[ 88 ] 



Bear-wardes, Common Players of Enterludes, and Minftrels wan- 

 dering abroad. So that we may hence conclude, the Stage 

 had not only continued its amufements, but, unawed by the puri- 

 tanical fpirit of the times, had become licentious. However, though 

 coercive meafures were thus taken by Parliament to filence the 

 Stage, it was countenanced by the court. About this time a Mafler 

 of the Revels * was placed on the eftablifhment, and under his 

 diredion a Theatre was ereded (1635) '" Werburgh-flrcet, Dublin, 

 whither were invited all the itinerant players of diftinguiflied 

 merit, who had formerly been necefTitated to flrole from booth 

 to booth in the principal towns and cities, and to wander from 

 hall to hall amongft the rural manfions of the Gentry and 

 Nobility. 



It is very probable that previous to the period now under 

 confideration, Dramatic entertainments were not numbered with 

 the elegant amufements of the court, though Mr. Chetwood 

 afferts, on the authority of a wax-chandler's bill, that Gorbuduc 

 and feveral other plays, had been performed in the Caflle of 

 Dublin during the adminiflration of Blount, Lord Mountjoy, in 

 the reign of Elizabeth \. Now, had there really been fuch 



exhibitions, 



* John Ogilby, well known by his tranilations of Homer and Virgil, was 

 the firft perfon appointed to the office of Mailer of the Revels in Ireland. 

 Under his dire£lion, and at his expenfe, the theatre in Werburgh-ftreet was 

 erefted. According to Harris this theatre coft two thoufand pounds. See 

 Wares' Works, vol. II. p. 352, where all the extraordinary viciffitudes of Ogilby 's 

 life are circumftantially related. 



t Gen. Hijl. of the Stage, page 51. 



