The internal œconomy of the Stage, which our theatrical historians have laboured to display, graunt unto the said William D'Avenant his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assignes full power license and authority that he they and every of them by him and themselves and by all and every such person or persons as he or they shall depute or appoint, and his and their labourers servants and workmen shall and may lawfully quietly and peaceably frame erect new build and sett up upon a parcell of ground lying neere unto or behinde the three Kings ordinary in Fleet Streete in the pish of St. Dunstans in the West London, or in St. Brides London, or in either of them, or in any other ground in or about that place, or in the whole Streete aforesaid already allotted to him for that use or in any other place that is or hereafter shall be assigned and allotted out to the said William D'Avenant by the Right Honorbie Thomas Earle of Arundle, and Surry Earle Marshall of England or any other His Ma Commission's for building for the time being in that behalfe a Theater or Playhouse wth necessary tyring and retyring roomes and other places convenient conteyning in the whole forty yards square at the most wherein plays musicall enterteynmts scenes or other the like presentments may be p'sented by and under certaine provisors or condicons in the same conteyned as in and by the said Lres patents whereunto relacon being had more fully and at large it doth and may appeare: Now this Indenture witnesseth and the said William D'Avenant doth by theis presents declare his Ma" intent meaning at and upon the graunting of the said License was and is that he the said William D'Avenant his heires Executors Administrators nor Assignes should not frame build or sett up the said Theater or Playhouse in anie place inconvenient and that the said parcell of ground lying neere unto or behinde the Three Kings Ordinary in Fleet Streete in the said parish of St. Dunstans in the West London, or in St. Brides London, or in either of them or in any other ground in or about that place or in the whole Streete aforesaid, And is sithence found inconve nient and unfitt for that purpose, therefore the said William though not in absolute clearness, may receive some illustration from the sarcasm of a satirist, during King James's reign, who has been little noticed, by our scenick writers. In Follies Anatomy, by Henry Hutton, it was said, sarcastically:" "Blackfriers, or the Paris-garden bears, "Must needs be graced with you and your page: . D'Avenant doth for himselfe his Heires Executors Administrators and Assignes and every of them covenante promise and agree to and wth of said Soveraigne Lord the King his Heires and Successers That he the said William Davenant his Heires Executors Administrator nor Assignes shall not nor will not by vertue of the said License and Authority to him granted as aforesaid frame erect new build or sett up upon the said parcell of ground in Fleet Streete aforesaid, or in any other part of Fleet Streete a Thea. ter or Playhouse, nor will not frame, erect, new build or sett up upon any other parcell of ground lying in or neere the Citties or Suburbs of the Citties of London or Westm' any Theater or Play. house unles the said place shall be first, approved and allowed by warrant under His Ma's signe manuell or by writing under the hand and seale of the said Right Honble Thomas Earle of Arun. dell and Surrey. In Witness whereof to the one p' of this Indenture the said William D'Avenant hath sett his Hand and Seal the Day and Yeare first above written. Signed Sealed and Delived in the presence of 6 Edw. Penruddoks. William D'Avenant. L. S. • Printed for Walbank, 1619, in 12mo. "Swear for a place with each controlling fool, Whether Henry Hutton lived to write more of Follies Anatomy, at a later period, I am unable to tell: Another wit of an higher vein of humour found abundant materials, for his satyrick muse,during subsequent scenes of religious, and political, Contention, "when civil dudgeon first ran high.' The remnant of the commons in England, in setting forth, parliamentarily, their own merits, to the general assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, boasted, that they had suppressed all Stage Plays, and interludes, the nurseries of vice and profaneness."7 7 In a letter from the House of Commons in England to the General Assembly of Scotland: Printed by Husband, in 1648. END OF VOL. III. |
