Surveyor's report made to the master, etc., of Dulwich College, on the condition of "the late Playhouse called the Fortune, scituate betweene Whitecross Street and Goulding, Lane"; 18 July, 1656. Contemp. copy. The original is at Dulwich College (Catalogue, p. 56). Printed, Collier, Alleyn Papers, 1843, p. 100. f. 32.

20. Certificate of the military services and "present deplorable condition" of Major Cosmo Manuche, author of "the Just General," and other plays; Whitehall, 12 Dec. 1661. Signed by Jo[hn Berkeley, Lord] Berkeley, [of Stratton], Sir G[ilbert] Talbot, and Sir Lewis Dyve. f, 34.

21. Fragment of "The Disobedient Childe," an "enterlude" by Thomas Ingelend, printed in 1565. Copy, apparently in the hand of George Steevens, f. 35.

22. Fragment of a play, in which the characters are, Ethelbert, the Duchess (his wife), Oswald (their son, conveyed to Northumberland in his infancy to escape his uncle, and newly discovered), Orina, Count Coell, Sir Ingram, Mouse-trap, etc.: late xvith cent. The fragment, which is in two different bands, ends "Nay my lord, Ile speak thus much in his praise to his face, tho hee bee as fen a mastiue as euer rann vpon a gentleman: yett the curre is of a good breede, and to one hee knowes will shake his tayl"; but the words in italics, which are intended to convey a covert allusion to Will. Shakespeare, are a modern fabrication. f. 37.

23. Warrant from James II. for swearing John [Sheffield], Earl of Mulgrave, into the office of Chamberlain of the Household; 23 Oct. 1685. Signed. f. 39.

24. Letter from [Philip Herbert, Earl of] Pembroke and Montgomery, Lord Chamberlain, to Sir William Savile, informing him that "the king is quite off from the resolution of the Progresse, as it was sett forth in the Gists," intending to go no further than Theobalds; Court at Greenwich, 2 July, 1638. Signed. f. 41.

25. Prologue and epilogue, the former beg. "Women, like us (passing for men), you'le cry," to a play acted apparently by women only, about the time of the union of the King's and Duke's Companies in 1682. An endorsement attributes them to Dryden, but without apparent reason. See Collier., An Old Man's Diary, pt. ii. 1871, p. 26. f. 43.

26. Specimen of the forgeries of William H. Ireland, consisting of some lines of verse, with the subscription "William Shakspeare alias William Henrye Ireland." f. 45.

27. Depositions of witnesses concerning the murder of William Mountford, the actor, on 9 Dec. 1692. Contemp. copies. f. 46.

28. "Elegy on Mumford [Will. Mountford], to the tune of Packington's Pound," beg. "Poor Mountfort is gone, and the ladies do all [1692]. f. 50.

29. "The substance of the Depositions" on the inquest on the bodies of [James Hamilton], Duke of Hamilton, and [Charles Mohun], Lord Mohun, killed in a duel; 15-22 Nov. 1712. Printed. f. 53.

30. "Prologue and epilogue to the Tempest," beg. "Wee, as the fathers of the stage have said"; possibly for Tho. Shadwell's opera of "The Tempest," produced in 1673. f. 54.

31. A prologue, beg. "Methinks I heare yow whisper in the pitt"; late xviith cent. f. 56.

32. "The Strowlers Prologue at Cambridge"; "By Sr. H[enry] Sheers," beg. "In early days e'er prologues did begin"; late xviith cent. f. 58.

33. "The Epilogue in Darius," by John Crowne, beg. "Our author fears he to much blood has shed"; printed, with the play, in 1688. f. 60.

34. Prologue and epilogue of "The Guardian" by Abraham Cowley, performed before Prince Charles at Trinity College, Cambridge, 12 May, 1641, beg. "Who saith y^e times doe learning disalowe"; printed, with the play, in 1650. f. 61.

35. "Prologue to the Stroulers, by Sir C[harles] S[edley], Bart," beg. "Beauty and wit so barely you requite." See Poems on Affairs of State, 1698, p. 161. f. 63.

36. Letter from W[illiam] Smith, the actor, to [David Garrick ?], on some offence taken by the latter; 15 June, [circ. 1775 ?]. f. 65.

37. Spranger Barry, the actor, to David Garrick, excusing himself from acting on account of illness; [circ. 1774]. f. 66.

38. "A Dialogue between Poet [Peter Anthony] Motteux, and Patron Heveningham," beg. "I told you, Sir, it wou'd not pass"; circ. 1700. See Poems on Affairs of State, 1703, vol. ii. p. 251. f. 68.

39. "An excellent newe song to the tunc of the Tinker of Turvey," beg. "All you that would noe longer to monarchy be subjected"; circ. 1642. f. 72.

40. The Session of the Poets, "to the tune of [Ben Jonson's] Cooke Lawrell," beg. "Apollo concern'd to see the transgressions"; circ. 1665. See Poems on Affairs of State, 1703, vol. i. p. 206. f. 73.

41. "The Clubmen of the House of Commons," beg. "Let noble Sir Positive lead the Van"; said to have been written by George Saville, Marquis of Halifax, in 1694 (cf. Harl. MS. 7315, f. 237). See Poems on Affairs of State, 1703, etc., vol. iii. p. 330, under the title "The Pensioners." f. 76.

42. "Ephelia to Bajazet": verses beg. "How farr are they deceived who hope in vain"; followed, in the same hand, by "A very heroicall epistle in answer to Ephelia"; late xviith cent. f. 78.

43. "On poet Ninny" (a character in Shadwell's "Sullen Lovers"), beg."Crush't by that just contempt his follies bring"; late xviith cent. f . 80.

44. "My Lord Allpride," beg. "Bursting with pride the loath impostume swells"; late xviith cent. f. 80 b.

45. "A familiar epistle to Mr. Julian, secretary to the Muses," beg. "Thou common shore of this poetick towne"; referring chiefly to Sir Car Scrope, who died in 1680. Printed in the Works of Geo. Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, 1775, vol. ii. p. 142 ; and, as by Dryden, in Miscellany Poems, 1716, vol. vi. p. 359. Also in Scott's Dryden, 1808, vol. xxii. p. 222, but marked as doubtful. f. 81.

46. "The Protestant Satyre, or some reason not all rhime, in return to severall late Popish libels, written in the year 1684," beg. "How wise and happy are wee growne of late." f. 83.

47. "In defence of Satyr," beg. "When Shackespeare, Johnson, Fletcher rul'd the Stage"; late xviith cent. See Buckingham, Works, 1775, vol. ii. p. 153. f. 87.

48. Verses, beg. "Fairwell, fair Armida, my joy and my greife"; late xviith cent. f. 89.

49. A satire on poets, beg. "Since every foolish coxcombe thinkes it fitt"; late xviith cent. f. 91.

50. "An essay [in verse] vpon the foure Cardinall virtues, Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Fortitude," beg. "These foure are Cardinall," by "Cressy Dimoke"; late xviith cent. f. 93.

51. Letter from D[avid] Garrick to-; endorsed "Oct. [17]78." Printed by Collier, An Old Man's Diary, pt. ii., 1871, p. 46. f. 95. Paper and vellum; ff. 95. With the book-plate of Frederic Ouvry. Folio. From the Farnborough Fund.