Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn, in their role as Masters of the King's Game, complain to James I, first of the high cost of acquiring the office, and second of the charges involved in maintaining the office, and ask in consequence for more pay. Henslowe and Alleyn acquired the office from Sir William Stuart, who charged them the exhorbitant sum of £450, monies they were forced to disburse if they wished to maintain their rights to operate Paris Garden as a beargarden. The charges of maintaining the game are high, and profits have dwindled since the time of Elizabeth, when there were no restraints on baiting times: they cite particularly Sunday afternoons, which used to be their most profitable day. More than this, they have recently lost several bears: George Stone at a baiting for the King of Denmark, and another four at a recent show for the King, a loss in total of some £30. Henslowe and Alleyn ask that their stipend be raised to 2s 4d per day, and that James also endow them with greater powers to restrain unlicensed baiting, which represents another drain on their profits.
| Name | Event Role(s) | Document Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Stuart, James I | King | |
| of Denmark, Christian IV | audience member | |
| the bear, George Stone | bear | |
| Henslowe, Philip | master of the King's game | |
| Alleyn, Edward | master of the King's game | |
| Dorington, John | master of the King's game (defunct) |