The first set of interrogatories in the Crown's Exchequer suit against William Henslowe and Jacob Meade raises questions about William Payne's successor to the Mastership of the bears, and about the size and disposition of the Bear Garden built to replace the original building, which notoriously collapsed in January 1583. In Interrogatory 15, the Crown asks whether 'one Wistow' succeeded William Payne as Master of the Bears, whether he continued to use the same yard as Payne, when exactly he assumed the office, and how long he continued in it. The Crown asks furthermore whether Wistow'or Morgan Pope installed 'galleries' in the new building to take the place of the original scaffolding, where they were set, and if they were 'larger in Circuit & compasse then the fformer,' and furthermore whether they were constructed on the Bishop of Winchester's lands. Only John Taylor responds to the question, affirming that Wistow succeeded Payne, that he continued to bait bears in the same yard, and that he took up the office some 45 years ago. He does not know how long Wistow continued in the office, nor whether he built a gallery.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Wistowe, Robert | master of the Bear Garden | |
| Payne, William | master of the Bear Garden (defunct) |