ok, a MS. frequently referred to by Malone, Chalmers, and
Collier. Sir Henry Herbert was Master of the Revels to King James the
First, and the two succeeding kings, and the said MS. contains an
account of almost every piece exhibited at any of the theatres from
August, 1623, to the commencement of the rebellion in 1641. Malone, in
his _Historical Account of the English Stage_ (edit. Boswell, iii. 57.),
says, in a note--

"For the use of this very curious and valuable manuscript I am
indebted to Francis Ingram, of Ribbisford, near Bewdley, in
Worcestershire, Esq., Deputy Remembrancer in the Court of the
Exchequer. It has lately been found in the same old chest which
contained the manuscript _Memoirs of Lord Herbert of Cherbury_,
from which Mr. Walpole, about twenty years ago, printed the life
of that nobleman, who was elder brother to Sir Henry Herbert."

In another place, Malone adds:--

"This valuable manuscript, having lain for a considerable time
in a damp place, is unfortunately damaged, and in a very
mouldering condition; however, no material part of it appears to
have perished."

Such being the case, it becomes more than ever desirable that this
interesting volume should be sought after, and the _whole_ of its
contents put on record before its total decay. Surely, if its depositary
is known, and accessible, it is well worth the attention of the
_Shakespeare Society_, or some other learned body instituted for the
preservation of documents of this nature.

A biographical account of the various persons that have held the
appointment of "Master of the Revels," with such particulars of the
stage as would necessarily fall in, would form a valuable _Prolegomena_
to the publication of Sir Henry's Office-Book. We have, it is true, much
information upon this subject, but in a very scattered form.

I have now before me a list of the "Masters of the Revells," with the
dates of their patents, which I beg to transcribe. It is of more than
ordinary value, being in the handwriting of Sir Henry Herbert himself,
and copied at the back of the worthy knight's "Petition to Charles the
Second against the Grant to Killegrew and Davenant to form Two Companies
of Players."

"_Masters of ye Revells_.

"Sir Richard Guilford - not on record.
Sir Thomas Cawerden - [1544] 36 Henry VIII.
Sir Thomas Beneger - not on record.
Sir John Fortescue - not on record.
Edmund Tiln