Note 708 — VII THE COURT PLAY

The Westminster accounts of 1564-5 (Murray, ii. 168) include 'at yᵉ rehersing before Sir Thomas Benger for pinnes and sugar candee viᵈ' and 'the second tyme att the playing of Heautonti, for pinnes halfe a thousand viᵈ', but there is nothing to suggest that any play but Miles Gloriosus was given before the Queen. The Revels Accounts (Feuillerat, Eliz. 145, 176, 179, 238, 277, 325, &c.) have (1571-2), 'playes ... chosen owte of many and ffownde to be the best that then were to be had, the same also being often pervsed, & necessarely corrected & amended (by all thafforesaide officers)'; (1572-3), 'muzitians that plaide at the proof of Duttons play' ... 'rushes in the hall & in the greate chambere where the workes were doone & the playes rezited'; (1574-5) 'at Wynsor ... for peruzing and reformyng of Farrantes playe' ... 'wheare my Lord of Leicesters menne showed theier matter of Panecia' ... 'where my Lord Clyntons players rehearsed a matter called Pretestus', &c.; (1576-7), 'To Whitehall and back againe to recyte before my Lord Chamberleyn' ... 'to Sᵗ Johns ... for the play of Cutwell'; (1579-80) 'Thinges ... brought into the Masters Lodginge for the rehearsall of sondrie playes to make choise of dyvers of them for her maiestie', &c., &c.