King and the Subject

Massinger, Philip ([[1638])

Historical Records

Office of the Revels

On 2 June 1638, Sir Henry Herbert noted:

Received of Mr. Lowens for my paines about Messinger's play called The King and the Subject, 2 June 1638, 1l.0.0.

And on 5 June 1638 he entered a more substantial memorandum on "The King and the Subject."

The name of The King and the Subject is altered, and I allowed the play to bee acted, the reformations most strictly observed, and not otherwise, the 5th of June, 1638.

At Greenwich the 4 of June, Mr. W. Murray gave mee power from the king to allowe of the play, and tould me that hee would warrant it.

Herbert then included a 7-line quotation from the play:

Monys? Wee’le rayse supplies what ways we please,

And force you to subscribe to blanks, in which

We’le mulct you as wee shall thinke fitt. The Caesars

In Rome were wise, acknowledginge no lawes

But what their swords did ratifye, the wives

And daughters of the senators bowinge to

Their wills, as deities, &c.'

And also included a background story on the play and the excerpt:

This is a peece taken out of Philip Massingers play, called The King and the Subject, and entered here for ever to bee remembered by my son and those that cast their eyes on it, in honour of Kinge Charles, my master, who, readinge over the play at Newmarket, set his marke upon the place with his owne hande, and in thes words:

This is too insolent, and to bee changed.

Note, that the poett makes it the speech of a king, Don Pedro king of Spayne, and spoken to his subjects.

(Bawcutt, items 385, 386a, pp. 203-04; Herbert, pp. 22-23)

Theatrical Provenance

The ascription to Phillip Massinger implies assignment to the King's players.

Probable Genre(s)

Tragedy (Harbage)

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Information welcome.

References to the Play

Information welcome.

Critical Commentary

Greg

Bentley, commenting on Herbert's note that the title of the play is altered, says that scholars like best the possibility that the play was called "The Tyrant." A play so titled and registered at Stationers' Hall to Humphrey Moseley on 29 June 1660 is also lost. It appeared on the list made by John Warburton and wasi included his sale of 1759 (4.795).

Works Cited

Bawcutt, N. W., ed. Control and Censorship of Caroline Drama: The Records of Sir Henry Herbert, Master of the Revels, 1623-73. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. item 386a, pp. 203-04 (Herbert, p. 23).

Site created and maintained by William Proctor Williams, Professor, University of Akron; updated 4 March 2013.