Page:The Elizabethan stage (Volume 4).pdf/351

 unlawfull Games or Playes, or fayninge themselves to have knowledge in Phisiognomie Palmestry or other like craftye Science, or pretendinge that they can tell Destinies Fortunes or such other like fantasticall Imaginations; all persons that be, or utter themselves to be Proctors Procurers Patent Gatherers or Collectors for Gaoles Prisons or Hospitals; all Fencers Bearwardes common Players of Enterludes, and Minstrels wandringe abroad, (other then Players of Enterludes belonginge to any Baron of this Realme, or any other honourable Personage of greater Degree, to be authorized to play under the Hande and Seale of Armes of such Baron or Personage) shalbe taken adjudged and deemed as Rogues Vagabondes and Sturdie Beggers, and shall suffer such Paine and Punishment as in the said Acte is in that behalfe appointed, as by the same Acte more at large is declared; Sithence the making of which Acte divers Doubtes and Questions have bene moved and growen by diversitie of Opinions taken in and upon the letter of the said Acte: For a plaine Declaration whereof be it declared and enacted, That from henceforthe no Authoritie to be given or made by any Baron of this Realme or any other honourable Personage of greater Degree, unto any other person or persons, shall be availeable to free and discharge the saide persons, or any of them, from the Paines and Punishmentes in the saide Statute mentioned, but that they shall be taken within the Offence and Punishment of the same Statute.

[§ 3.] Amends 39 Eliz. c. 4, § 4, which provided for banishment of dangerous rogues, by providing for branding and setting to labour in place of settlement; a second offence to be felony, without benefit of clergy.

[§ 6.] Continues 39 Eliz. c. 4 as amended.

[§ 8.] Reserves privileges of John Dutton.

cxxxvii.

[1604, Oct. 13. Letter of Assistance from the Duke of Lennox for his players, printed by W. W. Greg from Dulwich MS. i. 40, in ''Henslowe Papers, 62; also in Collier, Alleyn Memoirs'', 69.]

Sir I am given to vnderstand that youe haue forbidden the Companye of Players (that call themselues myne) the exercise of their Playes; I praie youe to forbeare any such course against them, and seeing they haue my License, to suffer them to continue the vse of their Playes; and vntill you receaue other significacion from me of them, to afforde them your favoure and assistance. And so I bidd youe hartely farewell. From Hampton Courte the xiijth of October, 1604.

Your loving freende

Lenox.

To all maiors, Justeses of peas, Shreefes, Balifes, Constabells and all other his highnes officers and lofing subiects to whome it shall or may in any wise appertaine.

[Addressed] To my loving freend Mr. Dale esqr. and all other Justeses whatsoeuer.