CHAPTER X 
SUMMARY OF EVIDENCES ON THE OFFICIAL SANCTION OF 
BLACKFRIARS 
THERE is abundant evidence of the official conduct of the Black- 
friars. The Diary of the Duke of Stettin declares it.1 The par- 
agraph in Evans’s Answer concerning the weekly disbursements 
and allowances by the Queen’s official shows it.? The Decree cf 
the Court of Star Chamber is based upon it. The provision for 
only the minor expense of rent and repairs, and the omission to 
mention the heavier charges of maintenance, apparel, and furni- 
ture in the 1602 agreement indicates it.* 
Even in Clifton’s Complaint, bitter with animus and Puritan- 
ism, the same comes out unintentionally. His statement that the 
Blackfriars was set up, furnished, and maintained ‘“‘under color” 
of authority is an admission of the fact, since the “color” proved 
4 
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true.° Other charges of his not yet quoted are equally clear as — 
showing the truth when the beclouding animus is blown away. 
For example, when Clifton threatened to report the managers to 
the Privy Council, they told him “to complayne to whome he 
would, & they would aunswer yt’; and also “that yf the Queene 
(meaning your highnes) would not beare them furth in that ac- 
cion [t. e., taking up and using the Boys in plays at Blackfriars], 
she (meaning lykwyse your highnes) should gett another to exe- 
cute her comission, for them.”® Furthermore, they declared 
“that they had aucthoritie sufficient soe to take any noble mans 
sonne in this land,”? and “that were it not for the benefitt they 
made by the sayd play howse, hee would should serve the Chap- 
pell w™ childeren, for them.” 
All these replies show a confident security in the Oise grants 
and permissions. 
* Supra, 106-7. Also, cf. chapter Supra, 79ff., 1017-2. 
TX, entire. : °Clifton’s Complaint in Star 
* Supra, 98-101. Chamber, G.-F., 130c. 
8 Supra, 81°-82'. "Idem, 131a. 
‘Supra, 91-92”. °Tbid; also, supra, 81°. 
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