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The actors first assumed the title of “ His Majesty's Ser-vants” in consequence of a license granted to them by James I. in 1603, previous to which they were styled the Servants ofthe Lord Chamberlain.

Both the prompter or book-holder, as he was sometimescalled, and the property-man, were regular appendages ofour ancient theatres.

It is well known that in the time of Shakespeare , and formany years afterwards, the female characters were representedby boys or young men. Sir William Davenant , in imitationof the foreign theatres, first introduced females in the scene;and it is stated that Mrs. Betterton first appeared on the publicstage as an actress about the year 1663 ; soon after which,some plays, particularly the “ Parson’s Weddings,” wererepresented entirely by women.

The amusements of our ancestors before the commence-ment of the play were of various kinds; while some part ofthe audience entertained themselves with reading or playingat cards, others were employed in drinking wine or ale, orsmoking tobacco ■, a custom which, about forty years ago,was still common at the minor theatres. \

Immediately before the exhibition began, three flourishes orpieces of music were played, or, in the ancient language,there were three soundings : music was likewise played be-tween the acts, the band sitting in an upper balcony, over thestage-box.

The person who spoke the prologue was ushered in by itrumpets, and usually wore a long black velvet cloak. The Jdress of the ancient prologue-speaker is still retained in theplay that is exhibited in Hamlet , before the King and Courtof Denmark .

An epilogue does not appear to have been a regular appen-dage to a play in Shakespeare ’s time, for many of his dramasare without it—at least they have not been preserved.

At the end of the performance the actors in the private