Sir Henry Herbert

English court official

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Sir Henry Herbert was an English court official who served as the Master of the Revels from 1623 to 1642, and again from 1660 until his death in 1673. This office was responsible for supervising court entertainments, issuing licenses to theaters, and censoring plays. Herbert's tenure is considered the peak of the office's prestige. After the Restoration, the Master of the Revels' powers gradually diminished until the office was abolished in 1737.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Master of the Revels
…point during the mastership of Sir Henry Herbert (1623–42), after which England’s theatres were closed during the Puritan interregnum. After the Restoration (1660), Herbert was reinstalled as master until his death in 1673, but the office was gradually stripped of its power. The Licensing Act of 1737 abolished it entirely,…
Read More
…point during the mastership of Sir Henry Herbert (1623–42), after which England’s theatres were closed during the Puritan interregnum. After the Restoration (1660), Herbert was reinstalled as master until his death in 1673, but the office was gradually stripped of its power. The Licensing Act of 1737 abolished it entirely,…
Read More