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The GLOBE on the BANCKE SIDE, where SHAKSPERE acted.

From the long Antwerp View of London in the PEPYSIAN LIBRARY.

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With the drawing from which this Cut was made, I was favoured by the Reverend Mr. Henley.

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THE

LICENCE for ACTING,

Granted by JAMES the First to the Company at the Globe, Extracted from RYMER'S Fadera,

PRO LAURENTIO FLETCHER & WILLIELMO SHAKSPERE & aliis.

A. D. 1603. Pat*.

1 Jac. P. 2. m. 4. JAMES by the grace of God &c. to all justices, maiors, sheriffs, constablss, headboroughs,

*

Among the unpublished collections of Rymer, which are now in the British Museum, is the following patent granted in the 16th year of Q. Elizabeth, (viz. 1574). See MSS. Rymer, vol. i. The James Burbage mentioned therein was in all probability father to Richard Burbage the contemporary of Shakspere, and chief performer in his plays. I have printed it, because perhaps it is the first regular licence ever granted to players.

"Pro Jacobo Burbage et aliis, de licentia speciali.

Elizabeth by the grace of God, quene of England, &c. To all justices, mayors, sheriffes, baylyffes, head constables, under constables, and all other oure officers and mynisters, gretinge,

Kuow

boroughs, and other our officers and loving subjects, greeting. Know you that wee, of our special grace, certaine knowledge and meer motion, have licensed and authorised, and by these presentes doe licence and authorize theise our servaunts Laurence Fletcher, William Shakspere, Richard Burbage, Augustine Phillipes, John Heminge, Henrie Condell, William Sly,

Know ye, that we of our especiall grace, certen knowledge, and mere motion, have lycensed and auctorised, and by these presents do lycence and auctorise oure lovinge subjectes James Burbage, John Perkyn, John Lanham, William Johnson, and Robert Wilson, servaunts to our trustie and well beloved cosen and counseyllour the Earle of Leycester, to use, exercyse and occupie the arte and facultye of playenge commedies, tragedies, enterludes, stage playes, and suche other like as they have alredie used and studied, or hereafter shall use and studie, as well for the recreation of oure lovinge subjectes as for oure solace and pleasure when we shall thinke good to see them, as also to use and occupie all suche instruments as they have alredie practised or hereafter shall practise for and duringe our pleasure; and the said commedies, tragedies, enterJudes, and stage-plaies, together with their musicke, to shew, publishe, exercise and occupie to their best commoditie, during all the terme aforesaid, as well within the liberties and free domes of anye our cities, townes, bouroughs, &c. whatsoever, as without the same thoroughoute oure realme of England. Wyllinge and commaundings yowe and every of you as ye tender oure pleasure to permitt and suffer them herein withoute anye lettes, hynderaunce

Sly, Robert Armin, Richard Cowly, and the rest of their associates, freely to use and exercise the arte and faculty of playing comedies, tragedies, histories, interludes, morals, pastorals, stage-plaies, and such like others as theie have alreadie studied or hereafter shall use or studie, as well for the recreation of our lovinge subjects, as well as for our solace and pleasure, when we shall thincke good to see them, during our pleasure: and the said comedies, tragedies, histories, enterludes, morals, pastorals, stage-plaies, and such like, to shew and exercise publiquely to their best commoditie, when the infection of the plague shall decrease, as well within theire nowe usuall house called the Globe, within our county of Surrey, as also within anie toune halls or moute halls, or other

hynderaunce or molestation duringe the terme aforesaid, any acte, statute, or proclamation or commaundement heretofore made or hereafter to be made notwythstandynge; provyded that the saide commedies, tragedies, enterludes and stage-playes be by the master of our revells for the tyme beyinge before sene and allowed; and that the same be not published or shewen in the tyme of common prayer or in the tyme of greate and common plague in our saidé citye of London.

In wytness whereof, &c.

Wytness ourselfe at Westminster the 10th daye of Maye.
Per breve de privato sigillo."

Mr. Dodsley in the preface to his collection of old plays 1744, p. 21. says, that the first company of players we have any account of in history, are the children of Paul's in 1578. STEEVENS.

convenient

convenient places within the liberties and freedom of any other citie, universitie, toune, or boroughe whatsoever within our said realmes and dominions. Willing and commanding you, and everie of you, as you tender our pleasure, not onlie to permit and suffer them herein, without anie your letts, hindrances, or molestations, during our said pleasure, but also to be aiding or assistinge to them if any wrong be to them offered, and to allow them such former curtesies as hathe bene given to men of their place and quallitie; and also what further favour you shall shew to theise our servaunts for our sake, we shall take kindlie at your handes.

In witness whereof, &c.

Witness our selfe at Westminster, the nynteenth daye of Maye.

Per Breve de Privato Sigillo.

NAMES

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