The unfortunate Otway had no more than one benefit on the production of a new play; and this too, it seems, he was sometimes forced to mortgage, before the piece was acted." Southerne was the first dramatick writer who obtained the emoluments arising from two representations; and to Farquhar, in the year 1700, the benefit of a third "Clapp'd may he be with thunder, that plucks bays "A cram'd third day, what filth drops from his brains!" Yet the following passages intimate, that the poet at a subsequent period had some interest in the second day's exhibition: "Whether their sold scenes be dislik'd or hit, "Are cares for them who eat by the stage and wit; Prologue to The City Match, a comedy, by J.Mayne, So, in the prologue to The Sophy, by Sir John Denham, acted. at Blackfriars in 1642: 66 66 Gentlemen, if you dislike the play, Pray make no words on't till the second day "Or third be past; for we would have you know it, "For he writes not for money. In other cases, then, it may be presumed, the loss, either of the second or third day, did affect the author. Since the above was written, I have learned from Sir Henry Herbert's office-book, that between the year 1625 and 1641, benefits were on the second day of representation. 8 "But which amongst you is there to be found, "Will take his third day's pawn, for fifty pound?" Epilogue to Caius Marius, 1680. • “I must make my boast, though with the most acknow ledging respect, of the favours of the fair sex-in so visibly promoting my interest on those days chiefly, (the third and the was granted; but this appears to have been a particular favour to that gentleman; for for several years afterwards dramatick poets had only the benefit of the third and sixth performance.2 The profit of three representations did not become the established right of authors till after the year 1720.3 To the honour of Mr. Addison, it should be remembered, that he first discontinued the ancient, sixth,) when I had the tenderest relation to the welfare of my play.' Southerne's Dedication to Sir Antony Love, a comedy, 1691. Hence Pope: "May Tom, whom heaven sent down to raise "The price of prologues and of plays," &c. It should seem, however, to have been some time before this custom was uniformly established; for the author of The Treacherous Brothers, acted in 1096, had only one benefit: "See't but three days, and fill the house, the last, "He shall not trouble you again in haste." Epilogue. On the representation of The Constant Couple, which was performed fifty-three times in the year 1700. Farquhar, on account of the extraordinary success of that play, is said by one of his biographers to have been allowed by the managers the profits of four representations. "Let this play live; then we stand bravely fixt! Epilogue to The Perplex'd Lovers, 1712. In the preface to The Humours of the Army, printed in the following year, the author says, "It would be impertinent to go about to justify the play, because a prodigious full third night and a very good sixth are prevailing arguments in its behalf.' Cibber, in his Dedication to Ximena, or the Heroick Daughter, printed in 1719, talks of bad plays lingering through six nights. At that time, therefore, the poets certainly had but two benefits. but humiliating, practice of distributing tickets, and soliciting company to attend at the theatre, on the poet's nights." When an author sold his piece to the sharers or proprietors of a theatre, it could not be performed by any other company," and remained for several 4 Southerne, by this practice, is said to have gained seven hundred pounds by one play. "Whereas William Bieston, gent. governor of the kings and queenes young company of players at the Cockpit in Drury Lane, has represented unto his majesty, that the several playes hereafter mentioned, viz. Wit without Money: The NightWalkers: The Knight of the Burning Pestle: Fathers owne Sonne Cupids Revenge: The Bondman: The Renegado: A new Way to pay Debts: : The great Duke of Florence: The Maid of Honour: The Traytor: The Example: The Young Admiral: The Opportunity: A witty fayre One: Loves Cruelty: The Wedding: The Maids Revenge: The Lady of Pleasure: The Schoole of Complement: The grateful Servant: The Coronation: Hide Parke: Philip Chabot, Admiral of France: A Mad Couple well met: All's lost by Lust: The Changeling: A fayre Quarrel: The Spanish Gipsie: The World: The Sunnes Darling: Loves Sacrifice: 'Tis Pity she's a Whore: George a Greene: Loves Mistress: The Cunning Lovers: The Rape of Lucrece: A Trick to cheat the Divell: A Foole and her Maydenhead soone parted: King John and Matilda: A City Nightcap: The Bloody Banquet Cupids Revenge: The conceited Duke: and Appius and Virginia, doe all and every of them properly and of right belong to the sayd house, and consequently that they are all in his propriety. And to the end that any other companies of actors in or about London shall not presume to act any of them to the prejudice of him the sayd William Bieston and his company, his majesty hath signified his royal pleasure unto mee, thereby requiring mee to declare soe much to all other companies of actors hereby concernable, that they are not any wayes to intermeddle with or act any of the above-mentioned playes. Whereof I require all masters and governours of play-houses, and all others whom it may concerne, to take notice, and to forbeare to impeach the said William Bieston in the premises, as they tender his majesties displeasure, and will answer the contempt. Given, &c. Aug. 10, 1639." MS, in the 6 years unpublished; but, when that was not the case, he printed it for sale, to which many seem to Lord Chamberlain's office, entitled in the margin, Cockpitt playes appropried. "Sometimes, however, an author, after having sold his piece to the theatre, either published it, or suffered it to be printed; but this appears to have been considered as dishonest. See the preface to Heywood's Rape of Lucrece, 1638: "I had rather subscribe in that to their weak censure, than, by seeking to avoid the imputation of weakness, to incur a great suspicion of honesty; for though some have used a double sale of their labours, first to the stage, and after to the presse," &c. How careful the proprietors were to guard against the publication of the plays which they had purchased, appears from the following admonition, directed to the Stationers' Company in the year 1637, by Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, then Lord Chamberlain : "After my hearty commendations.-Whereas complaint was heretofore presented to my dear brother and predecessor, by his majesties servants, the players, that some of the company of printers and stationers had procured, published, and printed, diverse of their books of comedyes and tragedyes, chronicle historyes, and the like, which they had (for the special service of his majestye and for their own use) bought and provided at very dear and high rates. By means whereof, not only they themselves had much prejudice, but the books much corruption, to the injury and disgrace of the authors. And thereupon the master and wardens of the company of printers and stationers were advised by my brother to take notice thereof, and to take order for the stay of any further impression of any of the playes or interludes of his majesties servants without their consents; which being a caution given with such respect, and grounded on such weighty reasons, both for his majesties service and the particular interest of the players, and soe agreeable to common justice and that indifferent measure which every man would look for in his own particular, it might have been presumed that they would have needed no further order or direction in the business, notwithstanding which, I am informed that some copies of playes belonging to the king and queenes servants, the players, and purchased by them at dear rates, having been lately stollen or gotten from them by indirect means, are now attempted to be printed; which, if it should be suffered, would directly tend to 7 have been induced from an apprehension that an imperfect copy might be issued from the press without their consent. The customary price of the copy of a play, in the time of Shakspeare, appears to have been twenty nobles, or six pounds their apparent detriment and prejudice, and to the disenabling them to do their majesties service: for prevention and redresse whereof, it is desired that order be given and entered by the master and wardens of the company of printers and stationers, that if any playes be already entered, or shall hereafter be brought unto the hall to be entered for printing, that notice thereof be given to the king and queenes servants, the players, and an enquiry made of them to whom they do belong; and that none bee suffered to be printed untill the assent of their majesties' said servants be made appear to the Master and Wardens of the company of printers and stationers, by some certificate in writing under the hands of John Lowen, and Joseph Taylor, for the kings servants, and of Christopher Beeston for the king and queenes young company, or of such other persons as shall from time to time have the direction of these companies; which is a course that can be hurtfull unto none but such as are about unjustly to peravayle themselves of others' goods, without respect of order or good government; which I am confident you' will be careful to avoyd, and therefore I recommend it to your special care. And if you shall have need of any further authority or power either from his majestye or the counsell-table, the better to enable you in the execution thereof, upon notice given to mee either by yourselves or the players, I will endeavour to apply that further remedy thereto, which shall be requisite. And soe I bidd you very heartily farewell, and rest « Your very loving friend, " June 10, 1637. P. and M. "To the Master and Wardens of the Company of Printers and Stationers." 7" One only thing affects me; to think, that scenes invented merely to be spoken, should be inforcively published to be read; and that the least hurt I can receive, is, to do myself the wrong. But since others otherwise would do me more, the least in2 convenience is to be accepted: I have therefore myself set forth this comedie." Marston's preface to The Malecontent, 1604. |