Cuthbert Burbage sues Giles Allen in Requests court over the Theatre playhouse property. Robert Miles deposes 1 October 1600. Miles says that James Burbage did draw up a renewal of the lease, but that Allen refused to sign it; he can say no more since there is no copy of the lease to review. Miles affirms that he has heard that James did spend at least £200 on improving the property, and that as far as he knows Burbage and Brayne did keep the property in good repair, but that he has not seen the property recently. Miles agrees with Allen's theory that Cuthbert and Richard Burbage assumed most of James' goods, but made their mother Ellen the executrix of James' estate in order to disappoint creditors. Miles affirms that John Brayne provided half the cost of the Theatre, and was cheated of a share in the lease by James. Miles estimates the Burbages have made at least a thousand marks on the Theatre. Miles says he has heard Allen complain that James was a bad tenant, but only since the attempt to renew the lease, and that he has not heard Allen complain that the property was kept in bad repair. He also affirms that James did assign an interest in the lease to John Hyde about fifteen years ago.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Burbage, Richard | brother | |
| Allen, Giles | defendant | gentleman, lessor |
| Miles, Robert | deponent | gentleman |
| Burbage, James | leaseholder | deceased, playhouse owner |
| Hyde, John | leaseholder | |
| Burbage, Cuthbert | playhouse manager | gentleman, leaseholder, playhouse owner |
| Brayne, John | playhouse sharer | |
| Burbage, Ellen | wife | executrix, widow |