Mr. Tilney to be treated for restraynte of plays.
Item yt is ordered that Sir Richard Martyn Knighte and William Horne grocer, shall treate with Tilney Esquire Maister of the Revells for some good order to be taken for the restrayning of the playes and enterludes within this citie.
lxxxviii.
[1592, March 22. Extracts from records of the Court of the Guild of Merchant Taylors of London, printed in C. M. Clode, Early History of the Guild of Merchant Taylors (1888), i. 236.]
‘A precepte directed frome the Lord Mayor to this Companie shewinge to the Companie the great enormytie that this Citie susteyneth by the practice and prophane exercise of players and playinge howses in this Citie, and the corrupcion of youth that groweth thereupon, invitinge the Companie by the consideration of this myscheyfe to yeilde to the paymente of one Anuytie to one Mr. Tylney, mayster of the Revelles of the Queene’s house, in whose hands the redresse of this inconveniency doeth rest, and that those playes might be abandoned out of this citie.’
‘An Assemblye hereon the xxijth of March (1591), beinge our Master’s view daye after they came downe frome dynner out of the Gallarie,’ took the precept into consideration and determined, ‘albeit the Companie think yt a very good service to be performed yet wayinge the damage of the president and enovacion of raysinge of Anuyties upon the Companies of London what further occasions yt may be drawne unto, together with their great chardge otherwyse which this troublesome tyme hath brought, and is likely to bringe, they thinke this no fitt course to remedie this myscheife, but wish some other waye were taken in hand to expell out of our Citye so generall a contagion of manners and other inconveniency, wherein if any endevour or travile of this Companie might further the matter they would be readye to use their service therein. And this to be certified as the Companies answere if yt shall apeare by conference with other Companies that the precepte requireth necessarilie a returne of the Companies certificate, and answere in this behalf.’
lxxxix.
[1592, June 12. Extract from a letter of Sir William Webbe, Lord Mayor, to Lord Burghley, printed M. S. C. i. 187, from Lansd. MS. 71, f. 28, and M. S. C. i. 70, from a letter-book copy misdated ‘May 30’ in Remembrancia, i. 662.]
My humble duety remembred to your good L. Beeing informed of a great disorder & tumult lyke to grow yesternight abowt viij of the clock within the Borough of Southwark, I went thither with all speed I could, taking with mee on of the Sherifes, whear I found great multitudes of people assembled togither, & the principall actours to bee certain servants of the ffeltmakers gathered togither out of Barnsey street & the Black fryers, with a great number of lose & maisterles men apt for such pourposes. Whearupon having made proclamation, & dismissed the multitude, I apprehended the chief doers and authors of the disorder, & have committed them to prison to bee farther punished, as they shall bee found to deserve. And having this morning sent for the Deputie & Constable of the Borough with Divers other of best credit, who wear thear present, to examine the cause & manner of the disorder, I found that it began vpon the serving of a warrant from my L. Chamberlain by on of the Knight Mareschalls men vpon a feltmakers servant, who was committed to the Mareschallsea with certein others, that were accused to his L. by the sayed Knight Mareschalls men without cause of offence, as them selves doe affirm. For rescuing of whome the sayed companies assembled themselves by occasion & pretence of their meeting at a play, which bysides the breach of the Sabboth day giveth opportunitie of committing these & such lyke disorders. The principall doers in this rude tumult I mean to punish to the example of others. Whearin also it may please your L. to give mee your direction, if you shall advise vpon anything meet to bee doon for the farther punishment of the sayed offenders.