ENGLISH COMEDIANS IN THE NETHERLANDS.

(Vol. ii., pp. 184. 459.; Vol. iii., p. 21.)

From the following extract from the Thes. Rek. (Treasury Accounts) of Utrecht, it appears that English actors performed there:

"Schenkelwyn, 31 July, 1597. Sekere Engelsche Comedianten, voor hore speelen op ten Stadhuyse, 8 q. Fransche wyns."—(To certain English Comedians, for their playing at the town-hall, eight quarts of French wine.)

In the Gerechtsdagboecken (Minutes of the Council) of Leyden appear several requests of English comedians to perform there in 1614; these I hope soon to have in hand. I can now give the decision of the Council on the request of the Englishman W. Pedel:

"Op te Requeste daerby den voorn. Willem Pedel, versochte aen die van de Gerechte der stadt Leyden omme te mogen speelen verscheyde fraeye ende eerlicke spelen mettet lichaem, sonder eenige woorden te gebruycken, stont geappostileert: Die van de Gerechte deser stadt Leyden hebben voor zoe veel in hem es, den thoonder toegelaten ende geconsenteert, laten toe ende consenteren mits desen binnen dezer stede inde Kercke vant Bagynhoff te mogen spelen voor de gemeente ende syne speelen verthoonen, mits dat hy hem daervan zalt onthouden geduyrende tdoen van de predicatien van Gods woorts, en dat de arme Weesen alhier zullen genieten de gerechte helfte van de incomende proffyten, en dat zulex int geheel zullen werden ontfangen en gecollecteert by een persoon daertoe bij Mren van de Arme Weesen te stellen ende committeeren.

"Aldus gedaen op ten xviij Nov. 1608."

(Translation.)

On the request by which the aforesaid W. Pedel petitioned the authorities of the city of Leyden to allow him to exhibit various beautiful and chaste performances with his body, without using any words, was determined: The authorities of this city of Leyden have consented and allowed the exhibitor to perform in the church of the Bagynhoff within this city, provided he cease during the preaching of God's word, and that the poor orphans here have half the profits, and that they be received and collected by a person appointed by the masters of the poor orphans.

Done on the 18th November, 1608.

In 1656 English comedians came to Dordrecht, but were soon obliged to withdraw. About 1600 some appeared in Germany, who considerably diminished the taste for biblical and moral pieces. See Dr. Schotel, Blik in de Gesch. v.h. tooneel.; Gervinus, Neuere Geschichte der poetischen Nationalliteratur der Deutschen, vol. iii. pp. 96-100.—From the Navorscher.

W. D. V.