The Plays and Poems of William Shakspeare Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1821 edition. Excerpt: ... Soon after the period he speaks of, a regular French theatre was established in London, where, without doubt women acted6. They had long before but in a former page (215) he says, " they have now their female players in Italy and other foreigne parts, as they had such French women actors in a play not long since personated in Blackfriers playhouse, to which there was great resort." In the margin he adds--" in Michaelmas terme, 1629." His account is confirmed by Sir Henry Herbert's Office-book, in which 1 find the following notice of this exhibition: " For the allowinge of a French company to plave a farse at Blackfryers, this 4 of November, 1639, -2/. 0*. Od." The same company attempted an exhibition both at the Red Bull and the Fortune theatres, as appears from the following entries: " For allowinge of the Frenche company] at the Red Bull for a daye, 22 Novemb. 1629, -- 21. 0s. Orf.]' " For allowinge of a Frenche companie att the Fortune to playone afternoone, this 14 Day of Decemb. 1629, --1/. Os. Od. " I should have had another peece, but in respect of their ill fortune, I was content to bestow a peece back." MS. Herbert. Prynne, in conformity to the absurd notions which have been stated in the text, inserted in his Index these words: " Women actors notorious whores: " by which he so highly offended the King and Queen, that he was tried in the Star-chamber, and sentenced to be imprisoned for life, fined 5000/. expelled Lincoln's Inn, disbarred and disqualified to practise the law, degraded of his degree in the University, to he set on the pillory, his ears cut off, and his book burnt by the common hangman, " which rigorous sentence, ' says Whitelocke, " was as rigorously executed." I quote these words as given by Dr. Burney from...