Jonson, Ben · published 1631 · first performed or written 1614 [Oct 31] (Annals) comedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe typicality 0.71 · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
Nothing, but the understanding Gentlemen o' the ground here, asked my judgement. Your judgement, Rascal? for what? sweeping the Stage? or gathering up the broken Apples for the bears within? Away Rogue, it's come to a fine degree in these spectacles when such a youth as you pretend to a judgement. And yet he may, i'the most o''is matter i'faith: For the Author hath writ it just to his Meridian, and the Scale of the grounded judgements here, his Playfellows in wit. Gentlemen; not for want of a Prologue, but by way of a new one, I am sent out to you here, with a Scrivener, and certain Articles drawn out in haste between our Author, and you; which if you please to hear, and as they appear reasonable, to approve of; the Play will follow presently. Read, Scribe, gi'me the Counterpane. ARTICLES of Agreement, indented, between the Spectators or Hearers, at the Hope on the Bankside, in the County of Surrey on the one party; And the Author of Bartholomew Fair in the said place, and County on the other party: the one and thirtieth day of Octob. 1614. and in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Soveragine Lord, JAMES by the grace of God King of England, France, & Ireland, Defender of the faith. And of Scotland the seven and fortieth. INPRIMIS, It is covenanted and agreed, by and between the parties above said, and the said Spectators, and Hearers, aswell the curious and envious, as the favouring and judicious, as also the grounded judgements and understandings, do for themselves severally Covenant, and agreed to remain in the places, their money or friends have put them in, with patience, for the space of two hours and an half, and somewhat more. In which time the Author promiseth to present them by us, with a new sufficient Play called BARTHOLOMEW FAIR, merry, and as full of noise, as sport: made to delight all, and to offend none. Provided they have either, the wit or the honesty to think well of themselves. It is further agreed that every person here, have his or their freewill of censure, to like or dislike at their own charge, the Author having now departed with his right: It shall be lawful for any man to judge his six pennyworth his twelve pennyworth, so to hiseighteene pence, 2. shillings, halfe a crown, to the value of his place: Provided always his place get not above his wit. And if he pay for half a dozen, he may censure for all them too, so that he will undertake that they shall be silent. He shall put in for Censures here, as they do for lots at the lottery: marry if he drop but six pence at the door, and will censure a crowns worth, it is thought there is no conscience, or justice in that.
seed 43: T16 · seed 44: T15 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Nothing, but the vnderſtanding Gentlemen o' the ground here, ask'd my iudgement. Your iudgement, Raſcall? for what? ſweeping the Stage? or gathering vp the broken Apples for the beares within? Away Rogue, it's come to a fine degree in theſe ſpectacles when ſuch a youth as you pretend to a iudgement. And yet hee may, i'the moſt o'this matter i'faith: For the Author hath writ it iuſt to his Meridian, and the Scale of the grounded Iudgements here, his Play-fellowes in wit. Gentlemen; not for want of a Prologue, but by way of a new one, I am ſent out to you here, with a Scriuener, and certaine Articles drawne out in haſt betweene our Author, and you; which if you pleaſe to heare, and as they appeare reaſonable, to approue of; the Play will follow preſently. Read, Scribe, gi'me the Counterpaine. ARTICLES of Agreement, indented, between the Spectators or Hearers, at the Hope on the Bankeſide, in the County of Surrey on the one party; And the Author of Bartholmew Fayre in the ſaid place, and County on the other party: the one and thirtieth day of Octob. 1614. and in the twelfth yeere of the Raigne of our Soueragine Lord, IAMES by the grace of God King of England, France, & Ireland, Defender of the faith. And of Scotland the ſeauen and fortieth. INPRIMIS, It is couenanted and agreed, by and betweene the parties aboue ſaid, and the ſaid Spectators, and Hearers, aſwell the curious and enuious, as the fauouring and iudicious, as alſo the grounded Iudgements and vnderſtandings, doe for themſelues ſeuerally Couenant, and agree to remaine in the places, their money or friends haue put them in, with patience, for the ſpace of two houres and an halfe, and ſomewhat more. In which time the Author promiſeth to preſent them by vs, with a new ſufficient Play called BARTHOLMEW FAYRE, merry, and as full of noiſe, as ſport: made to delight all, and to offend none. Prouided they haue either, the wit or the honeſty to thinke well of themſelues. It is further agreed that euery perſon here, haue his or their free-will of cenſure, to like or diſlike at their owne charge, the Author hauing now departed with his right: It ſhall bee lawfull for any man to iudge his ſix pen'orth his twelue pen'orth, ſo to hiseighteene pence, 2. ſhillings, halfe a crowne, to the value of his place: Prouided alwaies his place get not aboue his wit. And if he pay for halfe a dozen, hee may cenſure for all them too, ſo that he will vndertake that they ſhall bee ſilent. Hee ſhall put in for Cenſures here, as they doe for lots at the lottery: mary if he drop but ſixe pence at the doore, and will cenſure a crownes worth, it is thought there is no conſcience, or iuſtice in that.