THE GLOBE, ROSE, AND HOPE, THEATRES.

HISTORY OF THE THEATRES, SECTION 4-We have now arrived at an epoch when the establishment of regular Theatres can be distinctly traced. The puritan Stubbes, in his "Anatomie of Abuses," 1583, thus quaintly reprobates them :- "Marke the flocking and running to Theatres and Curtens, daylie and hourlie, night and daye, tyme and tyde, to see Playes and Enterludes; where such wanton gestures, such bandie speaches, such laughing and fleering, such kissing and bussing, such clipping and culling, such winkinge and glancinge of wanton eyes, and the like, is used, as is woonderful to behold."

Between this period and 1592, when Shakspeare commenced dramatic writer, there existed no less than eleven Theatres in London, though probably they never were all open at one time. They were

The first two stood in Curtain Road, Shoreditch. Stowe, in his Survey of London, says "there was formerly in this

neighbourhood a famous well called Holy-Well, and a very antient building, called The Priory of St. John the Baptist, which being pulled down on the suppression of Monasteries, &c. in the reign of Henry 8th., many houses were erected there, for the lodging of noblemen; and near thereunto are builded two public houses for acting Comedies, Tragedies, and Histories, whereof the one is called the CURTAIN, the other the THEATRE, both standing on the southwest side towards the fields." We believe no stage-historian has before correctly pointed out the situation of the latter house, aboutwhich there have been many discussions. Malone confesses that he was unable to ascertain its situation; Dr. Drake, in his

Shakspeare and his Times," without the slightest authority, supposes it to have been in Blackfriars; Mr. Haslewood, in the "Censura Literaria," suggests that it might have been in Shoe Lane; and Mr. Chalmers, still farther from the mark, asserts that it stood at Newington Butts. It is very remarkable that the above quotation from Stowe, which completely decides the question, should

Holywell Lane still exists.

THE NIC-NAC.

have escaped the notice of all these gentlemen.

"The 3d 4th and 5th of the Thea-
tres in the preceding list, are repre-
sented in the above cut, copied from
the "View of London as it appeared
in 1599." They occupy the same spot
of ground as the Amphitheatres shewn
in our preceding prints. The GLOBE,
which was converted from a Bear-
Garden into a Theatre about the year
1590, stood nearly opposite the end
of Queen Street, Cheapside, and was
an hexagonal wooden building, partly
open at the top, and partly thatched
with reeds. The performances took
place by daylight, and during the
time of playing, a flag was displayed
on the roof of this and other theatres,
as represented in the accompanying
view. About 1595, the proprietors,
of whom Shakspeare became subse-
quently one, had the old edifice pulled
down, and a more commodious The
atre erected, the contract for building
which is still in existence, and is
printed in Malone's History of the
Stage. On St. Peter's day, June 29,
1813, the new house was entirely de-
stroyed by fire, which arose as fol-
lows:-The players were representing
Shakspeare's Henry the 8th. and on
the King's entrance to the Masque-
rade, some cannon were discharged,
the wadding from which fired the
thatch. In the following year it was
rebuilt with more splendour than it
before could boast, which event was
celebrated by Taylor, the Water Poet,
in the following epigram :—

"As gold is better that's in fire tried,
So is the Bankside GLOBE, that late was
burn'd;

For where before it had a thatched hide,
Now to a stately Theatre 'tis turn'd:
Which is an emblem that great things

are won

Our cut represents the Theatre previous to the conflagration. Performances were probably continued here till 1642, when the puritanical · Parliament issued an order for suppressing all Plays. Its site is now occupied by Barclay and Perkins's brew

Thrale, Mrs. Piozzi's first husband. It is well known that a close intimacy existed between Thrale and Dr. Johnson, and hence the Doctor was accustomed to pass much of his time here, and at Thrale's house at Streatham. It is certainly remarkable that, at two periods of time so distant as the reigns of Elizabeth and George the 3d. the very same spot should have been honoured with the constant visits of two men so eminent in English literature as Shakspeare and his greatest commentator. Pennant, in his- Account of London, 4to. 1791, says “I-have been told that the door of the GLOBE was lately standing."

this building was originally, devoted THE HOPE. The purposes to which have been described in our former Sections. It was converted from a Bear-Garden into a Theatre towards the close of the 16th century, but was shut up, with all others, by order of Parliament, in 1642. Being included in the sale of Church Lands, January 14,1647,it produced 17831.15s. and was probably soon afterwards demolished.

THE ROSE was built before 1598, being mentioned by Taylor, the Water Poet, in his suit concerning the players published in that year. The Proprie tor was one Philip Henslowe, and the performers, among other titles, were called The Lord Admiral's Servants; the whole of Marlowe's dramas were played here. In 1613 the house was shut up, and never again opened as a theatre. The exact period of its destruction is unknown. It stood near to the water side, and its site still retains, or did till very recently retain, the name of Rose Alley. Our cut will give the reader a very clear idea of the relative situations of these three Theatres. The building on the right is the GLOBE, that in the centre is the ROSE, and that on the left, the HOPE. The road from the Southwark Bridge intersects the sites of the GLOBE and

HOPE. (Resumed on page 213.)

Enteresting Varieties.

BURNS.

ery, formerly the property of Mr. SIR,-The following two pieces from

NO TREASON.-A French officer was arrested for using seditious expressions. On his examination he was asked, "Did you not say that a new Prince was about to mount the throne?"- "Yes, I did." And did you not, by this false intelligence, stir up and inflame the people?"-" By ǹo means; on the contrary, they all seemed to be perfectly contented,"

BULL.-An Irish gentleman had a small cabinet of paintings, which several persons once applied to view at the same time. "Faith, gentlemen," said he, if you all go in, it won't hold you."

66

don, he can sing The Storm! let him do so, and I shall be convinced of my error." Incledon now perceiving the drift of the joke, without farther preface, addressing himself to Cooke, struck up "Cease rude Boreas," and having gone through the ditty, the party left him once more to his repose.

ANACHRONISM.-During Young's engagement at Bath in the winter of 1820-21, "Henry 8th" was revived, to exhibit him in the character of Wolsey. The representative of one of the Bishops, faneying, I suppose, that snuff-taking was a distinguishing characteristic of the character he personated, indulged his nose freely throughout the play, forgetting that the scene was laid at a period of nearly fifty years before tobacco was ever brought to England.

A

FRENCH REVENGE.-A Frenchman
lately visited London, and took up his
residence with a family in the neigh-
bourhood of Brunswick Squaré.
few evenings after his arrival, he rode
on horseback along the New Road;
and, on reaching the Turnpike at Bat-
the Bridge, was stopped by the gate
keeper, who demanded from him a toll
of one penny. Monsieur, not compre

remonstrated strongly against it, and
for some time refused to submit; but,
at length, finding his eloquence was of
no avail, he threw down the penny in
in a passion, exclaiming vehemently,
"Dere is your monie, sare; and, to
ponish you, I vil not come through
your pike again dis day!”

COOKE was one evening very merry at a tavern, when Incledon, coming in, was requested by the tragic hero to sing "The Storm," but it being late, he refused, and retired to bed. Irri-hending the meaning of this exaction, tated at this, Cooke determined to be revenged, and after musing for a few minutes, asked the masters and waiters if they knew the man who had just been sitting in the same box with him. They replied, it was Mr. Incledon. "No such thing," exclaimed Cooke, "tis some vile impostor, for he has stolen my watch and notes, and I insist for an officer being sent for, that we may search him." Remonstrance was fruitless, so at length the guardian of the night was summoned, and they all ascended to Incledon's chamber, with Cooke at their head. Charley, roused from his first sleep, asked what they wanted, Cooke insisted that he was the man who had the NOTES; at the same time observing "If 'tis really Incle

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

RECEIVED.-Edward, J. K., Curiosus (April 1 and 30), T. V., AbbasA letter for Clio lies at tanza, and Jue. the printer's. Some of the lines quoted by W. S. are not sufficiently familiar, but the idea is excellent.

ERRATA.-Page 142, col. 2, line 2, add and Lord B.'s amongst the num¬ ber." Page 183, column 1, line 16, for "both," read "most."

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ORACLE OF KNOWLEDGE.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL, 1560. THIS cut is accurately copied from a valuable plate, representing the Southern aspect of the old Cathedral Church of St. Paul, as it appeared previous to the destruction of the spire by lightning in the year 1561.