Spanish Viceroy, The

Playwright's Name (Year) Anon. (1624)

Historical Records

Master of the Revels record In October 1633, nine years after the original offence, the Master of the Revels Sir Henry Herbert copied into his office-book an apology by the King’s Men (the names of the actors undersigned) for apparently staging a play without a licence: To Sir Henry Herbert, Kᵗ. master of his Maᵗͥ ͤˢ Revels. After our humble servise remembered unto your good worship, Whereas not long since we acted a play called The Spanishe Viceroy, not being licensed under your lordships hande, nor allowd of: wee doe confess and herby acknowledge that wee have offended, and that it is in your power to punishe this offense, and are very sorry for it, and doe likewise promise herby that we will not act any play without your hand or substituts hereafter, nor doe any thinge that may prejudice the authority of your office: So hoping that this humble submission of ours may bee accepted, wee have thereunto sett our hands. This twentiethe of Decem. 1624. Joseph Taylor. John Lowen. Richard Robinson. John Shancke. Elyard Swanston. John Rice. Thomas Pollard. Will. Rowley. Robert Benfeilde. Richard Sharpe. George Burght.

Bentley, vi.21: ‘the letter of apology is preserved only in a copy made by Sir Henry Herbert on the occasion of another company indiscretion nine years later’; Bawcutt (183) records: ‘(in margin ’Tis entered here for a remembrance against their disorders)’.

Stationers’ Register S.R., 9 September 1653: ‘The Spãnish ViceRoy, or the Honoʳ: of Women … by Phill: Massinger’ (Greg, i. 61; Bentley iv. 790)

Theatrical Provenance

<Enter information about which company performed the play, and where/when it was performed, etc.> King's Men. Bentley, vi.21: 'The date of the letter [Herbert's 1633 transcription, above] makes it fairly certain that the questionable play was acted at Blackfriars'.

Probable Genre(s)

<List possible genres of the play: if noted by a critic, cite them, e.g. "Comedy (Harbage)". If an original speculation, simply list the genre.>

Political satire

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

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References to the Play

<List any known or conjectured references to the lost play here.> Herbert's office-book entry (1633)

Critical Commentary

<Summarise any critical commentary that may have been published by scholars. Please maintain an objective tone!> None

For What It's Worth

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Works Cited

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