Extract from Saris’s Log, 21st June 1613

We rejoin the Log to discover the precarious fate that befell female actors of the time…

The Clove
The Clove

“The oulde kinge came a boarde agayne, and brought with him diverse women to be frolick.  These woemen were actors of Commedies, which passe there from Island to Island to plaie, as our plaiers doe heere, from Towne to towne, havinge severall shiftes of apparell for the better grace of the matter acted, which for the most parte are of love and warr, and such like.  ……The greatest of theire nobilitie travelling, hould it noe disgrace to send for these Panders to theire Inne, and doe compounde with them for the wenches, either to fill theire drinck at table (for all men of anie ranck haue theire drinck filled to them by women), or otherwise to haue the vse of them.

When anie of these Pandars dye (though in theire life time they were receaved into companie of the best, yet nowe as vnworthie to rest amongest the worst) They are brideled with a bridell made of strawe as yee would bridle a horse, and in the clothes they died in, are dragged through the streetes into the fieldes, and there cast vppon a dunghill, for dogges and fowles to devowre.”

 

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