uccessors, grant to the said William Davenant, his heirs,
executors, administrators, and assigns, that it shall and
may be lawful to and for him, the said William Davenant, his
heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, from time to
time to gather together, entertain, govern, privilege, and
keep, such and so many players and persons, to exercise
action, musical presentments, scenes, dancing, and the like,
as he, the said William Davenant, his heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns shall think fit and approve for
the said house; and such persons to permit and continue at
and during the pleasure of the said William Davenant, his
heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, from time to
time to act plays in such house so to be by him or them
erected; and exercise music, musical presentments, scenes,
dancing, or other the like, at the same, or other, hours, or
times, or after plays are ended,[715] peaceably and quietly,
without the impeachment or impediment of any person or
persons whatsoever, for the honest recreation of such as
shall desire to see the same. And that it shall and may be
lawful to and for the said William Davenant, his heirs,
executors, administrators, and assigns, to take and receive
of such our subjects as shall resort to see or hear any such
plays, scenes, and entertainments whatsoever, such sum or
sums of money as is, are, or hereafter from time to time
shall be accustomed to be given or taken in other playhouses
and places for the like plays, scenes, presentments, and
entertainments.

[Footnote 714: The Fortune was only eighty feet square, but the stage
projected to the middle of the yard. Davenant probably wished to
provide for an alcove stage of sufficient depth to accommodate his
"scenes."]

[Footnote 715: That is, he may give his "musical presentments," etc.,
either at the hours when he was accustomed to give plays, or after his
plays are ended. This does not necessarily imply evening
entertainments.]

The novelty of the scheme and the great size of the proposed building
must have alarmed the owners of playhouses. That the established
theatrical proprietors were hostile is clearly indicated by the
attitude of Richard Heton, one of the Sewers of the Chamber to Queen
Henrietta, and at the time manager of the Salisbury Court Playhouse.
In September, 1639,