On 23 November 1619 Christopher Beeston responds to John Smith's bill of complaint against him for non-payment for apparel and other tinsel stuff. He complains that the suit is impossible to answer for its lack of detail, both in the amount and kinds of goods involved, and in the imprecise assigning of fault in the persons named. The number of sharers in the company at the time Smith names were ten, but only four are named in this suit. He observes that the company in question, the former Queen Anne's Men, has changed and its members dispersed among other companies since the business arrangements at the heart of the suit. He concedes that he was once a member of said company, but has since the death of the Queen left Queen's men and entered into the service of Prince Charles. He denies requesting the stuff in question from Smith for the use of the company, though he did pay ready money for clothes for his children. Beeston never looked at Smith's account book, never approved the debt of £46 5s 8p, and has never known nor enticed away the servant Thomas Chambers.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Beeston, Christopher | defendant | company manager |
| Smith, John | plaintiff | |
| Chambers, Thomas | servant |