1699.

times, indeed, they have been prohibited for a season: as in times of Lent, general mourning, or public calamities; or upon other occasions when the Government saw fit. Thus by Proclamation, 7th of April [1559], 1 Eliz., plays and interludes were forbidden till Allhallowtide [1 November] next following. HOLINSHED, p. 1184.

Some statutes have been made for their regulation or reformation, not general suppression. By the statute 39 Eliz. c. 4, which was made for the suppression of Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdy Beggars, it is enacted, s. 2:

That all persons that be, or utter themselves to be Proctors; Procurers; Patent gatherers or Collectors for Coals, Prisons, or Hospitals; or Fencers; Bearwards; common Players of Interludes, and Minstrels wandering abroad (other than Players of Interludes belonging to any Baron of this realm or any other honourable Personage of greater degree, to be authorised to play under the hand and seal of arms of such Baron or Personage); all Jugglers, Tinkers, Pedlers, and Petty Chapmen wandering abroad; &c., able in body, using loitering, and refusing to work for such reasonable wages as is commonly given, &c. These shall be adjudged and deemed Rogues, Vagabonds, and sturdy Beggars ; and punished as such.

Lovewit. But this privilege of authorising or licensing is taken away by the statute I Fac. I. c. 7 s. 1; and therefore all of them (as Mr. JEREMY] COLLIER says, p. 242) are expressly brought under the foresaid penalty, without distinction.

Truman. If he means all Players without distinction, it is a great mistake. For the force of the Queen's statute extends only to "wandering Players," and not to such as are the "King's" or "Queen's Servants," established in settled Houses by Royal Authority.

On such, the ill character of vagrant players or (as they are now called) Strollers, can cast no more aspersion than the "wandering Proctors," in the same statute mentioned, on those of Doctor's Commons.

By a statute made 3 Jac. I. c. 21, it was enacted That if any person shall in any Stage play, Interlude, Show, Maygame, or Pageantry jestingly or profanely speak or use the holy name of GOD, JESUS CHRIST, the HOLY GHOST, or of the TRINITY, he shall forfeit for every such offence £10.

The statute of I Car. I. c. I enacts That no meetings, assemblies, or concourse of people shall be out of their own parishes on the Lord's Day, for any sports or pastimes whatsoever; nor any bearbaiting, bullbaiting, interludes, common plays, or other unlawful exercises and pastimes used by any person or persons within their own parishes.

These are all the statutes that I can think of relating to the Stage and Players. But nothing to suppress them totally, till the two Ordinances of the Long Parliament; one of the 22nd of October 1647, the other of the 11th of February 1647-8]. By which all Stage Plays and Interludes are absolutely forbidden; the stages, seats, galleries, &c., to be pulled down. All players, though calling themselves the "King's or "Queen's Servants," if convicted of acting within two months before such conviction, to be punished as Rogues, according to law. The money received by them, to go to the poor of the parish; and every spectator to pay five shillings to the use of the poor.

Also Cockfighting was prohibited by one of OLIVER'S Acts, of 31st March 1654: but I suppose nobody pretends these things to be laws [!].

I could say more on this subject, but I must break off here, and leave you, LOVEWIT. My occasions require it. Lovewit. Farewell, old Cavalier!

Truman. 'Tis properly said! We are almost all of us now, gone and forgotten.

ANDREW MARVELL, M. P.

Bermudas.

HERE the remote Bermudas ride
In th'ocean's bosom unespied;

[Miscellanies, 1681.]

From a small boat, that rowed along,
The listening winds received this song.

"What should we do, but sing His praise! That led us through the watery maze Unto an isle so long unknown,

And yet far kinder than our own.

Where He, the huge sea monsters wracks, That lift the deep upon their backs;

He lands us on a grassy stage,

Safe from the storms' and prelates' rage.
He gave us this eternal spring,
Which here enamels everything;
And sends the fowls to us in care,
On daily visits through the air.

He hangs in shades, the orange bright,
Like golden lamps in a green night;
And does in the pomegranates 'close,
Jewels more rich than Ormuz shows.

He makes the figs, our mouths to meet,
And throws the melons at our feet;

But 'apples, plants of such a price!
No tree could ever bear them twice.
With cedars chosen by His hand
From Lebanon, He stores the land:
And makes the hollow seas, that roar,
Proclaim the ambergris on shore.

He cast (of which we rather boast)
The Gospel's Pearl upon our coast:
And in these rocks, for us did frame
A temple, where to sound His name.
O let our voice His praise exalt,
Till it arrive at heaven's vault!
Which thence (perhaps) rebounding, may
Echo beyond the Mexic Bay."

Captain JOHN SMITH.

Јони

The present state of New England.

[i.e., in 1624].

[General History of Virginia. 1626]

It may be useful to give in full, the Account of SMITH, which is abridged by PRINCE, at p. 465; as it is the best description that has come down to us, of that voluntary Asssociation of Puritan sympathisers in England, who, at first, backed up the Pilgrim Fathers, and then threw them over; and who are referred to by PRINCE (at and from p. 437), as the Adventurers, in contradistinction to the Planters of New Plymouth.

T New Plymouth there are about one hundred and eight persons; some cattle and goats, but many swine and poultry; thirty-two dwelling houses, whereof seven were burnt the last winter: and the value of £500 [= about £2,000 in present value] in other goods. The town is impaled about half a mile in compass. In the town, upon a high mount, they have a fort, well built with wood, loam, and stone; where is planted their ordnance, also a fair watchtower, partly framed, for the sentinel. The place it seems is healthful: for in these last three years, notwithstanding their great want of most necessaries: there hath not one died of the First Planters. They have a Salt Work, and with that salt, preserve the fish they take; and, this year, have freighted a ship of 180 tons. The governor is one Master WILLIAM BRADFORD; their Captain, MILES STANDISH, a bred soldier in Holland; the chief men for "Assistance" are ISAAC ALLERTON and divers others, as occasion serveth. Their Preachers are Master WILLIAM BREWSTER, and Master JOHN LYFORD.

The most of them live together as one family or household; yet every man followeth his trade and profession, both by sea and land; and all for a General Stock, out of which they have all their maintenance, until there be a Divident [a Sharing]