he
preservation of common weals and peoples in health and good
order, return to the undue use of such enormities, to the
great offense of God....[29]

[Footnote 29: For the complete document see W.C. Hazlitt, _The English
Drama and Stage_, p. 27.]

The restrictions on playing imposed by the ordinance may be briefly
summarized:

1. Only such plays should be acted as were free from all unchastity,
seditiousness, and "uncomely matter."

2. Before being acted all plays should be "first perused and allowed
in such order and form, and by such persons as by the Lord Mayor and
Court of Aldermen for the time being shall be appointed."

3. Inns or other buildings used for acting, and their proprietors,
should both be licensed by the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen.

4. The proprietors of such buildings should be "bound to the
Chamberlain of London" by a sufficient bond to guarantee "the keeping
of good order, and avoiding of" the inconveniences noted in the
Preamble.

5. No plays should be given during the time of sickness, or during any
inhibition ordered at any time by the city authorities.

6. No plays should be given during "any usual time of divine service,"
and no persons should be admitted into playing places until after
divine services were over.

7. The proprietors of such places should pay towards the support of
the poor a sum to be agreed upon by the city authorities.

In order, however, to avoid trouble with the Queen, or those noblemen
who were accustomed to have plays given in their homes for the private
entertainment of themselves and their guests, the Common Council
added, rather grudgingly, the following proviso:

Provided alway that this act (otherwise than touching the
publishing of unchaste, seditious, and unmeet matters) shall
not extend to any plays, interludes, comedies, tragedies, or
shews to be played or shewed in the private house, dwelling,
or lodging of any nobleman, citizen, or gentleman, which
shall or will then have the same there so played or shewed
in his presence for the festivity of any marriage, assembly
of friends, or other like cause, without public or common
collections of money of the auditory or beholders thereof.

Such regulations if strictly enforced would prove very annoying to the
players. But, as the Common Council itself informs us, "these orders
were not then observed." The troupes continued to play in the city,