hundred marks, vnto an annuitie of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England for his life. And for the better effecting thereof, of our especial grace, certen knowledge and meer motion, we have given and graunted, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, upon the surrender aforesaid, do give and graunt unto the said Benjamin Johnson, one annuitie or yearly pension of one hundred pounds of England by the year, to have, hold, and yearly to receive the said annuitie or yearly pension of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England by the year, unto the said Benjamin Johnson or his assignes, from the feast of our Lord God last past, before the date hereof, for and during the natural life of him the said Benjamin Johnson, at the receipt of the Exchequer of vs, our heirs, and successours, out of the treasure of vs, our heirs and successours, from time to time there remayning, by the Theasurer and Chamberlens of ys, our heirs and successours there, for the time. beinge, at the foresaid foure usual terms of the year, (that is to say) at the feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, St. Michael the Archangel, and the Birth of our Lord God, by even and equal portions quarterly to be paid. The first payment thereof to begin at the feast of the Annuntiation of the blessed Virgin Mary, next before the date of these presents. Wherefore our will and pleasure is, and we do by these presents for vs, our heirs and successors, require, command, and authorise the said Theasurer, Chancellour, under Theasurer, Chamberlens, and Barons, and other officers and ministers of the said Exchequer, now and for the time being, not only to paie or cause to be paide vnto the said Benjamin Johnson, or his assignes the said annuitie or yearly pension of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England according to our pleasure before expressed and also from time to time to give full allowance of the same, according to the true meaning of these presents. And these presents, and the enrollment thereof, shall be unto all men whom it shall concern, sufficient warrant and discharge for the payinge and allowinge of the same accordingly, without any farther or other warrant to be in that behalf procured or obtained. And further know yee, that wee of our more especial grace, certen knowledge and meer motion, have given and granted, and by these presents for us, our heires and successors, do give and graunt unto the said Benjamin Johnson and his assigns, one terse of Canary Spanish wine yearly: to have, hold, perceive, receive, and take the said terse of Canary Spanish wine unto the said Benjamin Johnson and his assigns during the term of his natural life out of our store of wines yearly, and from time to time remayninge at or in our cellers within or belonging to our palace of Whitehall. And for the better effecting of our will and pleasure herein, we do hereby require and command all and singular officers and ministers whom it shall or may concerne, or who shall have the care or charge of our said wines, that they or some one of them do deliver or cause to be delivered the said terse of wine yearly, and once in every year vnto the said Benjamin Johnson or his assignes, during the terme of his natural life, at such time and times as he or they shall demand or desire the same. And these presents or the inrollment thereof shall be unto all men whom it shall concerne a sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalf, although express mention, &c. In witness, &c. Witness, &c. Maie it please your most excellent Majestie, Ex per Ro. HEATH. This conteyneth your majestie's graunte unto Benjamin Johnson, your majestie's servaunte, during his life, of a pension of 1001. per annum, and of a terse of Spanish wine yearly out of your majestie's store remaining at White-hall. And is done upon surrender of a former letters patents granted unto him by your late royal father, of a pension of 100 marks per annum. Signified to be your Majestie's pleasure by the Lord Theasurer. RO. HEATH. Endorsed thus: March 1630. Expl. apud Westm' vicesimo-sexto die Martii anno R. Ris per WINDEBANK. Pro LAURENTIO FLETCHER & WILLIELMO SHAKSPEARE & aliis. A. D. 1603. Pat. AMES, by the grace of God, &c. to all 1 Jac. P. 2. m. 4. JA justices, maiors, sheriff's, constables, headboroughs, and other our officers and loving subjects, greeting. Know ye that wee, of our special grace certeine knowledge and meer motion, have licensed and authorized, and by these presentes doe licence and authorize theise our servaunts, Laurence Fletcher, William Shakspeare, Richard Burbage, Augustine Philippes, John Hemings, Henrie Condel, William Sly, Robert Armyn, Richard Cowly, and the rest of their associates, freely to use and exercise the arte and faculty, of playing comedies, tragedies, histories, interludes, morals, pastorals, stage-plaies, and such like others as theie have alreadie studied or hereafter shall use or studie, as well for the recreation of our lovinge subjects, as for our solace and pleasure, when we shall thincke good to see them, during our pleasure and the said comedies, tragedies, histories, enterludes, morals, pastorals, stage-plaies, and such like, to shew and exercise publiquely to their best commoditie, when the infection of the plague shall decrease, as well within theire nowe usuall house called the Globe, within our county of Surrey, as also within anie toune halls, or moute halls, or other convenient places within the liberties and freedom of any other citie, universitie, toun, or boroughe, whatsoever within our said realmes and dominions. Willing and commanding you and everie of you, as you tender our pleasure, not onlie to permit and suffer them herein, without anie your letts, hindrances, or molestations, during our said pleasure, but also to be aiding or assistinge to them if any wrong be to them offered, and to allow them such former curtesies as hathe bene given to men of their place and quallitie; and also what further favour you shall shew to theise our servaunts for our sake, we shall take kindlie at your handes. In witness whereof, &c. Witness our selfe at Westminster, the nynteenth daye of Maye. Per Breve de Privato Sigillo. CONTENTS. THE LIFE OF BEN JONSON THE PREFACE TO WHALLEY'S EDITION THE POETASTER; A Comical Satire THE FALL OF SEJANUS; A Tragedy VOLPONE; OR, THE FOX; A Comedy EPICŒENE; OR, THE SILENT WOMAN; A Comedy THE NEW INN; OR, THE LIGHT HEART; A Comedy 519 |