Cuthbert Burbage
Cuthbert Burbage entered the world on the 15th of June 1565 at St. Stephen Coleman Street near the London Guildhall. His parents were James Burbage and Ellen Brayne, a tailor's daughter from Kent who had moved to the capital. The family arrived in London from Bromley in Kent before Cuthbert was born. He grew up as the elder of two surviving sons alongside his younger brother Richard. Richard would later become one of England's most famous actors. Two sisters followed him into the family line. Ellen was baptized on the 13th of June 1574 while Alice came into the world on the 11th of March 1576. Their mother died in 1613 after living through decades of theatrical turmoil.
James Burbage found employment for his son with Sir Walter Cope around 1580. Cope served as gentleman usher to William Cecil and held connections to Lady Burghley. Cuthbert worked as a clerk in the Treasury under this arrangement. By June 1586 he reached the age of majority and joined his father in legal battles over the Theatre in Shoreditch. John Brayne died in August 1586 following blows received during construction work at the George Inn. Robert Miles stood trial for murder at a coroner's inquest regarding those injuries. No written agreement governed the partnership between James and Brayne despite their joint financing of the building. Brayne had failed to revise his will to leave his interest to James' children as promised. The partners fell out and submitted their dispute to arbitration by two friends in early 1578. They signed bonds worth £200 each as guarantees of performance. Margaret Brayne sued James Burbage at common law in early 1587 seeking recovery on bonds or half interest in the ground lease. The legal battles continued for a decade with James always emerging victorious.
Hyde allowed James Burbage to continue operating the Theatre after forfeiting the ground lease on the 27th of September 1580. Hyde tried to put Brayne out as part owner when he arrested Burbage for debt in June 1582. In June 1589 both James and Cuthbert sought help from Walter Cope to obtain an assignment of the ground lease from Hyde. Cope wrote to Hyde suggesting future service to Lord Burghley if Hyde would assign the lease to Cuthbert. Hyde complied with some reluctance on the 7th of June 1589 transferring his interest to Cuthbert Burbage. Hyde later stated he would not have made the assignment without Cope's letter. Cuthbert agreed only to save his father from debt while viewing the arrangement as personally disadvantageous. He borrowed money to pay Hyde though the exact amount remains unknown. A statement by Hyde indicates it covered almost the entire original debt of £125 8s 11d plus interest. Business continued much as before but the Theatre itself became Cuthbert's property through this transaction.
Cuthbert and his brother financed the new venue by making five actors half-sharers in profits. William Shakespeare joined John Heminges, Augustine Phillips, Thomas Pope and William Kempe as partners. This arrangement solidified the structure of the group helping establish their position in London. The partnership ensured financial stability for the King's Men over four decades. The Globe provided a stable home for both the Chamberlain's Men and their successors. Five actors shared ownership rights while maintaining operational control through collective decision-making. Their business model proved durable enough to sustain theatrical operations through changing political climates. The arrangement created a unique power dynamic within Elizabethan theatre companies that prioritized long-term security over individual profit maximization.
Burbage remained one of the keepers of the Globe until his death aged seventy-one years in 1636. He lived in a house in the parish of St.
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Common questions
When was Cuthbert Burbage born and where did he enter the world?
Cuthbert Burbage entered the world on the 15th of June 1565 at St. Stephen Coleman Street near the London Guildhall. His parents were James Burbage and Ellen Brayne, a tailor's daughter from Kent who had moved to the capital.
How did Cuthbert Burbage acquire ownership of the Theatre in Shoreditch?
Hyde transferred his interest to Cuthbert Burbage on the 7th of June 1589 after Walter Cope wrote a letter suggesting future service to Lord Burghley. Hyde later stated he would not have made the assignment without Cope's letter, allowing the Theatre itself to become Cuthbert's property through this transaction.
Who joined Cuthbert Burbage as partners when financing the Globe theatre venue?
William Shakespeare joined John Heminges, Augustine Phillips, Thomas Pope and William Kempe as partners when Cuthbert and his brother financed the new venue by making five actors half-sharers in profits. This arrangement solidified the structure of the group helping establish their position in London.
What legal dispute involving Cuthbert Burbage occurred regarding the Globe lease extension?
Together with Richard Robinson and Winifred his wife filed a Bill of Complaint on the 28th of January 1632 to sue Sir Matthew Brend in the Court of Requests regarding extension of the 31-year lease. The lawsuit sought confirmation of an extended term for the property before Nicholas Brend had originally granted the lease before his father inherited it.
When did Cuthbert Burbage die and how old was he at death?
Cuthbert Burbage died aged seventy-one years in 1636 while remaining one of the keepers of the Globe until that time. He lived in a house in the parish of St. Leonard's Shoreditch during those final years before his death shortly after the legal action began.