The document appears to be a 'bill'. It is 12-3/4 by 7-3/4 inches, and contains a synopsis under nine heads, beginning with the civil wars from Edward III to Mary 'induct by shew and in Action', and continuing with episodes from the reign of Elizabeth, who is England's Joy. In sc. viii 'a great triumph is made with fighting of twelue Gentlemen at Barriers', and in sc. ix Elizabeth 'is taken vp into Heauen, when presently appeares, a Throne of blessed Soules, and beneath vnder the Stage set forth with strange fireworkes, diuers blacke and damned Soules, wonderfully discribed in their seuerall torments'. Apart from the bill, Vennar must have given it out that the performers were to be amateurs. Chamberlain, 163, writes to Carleton on 19 Nov. 1602:
'And, now we are in mirth, I must not forget to tell you of a cousening
prancke of one Venner, of Lincolns Inne, that gave out bills of a famous
play on Satterday was sevenight on the Banckeside, to be acted only by
certain gentlemen and gentlewomen of account. The price at cumming
in was two shillings or eighteen pence at least; and when he had gotten
most part of the mony into his hands, he wold have shewed them a faire
paire of heeles, but he was not so nimble to get up on horsebacke, but that
he was faine to forsake that course, and betake himselfe to the water,
where he was pursued and taken, and brought before the Lord Chiefe
Justice, who wold make nothing of it but a jest and a merriment, and
bounde him over in five pound to appeare at the sessions. In the meane
time the common people, when they saw themselves deluded, revenged
themselves upon the hangings, curtains, chairs, stooles, walles, and whatsoever
came in theire way, very outragiously, and made great spoile;
there was great store of good companie, and many noblemen.'
Similarly John Manningham in his Diary, 82, 93, notes in Nov.
1602, how
'Vennar, a gent. of Lincolnes, who had lately playd a notable cunni-*catching
tricke, and gulled many under couller of a play to be of gent.
and reuerens, comming to the court since in a blacke suit, bootes and
golden spurres without a rapier, one told him he was not well suited;
the golden spurres and his brazen face uns[uited].'
On 27 Nov. he adds, 'When one said that Vennar the graund
connicatcher had golden spurres and a brazen face, "It seemes",
said R. R. "he hath some mettall in him."' Vennar's own account
of 'my publique default of the Swan, where not a collier but cals his
deere 12 pense to witnesse the disaster of the day' was given many
years later in 'An Apology: Written by Richard Vennar, of Lincolnes
Inne, abusively called Englands Joy. 1614', printed by Collier in
Illustrations (1866), iii. It vies in impudence with the original offence.
He had been in prison and was in debt, and 'saw daily offering to
the God of pleasure, resident at the Globe on the Banke-side'. This
suggested his show, 'for which they should give double payment,
to the intent onely, men of ability might make the purchase without
repentance'. He continues:
'My devise was all sorts of musique, beginning with chambers, the harpe
of war, and ending with hounds, the cry of peace, of which I was doubly
provided for Fox and Hare. The report of gentlemen and gentlewomens
