[The following excerpt, originally written in 1594, but not published until 1688, is taken from the records of Gray's Inn, one of the four Inns of the Court designed to train young men for the law. It provides the first known allusion to a performance of The Comedy of Errors.]

The next grand Night was intended to be upon InnocentsDay at Night.… The Ambassador [of the Inner Temple] came…about Nine of the Clock at Night…there arose such a disordered Tumult and Crowd upon the Stage, that there was no Opportunity to effect that which was intended.… The Lord Ambassador and his Train thought that they were not so kindly entertained as was before expected, and thereupon would not stay any longer at that time, but, in a sort, discontented and displeased. After their Departure the Throngs and Tumults did somewhat cease, although so much of them continued, as was able to disorder and confound any good Inventions whatsoever. In regard whereof, as also for that the Sports intended were especially for the gracing of the Templerians, it was thought good not to offer any thing of Account, saving Dancing and Revelling with Gentlewomen; and after such Sports, a Comedy of Errors (like to Plautus his Menechmus) was played by the Players. So that Night was begun, and continued to the end, in nothing but Confusion and Errors; whereupon, it was ever afterwards called, The Night of Errors.… We preferred Judgments… against a Sorcerer or Conjuror that was supposed to be the Cause of that confused Inconvenience.… And Lastly, that he had foisted a Company of base and common Fellows, to make up our Disorders with a Play of Errors and Confusions; and that that Night had gained to us Discredit, and itself a Nickname of Errors.