Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/294

 Some Things about Theatres. as Robert Hude, Little John, Abbott of Un reason or Queenis of Mat/, within Burgh, the chusers of sik, sall tine their freedome for the space of five zcires, and utherwise sall be punished at the Queenis Grace will, and the acceptat of sik like office, sall be ban ished forth of the realme; And gif ony sik persones, sik as Robert Hude, Little John, Abbottes of Unreason, Queenis of May beis chosen out with Burgh and uther Landward Townes, the chusers sall pay to our Soveraine Ladie, ten Pounds and their persones put in ward, there to remaine during the Queenis Grace pleasure." Her Majesty's advisers likewise objected to singing women, and enacted " gif onie Women or others about summer trees sing and makis perturbation to the Queenis Lieges in the passage through Burrowes and others Landwarde Townes, the women pcrturbationers for skafrie of money, or

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otherwise, sall be taken, handled and put upon the cuckstoles of everie burgh or towne." In 1579 James VI., following in the track of that " bright occidental star, Queen Elizabeth," declared by act of parliament that "all idle persons, ganging about in any country of the Realme, using subtil craftie and unlawful playes " should be considered and punished as vagabonds. In 1574 the General Assembly considered itself the proper authority to look after theatres, and so enacted that " na clerk playes, comedies or tragedies be maid of the Canonicall Scriptures, as well new as auld, on Sabboth day nor wark day; and that all profaine playes as are not maid upon authentick pairtes of Scripture," should be considered before they were publicly exhibited, and that they should not be allowed at all upon Sunday.