Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/225

 10 S. VII. MARCH 9, 1907.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

181

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1007.

CONTENTS. No. 167.

INOTES : Maldon Records and the Drama, 181 Legends on English Coins, 183 Burton's 'Anatomy of Melan- choly,' 184 ' Cartularium Saxonicum ' " Forwhy " Toad's Immurement, 185 "Furzing" Cards Registration Act, 1812 "Creeling" the Bridegroom David Scott, R.S.A. Carnival Sunday in the Greek Church Ytene : its Pronunciation, 186 King of Spain's Wedding Scott and Bishop Hall Nathaniel Mist Mrs. JaneMolony, 187.

'QUERIES: " Pomperkin " Weldon Family, 187 Lord Halifax Holden Family Monaghan Press Hoek van Holland Richard II. 's Arms " Vittle" = Victual " Bawms March " The Abstract Bagman ' Cranford ' Women and Wine-making, 188 Charles II. and Dr. Fraser's Daughter "Esprit de 1'escalier" Church- wardens' Accounts "Pnemunire," 189 Marli Horses- Rump of a Goose and Drinking Bouts Camoens, Son- net cciii. Polinda and Albarosa, 190.

HEPLIES : ' Edinburgh Review ' Attack on Oxford, 190

of Lady in Red Westminster Changes, 1906 Words- worth Anecdote Queen Victoria of Spain School Slang .at Rossall, 193 "County of Cornwall and Nowhere" Pictures at Teddington Sir John Barnard's Descendants, 194" Blue-water " Poonah Painting, 195 Hickford's Room, Brewer Street "Life-Star" Folk-lore. 196 Sonnets by Alfred and Frederick Tennyson Californian English Statues of the Georges Dean Vaughan's Pupils West Indian Military Records, 197 Langtry Estate in Ireland " Moaler "St. George's Chapel Yard, Oxford Road Newbolds of Derbyshire " Portobello," 198.

NOTES ON BOOKS : Farrer's ' Literary Forgeries 'Sir J. Stephen's ' Essays in Ecclesiastical Biography ' ' L'lnternukliaire ' ' Folk-lore 'Reviews and Magazines.

Obituary : R. H. Busk.

Dr. Doran.

(Booksellers' Catalogues.

MALDON RECORDS AND THE DRAMA.

THERE is a good deal of unworked, or only partially worked, material for the early history of the drama in England in the books of churchwardens' accounts in Essex, e.g., .at Chelmsford and Great Dunmow. Some material for the history and appreciation of later phases of the drama may still be gleaned in municipal records in Essex, e.g., from the rolls of chamberlains' accounts, and from the records of the quarterly sessions and other courts. As as peeimen of the latter material, we have the following gleanings from the archives of the borough of Maldon. These show us four stages of dramatic development :

1. There is the archaic religious play, where the actors were members of the same village Ulting, Latchingdon, Stow Maries, &c. and the vestments were perhaps the property of the parish and in the charge of the churchwardens, as was the case at Chelms- ford. Even in this age, however, we find companies of itinerant players, claiming to represent, and to be under the protection of,

the Crown, or some great noble the Earl of Essex or the Earl of Sussex.

2. Next we have a great outburst of popularity for the drama. It is taken up by the community, and managed by the borough officials. A stage-manager and his assistant are brought from London. A special stage is built, with elaborate painted scenery of a very flimsy character. From later entries it seems to have been intended to hold this carnival about once in four years.

3. Soon, however, Puritan feeling con- demns the stage. The ecclesiastical autho- rity preaches against it. The municipality withdraws official sanction, and only con- nives at its being run as a private venture.

4. Even this amount of recognition is within a few years withdrawn. The stage has become a profession, very little in favour ; and its only exponents are travelling com- panies claiming to be those of the sovereign or of some great lord.

These records are, for several reasons, imperfect. For one thing, the rolls of ac- counts and the records of sessions business are missing for several years. For another thing, many chamberlains are very reticent as to the items of their accounts, and give only a lump sum, in which are put together expenditure on the stage, on king's mes- sengers, on treats to noble visitors, and the like, without detail.

It is plain, however, that if we can get access to, and put side by side, the informa- tion available from such sources, we shall have a great help towards understanding the evolution of the drama in England.

1447. Ad lusores [Record torn.]

1453. Solut. to the pleyeres of L&onyngdon, 2& '2<l.

Item, in expensis to the playeris of Sandon, 1?0<V.

Item, in expensis to the playeris of Wodeham Ferers, lid.

Item, to the mynstrallis of my lord Bourghcher, in bere, mete, and costs, o.s. 1<l.

1459. Payde for bred & ale to the pley of Ultynge,

1469. Istoribus [histrionibus] : solut. in pane et potu datis lusoribus de Stowe pley hoc anno ostens. in foi-o, xif/.

Et solut. luaoribua de Lachyndon ostendentibus lusum in foro hoc anno, xd.

Et solut. lusoribus domini comitis Essex luden- tibus coram burgensibus infra burgum hoc anno, v*.

Et solut. istpribus domine Regine Anglic veni" entibus ad ballivos hoc aniio, ii*.

Et in denariis datis istoribus comitis Essex hoc anno, ii*.

Et dat. lusoribus ejusdem comitis ad domum [the corn-market] frumenti ludentibus hoc anno, iiii-s., et in potu, iud.

1470. Et dat. lusoribus, iiii$.

1537. In money gevene to my Lorde of Sussex pleyers at Mr. Bayliffs' commawndement that yere whene they playde at the Friers, 1O/.