Young Changeling; Fletcher's Loyal Subject and Mad Lover; and Massinger's Bondman.
The new plays at the King's House were contributed by Sir Robert Howard, Sir Charles Sedley, Major Porter, Killigrew himself, Dryden, and Nat Lee: at the Duke's House by Davenant, Cowley, Etherege, Lord Orrery, and others. The new tragedies were principally in rhyme. At the first performance of a new comedy ladies seldom attended, or, if at all, in masks—such was the studied indecency of the art of that period.
The wits of Charles found easier ways to fame,
Nor wished for Jonson's art or Shakspeare's flame;
Themselves they studied—as they felt they writ—
Intrigue was plot, obscenity was wit.
The performances commenced at three.[1] It was usual, therefore, to dine beforehand, and when the play was over to adjourn to the Mulberry Garden, to Vauxhall, or some other place of public entertainment—
Thither run,
Some to undo, and some to be undone.
The prices of admission were, boxes four shillings, pit two-and-sixpence, middle gallery eighteen-pence, upper gallery one shilling. The ladies in the pit
- ↑ Plays began at one in Shakspeare's time, at three in Dryden's, at four in Congreve's. In 1696 the hour was four.
