n
Morley's "English Plays," from which it also appears that "Queen
Mary's expenditure on players and musicians had been between two and
three thousand pounds a year in salaries. Elizabeth reduced this
establishment, but still paid salaries to interlude players and
musicians, to a keeper of bears and mastiffs, as well as to the
gentlemen and children of the chapel. The Master of the Children had a
salary of forty pounds a year; the children had largesse at high
feasts, and when additional use was made of their services; and each
Gentleman of the Chapel had nineteenpence a day, with board and
clothing. The Master of the Chapel who at this time had the training
of the children was Richard Edwards, who had written lighter pieces
for them to act before her Majesty, and now applied his skill to the
writing of English comedies, and teaching his boys to act them for the
pleasure of the Queen. The new form of entertainment made its way at
Court and through the country."

[Illustration: THE FOOL OF THE OLD PLAY.
(_From a Print by Breughel._)]

At this period

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS AT THE INNS OF COURT

were observed with much zest and jollity. Sandys (writing in 1833 of
Elizabeth's time) says:--

"The order of the usual Christmas amusements at the Inns of Court at
this period would cause some curious scenes if carried into effect in
the present day. Barristers singing and dancing before the judges,
serjeants and benchers, would 'draw a house' if spectators were
admitted. Of so serious import was this dancing considered, that by an
order in Lincoln's Inn of February, 7th James I., the under barristers
were by decimation put out of commons because the whole bar offended
by not dancing on Candlemas Day preceding, according to the ancient
order of the society, when the judges were present; with a threat that
if the fault were repeated, they should be fined or disbarred."

Sir William Dugdale makes the following reference to

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS OF THE INNER TEMPLE:--

"First, the solemn Revells (after dinner, and the play ended,) are
begun by the whole House, Judges, Sergeants at Law, Benchers; the
Utter and Inner Barr; and they led by the _Master of the Revells_: and
one of the Gentlemen of the Utter Barr are chosen to sing a song to
the Judges, Serjeants, or Masters of the Bench; which is usually
performed; and in default thereof, there may be an amerciament. Then
the Judges and Benchers take their places, and sit do