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 a musical or literary reputation, and Banaster is said to have written an interlude in 1482. But until the end of this period only occasional traces of dramatic performances by the Chapel can be discerned. An alleged play by the Gentlemen at the Christmas of 1485 cannot be verified. The first recorded performance, therefore, is one of the disguisings at the wedding of Prince Arthur and Katharine of Spain in 1501, in which two of the children were concealed in mermaids 'singing right sweetly and with quaint hermony'.

Towards the end of Henry VII's reign begins a short series of plays given at the rate of one or two a year by the Gentlemen, which lasted through 1506-12. Thereafter there is no other play by the Gentlemen as such upon record until the Christmas of 1553, when they performed a morality of which

seruant John Melyonek oon of ye gentilmen of our Chapell and knowing also his expert habilitie and connyng in ye science of Musique haue licenced him and by thise presentes licence and geue him auctorite that within all places in this our realme aswele Cathedral churges coliges chappells houses of relegion and al oyer franchised & exempt places as elliswhere our colege roial at Wyndesor reserued & except may take and sease for vs and in our name al suche singing men & childre being expart in the said science of Musique as he can finde and think sufficient and able to do vs seruice. Wherfor &c Yeuen &c at Nottingham the xvj^{th} day] of September A^o secundo [1484].'
 * [Footnote: that for the confidence & trust that we haue in our trusty and welbeloued

Banaster did not die until 1487, but I think Melyonek must have replaced him, perhaps without a patent, under Richard III.]