Margaret Brayne sues James and Cuthbert Burbage in Chancery court over her share of the Theatre playhouse profits. John Alleyn, an actor, deposes 6 February 1591/2. Alleyn affirms that there was an arbitrament made between James Burbage and John Brayne to settle their dispute over the Theatre playhouse profits. Although he is not certain what the terms were, he has heard that they agreed to split the profits equally. He says that Brayne and Burbage did mortgage the Theatre for £125 and then forfeit that mortgage to John Hyde. He states that James Burbage 'did detayne the proffites of the premisses in his own handes of purpose that the said morgage shuld be forfetted.' Alleyn says that Margaret Brayne did for a short time receive profits from the Theatre. Alleyn then provides a colorful account of several violent encounters between partisans of Margaret Brayne, including Robert Miles, and the Burbages. When attempts were made to collect the Theatre profits, Richard Burbage threatened them with a broomstick, and promised next time he would meet them with pistols.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Bromley, Thomas | Lord Chancellor | |
| Burbage, James | defendant | playhouse owner |
| Burbage, Cuthbert | defendant | |
| Alleyn, John | deponent | innholder |
| Hyde, John | mortgage holder | |
| Howard, Charles | patron | |
| Brayne, John | playhouse financier | |
| Burbage, Richard | son |