players, when there were more parts than there were persons, or that it was not
thought meet to trouble... princes chambers with too many folkes."--Art. of Eng.
Poes. 1589, p. 26. From the last clause, it should seem that they were chiefly used in
the Masques at Court.
- Coryate'sCrudities, 4to. 1611, p. 247.