Viewing Event Record: Requests, Keysar vs Burbage et al: The defendants submit a rejoinder

Abstract

Robert Keysar sues and Richard Burbage, Cuthbert Burbage, John Heminges, and Henry Condell in Requests Court. Here the defense counsel submits a rejoinder to the plaintiff's replication. Burbage and the other defendants categorically reject Keysar's claim to have purchased a sixth part of the Blackfriars playhouse property from John Marston. They add that Marston could not have legitimately purchased the share in question from Henry Evans, as the terms of the lease between Evans and Richard Burbage prohibited 'grauntinge assigneigne or puttinge away' any part of the premises to another party. The defendants confess that Henry Evans is in possession of the 'Apparell goodes playebookes properties for playes & other like thinges' to which Keysar claims a sixth part, but deny any ownership or use on their part. In response to Keysar's accusation that they had paid a year of 'dead rent' to the other owners of London's private playhouses, the defendants point out that any such arrangement implicates Keysar himself, as to their knowledge there are 'but onely three private play howses in the Citty of London': one in Blackfriars, owned by the defendants, one in Whitefriars 'in the handes or occupacion of the said Complt himselfe,' and one other at St Paul's in the ownership of 'Mr Pierce,' then unused as a playing venue. They name a "Mr Roceter,' in the company of Keysar, as the party that effected the dead rent to cease playing at St Paul's to 'aduance theire gaines & profitt.' They contend that after this arrangement between Pierce and Rosseter, the plaintiff and his company found themselves 'ouercharged & agreeued' and so approached Burbage and the other defendants to share in the cost of the £20 per annum to Pierce for the closure of the St. Paul's venue, half of which they agreed to pay 'in all loue' and for the benefit of the plaintiff. They contend that Keysar's suit is motivated by jealousy and directed at Burbage and the other defendants -- rather than Henry Evans -- so as to avoid his more knowledgeable testimony about Keysar's 'vntruths.' They also maintain that Keysar's account of keeping a company and of £1000 lost profits are exaggerated; any such losses are due to the 'playes ceasinge in the City of London either through sicknes or for some other cause.'

Date Event Recorded

Date

From: 19 June 1609 (Source of claim: transcription)

Date Event Happened

Date

From: circa 1607 To: 19 June 1610 (Source of claim: transcription)

Venues

Name

Blackfriars (II)

Name

Whitefriars

Name

St Paul's (II)

Troupes

Name

Children of the Queen's Revels (1604-c1614)

People