MSS 2

Letters and Papers of Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn as Joint Masters of the Royal Game of Bears, Bulls and Mastiff Dogs, 1598-1626.

  • Article 1. Letter from Philip Henslowe to Edward Alleyn about acquiring the reversion of the Mastership of the Royal Game of Bears, etc., from Queen Elizabeth I, June 4, 1598,
  • Article 2. Letter from Arthur Langworth to Edward Alleyn about acquiring the reversion of the Mastership of the Royal Game of Bears, etc., June, 1598.
  • Article 3. Letter from John Dorrington to Philip Henslowe about Queen Elizabeth I's order for games, May 1600.
  • Article 4. Acquittance from Richard Lefwicke to Philip Henslowe for rent on the Bear Garden, Jan. 1, 1601/2.
  • Article 5. Letters Patent from King James I to Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn for the Mastership of the Royal Game of bears, bulls and mastiff dogs, Nov. 24, 1604. See Digital Essays.
  • Article 6. Acquittance form Sir Wiiliam Seward to Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn for the assignment of the patent of the Mastership of the Royal Game of Bears, etc., Nov. 28, 1604.
  • Article 7. [Image not available] Contratct of Peter Street, carpenter, with Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn to pull down the Bear Garden and to rebuild the theatre [as the Hope], with dimensions of both, June 2, 1606.
  • Article 8. Letter from Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn to Christopher Goffe authorising him to acquire dogs for the Royal Game, June, 1607.
  • Article 9. Petition of Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn to King James I complaining of the high cost of their office and their loss of the license to bait on Sundays and of the loss of bears in a recent bait in front of King James and King Christian IV of Denmark, and requesting a full licence and further fees (three copies), c. 1607.
  • Article 10. Rough memorandum-book, containing the receipts and payments of a travelling bear-ward employed by Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn, Aug. 13-Sept. 20, 1608.
  • Article 11. Letter from Henry Middleton to Edward Alleyn asking to return a bear, with rerference to Sir Thomas Middleton, Mar. 9, 1608/9.
  • Article 12. Letter from Thomas Bowker to Edward Alleyn about a dog, with numerous notes on the verso by Alleyn of payments, including for a book of Shakespeare's Sonnets, June 19, 1609.
  • Article 13. Letter from Edward Barrett to Edward Alleyn about animals for the Royal Game, no date.
  • Article 14. Letter from John Ithell about animals, Oct. 30, 1610.
  • Article 15. Depositions of Bryan Bradley and Richard Tyler, servants of Henslowe and Alleyn, who were mistreated by Dr Steward, a magistrate in Hampshire, who locked them up as highwaymen while on Royal Game business, 1611.
  • Article 16. Statement of the case against Dr Steward, as above, 1611.
  • Article 17. Letter from Edward Russell, third Earl of Bedford, to Edward Alleyn about the taking up of his dog, April 13, 1612.
  • Article 18. Bargain and sale of a male lion by Thomas Morris and William Grove to William Peadle, April 13, 1612.
  • Article 19. Commission from Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn to empower John Morgan, Richard Tyler and Bryan Bradley to acquire animals for the Royal Game, April 18, 1612.
  • Article 20. Petition from Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn to the same effect as Article 9 above, listing £200 loss of animals in baiting before Henri de la Tour, Duc de Bouillon, 1612.
  • Article 21. Warrant from Thomas Dutton, Thomas Brooke, and Thomas Marburie, justices of Cheshire, to assist Thomas Radford to take up animals for the Royal Game, May 3, 1613.
  • Article 22. Warrant from John Ireland, Edward Stanley, and John Ashton, justices of Lancashire, to the same effect, May 19, 1613.
  • Article 23. Letter from George Brake to Philip Henslowe about the injuries to Henslowe's servants James Starkey, Thomas Radford and John Pott who were assaulted in Chester while trying to exercise the commission for the Royal Game, May 19, 1613.
  • Article 24. Deposition of Richard Barrowe, Anne Hall and others relatitve to the assault by Richard Penketh and others upon James Starkey, Thomas Radford, and John Pott, May 30, 1613.
  • Article 25. Bond from Thomas Radford to Philip Henslowe for the commission to take up animals for the Royal Game, June 7, 1613.
  • Article 26. Draft and fair copy petitions from Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn to Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk and the Lord Chamberlain, complaining of the ill treatment of their servants in the west country by Sir Morris Barlet, a justice of the peace, and assaults committed by others, and asking for the arrest of the offenders, June-July, 1613.
  • Article 27. Letter from Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk and the Lord Chamberlain, to Thomas Dutton, Thomas Brooke, and other justices of the peace in Chester and Lancaster, requesting that they punish the offenders in the above matter, July 13, 1613.
  • Article 28. Letter from Thomas Dutton and Thomas Brooke to Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk and the Lord Chamberlain, in answer to the above, Aug. 16, 1613.
  • Article 29. Letter from Thomas Dutton and Thomas Brooke to Philip Henslowe informing him of the charge of felony made against his deputiesby John Venables and their failure to bring about a compromise, Aug. 17, 1613.
  • Article 30. Declaration by Thomas Radford that for the annual receipt of a mastiff dog for the King's use from the townsmen of Manchester in Lancashire, Radford promises not to take up any more of their animals, c. 1613.
  • Article 31. Letter from Anthony Cooke to Thomas Howard defending himself against charges of opposing the taking up of animals by Bear Garden officials, pre-1616.
  • Article 32. Letter from Meredith Morgan to Philip Henslowe asking him to receive a wolf, pre-1616.
  • Article 33. Letter from Thomas Yonge (or Young) to Edward Alleyn or Philip Henslowe about providing dogs, Aug. 24, pre-1616.
  • Article 34. Petition to William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke, the Lord Chamberlain, from Edward Alleyn in answer to a petition against him relating to the the baiting of bears, c. 1617-19.
  • Article 35. Statement in the hand of Edward Alleyn of matters in dispute between himself and Jacob Meade relative to the Bear Garden, the stock of animals, and other matters appertaining to the estate of Philip Henslowe, c. 1617-19.
  • Article 36. Letter from John Nurse to Edward Alleyn about baiting and dated receipts, June 23, 1625-July 14, 1626.
  • Article 37. Petition to the Privy Council and the Commissioners of the Treasury from Edward Alleyn asking for payment in arrears for Royal Game expenses, no date.
  • Article 38. Letter from Sir William Fawnte (or Faunt) to Edward Alleyn discussing Fawnte's stock of dogs, no date.
  • Article 39. Letter from Sir William Fawnte (or Faunt) to Edward Alleyn, asking for male black bear cubs, no date.
  • Article 40. Letter from Sir William Fawnte (or Faunt) to Edward Alleyn, asking for a male bear cub, Nov. 9 (no year).
  • Article 41. Advertisement for the Bear Garden of a match: between dogs and a single bear; to 'wearie a bull dead at the stake'; 'sport with the horse and ape'; and the whipping of the blind bear, c. 1603-1625.
  • Article 42. Advertisement of a general prize for markmanship contests in St George's Fields using Muskets or Long Bows and arrows, with a list of prizes, Aug 21, c. 1603-1646.