Articles of Agreement between Robert Dawes, player, and Philip Henslowe and Jacob Meade (A)

pp 413–16 (7 April)

Articles of Agreement,] made concluded and agreed uppon and which are to be kept & performed by Robert Dawes of London Gentleman unto and with Phillipp Henslowe Esquire and Jacob [Meade Waterman] in manner and forme following, that is to say

Imprimis. the said Robert Dawes for him his executors and administrators doth covenante promise and graunt to and with the said Phillipp Henslowe and Jacob Meade their executors admi | nistrators and assynes in manner and formme followinge that is to saie that he the said Robert Dawes shall and will plaie with such company as the said Phillipp Henslowe and Jacob Meade shall appoynte for and during the tyme and space of three yeares from the date hereof for and at the rate of one whole Share accordinge to the custome of players; and that he the said Robert Dawes shall and will at all tymes during the said terme duly attend all suche rehearsall which shall the night before the rehearsall be given publickly out; and if that he the saide Robert Dawes shall at any tyme faile to come at the hower appoynted, then he shall and will pay to the said Phillipp Henslowe and Jacob Meade their executors or assignes Twelve pence; and if he come not before the saide rehearsall is ended then the said Robert Dawes is contented to pay twoe shillings; and further that if the said Robert Dawes shall not every daie whereon any play is or ought to be played be ready apparrelled and <...> to begyn the play at the hower of three of the clock in the afternoone unles by sixe of the same Company he shall be lycenced to the contrary, that then he the saide Robert Dawes shall and will pay unto the said Phillipp and Jacob or their assignes three [shillings] and if that he the saide Robert Dawes Happen to be overcome with drinck at the tyme when he [ought to] play, by the Judgment of ffower of the said company, he shall and will pay Tenne shillings and if he [the said Robert Dawes] shall [faile to come] during any plaie having noe lycence or just excuse of sicknes he is contented to pay Twenty shillings; and further the said Robert Dawes for him his executors and administrators doth covenant and graunt to and with the said Phillipp Henslowe and Jacob Meade their executors adminstrators and asignes| by these presents, that it shall and may be lawfull unto and for the said Phillipp Henslowe and Jacob Meade their executors or assignes during the terme aforesaid to receave and take back to their owne proper use the part of him the said Robert Dawes of and in one moyetie or halfe part of all suche moneyes as shal be receaved at the Galleres & tyring howse of such house or howses wherein he the saide Robert Dawes shall play; for and in consideration of the use of the same howse and howses, and likewis shall and may take and receave his other moyetie <...> the moneys receaved at the galleries and tiring howse dues towards the pa[ying] to them the saide Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade of the some of one hundred twenty and fower pounds [being the value of the stock of apparell furnished by the saide company by the said Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade <...> the one part of him the saide Robert Dawes or any other somes <...> to them for any apparell hereafter newly to be bought by the [said Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade until the saide Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade] shall therby be fully satisfied contented and paid. And further the said Robert Dawes doth covenant [promise and graunt to and with the said Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade that if he the said Robert Dawes] shall at any time after the play is ended depart or goe out of the [howse] with any [of their] apparell on his body Or if the said Robert Dawes [shall carry away any propertie] belonging to the said Company or shal be consentinge [or privy to any other of the said company going out of the howse with any of their apparell on his or their bodies, he the said ] Robert Dawes shall and will forfeit and pay unto the said Phillipp and Jacob or their administrators or assignes the some| of ffortie pounds of lawfull [money of England] <...> and the said Robert Dawes for him his executors and administrators doth [covenant promise and graunt to with the said] Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade their Executors and Administrators, [and assigns] <...> that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Phillip Henslowe and Jacob Meade their executors and assignes to have and use the playhows so appoynted [for the said company <...> one day of] every fower daies, the said daie to be chosen by the said Phillip and [Jacob] <...> monday in any week on which day it shalbe lawful for the said Phillip [and Jacob their administrators] and assignes to bait their bears and bulls ther, and to use their accustomed sport and [games] <...> and take to their owne use all suche somes of money as therby shall arise and be receaved

And the saide Robert Dawes his executors administrators and assignes [doth hereby covenant promise and graunt to and with the saide Philip and Jacob,] allowing to the saide company for every such daye the some of ffortie shillings money of England <...> [In testimony] whereof I the saide Robert Dawes have hereunto sett my hand and seal this [sev]enth daie of April 1614 in the twelfth yeare [of the reign of our sovereign lord &c.] ROBERT DAWES.