Viewing Event Record: Chancery, Brayne v Burbage: John Hyde deposes

Abstract

Margaret Brayne sues James and Cuthbert Burbage in Chancery court over her share of the Theatre playhouse profits. John Hyde deposes 8 December 1590. John Brayne and John Prynne, a broker, borrowed £125 8s 11d from Hyde 26 September 1579. At the same time, James Burbage mortgaged the lease on the Theatre and its property to Hyde, on the condition that if the borrowed sum was repaid to Hyde within twelve months and a day, Hyde should return the lease to Burbage. He recalls that the lease and other bonds were made over to him 'at the time of the said conveyance sealed by the defendant,' and that Brayne agreed to the arrangement. Burbage, Brayne, and Prynne were bound to Hyde for a further £200 as security against the repayment of the mortgage. John Hyde testifies that, offended at James Burbage and John Brayne's failure to repay their debt, he threatened to take possession of the Theatre property and had Burbage arrested sometime around June 1582. Attended by his arresting officer, Burbage then went to Hyde's house and left £20 with his wife. He was discharged on the condition that he would return when Hyde sent for him. Burbage complained that Brayne had seized a large portion of the profits from the Theatre, which he would neither share with Burbage, nor pay to Hyde. Hyde thereupon dismissed Brayne's interest in the Theatre property and title. Because Brayne refused to deliver any of the money he had received, Hyde was forced to appoint Burbage and a servant to collect £5 a week from the Theatre profits, whereby he received some £20 or £30. After John Brayne's death, Hyde stated that the lease and bonds would be 'set over and assigned' to George Clough, Hyde's father in law, but this did not in fact occur. Hyde suggests that Clough did visit Burbage to evict him from the Theatre, or at least to threaten him; Burbage responded that he could not leave, as he 'had set down and prescribed to him for the redemption of his said lease.'

Date Event Recorded

Date

From: 8 December 1590 (Source of claim: original)

Date Event Happened

Date

From: 8 December 1590 (Source of claim: original)

Venues

Name

Theatre

People