"Licensed by Authority": Ben Jonson and the Politics of Early Stuart Theater

Abstract

On April 26, 1624, Francis Wambus and his fellow players appeared in Norwich and posted a bill announcing a performance of <<an excellent new Comedy called Spanish Contract By Princesse servants / vivat Rex.'1 Wambus had played Norwich twice before, but on this occasion met with unexpected resistance. Though appeared before local officials with a license authorizing his company to play, Wambus was refused permission by Mayor, who cited as his authority a letter from Privy Council. The letter condemned the lawless liberty taken up and practised in all parts of kingdom by . . . vagrant and licentious rabble, and authorized Mayor to suffer any Companies of players, tumblers or like sort of person to act any plays or to shew any exercise of feats and devices within city or liberty of same. Wambus, however, not simply acquiesce to Privy Council's Instead, called it into question, peremptorily affirming that would pliy in this City & would lay in prison here this Tweluemoneth but would try whether kings command or Counsells be greater. Wambus made it clear intended to turn this occasion into a political contest: he would make tryall what might doe by kings authority for said would play. Two days later, Wambus proceeded to post a bill for an interlude, and again was brought before court. When asked if bill was in his handwriting, Wambus answered affirmatively. But after court again read order forbidding plays, Wambus, as shocked clerk records, did accuse Mr Maior to his face contemned kings authority. When Wambus asserted would play, was committed to prison. The court discharged him on May 26, but case was still not over. On September 28, Wambus and some of his fellow players returned to Norwich with a letter from Sir Henry Herbert, Master of Revels, ordering Wambus's release, and asked recompense for wrongful imprisonment. The court argued, however,

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