Viewing Event Record: Queen Henrietta Maria's Men avoid punishment for impersonating courtiers in 'The Ball'

Abstract

Sir Henry Herbert notes that the Queen's players 'personated so naturally, both of lords and others of the court, that I took it ill' during their performance of James Shirley's 'The Ball.' He threatened to forbid the play, but Christopher Beeston convinced Herbert that they would leave out the offending passages, and 'he would not suffer it to be done by the poett any more, who deserves to be punisht; and the first that offends in this kind, of poets or players, shall be sure of publique punishment.'

Date Event Recorded

Date
From: 18 November 1632 (Source of claim: transcription)

Date Event Happened

Date
From: before 18 November 1632 (Source of claim: transcription)

Venues

People

Name Event Role(s) Document Role(s)
Herbert, Henry Master of the Revels
Beeston, Christopher company manager
Shirley, James playwright

Event Type

  • company context
  • company restraint
  • cultural context
  • illicit performance
  • performance
  • performance context
  • performance restraint
  • play censorship
  • playhouse context
  • playhouse restraint