ife and
Raigne of King Henrie IV_" (in _The Library_, N.S., III (1902), 13);
R.B. McKerrow, _A Dictionary of Printers and Booksellers ...
1557-1640_; S. Bongi, _Annali di Gabriel Giolito de' Ferrari_.]

If this "John Wolf, stationer," be the man who started to erect a
playhouse in East Smithfield, it is to be regretted that we do not
know more about the causes which led him into the undertaking.

II

THE PROJECTED "AMPHITHEATRE"

In 1620 John Cotton, John Williams, and Thomas Dixon[687] secured from
King James a license to build an amphitheatre[688] "intended
principally for martiall exercises, and extraordinary shows and
solemnities for ambassadors, and persons of honor and quality," with
the power granted to the owners to order "a cessation from other shows
and sports, for one day in a month only, upon fourteen days' warning."

[Footnote 687: Of these men nothing is known; something, however, may
be inferred from the following entries in Sir Henry Herbert's
Office-Book: "On the 20th August, 1623, a license _gratis_, to John
Williams and four others, to make _show_ of _an Elephant_, for a year;
on the 5th of September to make show of a _live Beaver_; on the 9th of
June, 1638, to make show of an outlandish creature, called a
_Possum_." (George Chalmers, _Supplemental Apology_, p. 208.)]

[Footnote 688: The place is not indicated, but it was probably outside
the city.]

But for some reason the King suddenly changed his mind, and on
September 29, 1620, he addressed a letter to the Privy Council
directing them to cancel the license:[689]

Right trusty and right well-beloved Cousins and Councellors,
and right trusty and well-beloved Councellors, we greet you
well. Whereas at the humble suit of our servants John
Cotton, John Williams, and Thomas Dixon, and in recompence
of their services, we have been pleased to license them to
build an Amphitheatre, which hath passed our Signet and is
stayed at our Privy Seal; and finding therein contained some
such words and clauses, as may, in some constructions, seem
to give them greater liberty both in point of building and
using of exercises than is any way to be permitted, or was
ever by us intended, we have thought fit to command and give
authority unto you, or any four of you, to cause that
already passed to be cancelled, and to give order unto our
Solicitor General for the drawing up of a new warrant