The Control and Censorship of Caroline Drama

This is a completely new edition of the records of Sir Henry Herbert, brother of the poet George Herbert and, as Master of the Revels, the official responsible for licensing and censoring plays from 1623 to 1642 and from 1660 to 1673. The only previous edition of Sir Henry's records appeared in 1917, edited by J. Q. Adams. Dr Bawcutts' edition contains much fresh material, including 49 hitherto unknown play licenses from the recently discovered Burn transcript. In the Restoration section of the records are sixty items not contained in Adams, most of which have never been published. Dr Bawcutt's substantial Introduction includes a new biography of Sir Henry, an account of the strange and complicated history of his private papers, and the fullest description available of his activities as Master of the Revels. The Control and Censorship of Caroline Drama will be an essential document for literary scholars and theatre historians interested in the governmental regulation of drama.