Court of Exchequer: Attorney General v Launcelot, Bishop of Winchester, William Henslowe, and Jacob Meade

Item 2, mbs 1-2

Interrogatories to be ministred to witnesses to be examined on the parte and behalf of the Kinges Maiesties Atturney generall plaintiff against William Henslow gentleman & Iacob Mead defendantes

In primis did you know Philip Henslow esquire deceassed brother to the defendant William Henslow, how long did you know him before his death

Item doe you know a certaine Tenemente & gardens commonly taken and reputed to be the kinges Maiesties landes called the great rose ‸⸢now calud the rose and crowne⸣ vpon the banckside in the Countie of Surrey, how long haue you knowne the same, how is or ought the same to be bounded on euery side, what are the particulers of the boundes and lymittes thereof to the best and vttermost of your knowledge remembrance Iudgement or vnderstanding, what is the reason motiue or inducement of that which you shall depose to this Interrogatory

Item in how many seuerall partes or parcelles is the said tenemente and gardens called the great rose now devided or lett, who are the seuerall tenauntes or occupiers of euery seuerall parte or parcell thereof, how much thereof doth euery of them now hould occupie or enioy, what are they and euery of their name or names, what doe you knowe or belieue to be the truth of the matters conteyned in this Interrogatory and what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein

Item doe you knowe certaine landes called the kinges Maiesties lands on the Banck side aforesaid holden by or vnder a lease or demise thereof made by the late Queene Elizabeth to Thomas Keyes and Isabell his wife, Are the said landes called the great Rose parcell thereof as you know or belieue what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein.

Item how long haue you knowne the same landes so lett or demised to the said Thomas Keys and Isabell his wife in whose and how manie seuerall persons possession tenure vse or occupacion now are all & euery the same landes and euery parte and parcell thereof, and what and howe much thereof doe they all and euery of them now hold and enioy, what do you know or belieue to be the truth of all and euery the matters conteyned in this Interrogatory what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein.

Item did the said Thomas Keyes and Isabell his wife or any their assigne or assignes let or set the said landes to any and how manie seuerall person or persons as vndertenauntes to them the said Keyes & his wife or either of them, what are or were the name or names of all euery and how manie of the said vndertenauntes and how much of the said landes or tenementes did they all euery and how manie of them hold or enioy as vndertenauntes to the said Keyes or his wife, as you know belieue or can and remember, and what is the reason of your knowledge belief or remembrance therein.

Item did you knowe one david watson to hold or enioy any parte of the said landes as vndertenant to said Keys or his wife or either of them what rent did the said david watson paie for the same to the said Keyes or his wife or either of them or their or either of their assignee or assignes. how long did he paie the same rent to whome or whose vse did he paie the same rent, what do you knowe or belieue to be the truth of any the matters conteyned in this Interrogatory, what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein

Item did you know a parcell of land or garden grownd heretofore vsed by Pope and Burnaby for a dog yard Is the said garden grownd or dog yard comonly held taken or esteemed to be the Kinges Maiesties landes as you knowe or belieue and what is the reason of your knowledge or belief herein and how is or ought the said dog yard to be butted or bounded.

Item what buildinges haue bene erected and are now standing vpon the said grownd heretofore called the dogg yard, by whome were they built, how much thereof is now held and enioyed by Jacob Mead or in his vse or occupacion as you knowe or belieue, and what is the reason of your belief.

Item is the land whereon the said hope playhowse is built or any and what parte and how much thereof held iudged and esteemed to be the kinges Maiesties landes as you knowe or believe, And what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein, how long and for howe manie yeares hath the same bene held iudged or esteemed so to be.

Item are all the landes from or behind the hope playhowse southward to Mayden lane comonly knowne reputed or taken to be the kinges landes as you know or belieue and what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein, And how long or for how manie yeares haue they bene so reputed or taken.

Item did or do you know the seuerall tenementes howses or groundes on the banckside aforesaid which one Burges Tyton Taylour Adison Spencer Garland Rockett Derry Reignoldes & williamson widow, or any which and how many of them did hold as vndertenantes or leassees of the said Thomas Keyes and Isabell his wife or their or either of their assigne or assignes, who are now tenauntes or occupiers of all and everie the said howses Tenementes or growndes where are the same and euery of them scituate and being, are the same and euery of them in Comon knowledge reputed or taken | to be the kinges landes how long or for how manie years haue the same or any & what parte thereof be so knowne reputed or taken as you know or belieue, and what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein or in that which you shall depose to this Interrogatorie.

Item doe you knowe or haue you heard of one william Payne who was master or deputie of the late Queene Elizabeth her Maiesties game of Beares where did he dwell, how long is yt sithence he died, where or in what place, did he in his lief tyme make or set the bayting place for the Beares, was yt in the outward Court, northwardes towardes the Thames from the said hope plaiehowse, was and is that place where the said Bayting place was sett comonly reputed knowne or taken to be the Bishop of winchesters land & in right of his Bishopprick how long hath the same bene reputed knowne or taken so to be as you know or belieue and what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein, or what moveth you so to depose.

Item did you knowe or haue you heard of certaine scaffoldes or standinges heretofore erected or set vp for people to stand to see the bayting of ye beares were they comonly called Mr Paynes Standinges or reputed knowne or said to be erected by the said william Payne and Symon Poulton or one of them, where or in what place, or in what manner or fashion were the said standinges erected or set vp, was the place where the said standinges were set, knowne or reputed or taken to be parcell of the said Bishop of winchesters landes, as you knowe or belieue, and what is the reason of your knowledge or belief therein.

Item did one Wistow succeed the said Paine to be master or deputie of the said game of beares, did he vsually baite the beares in the same place made or vsed by the said Payne for that purpose in the said vtter Court or yard, when did the said wistowe as you knowe or remember first become master or deputie of the said game, how long did he so continue did he or the said Morgan Pope as you knowe or can remember cause or procure in steed of the said scaffoldes or standinges certaine galleries to be built about the said bayting place, vpon what reason or occupacion and when and how long since was the same donne, where or in what place were the same galleries set, were they set in the said vtter Court, were they larger in Circuit & compasse then the fformer called Mr Payne's Standing, and were they held and esteemed to be erected & sett vpon the said Bishop of winchesters lands as you knowe remember or can beleeve, and what is the reason of your knowledge remembrance or belief therein, or what moveth you so to depose.

Item how long is it sithence the said Philip Henslow deceassed came first to be master or deputie of the said game of beares, were the said galleries then standing, did the said Philip Henslowe afterwardes in his lief tyme take downe or cause to be taken downe the said galleries, did he erect or build or cause to be erected or built in steed thereof the said howse comonly called and now called the hope playhowse, when and how long before he died did he so doe.

Item where and on what grownd did the said Philip henslowe first begin to laie the foundation of the said hope playhowse, did he afterwardes alter the foundacion thereof and make and set yt or cause yt to be made and set in the place where now it standes what reason or cause did he alledge for the alteracion thereof, & what did he saie did moue and induce him so to doe, did he saie that now he had set the said hope playhouse or laid the foundacion thereof wholly vpon the kinges land or what did he saie tending to any such or the like effect, what reason cause motiue or inducement did he affirme did move drawe or perswade him to cause the said howse to be sett or built vpon the kinges Maiesties land, what was the full tenor substance or particulers of the speeches vsed or vttered by the said Philip Henslowe whereby he expressed his intention or reason therein, and the occasion that might drawe induce or moue him to vse or vtter the said speeches or expresse his intention towching the building of the said howse in that place./

Item is the wryting now shewed vnto you a true copie extracted out of ye Registrie of the Deane and Chapter of Winchester of a lease graunted by the Bishop of Winchester of certain landes called the Bell & the Cock scituate vpon the banckside in the County of Surrey./

Item 3, mb 1 (19 September) (John Baxter's deposition)

Deposicions of Witnesses examined on the part and behest of the Kinges Maiesties Attorney generall plaintiff against William Hensloe gentleman and Iacob Meade defendantes taken the <...> ‸⸢xix and Twentyeth⸣ <..........> daye of September and the Tenth daye of October in the Eighteenth yeare of the Raigne of our souerayne Lord King Iames that now is of England att the signe of the dauncinge Beares on the Bankside in Southwark before Sir Thomas ffowler knighte ffraunces Mitchell Esquire Thomas ffoster esquire and ffrauncis Poulton Esquire by virtue of a Comission vnto them directed out of the Court of Exchequer, beareing Teste quinto die Iulij Anno decimo octauo Iacobi &c

Iohn Baxter aged ffitie seaven yeares sworne and sayth To the first Interrogatory this deponent saith that he knoweth the parties plaintiffe and defendantes

To the second he saith that he knoweth A Tenement now called the Rose and Crowne and hath been soe called this thirtie yeares wherein one Drew did inhabite who did report to this deponent that it was taken of Mr Keyes but whether it be the house called the great Rose in the Interrogatory mencioned this deponent cannot certainly depose And further to this Interrogatory this deponent cannot depose

To the third fourth fift sixt and seaventh this deponent cannot depose.

To the eighth and nynth he saith that he did not know Pope and Burnaby in the Interrogatory mencioned But he knoweth certaine houses erected on plott of ground called the dogg yard which he hath heard was in the occupacion of the said Pope and Barnaby vizt ffirst one house was thereon built now called the house for the young beares there is another house there called the house for the white beares and the playhouse called the hope which were erected and built by Phillip Hensloe and now held in the possession of Iacob Meade or his assignes

To the tenth he ‸⸢saith that hee⸣ verily beleiveth that those buildinges aforesaid were sett vppon the Kinges land for that at the first driving of the pyles for the foundacion of the hope Playhouse the workmen had incroched vppon the Bishopp of Winchesters land whereof Mr Allen being advertised that it would breede discord hereafter and coming thither advised Mr Hensloe to alter his Circle of the Playhouse and sett it alltogether vppon <..>e Kinges land which was accordingly done./

<......>th he cannot depose other then this he hath heard it was the Kinges land./

<........>entheeth he cannot depose otherwise he hath allready in the tenth.

(John Taylor's deposition)

<....> Taylor

xxvj September xviiij^o Iacobi Regis./

aged seaventy seaven yeares sworne and sayth

<.>o the first Interrogatory this deponent seyth that he knoweth the parties plaintiff and defendantes and he knew Phillipp Hensloe <...> mencioned and knewe him by the space of ffiftie yeares

<...> saith that he knew the Tenement called by the name of the great Rose and now <...> by the name of the Rose and Crowne reputed to be the kinges land and scituated vppon the bank<...> hath knowne it by the space of threescore yeares and vpwardes and it abutteth vppon the kinges land <...> Maidlane

<...> cannot certainly depose

<...> he cannot otherwise depose then he hath in the second Interrogatory only that the said Tenement in the <...>encioned was held by Lease from Thomas Keyes and Elizabeth his wife who held by demise from the late Queene Elizabeth./

<..> the 5^th he saith that he knewe the said Keyes and his assignes held the said Landes by the space of forty eight yeres and nowe are in the severall possessions of Widdow Tyton Iohn Taylor this deponent Mrs Havell, Thomas Marchaunt Iohn Ioyce Mr Cordwell. George ffurlong Iohn Pickett and A dyer in <...>don Roger Ioanes and ffrauncis Hynde

<..> the sixth and seaventh Interrogatories this deponent cannot depose/

<..> the eigth Interrogatory this deponent saith that he knoweth A parcell of Land or ground heretofore vsed by Pope and Barnarby for A dogg yard and that he doth verily thinke it is the Queenes land for that it hath beene <..> reputed

<.....> nynth he saith that he knoweth that there are divers buildinges erected vppon the sayd dogg yard, vizt <.> bull house and stable and house for white beares another house for young beares built by Phillipp Hensloe and he knoweth Iacob Meade to hold the hope playhouse and the said buildinges before in this Interrogatory mencioned and a great yarde wherein is made starch

<...> Interrogatory this deponent saith that he knoweth that the hope Playhouse is wholly built vppon the Kinges land and is soe esteemed and the reason is becawse he knoweth that Mr Hensloe answered the Rent to the kinge for it and he himself hath bene A Witnes of the receipt thereof when he was at home

<...> To the eleaventh he saith that all the Landes in Southwarke from or behind the hope play howse towardes Maide Lane are comonly knowne and reputed to be the kinges land his reason is as before in the precedent deposicion

To the twelveth he saith that he knoweth that all the Tenauntes mencioned in this Interrogatory were or are tenauntes to Keyes or his assignes and the landes mencioned in the sayd Interrogatory are scituat vppon the banckside and reputed the Kinges land

To the thirteenth Interrogatory he saith that he knew William Paine in the Interrogatory named maister or deputye of the Beares who dwelt in the house which now is called the dauncinge beares and that he dyed about forty yeares since and that close by the house wherein he dwelt he built A place to bayte the beares and it was in the outer Court towardes the Thames northward from the now hope Playhouse and was the Bishop of Winchesters land and the reason is because he hath seene the Lease and heard it read./

To the fourteenth he saith that he knew those lowe scaffoldes or standinges in the Interrogatory mencioned and that they were erected by Paine or Poulton in the said Interrogatory named and that they were built vppon the Bishop of Winchesters land

To the fifteenth he saith that Wistou did succeed Paine as Deputy of the game of Beares and did usually bayte the beares in the same place in the outer Court or yarde and that Wistou was Master of the game about ffiue and fforty yeres agoe But how long he continued Master of them he knoweth not but whether Pope in the <.....> named did build any standing or gallary or noe this deponent knoweth not./

(Jane Havall's deposition)

<...> Septembris xviij^o Iacobi Regis./

<..>ne Hav<..> Joane havall ‸ ⸢widdowe⸣ aged seaventy two yeares sworne and saith

To the first shee saith that <...> knoweth the parties plaintiff and defendantes and shee knew Phillipp Hensloe deceased in the Interrogatory mencioned and ‸⸢<.....>⸣ him by the space of fforty yeares

T<....> second Interrogatory this deponent saith that shee well knoweth the tenement in the Interrogatory mencioned ancyently called the great Rose and nowe called the Rose and Crowne one the banck called the Stewes in Southwark and hath knowne the same ever since Bishop Horne was Bishop of Winchester but for the particuler boundes thereof this deponent cannot depose./

To the third Interrogatory this deponent cannot certainly depose.

To the fourth shee saith that she knoweth certaine landes called the Kinges landes held by Lease vnder Thomas Keyes and that the tenement called the great Rose was parcell of the said landes called the Kinges landes and Rent was answered vnto Thomas Keyes for the same

To the eighth Interrogatory this deponent saith that shee very well knoweth the parcell of ground in the Interrogatory mencioned vsed by Pope and Burnaby for A dogg yard and it hath bene allwaies esteemed and reputed to be the kinges land and she <...>eth it to be true for that Rent was answered vnto Mr Keyes for the same.

To the tenth shee <...> shee hath heard that the landes lying from behind the hope Playhouse southwardes towardes Maide lane <...>ell of the Kinges land

<..> the twelueth I<.....>he saith that Burges Tyton and all the rest in the Interrogatory mencioned were vndertenauntes vnto Tho<...> Keyes and held by seuerall leases from him And further shee cannot depose

(Edward Ferrers' deposition)

<....> Septembris xviij Iacobi Regis

Edward Ferr<...> aged fforty six yeares or thereabouts sworne and saith

To the first he saith that he knoweth the parties plaintiff and defendantes and knewe Phillipp Hensloe deceased and knew him by the space of twenty yeares before his death

To the the sixteenth Interrogatory this deponent saith that he hath knowne Phillipp Hensloe to be deputy and Master of the beares by the space of twenty yeares and vpwards and that he did take downe certaine galleries which were about the place where vsually they bayted the beares in. which were decayed and did erect and build in stead thereof the house now <....> house which was about two yeares before he dyed. <...>that Phillipp Hensloe did informe this deponent that he <.....> sett the foundacion <...>house vppon kinges land and that the reason was that he would set yt soe was because he did <...> ffee fferme of the kinge And would haue delt with this deponent for the procurement of the ffee <...> hauing delt with his Maiestie for some fee ffermes.

(George Furlong's deposition)

xxvj^to Septembris Iacobi Regis./

George ffurlong aged threescore yeares sworne and saith

<...> that he knoweth the parties plaintiff and defendantes

<...> this deponent saith he doth <...> the Tenement anciently called the great Rose and now called the <....> and Crowne and hath knowne the same by the space of fforty yeares but for the particuler boundes <...> he cannot certainly expresse.

To the third he cannot certainly depose./

<...> To <...> fourth he saith that he knoweth certaine landes on the bankside holden by lease vnder <...>beth made to Thomas Keyes and Elizabeth his wife but whether the Tenement called <...>be parcell of those landes soe demised from the said late Queene to Thomas Keies and <...> he knoweth not

<...> the fifth he saith he knoweth not the landes in the Interrogatory mencioned and hath knowne the same by the space of fforty yeares and he further saith that Mr Allen now holdeth all the said landes in his owne handes except eight tenementes and A garden plott which are in the posession of this deponent

<...> To the sixth ⸢<...>⸣ he knoweth that Thomas Keies did demise vnto Thomas Stone and David Watson all the said landes in the Interrogatory mencioned and that they paid Nyne poundes a yeare Rent to the sayd Mr Keyes

To the eighth he saith he doth not know what land or garden was vsed by Pope and Burnaby in the Interrogatory mencioned.

<...> To the nynth he saith that there is A bull howse erected vppon the ground called the dogg yard./

To the 11^th he saith that all the landes from behind the hope playhouse southward towardes Maidlane are reputed and esteemed to be the Kinges lands

To the twelveth he saith that he knew Burges Tyton and the rest in the Interrogatory mencioned to be vndertenauntes to the sayd lands who held the same by demise from Thomas Keyes./

To the sixteenth he saith he cannot certainly depose./

(Elizabeth Hoke's deposition)

10 Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Elizabeth Hoke the wife of Iohn Hoke aged seaventy yeares sworne and saith

To the first Interrogatory this deponent saith that she knew Phillipp Hensloe deceased in the Interrogatory mencioned and knew him by the space of thirty years or thereaboutes.

To the fourth Interrogatory this deponent saith that shee doth know certaine landes called the Kinges landes on the bankside holden by Mr Keyes by vertue of lease from the late Queene Elizabeth lying from the Pyke garden to the Gun But whether the great Rose in the Interrogatory mencioned were parcell thereof or noe this Deponent cannot certainly depose

To the seventh Interrogatory shee saith that shee knew David Watson in the Interrogatory mencioned and that he was an vndertenant vnto Mr Keyes but what landes the said Watson h<..>d of him shee knowth not but only that he did pay Rent vnto Mr Keyes and further to this Interrogatory she cannot depose

To the tenth Interrogatory shee saith That shee thinketh that the hope playhouse was built vppon Mr Paynes land and the reason is because Mr Paine receaved rent for the same land and further this deponent cannot depose

(William Peircy's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

William Pei<.>cy of Westminster aged threescore and eight yeares or thereaboute sworne and saith

To the first Interrogatory he saith that he knew Phillipp Hensloe deceased in the Interrogatory mencioned and knew him by the space of seaven yeares before his death

Tothe eig<..> Interrogatory this deponent saith that he knew A parcell of land vsed by Pope and Burnaby in the Interrogatory mencioned for A dogyard but the certaine lymittes and boundes thereof he cannot sett forth which was reputed to be the kinges land

To the eleventh Interrogatory this deponent saith That he knew the severall tenementes of the severall occupacions of the persons in the Interrogatory named and knew that the said persons were Tenantes vnto Thomas Keyes and Isabell his wife but whoe are the ‸⸢now⸣ present occupiers of them he knoweth not and by viewe this deponent is able to sett forth the scytuacion and boundes thereof which tenementes were allwaies reputed to be the Kinges landes

(Jane Peircy's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Iane Peircy wife of William Peircy aged threescore and one yeares sworne and saith

To the second Interrogatory this deponent saith that shee knoweth the tenement in the Interrogatory mencioned called by the name of the great Rose and there was nyne tenementes more which My Keyes ffather to this deponent held by vertue of A graunt from the late Queene Elizabeth All which tenementes were scytuat and being vppon the bankside in Southwark which she hath knowne by the space of fforty yeares or thereaboutes which shee cannot certainly bound on every side by words but by view shee canne shew them where they stand

To the sixth Interrogatory shee saith that hir said ffather held of the Queene beside the ten<.> houses on the bankside in hir deposicion to the second Interrogatory mencioned by virtue of the said graunt certaine houses in Maid lane but the number thereof shee knoweth not ‸⸢nor⸣ to whome they were lett and certaine dog gardens for which he tooke six poundes A yeare rent and also one great garden out of which the pikegarden was taken for which he took nyne pounde a yeare rent

To the seaventh Interrogatory this deponent saith That shee knew david Watson and did knowe he held A greate Garden out of which the Pyke garden was taken for which he paid Nyne poundes per Annum to hir said ffather

To the eleaventh Interrogatory this deponent cannot depose

(John Browne's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Iohn B<.....> aged twenty nyne yeares or thereaboutes sworne and saith

To the first he saieth that he knew Phillip ‸⸢Hensloe⸣ deceased in the Interrogatory named

To the second Interrogatory this deponent saith that Phillipp Hensloe did begin to lay the foundacion of the new playhouse vppon part of the old beare garden and that afterwardes he did alter part of the foundacion thereof and sett it in the place where it now standeth and that Mr Edward Allens perswasion did move and <...> him soe to doe because he should sett the founda<..>n thereof wholly vppon the kinges land and did sett the foundacion thereof about foure foot fur<.>her Southward vppon the kinges lande then it was first laide./

(signed) Thomas ffowler (signed) <...> (signed) francis Michell
Francis Poulton

Item 4, single membrane (Interrogatories for the Bishop of Winchester et al)

Interrogatory to be ministred vnto the Wittnesses to be produced for and on the
behalf of the right reverend ffather in God Lancelott Lord Bishopp of Winchester
William Hensloe, and Iacob Meade defendants in the Informacon or Bill
Exhibited against them by his Maiesties Attorney generall Complainant/

Imprimis doe you knowe the parties plaintiff and defendantes, and how longe haue you knowne them

Item doe you knowe the Messuages Landes and Tenementes in variance betweene the now Lord Bishopp of Winchester, and Edward Allen, and howe longe have you knowne them, declare the whole trueth and your knowledge herein

Item doe you not knowe, or haue you not heard, That Stephen, Late Bishopp of Winchester in or about the one and Thirtyeth yeare of Kinge Henry the Eight did make a Lease of Certeine Capitall Messuages and Tenementes parcell of the Bishopprick, Called by the seuerall names of the Barge, the Bell, and the Cock with the appurtenaunces sett, Lyeing, and being vppon the Banck there Called the Stewes in Southwark to William Payne of Southwark aforesaid yeoman, for the Terme of Nynetye and Nyne yeares, or thereaboutes yealding and payeing a Certaine yearely Rent, And are not ye said Messuages & Tenementes abutting vppon the Thames on the North side, and vppon a tenemente Called the Rose on the East, a tenemente sometymes the prioresse of Stratford on the west and Maiden Lane on the South

Item doe you not knowe, or haue you not heard, That by force of the said Lease the said William Payne and his Assignes haue ever since possessed, occupied and enioyed the said Capitall Mesauges & Tenementes Called the Bardge, the Bell, and the Cocke, sett, Lyeing, and being vppon the Bank then Called the Stewes in Southwarke, And ‸⸢are⸣ not the said Messuages and Tenementes held and enioyed att this tyme by force and virtue of that Lease declare your knowledge, and the trueth thereof.

item haue not the Rentes reserved vppon the Lease made by Stephen Late Bishop of Winchester to William Payne as aforesaid, bene duely answeared to the succeeding Bishopps of the said Stephen

Item doe you knowe or haue heard Whether the said William Payne, or his Assignes of the originall lease made by the said Stephen Late Bishop of winchester of the Capitall Messuages and Tenementes aboue mencioned did keepe and hold the said Messauages and Tenementes in their own handes and occupacion, or not, declare the trueth thereof/

Item did not the said William Payne, or his Assignes of the said Lease made of the premisses by the said Stephen Late Bishopp of Winchester, Lett out severall Messuages and Tenementes to severall vndertenauntes yealding seuerall Rentes to the said William Payne, and his Assignes

Item Cann you remember what those seuerall Rents were, what the Tenauntes names were that paid the Rents, and howe those Tenements were scituated and bounded, or by what names or Signes those Tenementes were knowne or Called, declare the trueth and Circumstances thereof

Item doe you not vnderstand or are you not <..> informed, That there hath bene diverse buildinges and houses erected and sett vpp vppon those Landes and Tenementes lett vnto the said William Payne since the said Lease made by the said Late Bishopp; And are not you able to shewe and point out the houses soe new built vppon the Landes of the Bishopp of Winchester, yf yea then what are the Tenants names, in whose occupacion are those houses soe new built and by what Signes are those houses to be knowne

Item doe you knowe or haue ‸⸢you⸣ heard, Whoe had the Interest of that Lease made to William Paine by Stephen Gardiner late Bishopp of Winchester about the Six And Thirtieth yeare of the Late Queene before itt was Conveyed or assigned to Phillipp Hensloe,

Item doe you knowe those Messuages and Landes ‸⸢since⸣ Called by the name of the Beare garden, and how long haue you knowne them

Item was not the ‸⸢now⸣ Beare garden and all the Messuages therevnto belonging ever more accompted & reputed parcell of the possession the Bishopp of winchester, And what hath induced such opinion, declare your knowledge and the Circumstaunces thereof

Item doe you knowe the newe buildinges Called the hope Playhouse and was itt not erected vppon parcell of the Landes and Tenementes knowne by the name of the Bearegarden, belonging to the Bishopp of winchester

Item In howe many severall places on the Banck side haue the game of the Beares, and Beare<...> formerly kept

Item whether doe you knowe, or haue heard, that the house of one Michell ffrauncis together with his gardens one the west side of the Playe house were once parcell of the Bearegarden, And that hes nowe dwelling house <...> a Beare house

item whether doe you knowe, or haue Credibly heard, That there was once a Pond betwene the now dwelling houses of Michell ffraunces and the house of George ffurlong which did belong to the Beare garden, and served for the washeing of the Beares

Item doe you knowe, or haue heard to what vse the ground lyeinge on the west side of the Play house where the Bull howse and and haye house nowe stand, were formerly imployed vnto, And whether itt were not ‸⸢a⸣dogg yard and belonging to the Beare garden

Item whether doe you know, or haue Credibly heard, That att the tyme of the erecting of the new playe house Called the hope, there was found a vault, sinck, or ditch, within the presinctes of the new playe house which is now stopped vpp And what manner of vault <...> itt was, and which waye itt extended, whether towardes Maide Lane, or any other waye and vppon what ground was the same vault and by whome stopped vpp

Item whether doe you knowe, or haue heard of a house Called the Blew Boare abutting vppon the Thames, and late in the occupacion of William Glover deceased, yf yea, then how long haue you knowne itt, and did you not knowe that the said william Glouer did pull downe and repair the same house, and whether did not the house now in the occupacion of (blank) Tylour widdowe stand vppon the foundacion of the house of the said william Glover

Item whether are not you Tenaunt to the said Edward Allen of any parte of the thinges depending now in <...> or of any other house or houses Landes or Tenementes & of which and for how long tyme haue you bene so Tenaunt <...> him, Sett downe the trueth of your knowledge therein

Item what speech, or Conference hath the said Edward Allen or any other on his behalf ‸⸢had⸣ and whoe vsed to you touching or Concerning the said thinges now in question or any of them, And when, where, and in whose presence and to what end or purpose And what reward or promise of reward was there given or made to you to yeild your testimonie, or to be a witnes for him therein Saye also the trueth of your knowledg therein

Item 5, single membrane (26 September-10 October) (Depositions on behalf of the Bishop of Winchester et al)

<...> right reverend ffather in God Launcelott Lord Bishop of Winchester William Hensloe gentleman and Iacob Meade defendantes in the Informacion exhibited against them by his Maiestes Attorney generall Complainant taken att the place & dayes and by the Comissioners aforesaid by virtue of the Comission

Iohn Browne ‸⸢aged twenty nyne yeares or thereaboute worne and saith⸣ to the eighteenth Interrogatory ⸢he⸣saith That at the erecting of the new playhouse called the Hope there was A sinke or open gutter for the vse & conveniency of the beare garden on the West side of the old beare garden running southward which is nowe stopped vpp and that the old dogg Kennell were more Westward beyond the same and that the now new playhouse is in part built vppon the said sinke and where the old dogg kennell stood

(John Baxter's deposition)

xxvj^to Sept xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Iohn Baxter aged fifte seaven yeares sworne and saith

To the eighteenth Interrogatory this deponent saith that he knoweth that at the erectinge of the hope playhouse there was A sinke on the west side of the playhouse which extended towarde Maidlane and now stopped vpp but none within the playhouse

(John Taylor's deposition)

xxvj^to Sept xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Iohn Taylor aged seventy seven yeares sworne and saith

To the first Interrogatory he knoweth the parties plaintiff and defendantes

To the third this deponent saith that he both heard and beleiveth that Stephen late Bishop of Winchester did demise certaine messuages and tenementes called by the names of the Barge the Bell and the Cock with the appurtenaunces scytuat and being on the banke there called the Stewes in Southwarke to William Paine for the tearme of nynety nyne yeares and the said messuages and tenementes are butted as in the Interrogatory is expressed and he is induced soe to beleive because he hath seene the said lease and heard ‸⸢it⸣ read/

To the fourth he saith that the said William Paine and his assignes have ever since ‸⸢enioyed⸣ the said Capitall messuages and tenements by force and virtue of the said lease and are soe enioyed vnto this day

To the fift Interrogatory he saith that he doth believe that the Rent due vppon the said lease hath been duly answered vnto the ‸⸢said⸣ Bishopp and his successours./

To the sixth he saith that the said William Paine did hold and enioy in his owne possession some part of the said Tenementes before expressed, vizt two Roomes and did demise the beare garden bullhouse and three tenementes vnto one Arnold, Simon Bird and William Glover and receaved rent for them the particulers of which rent, this deponent knoweth not.

To the seventh and eighth he cannot further depose then he hath said in to the sixth.

To the tenth he cannot certainly depose.

To the twelueth he saith that the bearegarden and messauges thereunto belonging have allwaies been reputed parcell of the possession of the Bishop of Winchester.

To the fourteenth Interrogatory he saith that he remembreth that the game of bearebayting hath been kept fower in severall places vizt at Mason steares on the bankside neere Maidlane by the Corner of the Pyke garden and at the beare garden which was parcell of the possession of William Payne and the place where they are now kept

To the sixteenth he saith that he knoweth that there was A pond betweene the now dwelling house of Michaell ffrauncis and the house of George ffurlong which did belong to the Bearegarden and served for the washing of the beares/

To the seaventeenth he saith that the ground lying on the West side of the playhouse where the bullhouse and hay house now stand was aunciently A dogyard belonging to the ‸⸢beare⸣ garden

To the eigtheenth Interrogatory he saith that at the tyme of the erecting of the new playhouse there was A sinke or vault found in the precincte of the new playhouse which is now stopped vpp which sinke or vault was made with hurdells and covered with bourds and extended towards Maidlane.

To the nyneteenth he saith that he doth well remember A house called the blew boare abutting vppon the Thames and late in the occupacion of William Glover and he hath knowne the same by the space of three score yeares and he doth well remember that the said William Glover did pull downe A beare house and therof made A tenement for his sonne and he further saith that for Tylors house he knoweth nothing but for Tytons house he saith that it is not built vppon the foundacion of Glovers house./

(Elizabeth Hooke's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Elizabeth Hooke aged seventy yeares sworne and saith./

To the first Interrogatory this deponent saith shee knoweth the parties plaintiff and defendantes

To the third Interrogatory this deponent saith that shee hath heard that Stephen Gardiner late Bishop of Winchester made A lease vnto William Paine in the Interrogatory named of certaine houses on the bankside extending from the Rose Westward to the Gunne and that the Gun was parcell thereof and that her mothers house was the next house to the Rose and ‸⸢payd⸣fower nobles A yeare Rent vnto Mr Paine for the same house. But knoweth not that the said tenementes demised vnto Mr Paine were called by the names of the barge the Bell and the Cock as in the Interrogatory is sett forth/

To the fifteenth and sixteenth Interrogatory this deponent saith That shee hath heard that Michaell ffrauncis house wherein he nowe dwelleth was parcell of the bearegarden and that the said house was A bearehouse and that there was A pond betweene the sayd Mr ffrauncis his house and the house of George ffurlong belonging to the bearegarden which served for the washing of the beares and further shee cannot depose

(Peter Tompson's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Peter Tompson aged sixtie two yeares or thereaboute sworne and saith./

To the twelueth Interrogatory this deponent saith That he hath heard and believeth that the now bearegarden and the messuages thereunto belonging haue allwaies bene reputed and accounted parcell of the possession of the Bishop of Winchester.

To the thirteenth Interrogatory he saith that at the erecting of the new playhouse called the hope about seaven yeares since by Mr Phillipp Hensloe he the said Mr Hensloe did partly by threates and partly by intreats get and had from one William Glover whoe dwelt vppon part of the Bishops lands A peece of his backside to erect & sett vpp part of the said playhouse called the hope and that he did three severall tymes enlarge his playhouse vppon the sayd Glovers land but to what quantity this deponent now remembreth not.

To the fourteenth Interrogatory he saith That he hath knowne two severall places vppon the bankside where the beares were vsually bayted

To the fifteenth Interrogatory he saith that Michaell ffrancis his house together with the gardens on the west side of the playhouse were reputed parcell of the beare garden and his now dwellinge house was a bearehowse to keepe young beares in

To the seaventeenth Interrogatory he saith the grounde on the West side of the playhouse where the Bull and hey howse now stand was ymployed for A dogyard ‸⸢and⸣ belonging to the beare garden.

(Richard Prosser's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Richard Prosser of St Georges in Southwark wellfounder aged three score yeares or theraboutes sworne and saith

To the eighteenth Interrogatory this deponent saith that Southward from the now playhouse towarde Maidlane ⸢in⸣ there digging for a well about halfe A yeare since after he had digged some five foote in forced ground he did find as it were A trench betweene two hurdells which seemed to haue been a vault or sink extendinge towardes Maidlane

(William Tancock's deposition)

Decimo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Willi<.>m Tancock aged fiftie yeares or <...>

<...>

(Jeremy Glover's deposition)

Ieremy Gloverof the Bankside aged fourty <...> saieth

To the twelueth and thirteenth Interrogatory this deponent <...> land wherevpon the <.........>garden is built hath bene in all his tyme reputed to <...> shopp of Winchesters land <.......> knoweth to be true for that it was taken out of his ffather<...> vnder Mr Paines lease made by the Bishopp of Winchester

To the fifteenth Interrogatory he saith that he knew the <...> house with the yard of Michaell ff<...> in the Interrogatory mencioned was A beare house wherein was kept young beares

To the sixteenth Interrogatory he saith That he hath heard and doth beleeve that there was A pond betweene the now dwellinge howse of Michaell ffrauncis and George ffurlong to wash the beares in and he is indu<...> soe to belieue for that since he doth remember there was an olde pond there filled vpp with <......>

To the seaventeenth Interrogatory he saith That he doth very well remember the ground lying on the west s<...> of the playhouse where the Bullhouse and hay house now stand was formerly A doggyard called the green yard and parcell of the beare garden

(Luce Bachelor's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Luce Bachelor the wife of Humfrey Bachelor aged thirty six yeares sworne and saith

To the twelveth ⸢and thirteenth ⸣ Interrogatory this deponent saith that parcell of the ground whereon the new beare garden is built hath been all the tyme reputed parcell of the possessions of the Bishop of Winchester and shee believeth it to be true for that there hath bene land taken three severall tymes out of hir fathers yard for the erecting of the <....> playhouse which land hir said ffather held vnder Mr Paine his lease made by the Bishop of Winchester

To the fifteenth Interrogatory shee saith that shee doth know of hir owne knowledg that the house and garden wherein Michaell ffrauncis in the Interrogatory named now dwelleth was parcell of the bearegarden and was a bearehouse to keepe young beares in

To the sixteenth Interrogatory shee saith That there was A pond betweene the now dwelling house of Michaell ffrauncis and the house of George ffurlong which served to wash beares in and is nowe filled vpp

To the eighteenth Interrogatory this deponent saith That shee hath hearde William Glover hir father say that there was A house of office or vault at the south end of hir ffathers ground which is now stopped vpp and part of the now newe playhouse built vppon the same place

(Katherine Glover's deposition)

x^mo Octobris xviij^o Iacobi Regis

Katherine Glover the wife of Ieremy Glover aged thirty nyne yeares sworne and saith

To the thirteenth Interrogatory this deponent saith that shee knoweth the new buildinge called the hope playhouse and that part therof was built vppon William Glovers yard being this deponentes husbands father which he held vnder A lease from the Bishopp of Winchester.

(signed) Thomas ffowler francis Michell <...>
Francis Poulton