Your LLp: most humblie bownden and daylie Orators,
her Maiesties poore Players.
[Endorsed] Queens Players their Petition.
(2) (a)
It may please your good Lp.
The orders in London whereunto the players referr them are misconceaued, as may appeare by the two actes of comon Counsell which I send yow with note
directing to the place.
The first of these actes of Comon counsell was made in the maraltie of Hawes xvijo Regine, and sheweth a maner how plaies were to be tollerated and vsed, althoughe it were rather wished that they were wholly discontinued for the causes appearing in the preamble; which is for that reason somewhat the longer.
Where the players reporte the order to be that they shold not play till after seruice time, the boke [‘fo. 8o’ added in margin] is otherwise; for it is that they shal not onely not play in seruice time, but also shal not receue any in seruice time to se the same; for thoughe they did forbeare beginning to play till seruice were done, yet all the time of seruice they did take in people; which was the great mischef in withdrawing the people from seruice.