In the 1620 lawsuit between the Crown and William Henslowe and Jacob Mead regarding the Hope theatre, John Taylor, aged 77, answers a number of questions regarding William Payne's former status as Elizabeth's 'master or deputie' of the 'game of Beares.' The questions emphasize the specific location of Payne's yard in relation to the Bishop of Winchester's land. Taylor deposes that William Payne lived in a place now known as 'The Dauncing Beares,' and that he died forty years before the testimony. He states that Payne built a place for bearbaiting on the property north of the Hope playhouse, which belongs to the Bishop of Winchester.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor, John | deponent | witness |
| Horne, Robert, Bishop of Winchester | landowner | |
| Payne, William | master of the Bear Garden (defunct) | bear owner, bearward, deceased, master of the Queen's game, tenant |