taken by a
messenger and committed to the Marshalsea by my Lord
Chamberlain's warrant, for playing a play without license.
The same day the company at the Cockpit was commanded by my
Lord Chamberlain's warrant to forbear playing, for playing
when they were forbidden by me, and for other disobedience,
and lay still Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Thursday,
at my Lord Chamberlain's entreaty, I gave them their
liberty, and upon their petition of submission subscribed by
the players, I restored them to their liberty on
Thursday.[610]

[Footnote 610: Malone, _Variorum_, III, 241. Herbert did not forget
Beeston's insubordination, and in 1660, in issuing to Beeston a
license to use the Salisbury Court Playhouse, he inserted clauses to
prevent further difficulty of this kind (see _Variorum_, III, 243).]

To this period of Beeston's imprisonment I should refer the puzzling
Epilogue of Brome's _The Court Beggar_:

There's wit in that now. But this small Poet vents none but
his own, and his by whose care and directions this Stage is
govern'd, who has for many years, both in his father's days,
and since, directed Poets to write and Players to speak,
till he trained up these youths here to what they are now.
Aye, some of 'em from before they were able to say a grace
of two lines long to have more parts in their pates than
would fill so many Dry-vats. And to be serious with you, if
after all this, by the venomous practice of some, who study
nothing more than his destruction, he should fail us, both
Poets and Players would be at loss in reputation.

His "destruction" was wrought, nevertheless, for as a result of his
indiscretion he was deposed from his position as Governor of the
King's and Queen's Company, and William Davenant was appointed in his
place. In the Office-Book of the Lord Chamberlain under the date of
June 27, 1640,[611] appears the following entry with the heading, "Mr.
Davenant Governor of the Cockpit Players":

Whereas in the playhouse or theatre commonly called the
Cockpit, in Drury Lane, there are a company of players
authorized by me (as Lord Chamberlain to His Majesty) to
play or act under the title of The King's and Queen's
Servants, and that by reason of some disorders lately
amongst them committed they are disabled in their service
and quality: These are therefor