31 July, 1594 - Belin Dun

Here's what the Admiral's Men performed at the Rose playhouse on this day, 424 years ago...

Henslowe writes: y^e 31of Julye 1594 ... R at bellendon the ...  xxvij^s 

In modern English: 31^st July, 1594 ... Received at Belin Dun ... 27 shillings

A highwayman portrayed in Richard

Head's The English Rogue (1666)

Today, the Admiral's Men once again performed Belin Dun, their lost play about the notorious robber who terrorized the highways around Dunstable during the reign of King Henry I; you can read more about this play in the entry for 10 June.

The company last performed Belin Dun just under a week ago, when it had received unexpectedly impressive box office, far higher than normal. Today, its takings have returned to normality, being just under the average. Whatever caused the brief burst of enthusiasm for this play, it did not last.

Henslowe links

• Transcript of this page of the Diary (from W.W. Greg's 1904 edition)
• Facsimile of this page of the Diary (from the Henslowe-Alleyn Digitisation Project)

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