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 for our signature to the same parties, according to such directions and reservations as herewith we send you. Wherein we are more particular, both in the affirmative and the negative, to the end that, as on one side we would have nothing pass us to remain upon record which either for the form might not become us or for the substance might cross our many proclamations (pursued with good success) for buildings, or, on the other side, might give them cause to importune us after they had been at charges; to which end we wish that you call them before you and let them know our pleasure and resolution therein. [Footnote 689: See _State Papers, Domestic, 1619-1623_, p. 181. I have quoted the letter from Collier, _The History of English Dramatic Poetry_ (1879), I, 408.] Accordingly the license was canceled, and no new license was issued.