Viewing Event Record: Requests, Smith vs the Queen's Men: Smith states his case

Abstract

On 10 November, 1619, John Smith, citizen and fishmonger, sued Christopher Beeston and Queen Anne's Men for payment for 'divers tinsels and other stuffs' he had delivered to Christopher Beeston and his assigns at the Red Bull. According to Smith, he delivered a series of parcels from 27 June 1612 to 23 February 1617. The amount in question was £46 5s 8d, 'or thereabouts.' Smith says that Beeston, Ellis Worth, Richard Perkins, and John Cumber have seen and approved his account book and that Beeston has promised payment, but since then have combined to refuse payment. In addition, the players have enticed Smith's servant Thomas Chambers to leave his service and go 'into some vknowne & remote place' because Chambers was the only witness to the delivery of stuff. Lacking this witness, Smith says the players claim to have already paid him. Furthermore, Smith notes that since the payment came due, Beeston and the other players have split up into different companies, so that he is unlikely to receive payment at all. The bill shows that Queen Anne's Men were still at the Red Bull on 23 February 1617; they shortly departed for the Cockpit/Phoenix.

Date Event Recorded

Date
From: 10 November 1619 (Source of claim: original)

Date Event Happened

Date
From: 27 June 1612 To: 23 February 1617 (Source of claim: transcription)

Venues

Name
Red Bull
Name
Phoenix/Cockpit

People

Name Event Role(s) Document Role(s)
Beeston, Christopher defendant company manager
Smith, John plaintiff citizen, fishmonger
Worth, Ellis player
Perkins, Richard player
Cumber, John player
Chambers, Thomas servant

Event Type

  • company business
  • court case
  • playhouse business