"Item, My lorde useth and accustomyth to gyf every of the iiij Parsones that his lordschip admyted as his Players to com to his lordship yerly at Cristynmes ande at all other such tymes as his lordship shall comande them for playing of Playe and Interludes affor his lordship in his lordshipis hous for every of their fees for an hole yere...."
Ibid. p. [351].
"Item, to be payd ... for rewards to Players for Playes playd in Christynmas by Stranegeres in my house after xxd.[1160] every play, by estimacion somme-xxxiijs. iiij.[1161]."
Sect. i. p. 22.
"Item, My Lorde usith, and accustometh to gif yerely when his Lordshipp is at home, to every erlis Players that comes to his Lordshipe betwixt Cristynmas ande Candelmas, if he be his special Lorde & Frende & Kynsman—xxs."
Sect. xliiii. p. 340.
"Item, My Lorde usith and accustomyth to gyf yerely, when his Lordship is at home to every Lordis Players, that comyth to his Lordshipe betwixt Crystynmas and Candilmas—xs."
Ibid.
The reader will observe the great difference in the rewards here given to such players as were retainers of noble personages and such as are stiled strangers, or, as we may suppose, only strolers.
The profession of a common player was about this time held by some in low estimation. In an old satire intitled Cock Lorreles Bote[1162] the author, enumerating the most common trades or callings, as "carpenters, coopers, joyners," &c., mentions—