ctor of the Londina Illustrata, "I have not been able to trace, but it may easily be guessed, and is perhaps exactly pointed out in ancient leases. The parish-books of Clerkenwell t throw no light upon the subject, as they contain only documents of a recent date.

According to tradition this was the theatre at which Shakspeare held gentlemens' horses for hire, on his first arrival in London, though 'tis mere than probable that the whole story is a mere fable. During the civil wars, the house was highly celebrated for the representation of what were called Drolls, viz. selections from the comic scenes of Shakspeare, Fletcher, &e. by one Robert Cox. A collection of these, published in 1672, has a view of the interior, as a frontispiece, which is extremely curious and valuable from being the only representation extant of the internal appearance of one of our earliest theatres. A faithful copy of it embellishes this number of our work. The figures on the stage are 1. Sir John Falstaff, from which it will be seen that the knight's original costume has descended to the present day with little variation, though his obesity has been mightily increased. Fig. 2, is Dame Quickly; fig 3, Clause, from Beaumont and Fletcher's "Beggar's Bush." Fig. 4, is The French Dancing-Master, from the Duke of Newcastle's comedy called "Variety;" and Figs. 5 and 6, are the Changeling and the Simpleton, from pieces written by Cox himself. The figure coming from behind the curtain, with a label from his mouth, represents Green, a celebrated comedian of the time, who in a comedy written by one Cooke, having to represent a character called Bubble, who to every compliment, replies Tu Quoque," played it with so much ability, that the author out of gratitude named his piece after him, and it has ever since been called

In the latter end of 1659, some months before the restoration of Charles the Second, the theatres began to revive, and several plays were acted at the Red Bull in that and the following year, previous to the king's arrival. The performers, who afterwards were called The King's Ser vants, and of whom the present DruryLane Company may be looked upon as the legitimate descendants, continued to play here until 1660, when they removed to a house in Gibbon's Ten nis-court, Vere Street, Clare-market. We shall resume our account of their operations at the proper period. As no mention of any performances at the Red Bull, after this period occurs, it is to be presumed that it was either converted to some other purpose, or suffered to fall gradually into decay, A passage, indeed, in the Preface to the collection of Drolls, above-de scribed, scems to shew that it even then (1672) had ceased to exist; the writer says, "I have seen the Red Bull playhouse (which was a large one) so full, that as many went back for want of room, as had entered." This, however, may perhaps be thought to prove no more than that the house was then no longer made use of as a theatre, (Resumed at page 249.)

trumpets sounding, to inform the pub. lic there is a challenge between two brave masters of the science of self. defence, and that the battle will be fought on such a day. We went to see one of these combats, which was performed on a stage, in the middle of this amphitheatre, where, on the flou rishes of trumpets, and the beat of drums, the combatants entered, strip ped to their shirts. On a signal from the drum, they drew their swords, and immediately began the fight, skirmishing for a long time without any wounds. They were both very skilful and courageous, The tallest had in some respects the advantage over the least; for, according to the English fashion of fencing, they endeavoured rather to cut, than push in the French manner, so that by his height he had the advantage of being able to strike his antagonist on the head, against which the little one was on his guard. He had in his turn the advantage over the great one, in being able to give him the jarnac stroke by cutting him on his right hand, which he left in a manner quite unguarded: so that, all things considered, they were pretty equally matched. Nevertheless, the tall one struck his antagonist on the wrist, which he almost cut off; but this did not prevent him from continuing the fight after the hurt had been dressed, and he had taken a glass or two of wine, to give him courage, when he took ample vengeance for his wound; for a little afterwards, making a feint at his adversary's ham, the tall man, stooping in order to parry it, laid his whole head open, when the little one slice of his head, and almost all his gave him a stroke, which took off

ear.

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For my part, I think there is an inhumanity, a barbarity, a cruelty, in permitting men to kill each other for the diversion of spectators. The surgeons immediately dressed and bound up the wound; which being done, they resumed the combat, and both being sensible of their respective disadvantages, they were a long time without giving or receiving another wound, till the little one, tired with this long battle, failing to parry ens

actly, received a stroke on his injured wrist, which dividing the sinews, he remained vanquished, and the tall con queror received the applause of the spectators. For my part, I should have had more pleasure in seeing the battle of the Bears and Dogs, which was fought the following day, on the same theatre."

SPORTS AND PASTIMES. AT the present moment, when a sour melancholy band of sectarians are exerting all their energies to suppress the harmless amusements of the com mon people, we think a republication of King James the First's sensible Proclamation for the encouragement of Sports, will not be deemed unsea sonable by any friend of cheerfulness and rational recreation. We have no wish to advocate such brutal prac tices as bull and badger-baiting, or cock-fighting, nor to see liberty degenerate into licentiousness; but we do think that the people ought to be allowed to indulge in wrestling-parties, walking-matches, and similar athletic sports, without the constant interposition of magistrates to prevent them; and while the great are permitted to enjoy routs, races, fieldsports, mas querades, subscription-houses, French plays, &c. without restraint, the humble should be allowed their walks, fairs, and merry-makings, unmolested by unnecessary and vexatious legal restrictions. We might say a great deal more upon this subject, but the few observations we have thrown out will afford a sufficient explanation of the feelings which have induced us to reprint the following curious composition; and it is, moreover, a fixed rule of the NIC-NAC to avoid as much as possible every species of remark which may tend to excite angry feeling, or lead to dull discussion.

The Proclamation, it will be seen, is taken from a copy put forth in 1633, with a recommendatory introduction, by Charles the First, who found it necessary to revive his father's wholesome injunctions, to check in some degree the hateful growth of Puritanical prejudices. We shall be able to give the whole in two numbers of

BY THE KING

Our deare father of blessed memory, in his return from Scotland, comming through Lancashire, found that his subiects were debarred from Lawful Recreations upon Sundayes, after Euening Prayers ended, and vpon Holy dayes: and, he prudently con sidered, that if these times were taken from them, the meaner sort, who la bour hard all the weeké, should have no Recreations at all to refresh their spirits; and, after his returne, hee farther saw that his loyall subiects, in all other parts of his kingdome, did suffer in the same kinde, though perhaps not in the same degree; and, did therefore, in his princely wisedome, publish a DECLARATION to all his louing subiects concerning lawfull sports to be vsed at such times, which was printed and published, by his Royall Commandment, in the yeere 1618, in the tenor which hereafter followeth :