rtly after this they returned to Paris.

[Footnote 713: Stopes, _op. cit._, p. 98, Chalmers, _Apology_, p.
509.]

V

DAVENANT'S PROJECTED THEATRE IN FLEET STREET

On March 26, 1639, William Davenant, who had succeeded Ben Jonson as
Poet Laureate, secured from King Charles a royal patent under the
Great Seal of England to erect a playhouse in Fleet Street, to be used
not only for regular plays, but also for "musical entertainments" and
"scenic representations." Davenant, as we know, was especially
interested in "the art of perspective in scenes," and also in the
Italian _opera musicale_. The royal patent--unusually verbose even for
a patent--is printed in full in Rymer's _Foedera_, XX, 377; I cite
below all the essential passages:

[_The Building._] Know ye, that we, of our especial grace,
certain knowledge, and meere motion, and upon the humble
petition of our servant William Davenant, gentleman, have
given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs,
and successors, do give and grant unto the said William
Davenant, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns,
full power, license, and authority ... to frame, new-build,
and set up ... a Theatre or Playhouse, with necessary tiring
and retiring rooms, and other places convenient, containing
in the whole forty yards square at the most,[714] wherein
plays, musical entertainments, scenes, or other like
presentments may be presented ... so as the outwalls of the
said Theatre or Playhouse, tiring or retiring rooms, be made
or built of brick or stone, according to the tenor of our
proclamations in that behalf.

[_Its Location._] Upon a parcel of ground lying near unto or
behind the Three Kings Ordinary in Fleet Street, in the
parishes of Saint Dunstan's in the West, London, or in Saint
Bride's, London, or in either of them; or in any other
ground in or about that place, or in the whole street
aforesaid, already allotted to him for that use, or in any
other place that is or hereafter shall be assigned or
allotted out to the said William Davenant by our right
trusty and right well-beloved cousin and counsellor Thomas,
Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Earl Marshall of England, or any
other of our commissioners for building for that time being
in that behalf.

[_Its Uses._] And we do hereby, for us, our heirs, and
s