| Citation |
BNL.739.001
4-11 Jan 1739:11 (1816)
London, October 11. 1738. Monday night great numbers of
Protestant gentlemen went to the New Theatre in Hay-Market,
in order to hinder a parcel of French Papists, lately
arriv'd here as strolling players, from performing: Never
appear'd at any theatre a greater unanimity, almost every
body having the greatest abhorrence of Papists coming over
to a Protestant country to pick Protestant pockets, when at
the same time several Protestant players, almost starv'd, by
being debar'd acting There was hissing cat-calling, ringing
small bells, knocking out the candles, pelting, &c. &c. that
the strollers were drove off the stage, and forced to retire
at the back-doors, for fear of mischief. The Hay-Market was
full of people, not a hundredth part being able to get into
the house. The Protestant mob in the street broke the
windows of the house to pieces; potatoes and pippings sold
for 12. and 18 d. a dozen at the door of the theatre. Some
few years ago a Protestant English player was sent to the
house of correction as a vagrant (by his Majesty's justices
of the peace) having no legal settlement: What settlement
have these Popish strollers? It's therefore hop'd his
Majesty's justices of the peace will enquire into their
settlements, and, if none, order them to be whipp'd out of
the Kingdom.
|