pp 388–9 (12 November) (Westminster)
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A lettre to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. That wheras there hathe growne some inconuenience by Common playes and enterludes in and about the Cyttie of London, in the players tak vppon them to handle in their plaies certen matters of Diuinitye and of State vnfitt to be suffred: for redresse whereof their Lordshipes haue thought good to appointe some persones of iudgemt and vndrstanding to viewe and examine their playes before they be permitted to present them publickly: his Lordship is desired that some fytt persone well learned in Diuinity be appointed by him to Ioyne with the Master of the Revells and one other to be nominated by the Lord Mayor, and they Ioyntly with some spede to viewe and Consider of suche Comedyes and Tragedyes as are and shalbe publickly played by the Companies of players in and aboute the Cyttie of London, and they to geue allowance of suche as they shall thincke meete to be plaied and to forbydd the rest.
A lettre to the Lord Mayor of London, That wheras their lordshipes haue already signifyde vnto him to appoint a sufficient person learned and of Iudgemt for the Cyttie of London to Ioyne with the Master of the Revelles, and with a divine to be nominated by the Lord Archebishop of Canterbury for the reforming of the plaies daylie exercised and presented publickly in and about the Cyttie of London, where the players tak vppon them without Iudgement or Decorum to handle matters of Divinitye and State. he is required if he haue not as yet made choice of suche a persone that he will so doe forthwith, and thereof geue knowledge to the Lord Archebishop; and the Master of the Reveles; that they may all meet accordingly|
A lettre to the master of the Revelles, requiring him with two others the one to be appointed by the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and the other by the Lord mayor of London to be men of Larning and Iudgement and to Call before them the seuerall Companies of players (whose servauntes soever they be) and to require them by authorytie herof to delyver vnto them ther booke that they maye Consider of the matters of their Comedyes and Tragedyes, and therevppon to sayke oute or reforme suche partes and matters as they shall fynd vnfitt and vnreuerent to be handled in playes, bothe for divinitie and state, comanding the said Companies of players in her Maiestes name, that they forbear to present and playe publickly anie Comedy or Tragedy other then suche as they there shall haue seene and allowed which if they shall not observe they shall lett them knowe from ther lordshipes that they shalbe not onely sevearely punished but made Capable of the exercise of ther profession forever hereafter
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pp 388–9 (12 November) (Westminster)
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A letter to the lord archbishop of Canterbury, that whereas there hath grown some inconvenience by common plays and interludes in and about the city of London, in that the players take upon them to handle in their plays certain matters of divinity and of state unfit to be suffered, for redress whereof their lordships have thought good to appoint some persons of judgement and understanding to view and examine their plays, before they be permitted to present them publically, his lordship is desired that some fit person well learned in divinity be appointed by him to join with the master of the Revels and one other to be nominated by the lord mayor, and they jointly with some speed to view and consider of such comedies and tragedies as are and shall be publicly played by the companies of players in and about the city of London, and they to give allowance of such as they shall think meet to be played, and to forbid the rest.
A letter to the lord mayor of London, that whereas their lordships have already signified unto him to appoint a sufficient person learned and of judgement for the city of London to join with the master of the Revels, and with a divine to be nominated by the lord archbishop of Canterbury for the reforming of the plays daily exercised and presented publically in and about the city of London, where the players take upon them without judgement or decorum to handle matters of divinity and state, he is required if he have not yet made choice of such person that he will so do forthwith, and thereof give knowledge to the lord archbishop and the master of the Revels that they may all meet accordingly.|
A letter to the master of the Revels requiring him with two others, the one to be appointed by the lord archbishop of Canterbury and the other by the lord mayor of London, to be men of learning and judgement and to call before them the several companies of players (whose servants soever they be) and to require them by authority hereof to deliver unto them their book that they may consider of the matters of their comedies and tragedies, and thereupon to seek out or reform such parts and matters as they shall find unfit and unreverent to be handled in plays, both for divinity and state, commanding the said companies of players in her majesty’s name, that they forebear to present and play publicly any comedy or tragedy other than such as they there shall have seen and allowed, which if they shall not observe, they shall let them know from their lordships that they shall be not only severally punished but made incapable of the exercise of their profession forever hereafter.
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At least two of the companies involved in these controversial performances are known to have been the Queen's Men and John Lyly's boy company at Paul's, both of which seem to have come to grief as a result of their participation. It is also possible that Will Kemp and his company, Lord Strange's Men, engaged in satirical stage mockery of Martin. Kemp is listed as one of the 'haggling and profane' satirists working to ruin Martin in Theses Martinianae, dated 22 July 1589; see further Manley and MacLean, Lord Strange's Men , pp 37–41. Although the date of arrival of Lord Strange's Men for residence at the Rose has not yet been confirmed, it seems very likely that they were there by c 1590, as their extant petition to the privy council and another by the Thames watermen pleading for their continuing use of the Rose indicate (see further 'History of the Playhouse'). The summer of 1589 remains a possibility for their early performances at the Rose therefore.
The privy councillors listed as present at the meeting (p 388) were John Whitgift (c 1530–1604), archbishop of Canterbury, 1583–1603/4; Sir William Cecil (c 1520–98), lord treasurer, 1572–98; Sir Christopher Hatton (c 1540–91), lord chancellor, 1587–91; Charles Howard (c 1536–1624), lord admiral, 1585–1618/19; William Brooke (1527–97), tenth Lord Cobham; Thomas Sackville (c 1536–1608), first Baron Buckhurst; Sir Francis Walsingham (1532–90), principal secretary, 1573–90; John Perrot (1528–92); and Sir John Fortescue (1533–1607).
For an abstract of the document and details of its transcription history, see the related EMLoT event record.
Record title: Privy Council Letters regarding Censorship of Plays
Repository:
TNA
Shelfmark: PC 2/16
Repository location: Kew
The series of letters on pages 388–9 was precipitated by the ongoing controversies around the unlicensed Martin Marprelate pamphlets, first published as a Puritan diatribe against the established church in the autumn of 1588. By the spring of 1589, several performance troupes and some playwrights had joined the battle of words, on page and stage, mocking the Martinist followers in equally scurrilous terms. The authorities were therefore roused to control the involvement of players in the debate about 'matters of Diuinitye and of State' by suppressing such performances in all the public theatres in the London area, including the Rose and Newington Butts south of the Thames.
15 May 1589–6 April 1590; English; paper; ii + 282 + ii; 342mm x 225mm; ink pagination 1A, 1–480 ([481] blank, followed by 6 blank 19th-c. leaves and 36 unnumbered leaves, index in a different hand); good condition; bound in worn maroon leather over boards, tooled, title on spine in gilt: '[.....]BETH. | VOL. VIII[..]. | COUNCIL | REGISTER. | 15. MAY 1589. | TO | 6 APR. 1590.'
The National Archives (UK), ref. PC 2/16