Our latest Library display looks at the history of revels at Gray’s Inn and features materials from our Archive.
Revels hold a significant place in the social history of the four Inns of Court. Beginning in the Middle Ages, these elaborate celebrations held by the students and Members of the Inns marked significant events, often during the period surrounding Christmas. Revels involved large feasts and gatherings with dancing, musical plays called Masques, and other theatrical performances.
1594
The revels were extravagant, celebrations began on 20 December 1594 with the enthroning of the Prince of Purpoole, the title given to Gray’s appointed ‘Lord of Misrule’.
The peak was the Feast of the Holy Innocents on 28 December 1594, during which the first performance of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors took place in Gray’s Inn Hall.
This was an infamously rowdy night, soon nicknamed “the Night of Errors.” The Hall was so overcrowded that the actors couldn’t get onto the stage, and several high-profile audience members, including an ambassador from Inner Temple, left early in disgrace at the crowd’s behaviour. The chaos is vividly described in ‘Gesta Grayorum’; a 1688 pamphlet which documented the season of revels. We hold a copy of ‘Gesta Grayorum’ in our special collections, and a digital facsimile of the pamphlet can be viewed on Internet Archive: Gesta Grayorum.
An “enquiry” the next day blamed the disorder upon “Sorceries and Inchantments; and namely, of a great Witchcraft used the Night before, whereby there were great Disorders and Misdemeanours, by Hurly-burlies, Crowds, Errors, Confusions, vain Representations and Shews.”
The final event, a performance of ‘The Masque of Proteus’ by students of the Inn, took place on Shrove Tuesday 1595. It was performed for the Court of Queen Elizabeth I in the Palace at Greenwich.
Later History
Revels declined in popularity during the seventeenth century, partially due to their outlawing during the Civil War and Interregnum. Although they briefly returned with the restoration of Charles II, they eventually ceased around the time of the Glorious Revolution. The tradition was sporadically revived in the mid-nineteenth century, with performances including a revival of The Maske of Flowers in 1887. Gray’s Inn Library holds one of only five extant copies of this text, and its previous performance had been by “the gentlemen of Graies Inn” in 1614.
On 13 November 1956, revels were played for Queen Elizabeth II, which included a ballet of the Masque that had been performed for Queen Elizabeth I in 1595. A chair of state was made especially for the visit, which now sits on the staircase outside the Benchers’ landing.
In 1994, for the four hundredth anniversary of A Comedy of Errors being first performed in the Hall, a revival performance was staged in the tradition of a Masque. Professional crew members were hired for the production, while acting and organisation were undertaken by Members of the Inn.
Find out more by visiting our Library display!