Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 2.djvu/387

 9 S. II. Nov. 5, '98.]

NOTES AND QUERIES.

379

meat during the times of civil war and on the execution of Charles i. No Parliament was held between 27 November, 1642, and 13 November, 1644, and no notice appears on the resumed minutes that any event of importance has taken place. Comprehensible enough is this. The Society has, as Mr. Inderwick says, " never been identified with any political party, and so many members of the fellowship took part on opposite sides that it may well " have been thought prudent that nothing should appear in our journals to indicate that the Templars, as a body, were interested in eccle- siastical affairs." While the strife was keenest, moreover, the theory was maintained to the end that the enemies of the king were fighting his battles. Up to 27 November, 1648, the Acts of the Parliament were headed by the year of the king's reign. On that of 10 February, 1648/9, the year only is supplied. It is significant of the reticence observed that the single order given at the last Parliament before the trial of the monarch is "that the 20 nobles for the fine and admittance of John Morton to his late father's chamber in Hare's Court be abated to 4 U ." Somewhat longer, but not a whit more important, were the proceedings at the first meeting under the Commonwealth. On 30 May, 1660, the year of the king's reign, 12 Charles II., reappears, without, however, any other note of change.

References arc still frequent to the incursions of men of ill character, outlaws, and the like, and active measures are taken to keep in order the denizens of the adjoining Alsatia. The Temple Church and its burying-ground. Ram Alley, Mitre Court, and Fuller's Rents were held as sanctuaries, and access to them was obtained surreptitiously through houses built on land forming part of the New Temple, until we find a petition to the benchers praying them " for the honour of God and the Church to take order that the churchyard be not, as now it is, made a common and most noysome lestal" (" Ltvtal, a mire, a jakes," Wright). In 1631 the door through the. wall of King's Bench Office into Whitefriars, after being often barred and as often broken open, was " strongly mured up with bricks." Among the reasons for expelling men from chambers were immorality practised therein, for not " communicating," and for burning sea coal.

Much information concerning masques and plays performed in the Temple is supplied. A great portion of this is accessible in Nichols's ' Progresses' and elsewhere. It is none the less convenient to have it here. Entries such as the following,^ which occur in the general account-book from the Feast of All Saints, 10 James I., to the same feast, 11 James I., are of common occurrence : " For a play on Candle- mas Day, 6li. 13s. 4rf. To another company of players which were appointed to play here- the same day, 30s. For a dozen torches for the revels in Michaelmas Term, 1612, 10s." Much to be regretted is it that the names of the companies are not given. Under Charles I., 1629-30, however, we find 11. paid to the Blackfriars players for a play on Candlemas Day. The same sum is paid on another occasion tc the Cockpitt players ; and 61. are given on All Saints' Day, 1614, to the King's Players. 'The Oxford Tragedy,' which was played in 1607, the only play to which in the reigns of James I. and Charles I. a name is assigned, Mr. Inderwick thinks may be a wrong entry by the butler (who kept the treasurer's accounts) of ' The Yorkshire Tragedy.' The theory is perhaps tenable, since ' The Yorkshire Tragedy '

was printed and acted about this time. Such a mistake could not, however, we are disposed to think, pass unconnected. What is 'The Countrie- nan, for the acting of which in 1657 under the Commonwealth, be it noted 3/. 6s. 8d. was paid, no one is now able to tell. What were the " lewd and lascivious plays" which brought into the house ' great disorder and scurrility," and led to a tem- porary suppression of performances, we should be glad to know. It is to be hoped, in the interests of jur successors, that those who are responsible for later entries will be less costive in supplying infor- mation. Among people of literary interest of whom we hear much are William Browne, of ' Britannia's Pastorals' fame, Francis Beaumont, and many others. Buckingham, Strafford, and Henry Rich, Lord Holland, belonged to the Society. 'Among the kind's judges many were members of the Society. John Carew, belonging to a Cornish family, a staunch Republican anoT Fifth Monarchy man, was "executed* on 15 October, 1660, being the only member of the Inn who suffered death for his share in the trial. Among the many illustrations to this goodly volume are a reduced facsimile of the charter granted by James I. to- the Inner and Middle Temples and admirably executed photogravures of Selden and Sir Thomas Twisden. The historical introduction of Mr. Inderwick is of high value, and the entire execution of the task is creditable to all concerned.

The Early Days of the Nineteenth Century in England. By William Connor Sydney. 2 vols. (Red way.)

THIS is a quaint instance of book-making, and in all respects a curious compilation. Without advancing his authorities which, however, may in many instances be easily traced Mr. Sydney gives an account of the conditions of life in the years 1800-1820. How different were these from those now existing is obvious enough to those who think what has been the effect of the discoveries of subse- quent years. His opening division describes the growth of population and commerce, the rise of watering-places, the conditions of travel, the state of inns, the danger from highwaymen, &c. We are then told concerning dress (civil, military, and naval), lighting, police, conveyances, tradesmen, &c. Following this comes the drama, with public entertainments, &c. an account of fairs, lotteries, arts, literature, and the press completing the first volume. The second, and much the sadder volume, includes an account of things such as the press- gang, crimping, privateering, smuggling, execu- tions, hanging in chains, madhouses, &c. Familiar enough to readers of ' N. & Q.' are many of these things. There are others, however, with which the majority of them may not be familiar, and the volume, though discursive, is never dull.

Kenilworth. By Sir Walter Scott, Bart, Edited

by Andrew Lang. (Nimmo.)

' KENILWORTH ' is the latest addition to the cheap reissue of the "Border" Waverley. The illustra- tions of M. Lalauze are reproduced. As the work of a Frenchman, they are less conformable to the text than are some others, but they are very spirited. 'Kenilworth' would rank with Scott's best novels but for two or three things. In the journeys on which he always sends some of the characters he was unfamiliar with the routes, and the travels of Amy Robsart and Wayland Smith