Jacob Hall and other Rope Dancers on the Continent, 1678-1682

Histories of the early modern English stage have devoted relatively little attention to the activities of such popular entertainers as puppeteers, acrobats, and rope dancers, many of whom plied their humble trade alongside, and sometimes in competition with, the more respectable dramatic representations in the theatre houses. As the authors of The London Stage 1660-1700 have noted, "the lowest form on the artistic scale was rope dancing, essentially a demonstration of dexterity by a skilled performer who combined dancing with rope skipping and rope twirling" (Van Lennep cviii). It should come as no surprise, then, that of the many rope dancers alluded to in contemporary civic and other records only a handful have escaped complete anonymity. No doubt the most famous late seventeenth-century rope dancer was Jacob Hall (fl. 1662-1681), who regularly entertained audiences at the various London fairs and whose agility was greatly admired by Samuel Pepys (Van Lennep 141, 146, 189, 277, 288, 312). What little we know about Hall is largely derived from a few scattered references, and forms the substance of the two most recent accounts of Hall's life and career – neither of which has added anything to the original Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) entry (Highfill, Burnim, and Langhans 7: 23-25; Hahn). In the present article I want to draw attention to two notarial contracts which have hitherto been neglected by theatre historians, the first shedding new light on a troupe of rope dancers led by Hall, the second relating to two other troupes operating on the continent, who have so far remained completely unknown. Preserved in continental archives but long since available in Dutch-language printed sources, these documents deserve closer consideration for what they tell us about the composition, financial operations, and planned movements of the troupes concerned. Below I provide a complete but slightly modernized English translation.¹

I.

Die Decima septima febr [the 17th day of February] 1678.

Mrs Susanna Conincx, lawfully wedded wife of Jacob Hall, acting as her husband's proxy, on the one side, and Daniel van Schraven, on the other, known to me the notary undersigned, declare that they have mutually agreed on the following contractual obligations. The above-mentioned first party have agreed, for as long as they will be exercising their dancing and anything relating thereto in Brabant, Flanders, Germany and Holland, to bear the second party's expenses, [and pay for, my add.] food and drink, washing and wringing. In addition, the said first party shall pay for the second party's travel expenses, in whatever places they shall happen to be. The said first party shall also freely pay the second party five schellingen [Dutch shillings] a day whenever they will perform, and all expenses as stipulated before <whether they will perform or not>, for as long as they will be in the regions mentioned. And the abovementioned first party shall also have to pay the second party the sum of four English shillings a day when they will be in Oxford and Bristol, in England; and ten shillings a day during the fairs of Bartholomew and Southwark, in London, i.e. when they will perform <as well as everything else freely as specified in greater detail above>. In fulfilment of all previous obligations both parties have committed their persons and possessions, present and future, without any deceitful intent. Actum Antverpiae presentibus Nivel Hall and Jan Baptista de Neeff testibus rogatis [Acted at Antwerp in the presence of Nivel Hall and Jan Baptista de Neeff, invited witnesses].

Signed: Susanna King, Daniel Van Schraven, J.B. Hamilton, Nots.

(Duverger 235; original contract preserved at Stadsarchief [City Archive] Antwerpen, Notaris J.B. Hamilton 1927, 1677-83, folio 3-3^v).

II.

Before me, Willem van Bommel, notary public, and the witnesses mentioned below, have appeared Willem Koffa, Anthony Kortijn, Jan Van[jer?], <master> ropedancers, now performing together at the fair in this town, on the one side, and Daniel van Scgrauwen and Johannes Palmer, also <master> ropedancers, <with Elonara Rijmers, housewife of Johannes Palmer and ropedancer>, on the...