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[1604, April 9. Privy Council to Lord Mayor of London and Justices of Middlesex and Surrey, printed by W. W. Greg, Henslowe Papers, 61, from contemporary copy in Dulwich MS. i. 39; also in Collier, ''Alleyn Memoirs, 66; Halliwell-Phillipps, Illustrations, 115, Outlines'', i. 310. The abstract of the lost Council Register in ''Addl. MS.'' 11402 has the note (f. 93^v) '9 Ap. 1604 A lettre to the lo: Mayor & the Iustices of Surrey & Middlesex to suffer the players to playe againe Lent being past &c' (Dasent, xxxii. 511; M. S. C. i. 371).]

After our hart[ie commendations] to your [Lo.] Wheras the kings maiesties Plaiers have given ty[] hyghnes good service in ther Quallitie of Playinge, and for as much Lickwise as they are at all times to be emploied in that Service, whensoever they shalbe Comaunded, we thinke it therfore fitt, the time of Lent being now Passt, that your L. doe Permitt and suffer the three Companies of Plaiers to the King, Queene, and Prince publicklie to Exercise ther Plaies in ther severall and vsuall howses for that Purpose, and noe other, viz. The Globe scituate in Maiden lane on the Banckside in the Countie of Surrey, the Fortun in Golding Lane, and the Curtaine in Hollywell in the Cowntie of Midlesex, without any lett or interupption in respect of any former Lettres of Prohibition heertofore written by vs to your Lo. Except there shall happen weeklie to die of the Plague Aboue the Number of thirtie within the Cittie of London and the Liberties therof. Att which time we thinke it fitt they shall Cease and forbeare any further Publicklie to Playe, vntill the Sicknes be again decreaced to the saide Number. And so we bid your Lo. hartilie farewell. From the Court at Whitehalle the ixth of Aprille, 1604.

Your very Loving ffrends Nottingham Suffock Gill Shrowsberie Ed Worster W: Knowles J: Stanhopp

To our verie good L. the Lord Maior of the Cittie of London and to the Justices of the Peace of the Counties of Midlesex and Surrey. L. Maiore.

cxxxvi.

[1604, July 7. Extracts from ''An Acte for the Continuance and Explanation of the Statute made in the 39 yeere of the Raigne of our late Queene Elizabeth, intituled An Acte for Punishmente of Rogues, Vagabondes and Sturdie Beggers (1 Jac. I, c. 7), printed in Statutes'', iv. 1024. The Act was amended in detail by ''7 Jac. I, c. 4, in 1610 (St.'' iv. 1159).]

[§ 1.] Whereas by [39 Eliz. c. 4] it was enacted, That all persons callinge themselves Scholers goinge aboute begginge, all Sea-*faringe men pretending losse of their Shippes or Goods on the Sea, goinge aboute the Countrie begginge, all idle persons goinge aboute in any Countrie, either begginge, or usinge any subtile Crafte or