‘was conducting the theatre long before this date. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF BLACKFRIARS 57 
| Share-papers of 16351 points to a date “after” the refitting was 
completed. This no doubt refers to the long-term lease of 1600, 
but it seems also inclusive of the first lease or tenancy prior to 
1600. 
From the documents in the case of Evans vs. Kirkham,? as 
also from various documents in the suit of Kirkham vs. Painton,’ 
and likewise from numerous recently discovered documents not 
yet published,* it is learned that Evans on Sept. 2, 1600, leased 
the Blackfriars for a period of twenty-one years, term to begin 
Michaelmas,—i. e., Friday, September 29,—at 40 /. per year, giv- 
ing bond of 4o0/., with Alexander Hawkins, his son-in-law, as 
security, for payment of the rentals. But he had possession and 
In his Bill of 
Complaint against Kirkham, May 5, 1612, Evans in connection 
with the twenty-one-year lease of 1600, Speaks of the Blackfriars 
‘as ““Then or late in the tenure or occupation of your said orator.’’® 
Richard Burbage in his own behalf replying to Kirkham in the 
suit of Kirkham vs. Painton® substantiates this fact. In explain- 
ing why he as owner arid lessor exacted a bond of 4oo/. as se- 
curity for payment of the lease, he says he considered that “ex- 
cept the said Evans could erect & keepe a companye of Playinge 
boyes or others to playe playes & interludes in the said Playhouse 
im such sort as before tyme had bene there vsed, that he was lyke- 
lye to be beh[ind with] the said rent of fortie pounds.”7 
The words I have italicized indicate the theatre had been in 
operation for some time. Also, Evans was making a financial 
success and had previously met his payments of rent. Since 
*Cf. supra, 36%. 
>See document, G.-F., 211a. 
°In G-F., 223-51. 
"In G-F., 234a. The statement 
in the document just preceding 
this that “Henrye Evans ... in- 
*“Now for the Blackfriars, that 
is our inheritance; our father pur- 
chased it at extreame rates, and 
made it into a playhouse with great 
charge and troble; which after was 
leased out to one Evans that first 
sett up the boyes commonly called 
the Queenes Majesties Children of 
the Chappell.”—In Halliwell-Phil- 
lips, Outlines of the Life of Shake- 
speare (9th ed. 1890), I, 317. 
, *See documents in G.-F., espe- 
cially 211a. 
*See documents in G.-F., espe- 
cially 223c-224a, 230b, 239c-240a. 
tended then [7. e., when lease was 
made] presentlye to erect or sett 
vpp a Companye of boyes, . 
in the same” is of course made with 
strict legal reference to the opera- 
tions of the twenty-one-year lease. 
The lease is not retroactive and 
takes no account of what preceded 
it. 
171 
