Gabriel Spenser, also spelt Spencer, (c. 1578 – 22 September 1598) was an Elizabethan actor. He is best known for episodes of violence culminating in his death in a duel at the hands of the playwright Ben Jonson.
Spenser appears in a number of documents as an actor associated with two of the major theatre companies of the day. Spenser first appears in records working for Francis Langley, in the Earl of Pembroke's Men, though he may have already been working for the Lord Chamberlain's Men.[1] The stage direction "enter Gabriel" in the First Folio version of Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part 3 has often been thought to refer to Spenser's role in the play — that of a messenger.[2] The names of actors are sometimes accidentally substituted for roles in published versions of plays. It has also been suggested that Spenser was the actor responsible for the so-called bad quarto of Romeo and Juliet published in 1597, if it was a memorial reconstruction.[3]
In July 1597 Spenser was imprisoned after performing in The Isle of Dogs, an allegedly seditious play co-written by Ben Jonson and Thomas Nashe.[1] It is not known why only Spenser and one other actor, Robert Shaw, were imprisoned, along with Jonson (Nashe fled London). The report of their arrest says that "the rest of the players or actors in that matter shall be apprehended", but no one else ever was. He was released after eight weeks.
In November of that year Spenser left the Earl of Pembroke's Men to join Philip Henslowe's company the Admiral's Men.[4] Spenser joined as a shareholder, entitling him to a portion of the daily takings. Langley sued Spenser for breach of contract.[1] In March 1598 Spenser appears in a document as a witness to a contract drawn up between Henslowe and Thomas Heywood.[5]
Killing of Feake
Ben Jonson, Spenser's killer.
In December 1596, while still a member of Langley's company, Spenser got into an argument with James Feake, the son of a goldsmith, at the house of a Shoreditch barber. It culminated with Spenser stabbing Feake with his sword, mortally wounding him. According to the inquest, the argument had escalated to the point that Feake attempted to throw a copper candelabrum at Spenser, who responded by attacking him with his still-sheathed sword, which penetrated his eye and entered his brain. Feake languished for three days before he died.
There is no record of any punishment meted out to Spenser, who may have successfully argued self-defence.[4]
Death
On 22 September 1598, Spenser fought a duel with Ben Jonson on Hoxton fields. The cause of the duel is not known. According to Jonson's account, related many years later, Spenser had initiated the duel and had the advantage of a much longer sword. Spenser wounded Jonson in the arm, but Jonson managed to strike back, killing him. The inquest says he died from a six-inch deep stab wound in his right side.[6]
Jonson confessed to the killing, but escaped capital punishment by pleading benefit of clergy. He was sentenced to be branded on the thumb.[7] During his imprisonment he converted to Roman Catholicism. Henslowe appears to have been very angry with Jonson and refused to produce his next play.[4]
It has been suggested that Jonson's many enemies never subsequently taunted him as the murderer of Spenser because the latter was widely believed to have deserved his fate. However, Heywood appears to praise Spenser in his Apology for Actors, listing him with other deceased actors whose "deserts yet live in the remembrance of many".[8]
Spenser was buried in St Leonard's, Shoreditch, which is also the resting place of several other Elizabethan actors. A memorial plaque was put up in 1913 by the London Shakespeare League to commemorate him and the others who rest there.[9]
Notes
^ abcAlan Palmer, Veronica Palmer, Who's Who in Shakespeare, Palgrave Macmillan, 1999, p. 238.
^Scott McMillin, "Casting for Pembroke's Men: The Henry VI Quartos and The Taming of A Shrew", Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 23, No. 2, Spring, 1972, pp. 141-159.
^A Shakespeare Encyclopaedia, Taylor & Francis, p. 818.
^ abcC.C. Stopes, Burbage and Shakespeare's Stage, Ardent, 2010, p. 71-73.
^H. Baldwin, Historical account of the English stage. Emendations and additions, 1790, p. 311.
^Helen Ostovich, Holger Schott Syme, Andrew Griffin, Locating the Queen's Men, 1583-1603: Material Practices and Conditions of Playing, Ashgate Publishing, 2009, p. 91.
^From the time of Henry VII, branding was inflicted for all offences which received Benefit of clergy. Branding of the thumbs was used to ensure that the accused who had successfully exercised this privilege could not use it more than once.
^Herbert Berry, English Professional Theatre, 1530-1660, Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 176-7.
^Andrew Davies, Literary London, Macmillan, 1988, p. 198.
February 11, 2023
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Gabriel Spenser also spelt Spencer c 1578 22 September 1598 was an Elizabethan actor He is best known for episodes of violence culminating in his death in a duel at the hands of the playwright Ben Jonson Gabriel SpenserA memorial plaque in St Leonard s Shoreditch commemorating Spenser and other actors Bornc 1578Died1598 aged 19 20 Hoxton LondonOccupationActorYears active1596 1598 Contents 1 Acting career 2 Killing of Feake 3 Death 4 NotesActing career EditSpenser appears in a number of documents as an actor associated with two of the major theatre companies of the day Spenser first appears in records working for Francis Langley in the Earl of Pembroke s Men though he may have already been working for the Lord Chamberlain s Men 1 The stage direction enter Gabriel in the First Folio version of Shakespeare s Henry VI Part 3 has often been thought to refer to Spenser s role in the play that of a messenger 2 The names of actors are sometimes accidentally substituted for roles in published versions of plays It has also been suggested that Spenser was the actor responsible for the so called bad quarto of Romeo and Juliet published in 1597 if it was a memorial reconstruction 3 In July 1597 Spenser was imprisoned after performing in The Isle of Dogs an allegedly seditious play co written by Ben Jonson and Thomas Nashe 1 It is not known why only Spenser and one other actor Robert Shaw were imprisoned along with Jonson Nashe fled London The report of their arrest says that the rest of the players or actors in that matter shall be apprehended but no one else ever was He was released after eight weeks In November of that year Spenser left the Earl of Pembroke s Men to join Philip Henslowe s company the Admiral s Men 4 Spenser joined as a shareholder entitling him to a portion of the daily takings Langley sued Spenser for breach of contract 1 In March 1598 Spenser appears in a document as a witness to a contract drawn up between Henslowe and Thomas Heywood 5 Killing of Feake Edit Ben Jonson Spenser s killer In December 1596 while still a member of Langley s company Spenser got into an argument with James Feake the son of a goldsmith at the house of a Shoreditch barber It culminated with Spenser stabbing Feake with his sword mortally wounding him According to the inquest the argument had escalated to the point that Feake attempted to throw a copper candelabrum at Spenser who responded by attacking him with his still sheathed sword which penetrated his eye and entered his brain Feake languished for three days before he died There is no record of any punishment meted out to Spenser who may have successfully argued self defence 4 Death EditOn 22 September 1598 Spenser fought a duel with Ben Jonson on Hoxton fields The cause of the duel is not known According to Jonson s account related many years later Spenser had initiated the duel and had the advantage of a much longer sword Spenser wounded Jonson in the arm but Jonson managed to strike back killing him The inquest says he died from a six inch deep stab wound in his right side 6 Jonson confessed to the killing but escaped capital punishment by pleading benefit of clergy He was sentenced to be branded on the thumb 7 During his imprisonment he converted to Roman Catholicism Henslowe appears to have been very angry with Jonson and refused to produce his next play 4 It has been suggested that Jonson s many enemies never subsequently taunted him as the murderer of Spenser because the latter was widely believed to have deserved his fate However Heywood appears to praise Spenser in his Apology for Actors listing him with other deceased actors whose deserts yet live in the remembrance of many 8 Spenser was buried in St Leonard s Shoreditch which is also the resting place of several other Elizabethan actors A memorial plaque was put up in 1913 by the London Shakespeare League to commemorate him and the others who rest there 9 Notes Edit a b c Alan Palmer Veronica Palmer Who s Who in Shakespeare Palgrave Macmillan 1999 p 238 Scott McMillin Casting for Pembroke s Men The Henry VI Quartos and The Taming of A Shrew Shakespeare Quarterly Vol 23 No 2 Spring 1972 pp 141 159 A Shakespeare Encyclopaedia Taylor amp Francis p 818 a b c C C Stopes Burbage and Shakespeare s Stage Ardent 2010 p 71 73 H Baldwin Historical account of the English stage Emendations and additions 1790 p 311 Helen Ostovich Holger Schott Syme Andrew Griffin Locating the Queen s Men 1583 1603 Material Practices and Conditions of Playing Ashgate Publishing 2009 p 91 From the time of Henry VII branding was inflicted for all offences which received Benefit of clergy Branding of the thumbs was used to ensure that the accused who had successfully exercised this privilege could not use it more than once Herbert Berry English Professional Theatre 1530 1660 Cambridge University Press 2000 p 176 7 Andrew Davies Literary London Macmillan 1988 p 198 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gabriel Spenser amp oldid 1004672733, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
