Here’s the deal: The Earl of Essex and his buddies commissioned the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (you know who was in that company) to perform a play, maybe, or perhaps probably, Richard II (which concerns a monarch who was deposed), the day before they tried to rally London to support the Earl against Queen Elizabeth’s men. Whoops: “They will be accused of using the play to foment rebellion. One of them, Sir Gelly Meyrick, will be hanged, drawn, and quartered for his part in commissioning the performance.”