The First London Theatre 23 
the lease on any equitable terms. The City’s authorities had 
from the first been opposed to theatres. From 1417 onwards, 
their records are strewn with orders against mummings, dis- 
guisings, maskings, interludes, plays, players, and finally theatres, 
all of which I hope in due course to publish. They had at all 
times done what they could to expel the companies from their 
precincts. At the close of 1595, James Burbage provided against 
opposition of both landlord and City by purchasing for theatrical 
purposes, at the rather high price of 600/., a part of an old 
cloister building in the Blackfriars liberties, almost in the heart 
of the City, but free from its jurisdiction. The purchase was 
made probably by Christmas, 1595. The earliest information 
about Burbage’s purchase and his proposed new theatre is con- 
tained in a letter from Lord Hunsdon, who was disappointed at 
not getting a chance at it himself, addressed to Sir William More, 
the recent owner, under date of January 9, 1596, as published 
by the present writer in The Evolution of the English Drama up 
to Shakespeare. The deed was signed a month or so later, Feb- 
ruary 4, 1596. On the back of the counterpart in the Loseley 
MSS., signed by James Burbage, is the important note that pos- 
session was given the same day. Burbage paid only 100/. down. 
He and his sons Cuthbert and Richard, on the preceding day, 
February 3, had given their recognizance to George More, son 
of Sir William, for the other 500/., which I find was paid off 
in full on July 23, 1597. Then on July 30, 1596, Burbage mort- 
gaged to Lord Cobham for 28/. a little piece of the property that 
adjoined Cobham’s mansion, and on October 12 of the same 
year, he mortgaged all the rest of the grounds and buildings to 
Edward Vaughan for 200/. This was probably to raise money 
for making the old priory over into a theatre, which he proceeded 
almost at once to do. The mortgage to Vaughn was paid in full 
on March 11, 2 James I (1605). 
After completing the above transactions in 1596, and only a 
short time before his death, Burbage took steps to protect his 
very considerable estate against any possible claims or contin- 
gencies that might arise, by making a deed of gift to Cuthbert of 
all his personal property, and another deed of gift of the Black- 
23 
