Shakespeare and his London Associates 95 



defend tes or any of them accordinge to their seuera.\\ partes & rates 

 as these def tes haue credibly heard & doe verely beleeue ffor these 

 def tes saye & each of them for & by himselfe sayth that there 

 beinge as these def tes verely thinke but onely three private playe 

 howses in the Citty of London thone of w cb beinge in the Blacke 

 fryars & in the handes of these def tes or of theire assignes One 

 other beinge in the white ffryers in the hands or occupaa'on of 

 the said Cornp" himselfe his partners or assignes & the third neere 

 S l Pawles Church then beinge in the hands of one M r Pierce But 

 then vnvsed for a playe howse One M r Roseter a partner of the 

 said Comp lts delt for & Compounded w th the said M r Pierce to the 

 onely benefytt of him the said Roseter the now Comp u the rest of 

 theire partners & Company (& without the preuetie knowledge or 

 Consent of these def tes or any of them & that thereby they the 

 said Comp u & the said Roseter & their partners & company might 

 aduance theire gaines & profitt to be had & made in theire said 

 howse in the white ffryers That there might be a Cessation of 

 playeinge & playes to be acted in the said howse neere S l Paules 

 Church aforesaid for w ch the said Roceter Compounded with the 

 said Pierce to giue him the said Pierce twenty pounds p^r Annum 

 But these def tes afterwards Cominge to playe at their said howse 

 in the Blacke ffryers And the said Roceter p^rceyvinge that the 

 benefytt of the said Cessation of playes at Powles did or was 

 likely to turne aswell to the benefytt of these def tes and theire 

 Companie as to the benefytt of the said Comp u the said Roceter & 

 the rest of theire Companie & yett that the whole matter of 

 Charge for payment of the said twenty pounds per Anna m was 

 of necessety to lye onely on the said Comp u the said Roceter & the 

 rest of their Compaine he the said Roceter came vnto these def tes 

 or some of them & intreated them that for the ease & benefytt of 

 the said Cornp" & his Company & partners who finde themselues 

 thereby ourrcharged & agreeued they the said def tes haueinge as 

 he alleadged as great benefytt as themselues & yett were bound 

 to nothinge would neuertheles be content to beare & paye one halfe 

 of the Charge of the said rent of twenty pounds per Annum 

 wherevnto these def tes in all loue & aswell for the benefvtt of the 



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