even earlier. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF BLACKFRIARS 69 
Certainly they were used as actors within seven 
ears of our first known notice concerning Banester’s connection 
y S 
with them.* 
Henry VII employed them at the Christmas festiv- 
ities of 1490 in a pageant of pantomime and song,” and apparently 
at other times during his reign in pageant presentations.’ 
Henry 
VIII frequently employed them in the presentation of plays,* as 
did also Edward VI. 
mm acting. See J. P. Collier, op. 
cit., *I, 33; *I, 40; Thomas Warton, 
Op.) ctt.; III, 132. 
Supra, 62°; infra, 69°. 
*See Brit. Mus., Harl. MS. No. 
69, under “The tenth Chapter of 
the disportes,’ &c., fol. 34b. It is 
there declared that the boys, dressed 
as mermaids in this song and pan- 
tomime, were the Children of the 
Chapel. All eight were used,—the 
full number at that time kept. 
On use of the Men of the Chapel 
as actors at this period, see extracts 
from the Household Book of Henry 
Pim | J.P. Collier, op. cit., “1, 
44ff; *I, 50ff. 
®This conclusion is based solely 
on the preceding evidence and the 
fact that the Household Book of 
Henry VII (u. s., 69°), shows pay- 
ments for these pageants to Wil- 
liam Cornish, then Master of the 
Children, successor to Banester. 
“See extracts from The Kynges 
Boke of payments during the first 
twelve years of Henry VIII, in Col- 
lier, op. cit. (1879), I, 76-79, from 
which are taken the first four no- 
tices here quoted :— 
8 H. VIII.—Jan. 4. To Mr. Cor- 
nisshe and the children of the chap- 
ell that played affore the king, 6/. 
13s. 4d. 
10 H:. VIII.—Jan. 2. To Mr. 
Cornishe, for playing affore the 
king opon newyeres day at nyght 
with the children of the kings chap- 
ell, 6/. 135. 4d. 
11 H. VIII—Jan. 6. To Mr. 
Cornisshe, for playing afore the 
king this Cristemas with his chil- 
dren, 61. 13s. 4d. 
12 H. VIII.—Jan. 6. To master 
Cornisshe for his play, 6/. 13 5. 4d. 
The boys taken up for Paul’s, Windsor, 
_ The following additional notices 
indicate Henry VIII employed the 
Children extensively as _ actors 
throughout his reign :— 
The Interlud was callyd the 
tryumpe of Love and Bewte, and 
yt was wryten and presentyd by 
Mayster Cornyshe and oothers of 
the Chappell of our soverayne lord 
the Kyng, and the chyldern of the 
sayd Chapell, &c.—From a roll of 
the items of the Revels, Christmas, 
1514+[15], in Collier, op. cit., I, 69. 
Item, to Maister Crane, for play- 
ing before the King with the Chil- 
dren of the Chapell, in rewarde 
SOY, Pea AER ae xij’ vj* viij* 
—From the Household Book of 
Henry VIII, in the Trevelyan Pa- 
pers (ed. Collier, for The Camden 
Society, 1857), 146. Under date of 
New Year’s day, 1529. 
Item, to Mr. Crane for playing be- 
fore the King with the Children of 
the Chappell, in reward vj" xiij* iiij4 
—Idem, 161. Under date of New 
Year’s day, 1530. 
Item to M* Crane, for playing 
before the Kinges grace, with the 
childerne of the Kinges chapell... 
EWialn aut asta Mateos ie Vie enya 
—Idem, 174. Under date of New 
Year’s day, 1531. 
30 Henry VIII.—Dec. 30. Itm 
to the children of the chapell by 
way of the King’s rewarde, 6/. 13s. 
4d.—J. P. Collier, op. cit., I, 116, 
from the King’s Books of Payments. 
31 Henry VIII.—Jan. 1. Itm to 
Mr. Crane, for playing before the 
King with the children, 6/. 13 s. 4d. 
—Idem, 117. 
*TItem, to Richard Bowre, for 
playing before the King’s majestie 
183 
