Add MS 19256

COLLECTION of papers, partly original and partly copies, relating to the office of Master of the Revels. The following are the most important, viz.: Certified copies of royal appointments of Masters of the Revels, of Clerk Comptrollers, and others connected with the office, from 1545 to 1612, f. 1; Certificate by Sir Henry Herbert, Master of the Revels, that Edward Knight and others are exempt from arrest, as the King's players and musicians; 27 Dec. 1624; signed, and with seal, f. 44; Letter of Beatrice Herbert to her uncle, Sir H. Herbert, 13 Dec. 1653, f. 45; Petition of Sir Henry Herbert against the license granted to Thomas Killigrew and Sir William Davenant to act plays, 1660; with reference signed by Sir Edward Nicholas, and memorandum by Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Attorney-General, 14 Sept., f. 48; Warrant of Sir H. Herbert to John Roades to attend him, with his authority for converting the Cock-pit, Drury Lane, into a playhouse; 8 Oct. 1660, f. 50; Notes by the same of proofs of his right in reference to his petition against Killigrew and Davenant, f. 51; Copy of agreement of Sir William Davenant with Thomas Betterton and others, as a company of players in London and Westminster [5 Nov. 1660], f. 53; List of plays acted by the King's company, 1660-1662, f. 62; Copy of an undertaking of [Sir W. Davenant and T. Killigrew ?] to pay a fee to the Master of the Revels on the production of every new play; 14 Aug. 1660, f. 64; Note from William Bickford to Sir H. Herbert; Maidstone, 1 July, 1661, f. 65; Copy of agreement of Sir H. Herbert with Thomas Killigrew of Covent Garden, 4 June, 1662, f. 66; Copy of declaration of Sir H. Herbert and Simon Thelwall, plaintiffs in an action against Thomas Betterton, 6 May, 1662, f. 67; Proclamation of [Edward Montagu, 2nd] Earl of Manchester [Lord Chamberlain] against the performance of plays by unlicensed persons; 31 July 1661, f. 69; Petition of Michael Mohun, Robert Shutterell, and other players, for protection; 13 Oct. 1660, f. 71; Copy of petition of Sir W. Davenant to the King, relating to the case between himself and Sir H. Herbert; with reference to the Lord Chancellor, 1662, f. 74; Instructions for the suppression of unlicensed players, at the fair of Bristol, 1663. Signed by Edward Hayward [Deputy Master of the Revels] aud John Poyntz, f. 75; "Arguments to prove that the Master of His Majesty's office of Revells hath not onely the power of lycencing all playes, poems, and ballads, but of appointing them to the Press;" 25 July, 1663; in the handwriting of Edward Hayward, f. 77; Memoranda of the same, of matters to be consulted upon with Sir H. Herbert, f. 78; Letters of the same to Sir H. Herbert and others; 28 July, 1663-11 June, 1664, ff. 80, 85, 86, 87; License from John Poyntz, Deputy Clerk Comptroller of the Revels, to Thomas Rogers, to use a shovel-board; 1664; signed, f. 88; A scheme for regulating the office of the Revels, f. 94; Heads of the case of Sir Henry Herbert against Sir W. Davenant and Betterton, f. 101; The same, in the handwriting of Sir Henry Herbert, f. 106; Petition of François Durdon and André Pellerin to the Lord Chamberlain, for licence to run at the ring on wooden horses; French, f. 107. Paper; XVIIth cent. Large Quarto. [Add. 19,256.]