A summary prepared in Hilary term 1569 of a lawsuit filed the autumn before provides details of the construction of the Red Lion Theatre. John Brayne, grocer and citizen, has sued John Reynolds, carpenter, over a bond of 20 marks for the building of the stage and tower at the Red Lion, which Reynolds has refused to pay. Brayne claims that Reynolds has not fulfilled the obligations of their contract; Reynolds counters that he has, but has been impeded by Brayne. He is willing to offer proof of his work to date. The court resolves to bring in a jury on the case before the Queen at Westminster. Specific details of the planned construction of the stage include that the single scaffold or stage must be of well-seasoned timber, it must be five feet above the ground and measure forty feet north and south by thirty feet east and west. A 'certayne space or voyde parte of the same stage [must be] left unborded.' Also called for is a turret over the stage measuring thirty feet high from the ground with 'a convenyent flower [floor] or Tymber and boords within the same turrett seaven foote under the toppe of the same turrett.' The turret must be well-braced as well.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Heywood, Richard | attorney | |
| Reynolds, John | defendant | |
| Brayne, John | plaintiff |