[25] Andrew Tailer of the Dyers’ Company was thus treated in 1575.
It has been said that “no English play that has been preserved to us contains any mark of its representation by clerical actors,” but we find that as late as the sixteenth century the “clerks from the Minster,” the organist and choir boys, had no scruples about joining in the plays, and helping in those parts which required musical qualifications.
| 1561. | To Sir Jo: Jenson for songes[26] | — | xiid. |
| ” | To the five boys for singing | iis. | vid. |
| 1567. | To two of the clarkes of the Minster | — | viiid. |
| ” | To Mr. Whyte[27] | iiiis. | — |
[26] Senior Minor Canon.
[27] Organist and a very celebrated musician. It was probably due to his influence and co-operation that the Cathedral authorities joined in the preparation and plays, as appears from the Cathedral Treasurer’s accounts for 1567.
This appears to be the only time that they did so:—
| “Item paid for a brode clothe againste the Witson plais | vis. | viiid. | |
| Item for a barrell of bere to gene to the pleares to make them to drinke | vis. | — | |
| Item for packe thread at Witson daye to hange up the clothe | — | iid.” | |
| 1568. | To Mr. Rand’ Barnes[28] | iiis. | iiiid. |
| ” | To Mr. Whyte for singing | iiiis. | — |
| ” | Spent on the Chanter and Clark of the Minster | — | vd. |
| 1569. | For the Clergy for our songs | iiiis. | iid. |
[28] Organist.
But before the plays took place it was customary to send messengers on horseback and on stilts[29] to various places round the city[30] to read the “Banes” or “Banns,” announcing the performance, and Bellin has left us a copy of the “Banes,” which has been often printed, and is therefore here abbreviated. It is a curious document, for it is so extremely apologetic in tone, and notes even words in the plays which had become obsolete. The “Banes” is dated 1600, and it is possible that Bellin merely meant the date of his copying, but a careful study of it makes me suspect that there was in this year one last expiring effort made by the citizens to perform the plays, and that this “Banes” was specially written for the occasion. Although Archbishop Grindal had prohibited the plays in 1571, we know of performances up to 1576. In 1599, also, Henry Hardware, the Mayor, “was not liked by the commons,” because he tried to do away with the Midsummer show and all festivity, but we are expressly told that next year the Mayor, Robert Brerewode, “restored again all the ancient customs ... and put down Mr. Hardware,” and he may have tried to revive the plays as well as the Midsummer show. However, no trace of any performance in 1600 has yet come to light.
| [29] | “To our horses at the rydyng of the Banes | xvid. |
| “To Richard Dobie for going on the stilts at the Banes ryding” | — |