Source Two - Petition by the inhabitants of Blackfriars

Transcript

To the right Honourable the Lords and others of her Majesties most honourable Privy Council

Humbly showing and beseeching your honours the Inhabitants of the Precinct of the Blackfriars London. That whereas one Burbage hath lately bought certain rooms in the same precinct near adjoining unto the dwelling house of the right honourable the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord of Hunsdon, which rooms the said Burbage is now altering and means very shortly to convert and turn the same into a common playhouse which will grow to be a very great annoyance and trouble not only to all the noblemen and gentlemen thereabout inhabiting but also a general inconvenience to all the inhabitants of all the same precinct, both by reason of the great resort and gathering together of all manner of vagrant and lewd persons that under colour of resorting to the Plays will come thither and wake all manner of mischief and also to the great pestering and filling up of the same precinct if it should please god to send any visitation of sickness as heretofore hath been, for that the same precinct is already grown very populous and besides that the same playhouse is so near the church that the noise of the Drums and Trumpets will greatly disturb and hinder both the ministers and parishioners in time of divine service and sermons, in tender consideration whereof, as also for that there hath not at any time heretofore been used any common playhouse within the same precinct But that now all Players being banished by the Lord Mayor from playing within the city by reason of the great inconveniences and ill rule that follows them, they now think to place themselves in liberties, that therefore it would please your honours to take order that the same rooms may be converted to some other use and that no playhouse may be used or kept there and your suppliants as most bounden, shall and will daily pray for your honours in all honour and happiness long to live

Elizabeth Russell, Dowager, G. Hunsdon, Henry Bowes, Thomas Browne, John Crooke, William Meredith, Stephen Egerton, Richard Lee, Smith, William Paddy, William de Lavine, Francis Hinson, John Edwards, Andrew Lyons, Thomas Nayle, Owen Lochard, John Robinson, Thomas Homes, Richard Field, William Watts, Henry Boyce, Edward Ley, John Clarke, William Bispham, Robert Baheire, Ezekiel Major, Harman Buckholt, John Le Mere, John Dollin, Ascanio de Renialmire, John Wharton.

Simplified Transcript

To the right Honourable the Lords and others of her Majesties most honourable Privy Council,

We, the Inhabitants of the Blackfriars, London, ask for your help.

One Mr Burbage has recently bought certain rooms in the same area, near adjoining to the house of the right honourable Lord Chamberlain and the Lord of Hunsdon.

Burbage is now altering these rooms and means very shortly to convert them into a common playhouse which will grow to be a very great annoyance and trouble not only to all the noblemen and gentlemen who live in the area but also a general inconvenience to all of those who live here, because of the gathering together of all manner of vagrant and lewd persons that will come there to see the plays and wake all manner of mischief.

Also if it should please god to send any visitation of sickness, as we have seen before, it will be a great pestering for that same precinct as it has already grown very populous, and besides that the same playhouse is so near the church that the noise of the Drums and Trumpets will greatly disturb and hinder both the ministers and parishioners in time of divine service and sermons.

In tender consideration of all of this, also that there has not at any time before been any common playhouse within the same precinct. But that now all Players have been banished from playing within the city by the Lord Mayor, by reason of the great inconveniences and ill rule that follows them, they now think to place themselves in liberties. Therefore, we ask your honours to order that the same rooms may be converted to some other use and that no playhouse may be used or kept there and we will be bound in thanks and will daily pray for your honours in all honour and happiness long to live.

Elizabeth Russell, Dowager, G. Hunsdon, Henry Bowes, Thomas Browne, John Crooke, William Meredith, Stephen Egerton, Richard Lee, Smith, William Paddy, William de Lavine, Francis Hinson, John Edwards, Andrew Lyons, Thomas Nayle, Owen Lochard, John Robinson, Thomas Homes, Richard Field, William Watts, Henry Boyce, Edward Ley, John Clarke, William Bispham, Robert Baheire, Ezekiel Major, Harman Buckholt, John Le Mere, John Dollin, Ascanio de Renialmire, John Wharton.